Bangkok and Chiang Mai coffee guide
Drink filter and espresso from northern Thai Arabica, not only instant on ice. This guide fits cafe hoppers in Ari or Nimman who will pay 80 to 160 THB and sit still for a pour-over.
Thailand's specialty scene is highland Arabica from Chiang Rai (Maejantai village in Mae Suai District, Doi Chang, Doi Tung) and the Chiang Mai hills, roasted in city rooms. A 2026 filter or espresso is 80 to 160 THB. Iced is still the default; ask for hot if you want the origin. Factory Coffee sits near Phaya Thai ARL, useful on a Bangkok arrival day. Roots at The Commons Thonglor and Kaizen Coffee in Ekkamai are the Thonglor-Ekkamai evening pour-over strip. Graph Coffee Co. is a Chiang Mai roaster, not a Bangkok pin: Old City and One Nimman. Ari is the all-day cafe soi. Charoenkrung and Talat Noi mix roasters with river shophouses.
In Chiang Mai, Akha Ama Coffee roasts Arabica from Maejantai village in Mae Suai District, Chiang Rai. Sit at Akha Ama Phrasingh on Ratchadamnoen Road, opposite Wat Phra Singh in the Old City, or at Akha Ama Living Factory on Hussadhisewee Soi 3 in Santitham. There is no Akha Ama cafe on Wat Ket. Ristr8to on Nimmanhaemin is the espresso and latte-art queue. Old City and Nimman both work; do not treat every wooden shop inside the moat as a specialty bar. Pair a Nimman afternoon with the [khao soi circuit](/thai-food/chiang-mai-khao-soi-and-markets), not with a farm class the same morning.
Where to sit in each city
Bangkok: Ari if you sleep north of the city, Factory Coffee if the Airport Rail Link drops you at Phaya Thai, Charoenkrung if the river is the two-day plan, Roots at The Commons or Kaizen in Ekkamai if dinner is already on Thonglor-Ekkamai. Chiang Mai: Akha Ama Phrasingh or Living Factory if you want Maejantai origin talk, Graph Coffee Co. for Old City or One Nimman, Ristr8to if you want Nimman espresso. Cups are 80 to 160 THB either city.
| Why you go | Rail or walk | |
|---|---|---|
| Ari, Bangkok | All-day cafe sois | BTS Ari; see the Ari district page |
| Factory Coffee | Arrival-day filter near the ARL | Phaya Thai ARL / BTS |
| Charoenkrung / Talat Noi | Roasters in shophouses | Walk from the river hotels |
| Roots, The Commons Thonglor | Bangkok evening pour-over | BTS Thong Lo |
| Kaizen Coffee, Ekkamai | Thonglor-Ekkamai specialty strip | BTS Ekkamai |
| Graph Coffee Co., Chiang Mai | Old City and One Nimman rooms | Not a Bangkok pin |
| Akha Ama Phrasingh | Maejantai lots; opposite Wat Phra Singh | Ratchadamnoen, Old City |
| Akha Ama Living Factory | Maejantai lots; Santitham roast room | Hussadhisewee Soi 3 |
| Ristr8to, Nimman | Espresso queue | West of the moat |
Keep going
Book
- Ari staysCafe sois
Sleep north of the city if Ari is two mornings and the BTS is the plan.
Search stays 
Nimman staysRistr8to and west-gate dinnersUse Nimman if coffee and a late dinner share the same nights.
Search stays
City cafe daysToursMost roasters are walk-in. Use a tour only if you want a guided origin tasting.
See tickets
Common questions
- Is Thai coffee only iced and sweet?
- Street coffee often is. Specialty rooms sell filter and espresso from Maejantai, Doi Chang, Doi Tung, and Chiang Mai lots at 80 to 160 THB. Ask for hot.
- Factory Coffee or Ari if you just landed?
- Factory Coffee if you come off the Airport Rail Link at Phaya Thai. Ari if you already sleep on that BTS stop.
- Akha Ama or Ristr8to in Chiang Mai?
- Akha Ama Phrasingh (Ratchadamnoen, opposite Wat Phra Singh) or Living Factory (Hussadhisewee Soi 3, Santitham) for Maejantai origin. Ristr8to for Nimman espresso. Graph Coffee Co. is the other Chiang Mai roaster, Old City and One Nimman.