Where to Find Great Coffee on Koh Chang?
Koh Chang isn’t short on beach bars and fruit-shake stalls, but finding a solid cup of coffee still takes a bit of planning. Over the past few years an increasing number of café owners have filled the gap with barista know-how, reliable espresso machines, Thai-grown beans, and work-friendly spaces. Whether you want a quick latte before a day out on a snorkelling trip or a quiet table with decent Wi-Fi, the island now offers real choice.
This guide does the leg-work for you. Using Google Maps ratings, photo checks, and bilingual review mining, we narrowed the field to ten cafés that consistently deliver on taste, service, and setting. Read on for the ranked list, plus a few pointers to help you get the best brew without wasting holiday time.
Coffee Culture
Three small shifts explain why the café scene has taken off:
Post-pandemic reset. Bangkok‐based Thais relocating here to run lifestyle businesses. Many brought city coffee standards with them.
Thai-grown beans are getting better. Farmers in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Nan now supply washed and natural arabica that can stand up to imported Colombian or Ethiopian roasts. Most Koh Chang cafés will buy beans from these northern cooperatives.
Remote work is the new normal. Long-term tourists and expats need power sockets, strong Wi-Fi and an iced americano that isn’t 80 % condensed milk. Cafés have responded.
How The Ten Cafes Were Picked
Nothing too scientific I’m afraid. Basically a mix of places I like, people I know like and folks who leave reviews on Google also like. The result is a shortlist that should hold up whether you’re here for two days or two months, during peak season or a rainy Tuesday in Low Season. Now, on to the coffee.
Quick Coffee Glossary (Know Your Menu)
Thai cafés mix local lingo with third-wave jargon. These cheat-sheet notes if you fancy something other than a cappuccino or latte.
| Term | What It Is | Why You Might Care |
|---|---|---|
| กาแฟเย็น / Kafae Yen | Strong Thai iced coffee. Robusta, condensed milk, sugar syrup, ice. | Tastes like dessert. Ask for mai waan (less sweet) if you don’t want a sugar bomb. |
| อเมริกาโน่เย็น / Americano Yen | Double-shot espresso poured over ice, usually without milk. | Reliable “safe order” anywhere; sweetness level stays in your control. |
| Dirty | Cold milk topped with a short, hot espresso that “stains” the surface. | Instagram favourite; drink fast before the layers mix. |
| Nitro | Cold-brew coffee charged with nitrogen and served from a beer tap. | Rare on Koh Chang but shows up at Everflow and Fig; smooth, no ice needed. |
| Cascara | Tea made from dried coffee-cherry husks. | Light, fruity, low caffeine—nice change when you’ve hit espresso overload. |
| Affogato | Espresso shot over a scoop of vanilla ice-cream. | Dessert and caffeine in one bowl; good excuse for a mid-afternoon break. |
Try These Cafes For Great Coffee
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Fig Cafe Map
⭐ 4.8
Lush-garden hang-out in Kai Bae serving single-origin pours and vegetarian brunch plates. Easy to lose the morning, but the food menu is small and crowds arrive early.
Best for: Garden chill-outs - Ban Kafae Map
⭐ 4.6
Family-run café/roastery on the quiet east coast road. They roast in small batches and serve punchy filter coffee alongside simple Thai food. The only place on the island which grows their own coffee.
Best for: Locally roasted coffee -
Reflect Cafe & Bar Map
⭐ 4.9
Roadside in the White Sand beach bar area but the coffee varieties and skilled barista are the stars, not the location. Coffee blends from around the world, a pool table and cocktails – there’s something for everyone :-)
Best for: Award winning barista -
Altitude 79 Coffee Shop Map
⭐ 4.9
Secluded, hill-top deck with a 270-degree jungle-and-sea panorama. Iced orange espresso is the signature. Road is steep and the deck shuts when storms roll in.
Best for: Wow-factor views -
Tastory Pearl Beach Map
⭐ 4.9
Sea-side café on pebble-fringed Pearl Beach serving Thai-grown beans, wood-fired pizza and sunset cocktails. Service is friendly and the food is excellent.
Best for: Brunch ( and a sunset cocktail by the sea) -
Indie Beach Café Map
⭐ 4.5
Laid-back bungalow resort in Bang Bao with smoothie bowls, hammocks and decent espresso. Resort-level prices and a lunch-time bottleneck.
Best for: Barefoot brunches -
WARI Coffee Map
⭐ 4.2
Beachfront spot in Klong Prao: solid Americanos, indoor A/C or beanbags in the sand. Milk texture varies and opening hours shorten in wet season.
Best for: Laptop + sea-breeze -
The Mount Café Map
⭐ 4.8
Panoramic views from this hill-top cafe in Kai Bae valley. Piccolo lattes, egg tarts and an popular selfie spot. Parking is limited; not much shade.
Best for: Scenic pit-stops -
Coffee Routine Koh Chang Map
⭐ 4.7
Small “slow-bar” kiosk near Kai Bae offering multiple Thai single-origin beans, V60 and AeroPress options. Limited seating and cash-only, but prices are fair and the brews are dialled-in.
Best for: Slow-bar purists -
Chujai (Taste Note) Map
⭐ 4.8
Small specialty-coffee bar near White Sand with fast wifi which doubles as a homemade souvenir shop with all manner of trinkets, t-shirts and decorations to browse and buy
Best for: Coffee-plus-souvenirs
Beyond the Big 10
Yep, there is a lot of choice. Here are three more that are worth a stop if you happen to be in the vicinity:
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Coffee Home by Na Tara Map
Rustic wooden deck on the east-coast sunrise side (15 min from the ferry). Thai beans roasted in-house, breeze off the bay, and a full Thai‐breakfast menu. Cash-only and shutters drop at 17:00.
Worth it for: Sunrise sips -
Marin Coffee Map
Bright, loft-style room in Klong Prao village: soft sofas, sweets baked on-site, and AC that actually beats the humidity. Beans lean dark and chocolatey; Wi-Fi is solid and a good choice if you’re looking for a place to work from. ( There are other branches on the island on White Sand beach and in Chai Chet )
Worth it for: Air-con loving nomads -
Beach Tango Restaurant & Bar Map
Barefoot beanbags on White Sand Beach: decent Italian espresso by day, sunset cocktails by dusk. Nice spot to laze and people watch anytime from breakfast to dinner.
Worth it for: Segafredo at sunset
