Bangkok might not seem like a world capital for coffee enthusiasts, but it’s home to a surprising range of great cafes that sell freshly roasted, delicious coffee. Better yet, many of them are surprisingly affordable, with freshly brewed espresso available for less than $2 a cup in some of the off-the-beaten-track cafes you’ll find around Bangkok.
So put away the Nespresso capsules you usually drink (a recent arrival to Thailand) and get out your Thai baht for a quick trip to one of these coffee hangouts around Bangkok.
In Thonglor/Ekamai:
Famous for its excellent espresso, Roots is easy to find inside The Commons mall on Thonglor Soi 17. Prices are a little on the high side (as you’d expect for Thong Lor), but the coffee is excellent and well worth the 100ish baht you’ll pay for a cup. Best visited in the late morning, followed by brunch at one of the many dining options inside The Commons.
This small cafe on Ekkamai Soi 2 brews excellent coffee and sells it at surprisingly fair prices, especially compared to the cafes you’ll find a few blocks over in Thong Lor. This cafe is a great place to work after enjoying your morning coffee, thanks to the almost always excellent music that’s playing and the large desk at the back of the cafe.
Located inside inside Piman 49 and about five to 10 minutes from Thong Lor BTS Station by taxi, this friendly coffee bar serves excellent espresso and a variety of fresh juices. The food here is also good — especially the breakfast — although some of the lunch dishes are a little on the small side.