Thailand Doi Chang Arabica Coffee
Dark chocolate, butterscotch and light citrus from an Akha mountain village that traded opium for coffee.
An arabica from Doi Chang, a mountain village in Chiang Rai province in northern Thailand. The cup is clean and mild, with dark chocolate, butterscotch, nuts and a little light citrus. Brewed in a French press at 93°C.
Sensory profile
You should taste
How it unfolds
Where it sits
That is 95 mg in one serving (8 oz cup (240 ml)), a concentration of 39.6 mg per 100 ml. The scale above ranks whole servings, and servings differ in size, so a larger drink can sit further right while being weaker cup for cup.
Editorial estimate, not a laboratory measurement
| Brewing method | French Press |
|---|---|
| Coffee-to-water ratio | 1:17 |
| Dose & yield | 14.4g → 240g |
| Grind size | Medium-coarse |
| Water temperature | 199°F / 93°C |
| Target brew time | 4:00 |
| Serving | 8 oz cup (240 ml) |
What you need
- 14.4 g whole coffee beans, freshly roasted
- 240 g filtered water at 93°C
Required gear
- French press
- Burr grinder
- Kettle
- Scale
- Timer
- Long spoon for the crust
Step-by-step protocol
- 0:00Pre-heat the press, then add 14.4 g ground medium-coarse.
- 0:00Pour 240 g of water at 93°C in one go and start the timer. Fit the lid without plunging.
- 4:00Break the crust with a spoon and skim off the foam and floating grounds.
- 4:00Press slowly — if it resists, stop pressing rather than forcing it.
- 4:05Decant every drop immediately into a warmed vessel. Coffee left on the grounds keeps extracting.
What it may be good for
How strong is it?
We list about 95 mg for an 8 oz cup.
A mild, easy coffee
This is a gentle coffee with little acidity, so it makes a good everyday brew. If it tastes flat, use a little more coffee; if it tastes dry, grind slightly coarser.
What to watch out for
- Caffeine affects everyone differently. If you are pregnant or nursing, sensitive to caffeine, or have been told to limit it, check with your doctor about how much is right for you.
An arabica from Doi Chang, a mountain village in Chiang Rai province in northern Thailand. The cup is clean and mild, with dark chocolate, butterscotch, nuts and a little light citrus. Brewed in a French press at 93°C.
Origin & Story
Doi Chang is a mountain village in the Mae Suai district of Chiang Rai province, about 70 kilometers north-west of Chiang Rai city, at roughly 1,500 meters. The people who live and farm here are mostly Akha, a hill people of the northern mountains.
The hills around the village were once planted with opium poppies. In 1969 King Bhumibol of Thailand started the Royal Project, and one of its aims was to help hill communities that depended on poppies find another living. In the late 1970s arabica coffee was encouraged in the northern highlands as a replacement crop, and it also helped to counter the damage of shifting agriculture on the forests.
In 2003 Akha farmers from Doi Chang and a Canadian partner founded a company, Doi Chaang Coffee, in which the farmers hold a share of ownership. It sells coffee in more than twenty countries.
Thailand is mostly a robusta country, with the vast majority of its coffee grown in the south. The arabica of the north, from provinces such as Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son, Lampang and Tak, is a small, high-grown specialty crop.
Doi Chang arabica is mild and clean, with dark chocolate and butterscotch, a nutty sweetness and a hint of citrus. Brew it in a French press: 14.4 g of medium-coarse coffee in 240 ml of water at 93°C for four minutes.
Reading the Flavor Profile
| Axis | Score |
|---|---|
| Sweetness | 75/100 |
| Acidity | 60/100 |
| Bitterness | 50/100 |
| Body | 65/100 |
| Aroma | 75/100 |
These values are comparative editorial positions within our own catalog, calibrated so entries can be ranked against each other. They are not laboratory measurements.
How much caffeine is in Thailand Doi Chang Arabica Coffee?
One serving, 8 oz cup (240 ml), contains approximately 95 mg of caffeine.
What temperature should I use for Thailand Doi Chang Arabica Coffee?
Target 93°C (199°F).
How long should Thailand Doi Chang Arabica Coffee be extracted?
Timing: 4:00. Method: French Press. Ratio: 60g per litre water. Grind or leaf format: Medium-coarse.
Is Doi Chang in Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai?
Doi Chang is in the Mae Suai district of Chiang Rai province, about 70 kilometers north-west of Chiang Rai city.
What is the Royal Project?
It is a Thai royal initiative begun in 1969 by King Bhumibol Adulyadej to help hill communities move from growing opium poppies to other crops. Coffee was one of the crops it encouraged in the northern highlands.
Who should avoid Thailand Doi Chang Arabica Coffee?
Caffeine affects everyone differently. If you are pregnant or nursing, sensitive to caffeine, or have been told to limit it, check with your doctor about how much is right for you. This information is educational and is not medical advice. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, managing a cardiac or gastrointestinal condition, or taking prescription medication, discuss caffeine and botanical intake with a qualified healthcare professional before making changes.
What people say
Bodum Chambord French Press
In this recipe: French press
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