Bangkok's Coffee Shops

When I was growing up in Bangkok, the only coffee I ever knew was Oliang which is a blend made of coffee beans, soybeans, corn and sesame seeds. It's usually served sweetened, iced and sometimes with the addition of condense milk or evaporated milk. The taste of Oliang is strong and super sweet and it can easily be purchased from street vendors. The other type of coffee I drank was bitter, over drawn Caffe Americano which you can purchase at hotels or restaurants. The past 3 years, the coffee scene in Bangkok has changed tremendously. There are now specialized coffee shops that do in house roasting and offer single origins or special blends of coffee beans for their pour-overs or espresso drinks.

One noticeable difference between coffee shops here compared to America is the absence of pre-made drip coffee. If you want to order a drip coffee the closest offering is a pour- over. You need to select the type of coffee bean you want, then the barrista will ground the coffee, place it into a filter and slowly pour hot water over the grounds, and let gravity do its magic. Everything is weighed precisely on a scale in these cafes from the coffee beans, to the amount of water used in making the drink, to the espresso shots, and milk. The wait for your coffee is also significantly longer but I don't mind spending extra time for a perfectly crafted cup of joe.

This drink is Clean Hands at Hands and Heart cafe. It is a latte with house made caramel and a sprinkle of salt around the rim. It was not too sweet and the espresso shot was strong and balanced with the perfect amount of milk and foam.

Another popular place is Ceresia Coffee Roasters. You can see through a clear window the roasting room and they even post the dates of when their beans were roasted!

Most coffee shops in Bangkok offer only whole milk. I'm not a fan of cow milk so I was really happy to discover that Ceresia and D'Ark offer almond milk with a surcharge. The one drink I like to order at any cafe in Bangkok is the Piccolo latte. It is a shot of espresso with a tiny bit of milk served in a demitasse glass. I don't enjoy drinking large lattes because I like my espresso drinks strong and with larger drinks, the taste of espresso is too diluted so Piccolo is the perfect balance for me.

Below is a list of coffee houses which I visited during my trips to Bangkok. If you have other recommendations, I would love to hear about them. Thank you for visiting my page.

Roast http://www.roastbkk.com Some of their locations offer a full menu and everything is made in house.
Ceresia Coffee Roasters http://ceresiacoffeeroasters.com
Hands and Heart Cafe 33 Sukhumivit 38 Alley. They also offer sandwiches and some brunch items.
Phil Coffee Company http://philscoffeecompany.com This coffee shop is hidden in an alley way off of Ekkamai.
Ink and Lion Soi Sukhumvit 63-Soi Ekkamai 2. When I was there the owner used a teaspoon to make sure all the coffee grounds were dispersed evenly before tamping the coffee grounds.
Pacamara In Rain Hill shopping mall at 47 Sukhumvit.
Rocket http://rocketcoffeebar.com One of the best Swedish cinnamon buns I have ever tasted. They offer a full menu as well as drinks and fresh juices.
Artis Coffee Cute little coffee shop with an outdoor seating area located on Sukhumvit Soi 18.