Coffee News.

Coffee Project New York has opened a new outpost at 1219 First Avenue on the Upper East Side, New York, with a public opening morning scheduled for September 20. The independent roaster and education hub says the new room will carry its daily pour-overs, rotating single-origin coffees and signature drinks.

Why it matters: this is a practical expansion from a Filter Notes-listed New York coffee name into a part of Manhattan where thoughtful specialty-coffee stops are less concentrated. The opening event is a useful near-term reason to plan a visit, while the permanent shop gives Upper East Side mornings another serious coffee option.

El Cerro has opened in Capitol Hill, Seattle, with a coffee programme built around Puerto Rican flavours and heritage. Daily Coffee News reports that the July opening pairs coffee with a mural-led space and a menu shaped by the island's coffee culture, giving the new café a clearer point of view than a standard neighbourhood espresso bar.

Why it matters: Seattle visitors already have an enormous choice of roasters, but El Cerro adds a distinct origin and cultural lens in a walkable central neighbourhood. It is a useful stop for readers looking beyond the city's familiar Nordic-style and multi-roaster coffee routines.

Kiddo Coffee has opened in Surry Hills, Sydney, bringing owner Pakasit "Zen" Wawongmoon's specialty-coffee programme back in a new, independently run form. Broadsheet reports that the compact cafe pairs carefully made coffee with Thai-inflected drinks and fresh custard buns, following the closure of the co-owned Bondi original two years ago.

Why it matters: Surry Hills is already a dense coffee neighbourhood, so a personal restart from an experienced operator is more useful than a routine new-cafe listing. The Thai references and focused food offer give visitors a concrete reason to add Kiddo to a walk between Sydney's established roasters and bakeries.

One of the best cortados I’ve ever had. Bright space, lots of seats. Massive bean selection (they roast their own). Must visit for Madrid.

Coffee didn’t blow me away, but the location I went to had great staff, plenty of seating and some nice snacks. It’s a popular place (was very busy) so I will probably give the coffee another try next time.

Dateless and The Single Cask are hosting A Study on Beans and Barrels in Singapore on Saturday 12 September. The ticketed afternoon tasting pairs four single-origin coffees with four rare single-cask Scotch whiskies, using a four-part format designed to compare how coffee and barrel character work together. It takes place at The Single Cask on Amoy Street from 2pm to 4pm.

Why it matters: Singapore’s specialty scene is at its most interesting when it moves beyond routine cafe service into deliberate tasting formats. This is a small, clearly structured event from a named specialty roaster, so it offers a useful option for readers who want a guided coffee experience rather than a general food-and-drink night.

Very pretty and modern interior, wood and beton. The cup the filter coffee comes lays nicely in ones hand. You get to pick a bean that suits your taste. Lots of fruity filter coffees.

Felt like a hidden gem as it’s tucked away in a quiet corner and certainly had vibes of being a specialist coffee spot. Options are solely espresso based. I had a single espresso and sat outside (there is just a small bench outside - no other seating). Very pleasant barista. There’s a nice bean selection to take away.

Allpress will hold its 2026 V60 Championship Sydney heat at La Marzocco in Botany, Sydney on 24 September, with tickets released on 4 September. The elimination-style pour-over competition gives brewers nine minutes to prepare, grind, brew and serve, with the Sydney winner progressing to the ANZ final in Melbourne.

Why it matters: this is a genuinely useful date for Sydney’s filter-coffee crowd, not a routine cafe promotion. It also links local brewers to a wider programme spanning Australia, Singapore and London, with regional winners travelling to Tokyo for the World Coffee Championship experience.