Akha Ama, Chiang Mai - Thailand

moonmueang soi 9 Tambon Si Phum, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand

Chiang Mai is, without a doubt, Thailand’s coffee capital. With more cafes than temples, anyone who has been to a Thai city will know just how impressive a feat this is. Supposedly a reaction to the King’s decree where he tried to move the area away from growing opium, it was soon found the region was perfect for coffee growing and so a love affair bloomed and now Chiang Mai has all manner of coffee spots dotted around the city for enthusiasts and casual caffeinators to enjoy.

However, with so many about, it’s hard to know which ones stand out as truly great purveyors of the world’s favourite drug, and so, when one makes it into the Lonely Planet Global Coffee Tour book as an outstanding place to visit, you sit up and pay attention.

A tiny slice of a building perched on the corner of a street that’s away from most of the usual tourist hustle, it’s minimalist wooden vibes make it feel more like a Japanese tea house than a Thai coffee shop, with a all pervading sense of calm permeating through everything once you enter.

Akha Ama uses only 100% organic arabica beans grown by the Akha people, a hill tribe from Northern Thailand. The cafe acts as a conduit for them to grow and sell directly to coffee enthusiasts and serves up this strong social angle alongside high-quality coffee that tastes like no other.

Gorgeously smooth, the gently balanced coffee is immensely satisfying in how it slips around the mouth. Great with or without milk, the cold brew blends and iced coffee options excel in their complexities and really make it a must visit for any fan of speciality beverages.