Looking for "Real Coffee" in Thailand.

[doggie1955]

I have yet to find a place to get a real cup of coffee here in Thailand, I do know the #1 coffee in the world is made here in Thailand... called "Black Ivory" But that sh!t sell for $65.00 a pound.

And most coffee you buy here is all dead coffee, see video to understsnd what is dead coffee. Read coffee is from green beans and roasted, then let it sit for 12 hrs. After you roast the beans,

the beans are only good for about one week. I had a place back home who made real coffee, he made it at 6 pm that night. Ready to go the next day. there is a big different from coffee shop or store coffee.

Watch the video, and you will understand what I am looking for. Maybe there is a place in BKK?

 

 

 )

[Peterw42]

There are lots of boutique coffee roasters/cafes in Thailand. 

Do you think a guy that makes coffee roasting machines may have a vested interest in extolling the virtues (above other factors) of fresh roasted coffee ?

 

The whole black ivory or Kopi luwak (through the digestive system) thing is resulting in caged animals being force fed etc. A little like caged battery hen egg production.

 

 

[KC 71]

The Northern Thai Arabica is really good. I get mine for 800bht/kg

from a friend of mine.It has been a family business for many moons 

(Akha -Hilltribe ) 
funnily enough ,i just got my new machine from lazada + some free coffee (Doi Chang) .small world ! 
☕️????

 

[Speedo1968]

If you think "Black Ivory" ( from elephant ) is expensive pop on down to Vietnam.

Weasel sh.. coffee ( from civet ) sells for 'farmed' $100 - 500 per pound or 'wild' $500 per kg.    A cup will be in the range of $35 - $80.    For a taste that's different it is worth it.     There is also a bat version where the bat eats the civet poo and the subsequent poo from the bat is collected.

Low grade farmed coffee, sometimes from Indonesia could be as low as $100 kg.

 

I used to visit ASPAC countries from England every few weeks for a month or more at a time, always tried to make VIetnam my last on one but last stop and buy a few kilos of coffee from the local coffee market.

At that time back in the 90's the majority of beans were from wild civet, even now farmed coffee beans are said to be below 200kg a year.

One year I visited I could not find beans in the market, heard during that time that something happened with the harvest and prices rocketed to the 1,000's of dollars.

 

In Vietnam the outdoor coffee shops served the coffee and hot water separate, you placed a metal filter container on the cup which had a screw tightening plate so you could adjust strength of coffee never seen it in Thailand.

 

I live south of Khon Kaen, a friend has his own speciality coffee shop ( comfortable,quiet, soft jazz music ).

Regulars who appreciate only and only a few drop-in customers.    He has a wonderful small / clean 6am to 6pm restaurant on the opposite side of the road that is always busy.

 

He spends most weekends scouring the markets in Bangkok for new coffees and then blends his own.     Currently he is offering real Latin American and Turkish coffee, including Guatemalan and Cuban.    He has a very special secret blend of his own that I called "Green coffee" ( to me it tastes slightly unripe ), it gives no sudden highs but a wonderful all day euphoric feeling without the crash later in the day.

The Turkish coffee was opened especially for me, ( drink at a Lebanese restaurant whenever in Bangkok, haven't lived there for almost 10 years ); I doubt other customers will find it pleasing to drink.   

 

I used to live in Paraguay and drank yerba mate every day, different taste and effects to coffee and almost as many different types as coffee.    I know it is available online here but in Paraguay it was often mixed with other herbs depending on what one wanted from the drink.

 

Sorry for the rambling response - good luck in your hunt ...

[Speedo1968]

38 minutes ago, Peterw42 said:

There are lots of boutique coffee roasters/cafes in Thailand. 

Do you think a guy that makes coffee roasting machines may have a vested interest in extolling the virtues (above other factors) of fresh roasted coffee ?

 

The whole black ivory or Kopi luwak (through the digestive system) thing is resulting in caged animals being force fed etc. A little like caged battery hen egg production.

 

 

I agree 100% regarding the farming of civets, unfortunately that is what man does best, destroy what he enjoys to make it cheaper then cries because it doesn't taste the same.    I am vegan so try to be careful what I eat but you can extend that to "how are the carrots you eat grown ?"    I only drank freerange Kopi luwak there is a taste difference and it is why it could fetch 1,000s of dollars at the market.

 

"Black Ivory" coffee is traditionally from elephants, a little difficult to cage but restricted space of any kind is still factory farming.

[Proboscis]

Don't know where you get it in Thailand but the best coffee local to SE Asia I found is Arabica bean from the Bolovan Plateau in Thailand. I find that if you blend in about 10% Robusta into the mix, the taste is enhanced.

