Thailand doesn’t quite have the coffee culture of somewhere like Italy, or even neighboring Vietnam (which is surprisingly one of the coffee capitals of the world). However, over the last few years I’ve noticed more and more cafes pop up throughout Thailand, as well as a variety of new coffee options.
Of course, they’re not cheap — anything imported in Thailand is going to cost an absolute fortune compared to back home. But they’re not overly expensive either. Most cafes in Thailand roasting imported beans charge about 80 to 120 baht for a cup of coffee, which isn’t quite as bad as what you’d pay in a high-end cafe in Singapore or Australia.
If you like your coffee at home, your options are also pretty good. The Gourmet Markets at Siam Paragon and Emquartier are stocked up with lots of different brands of imported coffee, most of which aren’t too expensive. You can also get Nescafe Dolce Gusto and Nespresso capsules here, although frankly they are overpriced.
So what are my favorite places to drink coffee? How about:
The Ink and Lion Cafe, which is on Ekkamai Soi 2. This place serves great cold brew coffee at pretty fair prices, especially when you consider it’s in a flashy area known for expensive drinks and Western dining.
Doi Chaang, which is a chain of cafes kind of like Thailand’s version of Starbucks (we also have Starbucks here). Doi Chaang also sells great bags of fresh coffee beans and pre ground coffee to brew at home.
Artis. This cafe is close to Asok BTS, so I sometimes stop by in the morning on the way to work for a cup of coffee. It’s also a great place to work or read a book in the evening and on the weekend if you live in the Sukhumvit area.
What are your favorite places to drink coffee in Bangkok?