Good Coffee

[IrishIvan]

I noticed about a month ago Lumpoons coffe opened on Patak road just up from Chalong circle. Is it the same Lumpoons that was the 2nd hand shop and is it doing well?

[Bluedan]

Saw a big yellow sign on the Kamala main drag Jannie's Coffee that seems relatively new. Still having a hard time believing with all the overhead flogging cups of coffee can make money.

I understand how the big chains can do it, but for the little guys? How many cups to you have to sell to cover rent, electric, staff etc.???

Anyway, maybe Jannie is Thai and getting things on the cheap cheap........

Jannie is German. He uses Boncafe beans which are amongst the cheapest on the market.

You can make money from coffee alone but need to sell alot. In Australia a good cafe can sell several hundred cups in one day...and I am talking about specialty cafes, not franchises or chains. But anyway those cafes also serve good food. Obviously Phuket does not have much of a coffee culture.... I would say a beer culture ....and people are not so demanding when it comes to standard of espresso based coffee. For that reason food is all the more important in terms of making money. Location is also a huge factor.

I know that one of my customers Gallery cafe in Phuket town is always very busy. Most customers have patronisc this venue for cakes and food which are very good, and now that I have helped them to significantly raise the quality of their coffee, they are also making more money from coffee sales.

In my case the i opened a coffee shop as a base to show off my fresh roasted coffee for retail and wholesale customers, to consult for people interested in buying espresso equipment and to conduct barista training classes.

[grumpyoldman]

I think earlier in the thread the coffee guy here mentioned a similarity to the wine industry, and I will agree there.

One huge similarity has to do with individual tastes. Example, friend of mine likes Kona coffee, and Kona coffee gets rave reviews, very smooth stuff.

For me it tastes like chocolate milk and if I want chocolate milk I'll order chocolate milk. Give me a bitter French roast over that any day of the week.

Like wine, some salesman tells you, you should buy this funky Spanish wine because he says so (self proclaimed "wine guru expert") and because he says it's so great (for his money making) doesn't necessarily mean that it's suitable taste for all, nor widely sellable item.

Different taste buds in everybody's mouths.

[Bluedan]

I think earlier in the thread the coffee guy here mentioned a similarity to the wine industry, and I will agree there.

One huge similarity has to do with individual tastes. Example, friend of mine likes Kona coffee, and Kona coffee gets rave reviews, very smooth stuff.

For me it tastes like chocolate milk and if I want chocolate milk I'll order chocolate milk. Give me a bitter French roast over that any day of the week.

Like wine, some salesman tells you, you should buy this funky Spanish wine because he says so (self proclaimed "wine guru expert") and because he says it's so great (for his money making) doesn't necessarily mean that it's suitable taste for all, nor widely sellable item.

Different taste buds in everybody's mouths.

No matter which coffee beans you prefer i suggest that they are always going to taste better fresh than stale....but I suppose if a person simply prefers the taste of stale coffee ....fair enough it's their taste buds.

[honoluabay]

Most of the Kona coffee coming from the big island is getting better. After the big coffee scam of 2003.

Sent from my A200 using Thaivisa Connect App

[Jimi007]

Just bought some whole bean fresh roast at Hock Hoe Lee Coffee in Rawai. They've been in Phuket since 1958. Very tasty. 175 Baht for 250 grams. They also have 500 gram bags.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hock-Hoe-Lee-Coffee-shop/138886156201090

Edited February 8, 2013 by Jimi007

[hansgruber]

Just bought some whole bean fresh roast at Hock Hoe Lee Coffee in Rawai. They've been in Phuket since 1958. Very tasty. 175 Baht for 250 grams. They also have 500 gram bags.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hock-Hoe-Lee-Coffee-shop/138886156201090

Wife is addicted to it, her car stinks of it.

She goes every morning or if she is lazy she goes to Lumpoons at the circle.

