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Chiang Mai: Thailand's Emerging Coffee Culture Hub

Located in northern Thailand, Chiang Mai has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in recent years. What captivates travelers includes not only the historically rich Buddhist temples and scenic landscapes but also the products that represent the local leisurely lifestyle — coffee. As Thailand's second-largest city has continuously expanded its coffee industry in recent years, developing from production and roasting to trade and retail, the relationship between coffee and Chiang Mai has deepened, making it a local cultural characteristic people take pride in.

The main coffee beans produced in Thailand are Arabica. Chiang Mai, in northern Thailand, is one of the few cities in the country with a relatively cool climate, where at least one or two months of the year are free of scorching weather, so both hot and cold coffee have considerable market support locally.

The Royal Project Foundation

The successful development of Thailand's Arabica market can be attributed to the Thai Royal Project initiated by the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej in 1969, which included the "Northern Thai Mountain Agricultural Development Plan." It encouraged local people to invest in sustainable industries, aiming to replace opium with high-value economic crops and reduce the slash-and-burn practices tied to opium production, thereby alleviating poverty and combating drugs while creating an eco-friendly economy.

From Forest Crop to Cultural Phenomenon

As a forest crop, coffee production and exports have fluctuated since 1970. According to statistics from the International Coffee Organization (ICO) for the 2015-16 period, Thailand exported 500,000 bags (60kg each) of coffee during that period. Domestic consumption alone reached 1.2 million bags. Under such strong demand, Chiang Mai inevitably faces considerable pressure.

Today, strolling along Nimman Avenue in Chiang Mai, it's no longer as easy to encounter locals selling coffee as before. Instead you'll find various glass-windowed coffee shops offering free wifi, or mobile coffee trucks parked roadside. In the city, besides the large Starbucks chain, there are many exquisite specialty shops for coffee enthusiasts to indulge in. Here are a few worth noting.

Featured Coffee Shops

Nine One Coffee

Located on Nimman Avenue, Nine One Coffee began when local owner Wullop Pasananon acquired a piece of land in the suburbs of Chiang Mai. He learned that the land had geographical advantages quite suitable for coffee cultivation, so he planned to build a business around it. After diligent research and learning, he not only handled coffee cultivation, roasting and brewing himself but also began wholesale sales to surrounding shops thanks to strong demand, making the business increasingly successful.

Akha Ama

Another equally representative coffee shop in Chiang Mai, Akha Ama has a name with two meanings, combining the coffee-producing mountains and the Akha word for "mother." This lovely small shop is located in the ancient city area. Besides selling coffee, it also serves as a green coffee production and roasting hub. Lee Ayu Chuepa, a northern Thai native, has considerable influence in Chiang Mai's coffee industry, helping the local industry adhere to the seed-to-cup concept. Lee was invited to speak at TED, and his shop has now gained fame both domestically and internationally.

Asama Café

Asama Café sits in a more remote location, with some travelers sharing that it takes quite a while to find by car. Even so, it is a specialty coffee shop recommended by many enthusiasts. The pink exterior wall with a wooden shop sign is its distinctive feature. The shop has an outdoor café area where you can see two Kees van der Westen coffee machines, and inside you can look out over a calm, beautiful lake through spacious windows. The owner, Mook, holds a World Barista Championship (WBC) certificate, and the shop sells roasted coffee from famous sources around the world.

Ristr8to Lab

The shop's inspiration comes from Australia and San Francisco, and it is filled with a strong industrial-chic style. It now has three retail coffee shops in Chiang Mai. The young owner, Arnon Thitiprasert, went to Australia to work in coffee shops and later gained fame through latte art competitions, which turned Ristr8to into a pilgrimage site for coffee fans at home and abroad. The three shops each have their own theme: the home-roasting laboratory, Cult Coffee & Coffee focusing on coffee-based alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and Satan Coffee Corner mainly offering handcrafted single-origin coffees. With luck, visitors might taste a fine foam coffee prepared personally by Arnon Thitiprasert.

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

If Chiang Mai's light, easy-drinking Arabica style appeals to you, two African single origins are worth comparing. FrontStreet Ethiopia Natural Huakui is a star of the specialty market — its tropical fruit aroma is exceptionally prominent, with strawberry, passion fruit, jackfruit and even lychee, plus obvious sweetness, almost no bitterness and a juicy, smooth body. For a cleaner, more restrained cup, FrontStreet Washed Yirgacheffe Gutingding Cooperative shows elegant white florals with citrus, orange and green tea, at Ethiopia's highest G1 grade, washed and light-roasted. Both suit pour-over and cold brew, and hold up in espresso or latte.