[doggie1955]

3 hours ago, Speedo1968 said:

If you think "Black Ivory" ( from elephant ) is expensive pop on down to Vietnam.

Weasel sh.. coffee ( from civet ) sells for 'farmed' $100 - 500 per pound or 'wild' $500 per kg.    A cup will be in the range of $35 - $80.    For a taste that's different it is worth it.     There is also a bat version where the bat eats the civet poo and the subsequent poo from the bat is collected.

Low grade farmed coffee, sometimes from Indonesia could be as low as $100 kg.

 

I used to visit ASPAC countries from England every few weeks for a month or more at a time, always tried to make VIetnam my last on one but last stop and buy a few kilos of coffee from the local coffee market.

At that time back in the 90's the majority of beans were from wild civet, even now farmed coffee beans are said to be below 200kg a year.

One year I visited I could not find beans in the market, heard during that time that something happened with the harvest and prices rocketed to the 1,000's of dollars.

 

In Vietnam the outdoor coffee shops served the coffee and hot water separate, you placed a metal filter container on the cup which had a screw tightening plate so you could adjust strength of coffee never seen it in Thailand.

 

I live south of Khon Kaen, a friend has his own speciality coffee shop ( comfortable,quiet, soft jazz music ).

Regulars who appreciate only and only a few drop-in customers.    He has a wonderful small / clean 6am to 6pm restaurant on the opposite side of the road that is always busy.

 

He spends most weekends scouring the markets in Bangkok for new coffees and then blends his own.     Currently he is offering real Latin American and Turkish coffee, including Guatemalan and Cuban.    He has a very special secret blend of his own that I called "Green coffee" ( to me it tastes slightly unripe ), it gives no sudden highs but a wonderful all day euphoric feeling without the crash later in the day.

The Turkish coffee was opened especially for me, ( drink at a Lebanese restaurant whenever in Bangkok, haven't lived there for almost 10 years ); I doubt other customers will find it pleasing to drink.   

 

I used to live in Paraguay and drank yerba mate every day, different taste and effects to coffee and almost as many different types as coffee.    I know it is available online here but in Paraguay it was often mixed with other herbs depending on what one wanted from the drink.

 

Sorry for the rambling response - good luck in your hunt ...

I do love Vietnam coffee, I can get my hands on it here in BKK online from G7 coffee.

Now it looks like I will be moving to Khon Kaen area for work, I will be growing at the University soon. So where is this speciality coffee shop at?

 

[phantomfiddler]

Indonesian coffee from southern Sumatra beats anything Thailand produces, hands down AND without going through some animal,s digestive tract !

[wombat]

5 hours ago, Peterw42 said:

Kopi luwak

there is a thai alternative, those black monkey dung balls dropped in hot water are great

 

[Pravda]

Tim Hortons 

[natway09]

I have tried the "civit" coffee in Indonesia many times but cannot taste a great difference.

A lot of all the yabber is just marketing & in my case a good ground coffee made by the drip method 

activates my  my taste buds just fine. Yes reseal & keep in the fridge once opened.

Cannot tell difference between Monday & Friday, so I must be a heathen

[Pilotman]

we serve "cats poo coffee" (Kuwak) to mates at dinner get together,  its always good for a laugh and a debate on relative coffees. I must admit that it is very nice coffee but I'm not sure that it deserves its reputation as one of the best tasting (and expensive) coffee blends around. 

[Logosone]

1 hour ago, phantomfiddler said:

Indonesian coffee from southern Sumatra beats anything Thailand produces, hands down AND without going through some animal,s digestive tract !

Indeed Indonesian coffee is greatly superior to Thai coffee, especially Sumatran.

 

Anyone who wants good coffee in Thailand should buy Cafe Ronn.

 

However, that coffee, whilst good, is nowhere near on the same level as Mandailing Estate coffee from Sumatra. 

 

Indonesian coffee is the best in the world. Indeed the most expensive coffee is also Indonesian.

[Logosone]

13 minutes ago, natway09 said:

I have tried the "civit" coffee in Indonesia many times but cannot taste a great difference.

A lot of all the yabber is just marketing & in my case a good ground coffee made by the drip method 

activates my  my taste buds just fine. Yes reseal & keep in the fridge once opened.

Cannot tell difference between Monday & Friday, so I must be a heathen

Some Kopi Luwak sold is not real Kopi Lowak. 

 

However, there is no mistaking real Kopi Luwak. It has a unique lack of acidity and smoothness, you would taste the difference right away.

 

The one to buy is Mandailing Estate Kopi Luwak. In my opinion Mandailing Estate make the best coffee in the world, better than Cafe Ronn even.

