The coffee is ready… in Bangkok
In Thailand, it is already everywhere and in many places coffee drunk. However, it seems to be becoming increasingly popular if you look at the expansion of the number of coffee houses - I would actually say coffee shops here, but that often has a different meaning for a Dutch person.
Bangkok's modern coffeehouses offer more than just an air-conditioned space, where you can escape the overheated rigors of life in the capital. They are human filling stations to recharge yourself, have a snack and organize your thoughts. The coffee houses also serve as a surrogate office or library, where you go through papers or read the newspaper, receive clients or prepare for an exam.
Thailand is the world's 18th largest coffee producer and is moving up the rankings
Coffeehouses have been around for hundreds of years, the first known opening in 962 in Istanbul or 1530 in Damascus, depending on the source. The concept only spread through Europe in the 17th century. The first coffee house in Europe opened in Venice in 1645, followed by London in 1651, The Hague in 1654, Hamburg in 1677 and Paris and New York in 1689.
Brazil is the largest producer of coffee in the world, followed by Vietnam and Colombia. Thailand ranks 18th in world manufacturing and is rising in that ranking. The two most commonly used types of coffee beans are robusta with 3,8% caffeine and arabica with 1,2% caffeine, the flavor of which is generally preferred.
In Bangkok, quality of coffee has little to do with price. You can already drink great coffee for 25 baht at a street stall, the beans from Northern Thailand are just as good as the imported ones. It is the preparation, storage, grinding of the beans, and especially the quality of the water used, that influence the taste of a good cup of coffee.
Cafe de NorasinghaBrunch Magazine of Bangkok Post made a tour of Bangkok in search of the more upscale coffee houses, where you can enjoy a cup of coffee in a good atmosphere, possibly with cake or a small snack, often free Wi-Fi, there is music and peace to just relax for an hour or so linger. In an article, 25 of these establishments are described, followed by the chains of Starbucks, Wawee, Black Canyon, Tom n Toms, Coffee World, among others. I have made the following selection:
Cafe de Norasingha
It is said to be the first ever cafe in Thailand. This atmospheric and stately place in the Phaya Thai Palace has vintage furniture, high ceilings and low prices. One of the few options in the coffee shop poor area around the Victory Monument and one of the best options in town.
The café is located in what was once the royal reception room during the reign of King Rama VI (1910-1925), with wall panels, ceiling frescoes and wooden floors. The coffee is good (latte 40 baht) and the light meal options (sandwiches 35 baht) are cheap. Nostalgia, architecture, good coffee and music.
Ratchawithi Road at Phra Mongkut Hospital, BTS Victory Monument
Mille Crepe
Good Illy americano (65 baht) and cappuccino (75 baht). The decor is hard to describe, chic or retro? Old telephones, frames, lamps, TVs and wallpaper patchwork on the walls and ceilings, but it's a comfortable eccentricity. Crepes (95 baht) are more like slices of cake. A good option if you're in the area, but it gets overrun by students from nearby Satri Witthaya after school.
105 Din So Road near the Democracy Monument
The Fabulous Bar and Dessert Cafe
Although it serves the same Illy coffee as other places, it's still less tasty with some sour, crumbly pastry. Otherwise, tucked away in an alley at the end of Khao San Road near the police station, this place is quite cozy with easy-listening jazz until midnight.
Khao San Road
Bug and Bee
Café can mean a bar, brasserie or eatery. Bug & Bee has it all, except live music. A creperie with an interesting selection of vegetarian options. A somewhat clunky and difficult to read menu, the dishes (and service) are hit and miss, but win points for originality and vegetarian options. The mango pie (70 baht) or apple salad (115 baht) are good. Although the name sounds like an English pub, it is a good address for coffee.
18 Silom Road, BTS Sala Daeng, 24 hours
Coffee
This is a handy place to take a break while shopping. At a busy point in Siam Paragon, with many tables crammed into a small space, you shouldn't expect too much privacy or quiet, but this is still one of the best options for coffee in the mall. The branch in the MBK also offers more space.
