Coffee In Chiang Mai

[pjclark1]

I always liked the coffee at Bake 'n' Bite. (that was in the shop now taken over by butterisbetter)

Today at immigration I noticed the coffee shop that has appeared in the immigration outer 'garden' sells buns from Bake 'n' Bite.

The latte they did was excellent at 40bht and the hot cinnamon bun was also very good at 35bht.

Makes it worth a trip to immigration!

I was sad that my 90 day report only took 30 minutes.

I could have done with the excuse for a second coffee.

Edited January 5, 2011 by pjclark1

[newbie07]

The quality of coffee and ambience at Lamdeeka on Canal Rd is good in my view. Location is heading out from Chiang Mai University south towards Hang Dong. It's situated on opposite side of road from B2 (formerly Best Western Hotel) about 1 km further on from there at the entrance of a moobahn. Good for photo shoots, relaxing, browsing the Internet. Recently featured on national TV (Channel 9).

I find coffee (100% Arabica) at CMU Faculty of Agriculture good to purchase for home use. 500 grammes for 200 baht. It's situated inside the University grounds immediately opposite petrol station off Canal Rd between Huay Kaew and Suthep Roads. You can also sample the coffee before buying.

[PreechaWsutti]

I'm still wondering which "soi 1" he is taking about. There are hundreds of them in Chiang Mai.

I think it's in Soi Nimmarnhaeminn 1. This Soi has a lot of art products /peter

[2020]

I don't typically go to coffee shops in town as very few do a better job than I do at home. And those tend to be very pricey.

I agree the likes of starbucks and wawee are a bit on the pricey side, although the nice independent coffee shops are considerably cheaper and the coffee still surprisingly good, granted it requires a bit of trial and error but if you find a nice small coffee shop serving good coffee for about 35 baht, I think that's very reasonable. Plus I guess it depends if you enjoy going to a coffee shop. I enjoy having a coffee and reading my book, I'm prepared to pay a bit extra at wawee near where I live because it's good coffee and nice to sit and read.

Agreed!

[NaMah]

Will customs let me bring my Rancilio Rocky burr grinder in country in my luggage?

I can live without my Technivorm and just use a French press but I've got to have a burr grinder.

Edited April 2, 2012 by NaMah

[ARISTIDE]

Also because I think all coffee being marketed as Arabica grown in Thailand are in fact hybrid Robusta and Arabica developed by Portugal scientists or something.(as I remember from somewhere)

http://it.doa.go.th/...ail.php?id=1190

hybrid Arabica Coffee Varietal Improvement: Catimor CIFC 7963-13-28

The main problem is leaf rust disease caused by Hemileia vastatrix B.&Br. which widely destroys coffee plantations. The Arabica coffee variety, Catimor CIFC 7963, has been intorduced to study and select for leaf rust disease resistance. The rust resistant varietal line namely CIFC 7963-13-28 was selected and trialed in 4 locations since 1985.

No disrespect intended but most Asian countries just can't make coffee, whether it's the water or whatever.

Like any food, you can not make good produce. The great majority of beans grown, harvested, dried and roasted in Asia (particularly Thailand and Vietnam) are inferior in quality due to poor site specs., inferior quality beans, wrong climate, poor drying techniques and the list is exhaustive...

Edited April 2, 2012 by ARISTIDE

[Paagai]

This is quite an old thread that's been bumped. Given the number of new coffee places opened in CM in the last year or so it's quite out of date. IIRC there are at least a couple of more recent threads with good coffee suggestions so I won't repeat here.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Will customs let me bring my Rancilio Rocky burr grinder in country in my luggage?

Yes they will. I once brought a burr grinder in my carry-on luggage, which resulted in a bit of a "<deleted>?!" moment by the X-ray operator before boarding my flight. But after some additional checking I could bring it on board. Thai customs never check me for some reason, and even if hey did I don't think it would be an issue.

This is quite an old thread that's been bumped. Given the number of new coffee places opened in CM in the last year or so it's quite out of date. IIRC there are at least a couple of more recent threads with good coffee suggestions so I won't repeat here.

Agreed; since writing a previous reply on not liking coffee shops in town I've changed my mind a little, and now have a favorite place for great coffee, and a favorite place for a very nice setting. (Sadly not unified in the same place, but ok.) Favorite for coffee is Tom's in Rim Ping, favorite for the setting (and value for money) is on the River, south of Rim Ping Riverside on the right hand side before you get to the big Karaoke building. Very nice riverside setting, quiet and doesn't break the bank.

