The best specialty coffee shops in Bangkok

Thailand produces a relatively small amount of coffee. In 2023, it produced about 15,600 tonnes. At a time when it consumed roughly 90,000 to 95,000 tonnes a year. So it imports around 80,000 tonnes annually.  For perspective, Brazil alone produces over 60 million bags a year, which is roughly 3.6 million tonnes, making it the world’s largest coffee producer. Vietnam produces close to 30 million bags, or about 1.8 million tonnes, and ranks second globally.

So Thailand does not compete with major producing countries on volume. What is does compete on, though, is quality. Thai coffee has improved. And nowhere is that more evident than Bangkok.

If you are in town for World of Coffee, taking place at BITEC from 7 – 9 May, these are the coffee shops to check out while you’re here.

Nana Coffee Roasters

_{About 10 to 15 minutes by taxi from BITEC}

Nana Coffee Roasters has been the benchmark for Bangkok specialty coffee for years. The team behind the shop includes a World Siphonist Champion and winners of Thailand National Barista and Brewers Cup competitions.

They have 5 branches in Bangkok. But Bang Na is the one you need to go see. It’s close to BITEC, which makes it the easiest serious coffee stop during the show. The space is beautiful and has deservedly been featured in a bunch of design and architecture publications. Spread across a series of low, white structures set within dense greenery, it feels separated from the city without being far from it. But nothing in the design pulls attention away from the coffee.

Factory Coffee

_{About 25 to 35 minutes by taxi from BITEC}

Factory Coffee has been one of the busiest and most talked-about specialty cafés in Bangkok for years. It is run by a team of baristas who’ve competed at the highest level, with Thailand Barista Championship wins across multiple years and a top 13 finish at the World Barista Championship.

The HQ is the one to visit. It brings everything the brand is known for into a single space. There’s a proper bar to watch, space to move, and enough room to take your time. And you’ll be able to see the roasting, training, and service sides so you can get a sense of the whole business. If you want to understand Factory properly, this is where you go.

Roots

_{About 20 to 30 minutes by taxi from BITEC}

Roots has been around for a while. And you can feel it. There’s a quiet confidence. Thai coffee is front and center. They’ve spent years working directly with farmers in the north of Thailand, improving quality at origin and then bringing that coffee back into the city to be roasted and served properly.  

The Sathon branch is their flagship. It was built to show what the brand stands for, not just to serve coffee.  There are other Roots locations, including one at BITEC itself, but this is the one to go to if you want to understand what they’re about.

Ceresia Coffee Roasters

_{About 20 to 30 minutes by taxi from BITEC}

Ceresia has been around since 2013. It opened at a time when most people in the city weren’t used to drinking coffee that tasted like fruit or acidity instead of bitterness. The early years were slow. The founders had to stand outside and explain what they were serving, one cup at a time. It’s a small operation, run closely by the founders, and it still feels that way. There’s a level of attention to detail that doesn’t come from scale.

Ceresia is not new, not loud, but still referenced when people talk about where to get a good coffee in Bangkok.

PAGA Microroastery

_{About 20 to 30 minutes by taxi from BITEC}

Gabriel Carol is PAGA Microroastery‘s owner and roaster. Originally from Romania, he won the Romania Brewers Cup in 2017 and 2018 and placed ninth at the World Brewers Cup in 2018. And that background shows. The roasting leans lighter, with a focus on sweetness and clarity. Micro lots and nano lots. His goal is simple: to interfere with the coffee as little as possible so that you can taste the origin.

Song Wat Coffee Roasters

_{About 30 to 45 minutes by taxi from BITEC}

You’ll find Song Wat Coffee Roasters on Song Wat Road, near the river and not far from Chinatown. It sits inside a shophouse, those narrow buildings you see all over Bangkok, usually two or three floors, with a shop at street level and living space above. Song Wat Coffee Roasters have kept most of the original structure intact. So inside, it’s simple. Concrete, wood, a small bar.

It’s worth coming here for the street as much as the café. Walk a bit after your coffee and you’ll see why people keep coming back to this part of the city.

How to keep exploring

This list is a starting point. It’s not complete. There are more places like this across the city. If you don’t want to miss any, check out COMYU.

COMYU is an app for people who care about coffee. It helps you find places like these and keep track of the ones you don’t want to forget. You can also share your own experiences. The name comes from the Japanese, “komyu”, which means community.

It’s built by Rod, who comes from a behavioral science background. He’s spent time looking at how habits shape what we value. And he built that thinking into the app.

FAQ

What are the best specialty coffee shops in Bangkok?

Nana Coffee Roasters, Factory Coffee, Roots at Sathon, Ceresia Coffee Roasters, PAGA Microroastery and Song Wat Coffee Roasters are among the most consistent and widely respected options.

Which Bangkok coffee shops are run by champions?

Nana Coffee Roasters and Factory Coffee are both closely tied to national and world-level competition winners across barista, brewers, and siphon disciplines.

Where should I go for coffee near World of Coffee Bangkok?

BITEC is in Bang Na, but most notable cafés are 20 to 40 minutes away by taxi. Nana and Roots are among the more accessible options.

Is Thai coffee used in Bangkok specialty cafés?

Yes. Cafés like Roots actively feature Thai-grown coffee and work with local producers, reflecting the country’s progress as a coffee origin.

Are Bangkok specialty coffee shops worth visiting outside the trade show?

Yes. The cafés listed represent different parts of the city’s coffee culture and offer a clearer picture than what you will see inside a trade show.