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.

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. The city’s best cafés combine serious roasting, careful brewing and increasingly impressive coffee from Thailand’s northern highlands.

This guide covers established roasters, focused filter bars, Thai coffee specialists and neighborhood cafés worth making time for.

Nana Coffee Roasters

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. The space is beautiful. Spread across a series of low, white structures set within dense greenery, it feels separated from the city without being far from it.

Factory Coffee

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. You’ll experience everything the brand is known for in a single space. There’s more than enough room to take your time. And you’ll be able to see the roasting and the training. If you want to understand Factory properly, this is where you go.

Roots

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.

There are Roots locations in Thonglor, Ari, Saladaeng and Bang Na, but Sathon is their showcase bar.

Ceresia Coffee Roasters

Founded in 2013, Ceresia is 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

Gabriel Carol, PAGA Microroastery’s owner and roaster, is 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

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.

Hands and Heart Coffee Roasters

Hands and Heart has been around for more than a decade. The current roasting café sits in a quiet back alley on Sukhumvit 67, in a home-like space filled with books, records and carefully chosen objects. The menu stays deliberately small, with the focus on black and white coffee rather. Expect carefully selected single origins and restrained roasting. Opening days and hours are limited so check before you go.

Gallery Drip Coffee

Gallery Drip Coffee, on the first floor of the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, was founded by photographers and has a strong connection to Bangkok’s creative community. But “creative” doesn’t mean snobby here – baristas will happily talk you through the options if you are deciding between origins or processing styles. It’s closed on Mondays and currently operates Tuesday to Sunday. 

Kaizen Coffee

Kaizen has been around since 2015 and was among the first cafés in Thailand to build a multi-roaster model. The name comes from the idea of continuous improvement, and that approach still shapes the business. The Ekkamai café is the one to go to.

Brave Roasters

Brave Roasters began in 2013 as a roasting-only operation and grew into one of Bangkok’s most recognisable specialty coffee names. Founder Ekameth Wipvasutti, who won the 2023 World AeroPress Championship, works closely with Thai farmers and roasts northern Thai coffees alongside selected international lots. Visit the quieter Sathon branch for house-roasted beans, signature drinks and the hickory-smoked Fume de Latte.

Phil Coffee Co.

Phil Coffee Company has been roasting in Bangkok since 2011. The family-run business, founded by siblings Han, Iwuen and Jaszmine Wang, works with Thai producers in Chiang Rai while continuing to source coffees from farther afield. Its quiet Sukhumvit 49/2 café keeps the focus on Phil’s own blends and rotating single origins.

How to plan a Bangkok coffee crawl

For:

• Thai coffee and farm relationships: start with Roots.
• competition-level brewing: choose Nana, Factory or PAGA
• filter coffee: go to Ceresia, Gallery Drip or Hands and Heart
• a good cross-section of Bangkok’s specialty coffee scene: Factory gives you a high-volume specialty operation, Gallery Drip focuses on hand-brewed coffee and Song Wat Coffee Roasters connects coffee with one of Bangkok’s most interesting old neighborhoods.

FAQ

What are the best specialty coffee shops in Bangkok?

Nana Coffee Roasters, Factory Coffee, Roots, Ceresia, PAGA Microroastery, Hands and Heart, Gallery Drip and Kaizen are among Bangkok’s strongest specialty coffee destinations.

Where can I try Thai specialty coffee in Bangkok?

Roots is the clearest starting point because of its long-term work with northern Thai farmers. Nana, Brave, Gallery Drip and Phil Coffee Co. also regularly feature Thai-grown coffees.

Which Bangkok cafés are best for pour-over coffee?

Gallery Drip, Ceresia, PAGA and Hands and Heart are especially strong choices for pour-over and filter coffee.

Where should I go for espresso in Bangkok?

Factory Coffee, Nana Coffee Roasters, Kaizen and Brave Roasters are reliable choices for espresso-based drinks.

Which Bangkok coffee shops are good for buying beans?

Nana, PAGA, Ceresia, Roots, Phil Coffee Co. and Brave Roasters all sell roasted beans. The selection changes regularly, so ask what was roasted most recently.

Is Song Wat Coffee Roasters worth visiting?

Yes. Song Wat Coffee Roasters is a good choice if you want coffee alongside a walk through one of Bangkok’s most interesting old neighborhoods. The visit is as much about the street and shophouse setting as the drink.

How many coffee shops can I visit in one day?

Three is realistic if you want to sit down and taste properly. A good introduction would be Factory, Gallery Drip and Song Wat Coffee Roasters, but they are not a compact walking route. Allow time for travel between them.