4 of the Best Hand-crafted Coffees in Chiang Mai
I’m pretty sure you would have heard that there are hundreds of coffee shops in Chiang Mai, just inside the city alone. As a local, I can confirm that what you heard is true. In those hundreds of choices for you to choose from, have you ever wondered how many of them have top-quality beans? How many of them have professional baristas who really know what they are doing? Or how many of them can give you what you are looking for?
In this article, I have selected four best hand-crafted coffee spots in Chiang Mai for you in order to help you save your time, money and energy. Of course, there are more but I can squeeze only four in here; my top choices. Enjoy!
Asama Café
Source: @AsamaCafe
Five years ago, Asama Vichaidit, the owner and barista, opened Asama Café on the grounds of her family home. This small café features a Spirit machine and has only 5 seats at the bar and 2 small tables inside. But, there are more seats in the lovely garden by the lotus lake for you to relax. Asama wants her café and her coffee to be comforting and soothing for her customers.
In 2011, Asama wanted to explore the world of coffee, so she started it by being a part-time barista. Only a month and a half later, she won the 1st place in Thailand Indy Barista. Then she got the 3rd place at the National Thailand Barista Championship. After that, she was asked to be one of the national judges and then turned into an international certified judge for both the WBC and WLAC.
Asama mixes three different types of beans; Thai, Brazilian, and Ethiopian, in the Asama blend; the house blend. The House Blend is very well-balanced; not too sour, nor too bitter. Even though Asama uses the house blend for all hot coffee drinks and the signature ones, her techniques bring out different characters in each drink.
If the lush, green lake view plus perfectly pulled espresso shots from an international coffee judge can’t tempt you, I don’t know what can. Well, a little tip; Krua Ya which is adjacent to the café serves delicious Thai dishes and some of the dishes are hard to be found too. So, make sure you stop by. You won’t be disappointed.
Recommended Menu: Espresso Panna Cotta 90Baht, Gravity 90Baht, Cocaine(It’s just the name, don’t be alarmed) 100Baht
122/128 Chiang Mai Lake Land Compound (Adjacent to Krua Ya), Hours: 08.00 – 15.45 Hrs. Daily (Closed on the 1st & 16th), Parking: Street Parking
Cottontree Coffee Roasters
Source: @cottontreecnx
Cottontree is hidden in an old warehouse, next to a badminton court on a hotel grounds at the end of a back street. That sounds weird, right? But please do not let the location of this place be the reason not to check out this place.
Ton, the co-owner and barista, worked for an advertising agency in Bangkok right after he graduated. But he wanted to move back to Chiang Mai, he decided to open Cottontree with his girlfriend about four years ago. Prior to creating this café, he worked and gained all his skills from one of the most famous coffee spots in Chiang Mai, Akha Ama.
After working in a very happening coffee shop for years, Ton has become a professional barista but never really had time to interact with customers apart from greeting and thanking them. Thus, he wants to be able to interact more with his customers here at Cottontree. This cafes has chilling vibes and is decorated in mainly white with black steels and natural wood furniture.
Ton is soft-spoken but I can feel his passions for coffee while interviewing him. Ton roasts the beans on site with his 1 KG roaster. His small-batched beans are light-roasted and are collected from different farmers in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai areas. At Cottontree, you are ensured with stellar cups of coffee with skillfully drawn latte art on top, always.
Recommended Menu: Flatwhite 70Baht, Mocha Mint 90Baht, Amber Fin 90
Right next to the Green Hill Place behind Maya Shopping Mall, Hours: 08.00 – 16.00 Hrs. Daily. Closed on Tuesdays, Parking: Yes
Around 18grams
Source: Around 18grams
Running late but still need to grab a coffee? Looking for a quick coffee pit stop for your afternoon pick-me-up? I’ve got you covered on this one. Around 18grams is your best answer.
At the end of Nimmanhaemin Road, Soi 7, stands this tiny coffee bar. There’s one coffee bar with 3 seats at the bar and another table for 4, that’s it. This simple coffee pit is created by a few young guys who have been so passionate about coffee for years.
One of the owners, Oat, told me the concept of Around 18grams is a no-frills specialty coffee stand. He came up with this idea and teamed up with Film; who just won the 1st place in Thailand Creative Barista Challenge by BonCafé. Oat, Film and the team want this place to be a quick stop for coffee with striking tastes. They use wet and dry processed Thai beans mixed together and roast the beans themselves to create this special blend which gives very distinctive tastes.
Even though this place is fairly new, only a few months old, I have been stopping by whenever I’m in the area. For me, the taste of the blend is very particular with a little bit of complex ending notes. I think it’s special. I’ve never tasted Thai beans with this profile before. I like it.
Oat said he wants the tastes to be striking, to be unique but not too complicated. I think it’s either you love it or hate it. In order to decide whether you will love it or hate it, you will have to come to try it for yourself.
Recommended Menu: All hot coffees are 60Baht, All iced coffees are 65Baht. Signature drinks; Juhachi-San & Hana 80Baht
Towards the end of Nimmanhaemin Road, Soi7, Hours: 08.30 – 17.00 Hrs. Daily. Parking: Street parking
Roastwood Artisan Coffee
Source: @Roastwoodcnx
I first stumbled upon this small cafe about almost two months ago. I was driving home and I needed a coffee. Then I saw a sign of a new coffee shop really close to my house. I decided to pull up anyway without knowing what to expect.
Upon entering this 15 square meter cafe, I was greeted with a friendly smile by Man, the barista. I noticed the café is small but it feels bigger than it is because of the glass windows that allow a lot of natural lights. I asked for a piccolo. Instead, Man proposed a cup of Australian style ‘Magic’ which is their signature drink. I’ve never heard of this drink before but agreed to try it anyway and I’ve been hooked ever since.
The man gained all his experiences in the coffee world by working as a barista in Sydney for three years and a few more years here in Chiang Mai. Even though he chose to move to Chiang Mai, he has been continually doing what he loves and what he knows best; Coffee.
At the moment, Roastwood Artisan Coffee is where Man is running the machine, not just any machine but a Spirit. He was asked to join the cafe only about 3 months ago by 2 lovely owners Kaew-Kor and Jane. The owners choose four types of different beans from Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai to be used as the house blend. The house blend has a prominent chocolaty taste. When mixed with milk, it gives a bit bitter-sweet chocolaty taste.
The two sweet and super friendly owners; Kaew-Kor and Jane, wants to make this cafe to be cozy and that you can come to enjoy exceptional coffee here brewed by a very skillful barista.
Recommended Menu: Magic 75Baht, Ristretto 60Baht, Iced Espresso Doppio 75Baht
Nandakwang Compound, Canal Road, Hours: 09.30 – 17.30 Hrs. Daily except for Wednesdays, FB: @Roastwoodcnx, Parking: Yes
