Sawasdee krub/ka!
Kafae yen
ka-FAE yen
Iced coffee
Kafae ron
ka-FAE ron
Hot coffee
Mai sai nam tan
my sai nam TAHN
No sugar
Check bin
check bin
The bill, please
Traditional Thai iced coffee: a blend of coffee, corn, soybean, and sesame seeds brewed through a cloth filter and served with condensed milk over ice. Intensely sweet and nutty.
Thai iced coffee — strongly brewed coffee with condensed and evaporated milk over ice. Rich and sweet.
Standard espresso at specialty cafes, often using Thai-grown arabica from the northern highlands.
A popular specialty drink: espresso shot poured over cold milk, creating a layered effect.
Pour-over and drip coffee using Thai single-origin beans from Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai.
Thailand's northern highlands (Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Doi Chaang) now produce excellent arabica that's gaining international recognition.
Traditional Thai iced coffee is very sweet — specify 'mai sai nam tan' (no sugar) or 'wan nit noi' (a little sweet) if you prefer less.
Bangkok's specialty cafe scene is booming, with stunning interior design a major part of the experience.
Street-side iced coffee from vendors is cheap, delicious, and part of daily life — usually served in a plastic bag with a straw.
The 'dirty' coffee (espresso over cold milk) originated in Tokyo but has become a signature order in Bangkok's specialty cafes.
Air conditioning is a major cafe selling point. Many Thais choose cafes partly for the cool escape from tropical heat.
Not expected at casual cafes. 20-50 baht at upscale establishments.
฿60-160 ($1.70-4.50) for specialty coffee, ฿25-45 for street coffee
Did you know? Thailand's coffee-growing regions in the north were part of a royal project to replace opium cultivation with coffee and tea farming — transforming former poppy fields into arabica farms.