4th floor, Siam Paragon and ground floor MBK
Sweet sin
This establishment offers two floors where you can enjoy e.g. americano (50 baht), with pasta, pastries and sausage dishes for around 100 baht. It's a quiet spot above hectic Siam Square for a quick coffee. The fine print on the menu tells you to spend at least 50 baht an hour if you want to stick around. The walls are pink, the decor is a little girly, the air a little musty, but the music is uncomplicated and good.
432/9 Siam Square Soi 9
Elfin Coffee
There's something for everyone here, as the café acts as a community space of sorts, with exhibitions, local bands playing in the evenings, and tango and salsa lessons on weekends. They roast the coffee beans themselves. The prices on the menu are friendly, especially the daily lunch offer for 130 baht including fruit and coffee
11/26 Sukhumvit Soi 1, BTS Ploenchit or Nana
Bitter Brown
Relaxed yet chic without a hint of pretentiousness. The americano or Twinings teas (65 baht) are good and the pasta dishes (from 150 baht) are excellent. An oasis of calm just north of Soi Cowboy, with arguably the best coffee shop music (classical, jazz, electronic) in Bangkok. Actually surprising, that this place does not enjoy more popularity.
Asok Court, Sukhumvit Soi 21, Sukhumvit MRT
Bianco Nero
Bianco Nero's concept is in fact a "chocolate café" concept, it seems as if chocolate drops are dripping from the ceiling. The northern Thai coffee (60 baht) is very good, but the many types of chocolate milk - from very sweet to pure, bitter cocoa - that you can choose from make this café spot unique
2nd Floor, Opus Building, Thong Lor Soi 10
Again, it's just a selection of the countless options for drinking coffee, for the whole story you go to www.bangkokpost.com/
I never actually go to most coffee houses unless they have a terrace available. Air conditioning is not really necessary for me, but drinking coffee without my cigar is certainly not necessary.
Very good coffee is also served at the true coffee. In Siam Paragon you have 2. In Hua Hin you also have one.
The entourage is very nice to see. Gives a homely atmosphere. Also free wifi.
With the special card that you can purchase you get a 15% reduction on all types of coffee. There are more in various places, by the way
This is a very nice (albeit incomplete) article on a subject I care a lot about. The article is limited to drinking coffee in Bangkok, but I don't really stick to that...
I normally stay once a year (during the 3 winter months) in Asia, of which one month in Thailand. I have done so for many decades now.
As a lover (I only drink black coffee with sometimes some sugar) you know at a certain point where the real (good) coffee can be obtained.
Thailand has a few excellent coffee chains (of Thai origin). Not all branches make consistently great coffee (I'm thinking 94 Coffee) but Black Canyon Coffee is consistently good (I've found). The coffee of the latter chain also tastes the same in Makassar (Sulawesi-Indonesia)…
I have also drunk Kopi Luwak in Indonesia sometimes (and it is quite tasty and also expensive) but for some reason I always think of 94 Coffee (especially the branch on 2nd Road in Pattaya) and Black Canyon Coffee when I have it about excellent coffee.
Avoid Coffeeworld… but see for yourself if that applies to you too. Starbucks coffee is an American phenomenon and serves coffee on the weak side. Sometimes their Americano is good though. Here I leave it at…
I also travel a lot through Thailand and you will find a Black Canyon in almost every mall. The coffee is excellent. And the sometimes surprising small dishes are also of good quality. For example, I find the pumpkin soup a delight there. So wherever I am, I always look for a Black canyon branch for my cups of coffee.
Coffee, for me an important start, between and end of the day! Delicious! But whether I am a real coffee drinker in the eyes of others, I dare not say. I like weak coffee with preferably boiled milk! Anyway over the years there has been a lot of expansion in the coffee field in Thailand with many coffee shops. And I'm a fan! Starbucks, Tom Toms, S&P but also the small coffee shops on the street. Enjoy a moment for yourself with or without the Bangkok Post or newspaper on your IPAD!
