Chiang Mai is a serious coffee town, and not by accident. It grows its own Arabica in the surrounding mountains, it has produced a world latte-art champion, and its third-wave scene is over a decade deep, full of roasters sourcing single origins from hill-tribe villages an hour away. For anyone who cares about what is in the cup, this is the guide: the best roasters and specialty cafes for espresso, pour-over, and single-origin Thai coffee.
For the wider scene, see our cafe hub; to see where the beans grow, our coffee farms and tours guide.
The pioneers and the icons
- Akha Ama: The farm-to-cup pioneer, sourcing organic, internationally recognised Arabica from its founder's Akha hill-tribe village. The most established name, with a devoted following. Also at its larger New Original branch.
- Ristr8to: The award-winning Nimman espresso bar opened by a world latte-art champion. Seriously good Australian-style coffee and signature drinks.
- Ponganes: A respected roaster founded by a Melbourne-trained barista, for considered espresso and filter.
The roasters to seek out
- Cottontree Coffee Roasters: A well-loved Nimman-area roaster.
- Graph: Design-led and creative, known for cold brew and inventive coffee.
- Ministry of Roasters: A wide selection of house-roasted beans from local farms and beyond.
- No.39: A hugely popular garden cafe that also takes its coffee seriously.
- Roastniyom and Brewginning: Two more for the specialty crawl.
- Nine One Coffee: A quality neighbourhood roaster.
Local beans, an hour away
What sets Chiang Mai apart is provenance. The Arabica in your cup is often grown in the northern mountains, Doi Chang, Doi Saket, Doi Inthanon, and hill-tribe villages, frequently under royal-project schemes that replaced opium with coffee. Cafes like Akha Ama trace their beans to specific villages. You can drink single-origin Thai coffee grown nearby, buy the beans to take home, and even visit the farms.
What it costs
| Drink | Price |
|---|---|
| Espresso drink (latte, flat white) | ฿60 to ฿120 |
| Pour-over / single origin | ฿80 to ฿150 |
| Signature drink | ฿100 to ฿180 |
| Bag of beans to take home | ฿250 to ฿600 |
Tips for a coffee crawl
- Base yourself in Nimman for the densest cluster of roasters within walking distance.
- Ask for the filter menu and the day's single origins for the best of the beans.
- Go early to beat the queues at Ristr8to and the famous spots.
- Buy beans to take home, especially Thai single origin; ask the barista for roast dates.
For beautiful settings, see our aesthetic cafes guide; for working over your coffee, the work cafes guide; and the cafe hub for everything else.