[Jimi007]

Just bought some whole bean fresh roast at Hock Hoe Lee Coffee in Rawai. They've been in Phuket since 1958. Very tasty. 175 Baht for 250 grams. They also have 500 gram bags.

https://www.facebook...138886156201090

Wife is addicted to it, her car stinks of it.

She goes every morning or if she is lazy she goes to Lumpoons at the circle.

I'm not a coffee addict but a good cup of coffee now and then is enjoyable. It was a very smooth medium roast coffee. Their company history is quite interesting as well.

I messed up the link: https://www.facebook.com/HockHoeLee

Interesting article: http://coffeemarketnews.com/2012/07/30/phuket-people-raise-a-toast-to-a-coffee-roast/

And no, I don't own it, not associated with it, nor any other business here, but I thought it was an interesting article which made me think about going there and checking it out.

[thaibutty]

A lot of great info to be found in this thread. I didn't know that people get so serious about coffee....

For me, yes, I like a good coffee. But if there is nothing else around than I really dont mind the 3 in 1 packs.

For my taste the coffee landscape in Phuket is changing quickly with a lot of new places being opened all around the Island.

Just yesterday I was in a New place in Chalong. Left hand side of the pier road 2 or 3 places after the yellow Sea bees office. It looks more like a small furniture shop but is also a Café with great coffee, which is apparently imported.

This is closer to my office than the above mentioned place in kamala. But with the coffee knowledge of the owner and a price winning barista i will have to drop by soon.

[eezergood]

Its worth the visit

[MacChine]

Super Cheap has a selection of whole beans, Suzuki brand is one.

go to the end of the instant coffee aisle located in the south part, one aisle from the licqour section.

Yes hundreds of brands it seems, of horrible freeze dried coffee (blechhh!) How can Thais call that coffee?

NOw Costs about 500 per half kilo. The price was 270 until very recently.

If you make sure the bag is sealed, the beans are very good quality - nice and oily.

Please don't buy all of it.

Mmmm Thank I'll have a coffee right now.

Need to do a Super Cheap map

Edited February 10, 2013 by MacChine

[Valentine]

Coffee Beans n Greens in Central make a really good cup of coffee & if you like it I am sure the owner will tell you where he gets it from.

[RedCardinal]

Another vote for Hock Hoe Lee in Rawai. Owners are a nice couple, and the third generation in a local coffee family.

Great coffee, and the banana pancakes with bacon and maple syrup initially sounded revolting but actually turned out to be delicious.

[macahoom]

After all the buzz on here about coffee in Phuket, I was intrigued by Bluedan's claims that he sells a particularly good cup of coffee in his Kamala shop. So I called in this morning.

I'd like to make it clear that I am no coffee expert, but I love what I think is a good cup of coffee. And that is certainly what I got this morning – and more. Undoubtedly the best coffee I've had in Phuket; probably the best I've ever had, anywhere. It was noticeably “different” and Bluedan, the owner, assured me it was different because it's the real thing i.e. not stale, for a start.

I'll be back, for sure.

By the way, if you wanna talk about coffee, Bluedan will talk to you all day – and I mean that in a nice way!

[IrishIvan]

After all the buzz on here about coffee in Phuket, I was intrigued by Bluedan's claims that he sells a particularly good cup of coffee in his Kamala shop. So I called in this morning.

I'd like to make it clear that I am no coffee expert, but I love what I think is a good cup of coffee. And that is certainly what I got this morning – and more. Undoubtedly the best coffee I've had in Phuket; probably the best I've ever had, anywhere. It was noticeably “different” and Bluedan, the owner, assured me it was different because it's the real thing i.e. not stale, for a start.

I'll be back, for sure.

By the way, if you wanna talk about coffee, Bluedan will talk to you all day – and I mean that in a nice way!

where exactly is it? I drink at the Kamala Sports Bar sometimes. So where is it in relation to that?

[Rimmer]

Possible libellous post removed

[macahoom]

After all the buzz on here about coffee in Phuket, I was intrigued by Bluedan's claims that he sells a particularly good cup of coffee in his Kamala shop. So I called in this morning.