Edited April 3, 2012 by WinnieTheKhwai

[Cheesekraft]

any good coffee shop open after 10 PM?

[llp]

How does Akha Ama Coffee compare to the rest of the cafe's mentions?

[Paagai]

How does Akha Ama Coffee compare to the rest of the cafe's mentions?

Award winning Akha Ama is in a whole league above a lot of the places mentioned in this old thread. Same would be true for Impresso, Ristr8to and Bakerista to name a few good one's. All in the Nimmanheminda/Santitham areas - just Google to find out more.

Fortunately Akha Ama's location is well hidden so this well kept secret is safe for a while

[tfc]

How does Akha Ama Coffee compare to the rest of the cafe's mentions?

Award winning Akha Ama is in a whole league above a lot of the places mentioned in this old thread. Same would be true for Impresso, Ristr8to and Bakerista to name a few good one's. All in the Nimmanheminda/Santitham areas - just Google to find out more.

Fortunately Akha Ama's location is well hidden so this well kept secret is safe for a while

Ristr8to has had the best coffee I've had out of my own house in Chiang Mai so far. If these other ones are in the same league then I'm going to give them a go too.

[LarryBird]

Coffee and Dairy lovers next to Empress Dental, near Mae Hia driving range and Yummy pizza is an awesome hang out. Great food and cakes too. Nice atmosphere, and lovely service.

[uptheos]

I've noticed there are an awful lot of coffee lovers, that carry their net-books/laptops everywhere they go. I have a hunch that the quality of the coffee is measured against the quality of the free wifi.

[JXXXL]

Whatever happened to Leibenard? Years ago, I used to buy my beans there as they roasted them onsite. The lady proprietor was quite the barista and made some great drinks. Leibenard was the first really good espresso shop I can remember in Chiang Mai.

I am a home barista and espresso enthusiast. The key to great coffee is mostly to do with the skill of the barista. There are hotels and restaurants with top of the line equipment and the quality of the cup is sh1t. For a chain, the skill of the baristas at Black Canyon is impressive, light years beyond what you find at Starbucks. They clearly invest in training.

My vote for the best cup espresso drinks is Coffee by Thom at Rim Ping near central airport plaza. They make a great cup at a reasonable price, but their beans cost a bomb. Hilkoff has really good beans at a reasonable price.

[elektrified]

Coffee and Dairy lovers next to Empress Dental, near Mae Hia driving range and Yummy pizza is an awesome hang out. Great food and cakes too. Nice atmosphere, and lovely service.

Isn't the coffee there just one of the chain brands? I don't remember which brand but I didn't think the coffee was anything worth remembering.

[jbstrong]

Following on from my separate post about where to get a decent flat white (apologies for the duplication of topic and thanks for the replies), following one of the recommendations I found the flat whites at ristr8to really top notch, a place that seems to take coffee pretty seriously as you can see from these pictures!

http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/jota_be_ese/Thailand/Chiang%20Mai/21faadab.jpg

http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/jota_be_ese/Thailand/Chiang%20Mai/174f925d.jpg

http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/jota_be_ese/Thailand/Chiang%20Mai/7326265e.jpg

http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/jota_be_ese/Thailand/Chiang%20Mai/6400af7c.jpg

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Following on from my separate post about where to get a decent flat white (apologies for the duplication of topic and thanks for the replies), following one of the recommendations I found the flat whites at ristr8to really top notch, a place that seems to take coffee pretty seriously as you can see from these pictures!

http://i906.photobuc...ai/21faadab.jpg

http://i906.photobuc...ai/174f925d.jpg

http://i906.photobuc...ai/7326265e.jpg

http://i906.photobuc...ai/6400af7c.jpg

Good heavens. I'm really really impressed with that menu.

Chiang Mai has come a long way from the times it was either Nescafe or some uncle with a cart serving coffee brewed through a big sock.

[jamesbrock]

Following on from my separate post about where to get a decent flat white (apologies for the duplication of topic and thanks for the replies), following one of the recommendations I found the flat whites at ristr8to really top notch, a place that seems to take coffee pretty seriously as you can see from these pictures!

http://i906.photobuc...ai/21faadab.jpg

http://i906.photobuc...ai/174f925d.jpg

http://i906.photobuc...ai/7326265e.jpg

http://i906.photobuc...ai/6400af7c.jpg

And, as an Australian-trained barista, has soy milk for us lactose intolerants (and the tree-huggers)!

[OriginalPoster]

I've noticed there are an awful lot of coffee lovers, that carry their net-books/laptops everywhere they go. I have a hunch that the quality of the coffee is measured against the quality of the free wifi.

