Specialty coffee in Chiang Mai.
Specialty coffee in Chiang Mai has moved well past a handful of pioneers. Roasters lists 97 cafés and roasters here, each one added and reviewed by people who drink there.
Where Chiang Mai sits on the map
Across Asia, Chiang Mai ranks #7 of 251 cities on Roasters and holds 3% of every specialty café listed in the region.
Chiang Mai ranks #2 of 29 cities in Thailand, behind Bangkok (266 cafés). Its 97 cafés account for 21% of the national total. One step up the national table is Bangkok (266 cafés); one step down, Phuket (21 cafés).
That places Chiang Mai in the top tenth of cities worldwide on Roasters, at #40 of 3,601.
The scene is big enough for themed guides: 8 of them cover Chiang Mai, from espresso to where to work on a laptop.
What makes a great café in Chiang Mai
Every listing in Chiang Mai on Roasters was added by someone who drank there, not by an algorithm or an advertiser. That keeps the 97 places on the map focused on coffee quality rather than foot traffic.
A quick test for any café in Chiang Mai: ask what is on filter today. A specialty bar will name the origin, the process and often the producer, and brew it to order.
- Baristas who can talk through the menu
- Beans for sale to brew at home
- Roast dates within the last few weeks
- Origin and process on the bag
Find every specialty café
in Chiang Mai.
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About specialty coffee in Chiang Mai
How big is the specialty coffee scene in Chiang Mai?
There are 97 cafés and roasters in Chiang Mai on Roasters, which ranks the city #2 in Thailand and #40 worldwide.
How does Chiang Mai compare with other cities in Thailand?
Chiang Mai ranks #2 of 29 cities on Roasters in Thailand. The median city there lists 1 café; Chiang Mai lists 97.
What other cities in Asia are comparable to Chiang Mai for coffee?
Looking only at the number of specialty cafés listed, Singapore (Singapore), Manila (Philippines) and Tbilisi (Georgia) are the nearest peers to Chiang Mai in the region.
Are there themed coffee guides for Chiang Mai?
Yes, 8. Roasters publishes themed guides for cities with at least 30 specialty cafés (plus curated surf, cycling and running cities), and Chiang Mai qualifies.
Does the Roasters app cost anything?
The app and the full café map are free. Roasters Pro is an optional upgrade with advanced filters, unlimited lists and other power features.
Can I claim my café in Chiang Mai on Roasters?
Yes. Owners, managers and staff in Chiang Mai can claim their listing to manage hours, photos, menu and equipment, reply to reviews and post events or jobs.
What makes a café “specialty”?
Traceable, high-grade beans (80+ on the SCA scale), careful roasting and precise brewing. A specialty café can usually tell you the origin, variety and process of every coffee it serves.