I'd like to make it clear that I am no coffee expert, but I love what I think is a good cup of coffee. And that is certainly what I got this morning – and more. Undoubtedly the best coffee I've had in Phuket; probably the best I've ever had, anywhere. It was noticeably “different” and Bluedan, the owner, assured me it was different because it's the real thing i.e. not stale, for a start.

I'll be back, for sure.

By the way, if you wanna talk about coffee, Bluedan will talk to you all day – and I mean that in a nice way!

where exactly is it? I drink at the Kamala Sports Bar sometimes. So where is it in relation to that?

Coming from Patong: First set of traffic lights in Kamala, turn left and it's 100 metres on the left.

Coming from Surin: Second set of traffic lights in Kamala, turn right and it's 100 metres on the left.

[ThaiDyed1956]

It's called "The Garage", at the main traffic lights in Kamala, turn toward the beach and it's on the left opposite a hairdresser thingy with fake grass out the front!

I was there 17/06/2013 but we got confused as we thought the shop was Andaman Blue, turns out that is the owners own coffee brand, the best coffee I've had for a while, also had a ham/cheese/tomato in toasted Turkish Bread, not sure if I'd go back just for the sandwich or the coffee!

[phuketsub]

There is a guy in a little shop on Koh Sim Bee Road that sells Robusta beans from Chumporn for 165 baht for half a kilo; quite a bit cheaper than at most retail outlets. He also has 'friends' that grow their own up in Chaing Mai and send him samples and he will give you some to try for free.

I understand that Arabica is preferred by most coffee aficionados, but personally I am okay with the Robusta. Plenty of bang for the buck.

Also, at the orchid festival at Saphan Hin (see events thread) there is a girl selling Robusta seedlings in case you want to try your hand at growing your own.

[Jimi007]

I loved Hok Hoe Lee Coffee, until they changed their roast about a month ago. Now it's too dark and tastes burnt to me. I guess I'll have to head over to Kata now and try the roaster over there.

[rwdrwdrwd]

I order a couple of kilos of Bluekoff online every couple of months, usually the blends (Number 2 and Hama) - excellent stuff

[seajae]

mate, we buy Aroma Gourmet Arabica. It makes really great cup of coffee with the machine no matter what we have(flat white/cappaccino/short black etc), its a really great coffee plus its not expensive.

Edited September 15, 2013 by seajae

[KarenBravo]

Frankly, the Bon Cafe bags are the best bargain coffee wise for the non-business owner..

[seajae]

Saw a big yellow sign on the Kamala main drag Jannie's Coffee that seems relatively new. Still having a hard time believing with all the overhead flogging cups of coffee can make money.

I understand how the big chains can do it, but for the little guys? How many cups to you have to sell to cover rent, electric, staff etc.???

Anyway, maybe Jannie is Thai and getting things on the cheap cheap........

Jannie is German. He uses Boncafe beans which are amongst the cheapest on the market.

You can make money from coffee alone but need to sell alot. In Australia a good cafe can sell several hundred cups in one day...and I am talking about specialty cafes, not franchises or chains. But anyway those cafes also serve good food. Obviously Phuket does not have much of a coffee culture.... I would say a beer culture ....and people are not so demanding when it comes to standard of espresso based coffee. For that reason food is all the more important in terms of making money. Location is also a huge factor.

I know that one of my customers Gallery cafe in Phuket town is always very busy. Most customers have patronisc this venue for cakes and food which are very good, and now that I have helped them to significantly raise the quality of their coffee, they are also making more money from coffee sales.

In my case the i opened a coffee shop as a base to show off my fresh roasted coffee for retail and wholesale customers, to consult for people interested in buying espresso equipment and to conduct barista training classes.

my daughter teaches barrista's in Australia and I am fussy with a good cup of coffee, unfortunately in Thailand I am yet to find a barrista that actually knows how to make a proper coffee. It is usually "burnt" or just too strong and they do not realize that there is a difference between various types, doesnt matter of you order a cappaccino or a latte they all come out the same