While on Koh Chang, you should try one of Marin Coffee's three branches (at least two at White Sands and one at Coconut Plaza. Real Barista work..! And at the beginning of the pier at Bang Bao (where all the mopeds are parked) you have a very nice coffee bar where you can get excellent Iced Coffee's for about 60 baht, a very decent price.
After a long search I found Café de Norasingha yesterday. Yesterday I met a former colleague of mine who still works at Lufthansa as a purser and had a two night layover in Bangkok. It took some searching, because I couldn't find the street name nor Phaya Thai Palace on my tab. We even ended up at Pantip Plaza. Eventually with the help of a tuk-tuk and a lot of questions and almost gave up having found it.
It's quite nice. And certainly in Bangkok an oasis of peace. The service is extremely friendly and, as already written, the prices are fair.
The air conditioning is set to cool, so it's a relief if you've been on the road for a long time and want to take a break near Victory Monument. There were mainly young Thais in the cafe in groups or alone.
I'm glad I could read this tip on Thailandblog this week, because I hadn't seen this colleague and friend for two years and actually we hadn't had the time to talk to each other for many years.
Café de Norasingha is a very suitable place to relax on a couch and chat.
Thanks for this good tip!!!
https://www.facebook.com/Quality.Coffeeshop
#Coffee shop in Sathon – Charung Krung Road / Soi 67
Speak multiple languages.
Dutch owner.
For a cup of coffee / dinner / or birthday party.
I once wrote a blog about Vietnamese coffee:
https://robalberts.wordpress.com/2015/03/31/ca-phe-da-of-vietnamese-koffie/
Apparently Southeast Asia has a real coffee culture.
Nice to learn more about me.
Tasty regards,
As an avid coffee lover, always interesting to obtain this kind of information. With us on the dark side of Pattaya there are also quite a few small independents with a coffee shop. They do their best to let you stay there and relax. The large groups such as Starbucks also have a nice bowl ready. From my many trips to America (USA) I have developed this interest more. My favorite coffee is the hazelnut coffee that I once had at a friend's house in Fremont.
I am learning the Thai language and have watched you tube videos of Thai teachers. One of them is Kruu Mod. She is an entrepreneur and bon vivant and on her blog she gives many tips and photos of places to be in Thailand, such as restaurants where it is good to stay. Also many places in Bangkok, where she apparently lives. The website http://www.learnthaiwithmod.com is therefore recommended for this.
In the Netherlands I am what you call a coffee drinker and let my machine do the work. So grind beans etc.
Something that surprises me is that the price of coffee beans in Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and also in Brazil is considerably higher.
The remarkable thing is that drinking coffee in Thailand outside the door is considerably cheaper than in the Netherlands.
Did you not notice that the daily wages of the barristas in Thailand are comparable to the youth wages per hour in the Netherlands. And you don't have to get the coffee beans from far away.
And the very best coffee can be found at Bubba's on Koh Phangan. Robin Vos, learned the trade in Melbourne and opened Bubba's Coffeebar in December with his South Korean girlfriend Somi. He serves coffee made from his own “Bubba's blend” from northern Thailand and Laos, along with high-quality breakfast and lunch dishes. Travelers, tourists, locals and coffee lovers meet each other in this trendy café, where the Melbourne vibe and Brabant hospitality create a unique atmosphere. For those who can't get enough of it, there are now also rooms for rent. Bubba's Bed and Coffee.
Thus a proud mother…. (more info? email [email protected])
Wonderful to drink a delicious cup of coffee in a beautiful and cool room. The only drawback I find is the unlimited WiFi, which means that all tables are often occupied by people who sit there for hours using the internet with the use of 1 cup of coffee. So my opinion: great all those coffee shops but get rid of that WiFi.
All great tips, but where do I buy coffee and cake?
And I don't mean dry cakes with some decorations or cream cakes,
but pastry with whipped cream and butter flavor.
Thanks in advance for a rare tip
Gr. Koos