ENP Coffee in City, Chiang Mai - Thailand

1 Ratchamanka Rd, Phra Sing, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand

Elephant Nature Park is not a natural choice for a coffee connoisseur, Chiang Mai is awash with great coffee shops so why would you head to an elephant rescue project for your pick me up?

There are two ENP cafes in the wider area of Chiang Mai provincial area, one in the City and one on the actual elephant reserve, only accessible to those paying a visit to or working with the pachyderms. It’s a wonderful way of generating money for such a worthy cause but the concern here is that the coffee isn’t going to be high grade stuff. However, with their own beans grown in the shade of the foothills of Northern Thailand, on the Burmese border, it’s another project of theirs and it supports the women of local hill tribes that harvest the fruit that thrives in these tropical climes granting the organisation something unique to offer on the coffee front

Taking a pew at a table, you can see videos and pictures of how the coffee impacts their projects all over the place. There’s also vegan snacks to sink your teeth into if in need of a quick bite or a light lunch, still serving the animal rescue ethos by not using any products that aren’t plant based.

If you are lucky enough to get to the reserve too, you can pull up a stool to watch the majestic beasts move about unhindered and free whilst you slurp down a drink that tastes good and does good. I assure, they’re aren’t many better views you’ll get from a cafe.

The coffee itself is smoky and rich, great to have as an iced latte when the heat of the city gets to you and goes brilliant well with a morning croissant (butter-free, of course). You wouldn’t think that the elephants have a hand in the coffee game, let alone one so strong but they hold their own on that front.