A visit to Northern Thailand

We are aiming to meet and build relationships with the passionate producers behind all of the coffees we offer. This way we can find ways to support each other and work better together as a team. Our quest has led us along a winding road to Doi Panghkon, a small village in the hills outside of Chiang Rai, Northern Thailand.

This is where we met up with Fuadi, the co-founder of coffee exporting company Beanspire. Fuadi and his partner Jane are doing impressive work helping Thai coffee farmers develop and export specialty coffee to the international market.

Doi Pangkhon directly translates to ‘Timberland Peak’ and is the home of approximately 300 Akha hill-tribe Farmers who have been growing and producing coffee for the last 40 years. The Royal project, which was implemented to eradicate the production of opium in the Golden triangle in the early 80’s, has successfully turned Thailand into a booming coffee growing origin.

Thailand is like no other origin in the world. Most Origins export 90% of their green coffee, but here, 90% of green specialty coffee actually remains within the country. The cafe scene is omnipresent in Thailand and coffee prices are equivalent to, if not more than, European prices. Many young farmers, from 25 to 30 years of age, return to these lands after completing their degrees, as coffee is a lucrative business for young professionals. 




The Chiang Rai region is located at 1250 - 1500 metres above sea level, right in ‘the bean belt’ and is therefore an excellent environment to grow coffee. The soil here absorbs the mountain rainwater, enriching it with minerals that create ideal conditions for coffee plants to thrive.