[Ombra]

3 hours ago, Proboscis said:

Don't know where you get it in Thailand but the best coffee local to SE Asia I found is Arabica bean from the Bolovan Plateau in Thailand. I find that if you blend in about 10% Robusta into the mix, the taste is enhanced.

The Bolaven Plateau is in Laos.

[Aussieroaming]

2 hours ago, phantomfiddler said:

Indonesian coffee from southern Sumatra beats anything Thailand produces, hands down AND without going through some animal,s digestive tract !

Let us know what makes it so much better? I would be interested to know. Cheers and thanks

[Speedo1968]

3 hours ago, doggie1955 said:

I do love Vietnam coffee, I can get my hands on it here in BKK online from G7 coffee.

Now it looks like I will be moving to Khon Kaen area for work, I will be growing at the University soon. So where is this speciality coffee shop at?

 

Banphai, about 50km south of KK off the main highway.
What will you be growing ( not sure if that was a typo ) at KKU ?

[Tarteso]

Rim ping (Chiang Mai) Brazil and Colombian COVFEFE beans... the very best IMO. Expensive? yess.

[Logosone]

5 minutes ago, Aussieroaming said:

Let us know what makes it so much better? I would be interested to know. Cheers and thanks

It's the vulcanic earth. It gives Indonesian coffee a greater complexity, depth and low acidity. Makes it perfect for very dark roasting.

 

The roasting is important, sometimes you get Mandailing that is poorly processed and it's no good.

 

Mandailing is the best one though, better than Gaya or Toraja, because Mandailing is the most complex, deepest, and dense flavour.

 

Wonderful coffee when roasted right and well prepared.

[checkered flag]

There are many small producers in Thailand, esp in the north. We have a favorite but supplies are limited and he's not looking for more business. We're just happy to be on his list. We have a grind and brew machine that's used every morning. Occasionally, someone will stop by we'll do a second batch. 

[Skeptic7]

Unlike beer, plenty of good coffee here. Of course it's a matter of individual taste. 

[phkauf]

If you are in BKK, try Rosetta Coffee near the Rama 3 bridge. They roast the beans in the shop and have a great selection of Thai and non-Thai beans. I like the dark roast blend of Thai beans and Bolaven for 125 baht for 200 grams - a great price. But they have a large selection of beans and all very fresh.

If you are in Vietnam, try the Trung Nguyen Culi blend beans (not the pre-packaged stuff in the grocery stores) from their own fancy stores. Chocolate smell and taste - one of my favorites.

[terminatorchiangmai]

Nescafe red cup is not real coffee?

[doggie1955]

1 hour ago, Tarteso said:

Rim ping (Chiang Mai) Brazil and Colombian COVFEFE beans... the very best IMO. Expensive? yess.

Will be in Chiang Mai in two days, so what is Rim Ping?

[doggie1955]

1 hour ago, phkauf said:

If you are in BKK, try Rosetta Coffee near the Rama 3 bridge. They roast the beans in the shop and have a great selection of Thai and non-Thai beans. I like the dark roast blend of Thai beans and Bolaven for 125 baht for 200 grams - a great price. But they have a large selection of beans and all very fresh.

If you are in Vietnam, try the Trung Nguyen Culi blend beans (not the pre-packaged stuff in the grocery stores) from their own fancy stores. Chocolate smell and taste - one of my favorites.

Well Thank You for that, I will be in BKK next month, I will stop by and pick up some beans... and I love Trung Nguyen Culi blend beans. https://www.facebook.com/thailandtrungnguyen/

[Peterphuket]

For long time I searching for good coffee for my espressomachine, but hardly to find in this country.

Even Illy-coffee here is not comparable with the one I can buy in Europe.

[keithathome]

5555 I bet you all call coffee jerks baristas

 

[OneeyedJohn]

The best coffee from the beans I buy locally always turnout the tastiest coffee 3 days after roasting.

They have de-gassed and one can smell the aroma.

 

I had a Doi Chang coffee yesterday in a local coffee shop, and it was disgusting compared to what I can make.

 

I had to go home and have a beer to get rid of the aftertaste in my mouth.

[phkauf]

1 hour ago, doggie1955 said:

Well Thank You for that, I will be in BKK next month, I will stop by and pick up some beans... and I love Trung Nguyen Culi blend beans. https://www.facebook.com/thailandtrungnguyen/

Thanks for the link to their store in BKK, never knew they had one here. Will make a visit soon.

[shaemus]

Try Vector coffee roasting in Khon Kaen. They have a website and deliver via Kerry express. Good medium roast, excellent for expresso. 

 

https://www.vectorroaster.com/?post_type=product

 

They sell alot of single origins. A bit pricy i reccon