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She told me, “As a result of my participation in the serving it at our storefront, where we strive to offer cus-
World Barista Competition and using Thai Catimor Coffee, tomers the ultimate coffee experience.” This coffee, devel-
there was a significant increase in inquiries from people oped for consumption in her cafés was part of what pro-
eager to taste the coffee that represented Thailand on the pelled her to ranking 13th in the world. She notes that she,
world stage. Its remarkable flavor profile caught many by her team, and Thai coffee professionals throughout the
surprise and it was truly gratifying to witness the positive supply chain are “driven by the desire to present not only
reception and a newfound appreciation for Thai coffee. the finest coffee to our customers but also to leave a mark
This experience has reinforced my belief in the potential on the international coffee community through the remark-
of Thai coffee to captivate coffee lovers worldwide, and I able coffees we showcase in competitions.”
am thrilled to see it gaining well-deserved recognition on
the global coffee scene.” The Future of Thai Coffee
One of the distinguishing factors of Veraworawet’s
coffee was, as mentioned before, her ability to work close-
As climate change and extreme weather threaten the
ly with the producers to create an exceptional and specif-
future of Thai coffee, farm-level innovations and a strong
ic the flavor profile of Thai Catimor coffee through fer-
consuming culture hold out hope. A producer, roaster, and
mentation. She says, “Our collaboration with coffee
consumer himself, Jordan has a positive outlook regarding
producers has been ongoing, as we consistently provide
the trajectory of Thai coffee. He tells me, “Where I hope it
feedback to ensure the production of top-notch, high-qual-
goes is a concerted effort in utilizing and preserving the
ity coffee. Our primary focus has always been to showcase
integrity of interesting coffee varieties. I think there is a
the immense potential of our coffee, particularly when
lot of untapped potential here, both in improving taste and
quality and also in sustainability. There are already so many
cool things happening in the Thai specialty coffee industry,
but I hope we stay on this trajectory toward even more
farmer-producer-consumer interaction. That is really such
a helpful and enjoyable aspect of this business, and it real-
ly needs to keep moving forward.”
From Right: Pack Katisomsakul, expert and entrepre- Veraworawet shares a similar sentiment and hopes to
neur in Thai coffee and founder of 50 Mill Street. bring attention to Thai coffee to competition and beyond.
“Through a strong culture of sharing and collaboration
across various sectors, we are dedicated to propelling Thai
coffee back onto the world stage. Our collective efforts
focus on achieving two crucial goals: showcasing Thai cof-
fee’s excellence globally and ensuring the long-term sus-
tainability of the Thai coffee industry.”
Despite its position as a newcomer to the coffee in-
dustry, Thailand is rapidly growing as a global coffee capi-
tal, for consumers, roasters, and producers alike. Its unique
cultural landscape collapses the distance between actors,
allowing for quick adaptation of new and innovative coffee
varieties, processing methods, and customer preferences.
Production is increasing as quickly as it can, despite climate
change challenges. Roasteries and cafés are popping up in
big cities and on small village farms around the country.
And consumers are thirsty for more education and better
coffee from down the road – or up the mountain. All aspects
of the Thai coffee scene are converging together to create
a brilliant feedback loop that sets the Thai coffee scene apart
from any other in the world.
Now that I have explored Thai coffee from afar and
talked to people intimately familiar with the scene, the next
step is to travel to Thailand and experience it myself. Want
to join me? I’ll see you in Chiang Mai.
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