Thailand Doi Pangkhon Lactic Natural

About this coffee

Doi Pangkhon has come a long way in a short time. We partnered with Beanspire (exporter) / This Side Up (importer) and  this farmer group in Chiang Rai in 2016. While the coffee is still relatively new to the international market, the 300 Akha Hilltribe farmers at Doi Pangkhon (which means Timberland Peak) have been growing and milling coffee for almost 40 years in this area, respecting their old traditions and their natural environment.

The mineral-rich soil and next-to-perfect growing conditions give not just their old varieties, but even their Catimor shrubs a surprising complexity and spicy punch. Each farmer typically produces about 1-2 tons of parchment. All of the villagers belong to Akha Hilltribe and they are very young for coffee farmers, mostly aged 25-35 years old. This is something very unique about Thailand as an origin, since it’s an upper middle income country. It is a coffee growing industry that’s actually working and attractive to the next generation, relative to other origins.

At Beanspire, the journey toward improving coffee production has been marked by continuous growth, innovation, and a commitment to quality. In the 2017-2018 season, the company made a key investment in a wet mill operated by the Merlaeku family, a group of five brothers from the Akha Hilltribe minority. This investment gave Beanspire greater control over the process, beginning at the cherry stage, and allowed the company to source cherries from outside the family. The following year, in 2018-2019, the mill was upgraded with a roof, new pulpers, and improved workflows, streamlining the milling process. By the 2019-2020 harvest, Beanspire had taken further steps to enhance quality by investing in an electricity generator, building a cupping lab for farmers, and installing new concrete flooring.

In 2020-2021, the company leased additional space in the lowlands to improve drying efficiency. This decision proved to be crucial during the 2021-2022 harvest, when production increased by 20%, and the expanded drying space helped mitigate the effects of heavy rains that affected crop yields across Thailand. However, the 2022-2023 season presented a significant challenge. The climate crisis led to the lowest yields in years, driving prices to their highest levels. In 2024, the unpredictable effects of climate change and an influx of smuggled coffee from Myanmar and Laos flooded the market, leaving many farmers with surplus, unsellable coffee.

Despite these obstacles, Beanspire remains committed to supporting farmers, continuously refining processes, and adapting to an ever-evolving coffee industry.

The current lot is a fun one; it’s a process-forward coffee in an unusual way that shows us how much Thai producers has to offer. Expect notes of purple grapes, cacao nibs, and black tea.