That's precisely the reason that I don't drink coffee - I can't afford an iPad.

[mesquite]

There is now yet another reason to either like or dislike Starbucks coffee, depending on your political orientation.

http://townhall.com/columnists/maggiegallagher/2012/03/23/dump_starbucks

[jamesbrock]

There is now yet another reason to either like or dislike Starbucks coffee, depending on your political orientation. http://townhall.com/columnists/maggiegallagher/2012/03/23/dump_starbucks

I can't abide the taste of Starbucks coffee, and loathe the McDonaldisation of coffee with the Starbucks business model, but I'm going to have to go out of my way to have one - specifically for the last sentence of that article!

[LarryBird]

Baan Suan Ka-fee is awesome! I just went there the other day. The coffee was excellent, the atmosphere is great, and the location makes for a fun bpai-tiao! It's located behind Doi Kham. Just follow the signs.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Another honorable mention for the environment; Suan Buak Had park, in the South-Western city corner, now has an air conditioned coffee shop that has free WiFi and also serves food at reasonable prices. (Most one-plate dishes are 45 baht). It's nice because it overlooks the park.

Very good coffee too; pro equipment, etc.

Edited April 23, 2012 by WinnieTheKhwai

[uptheos]

There is now yet another reason to either like or dislike Starbucks coffee, depending on your political orientation.

http://townhall.com/.../dump_starbucks

I wonder how many people know that Cochineal, which is used for colouring in Starbuck's Strawberry Frappucino's, is actually ground up insects?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2120796/Starbucks-admits-Strawberry-Frappuccino-contains-crushed-bugs.html

[T_Dog]

For a bit of an adventure, try Pankled Coffee on the road toward Pai. (18 km from the 107 intersection.) This coffee shop has great coffee with excellent food and is popular with cyclists. Just this morning I was coming off a single track trail and ran into a pair of roadies on their way back to Chiang Mai after hitting the coffee shop.

[wolf5370]

Used to go the the little coffe stall in BigiC CM Hod (Hang Dong Rd) - but it moved to next door to Sarassass in the same road - go there too from time to time, but since I moved last year it's out of walking distance (be like that laddle in the rigging in Mutiny on the Bounty). Anyhow, nice coffe freshly made, nice cakes (I know the Thai baker too - used to be a neighbour) and English/American breakfast available too. Friendly atmosphere too. Miss the place. Can;t remember the Thai girl's name that owns it though (brain currently on simmer as the dial hits 104f at 17:39!)

[monty1412]

This will seem so absurd but Ive found the coffee at number one bar is good. hate the place full of Kallsin girls trying to act as HiSo's but the coffee is good and sometimes after a ride you feel the need for a fix and so go there I do.

[wolf5370]

There is now yet another reason to either like or dislike Starbucks coffee, depending on your political orientation.

http://townhall.com/.../dump_starbucks

I wonder how many people know that Cochineal, which is used for colouring in Starbuck's Strawberry Frappucino's, is actually ground up insects?

http://www.dailymail...ushed-bugs.html

Saw a documentary about fast food myths - was really saying that McDonauld's big macs are a fairly goos balanced meal and only 540 odd calories and low in "naughty" fats etc (but leave the fies, drinks and salad dressing slone) - but also compared it to Starbucks. Apparantly their 36 page online (didn't bother looking myself) nutritional facts document shoes coffies in excess of 770 calories and very high in sugar. They said that burger joints get the backlash of fat America, whilst coffee houses are made to look like healthy places with their carrot cakes etc, when in truth its probably the reverse. Interesting stuff.

Also covered by InFact (a YouTube based serties of shorts explain and poo-pooing commonly held myths - such as the plastic water bottles leech carciagens and islands of carrier bags in the Atlantic etc).

//Edit: Site is here: http://infactvideo.com/

Edited April 24, 2012 by wolf5370

[el jefe]

There is now yet another reason to either like or dislike Starbucks coffee, depending on your political orientation.

http://townhall.com/.../dump_starbucks

I wonder how many people know that Cochineal, which is used for colouring in Starbuck's Strawberry Frappucino's, is actually ground up insects?

http://www.dailymail...ushed-bugs.html

It may be too late to get the bug infused coffee. Starbucks has already announced that they'll start using lycopene to color their Strawberry Frappucinos.

I'm not sure which is funnier, that Starbucks offers a coffee that vegetarians can't drink, or that they have to use tomatoes to color a strawberry drink. What's wrong with using strawberries???