Thailand: Doi Pangkhon, Natural

Doi Pangkhon

  • Flavour profile Banana bread, molasses, sultana
  • Process Natural
  • Varietal Mixed
  • Roast Medium to Medium-Dark

£13.75


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  • Doi Pangkhon is a remote village in Chiang Rai, northern Thailand, home to around 300 coffee-producing households. At elevations between 1,250 and 1,450 metres above sea level, the region’s cool climate and rich biodiversity create ideal conditions for growing high-quality coffee. The producers we work with are part of the Merlaeku family—five brothers from the Akha Hilltribe minority—who have been instrumental in developing specialty coffee in the area.

    We’ve been working with our sourcing partners, Beanspire Coffee, since 2017. Over the past nine years, Beanspire has made significant investments in infrastructure, including a wet mill, cupping lab, and expanded drying facilities. Their hands-on approach and commitment to quality have helped elevate Thai coffee to new heights, even in the face of climate challenges and market pressures. The varietals grown here include Typica, Chiang Mai (a hybrid of SL28 × Caturra × Híbrido de Timor), and SJ133 (genetically identical to Costa Rica 95).

    This naturally processed microlot was handled with great care. Ripe cherries were floated to remove any defects, then spread out in a thin, one-inch layer on bamboo raised beds. Throughout the drying process, under-ripe and over-fermented cherries were carefully sorted out. The cherries were raked several times a day to ensure even drying. Once dried, they were bagged and left to cure for two months before being milled at Beanspire’s dry mill.

    Doi Pangkhon’s elevation—at 19 degrees north of the equator and up to 1,450 metres above sea level—is significant for coffee cultivation, comparable to high-altitude regions like Colombia’s Nariño and Costa Rica’s Tarrazú. These conditions, combined with careful processing, result in a coffee that is vibrant, fruit-forward, and expressive of its origin.

    This big, funky coffee is sweet and fruity like a crust of banana bread. There's molasses alongside that and a handful of sultanas too for a full bodied and bold cup.

    • Country: Thailand
    • Region: Doi Pangkhon, Chiang Rai
    • Producers: Merlaeku Family x Beanspire
    • Altitude: 1,250–1,450 m.a.s.l.
    • Processing method: Natural
    • Varietals: Chiang Mai, Typica & SJ133
  • Tasting notes: Banana bread, molasses, sultana.

    • Clean cup (1–8): 6
    • Sweetness (1–8): 7
    • Acidity (1–8): 6.5
    • Mouthfeel (1–8): 6.5
    • Flavour (1–8): 6.5
    • Aftertaste (1–8): 6
    • Balance (1–8): 6.5
    • Overall (1–8): 6.5
    • Correction (+36): +36
    • Total: (max. 100): 87.5

    Roasting Information
    Medium to medium-dark: pushing this further will give you more body and less funk, but we like finishing around the end of the gap to first pops of second to keep the funk and fruit notes.

  • We offer our coffees as whole beans, pre-ground, and green unroasted.

    To help you choose the best pre-ground options for you, below is a list of popular brew methods that we find work well with our settings. And for more information, please visit our dedicated grind size article here.

    Espresso: Turkish coffee (jezve) or, you guessed it, espresso*

    Fine Filter: Moka pot, AeroPress, single cup pour-over (e.g. Hario V60 01, Chemex 1-3 cup, Kalita 155). Fine filter also works well for home espresso machines like the De'Longhi Dedica.

    Medium Filter: Double cup pour-over brewers (e.g., Clever Dripper, V60 02, Chemex 6/8/10 cup, Kalita 185, April, wide Orea, etc)

    Coarse Filter: Automatic drip brewers like Moccamaster, BUNN, Sage, Behmor etc, and syphon brewers.

    French Press: French Press (cafetiere/press pot/plunger Pot), cold brew, cowboy coffee.

    It is not possible to grind 3kg bags.

    Ground coffee cannot be refunded nor exchanged as it is a product customised especially for you. Full refund policy here.

    If you're interested in getting yourself a grinder, we have a great selection to choose from! Click here to check them out.

    *Please note that some home espresso machines will struggle with a standard espresso grind due to the wide variety of machines on the market and the difference in spec when compared to commercial espresso machines. If you are unsure whether this applies to your personal home set-up please get in touch.

  • We roast coffee and dispatch orders Monday to Friday.

    Order before 07:30 am for same day dispatch. If you order after 07:30 am, your order will carry over to the following working day for processing.

    We offer free UK mainland delivery on all orders over £30.00. If you're spending under £30.00, one bag sent with First Class postage will cost £3.25, and one bag sent with Second Class postage will cost £2.50. DPD next working day delivery is available for a flat rate of £8.00 for all orders up to 10kg.

    • First Class/Tracked 24 orders: Delivery 1-2 working days (Mon-Sat) after dispatch
    • Second Class/Tracked 48 orders: Delivery 2-4 working days (Mon-Sat) after dispatch
    • DPD orders: delivery aim of the next working day (Monday-Friday) after dispatch

    If you would like to enjoy free delivery on orders under £30.00, make sure to check out My Ozone Rewards.

    For more information about delivery, please visit our Help Centre.


Doi Pangkhon

Our sourcing partners Beanspire have been working in Doi Pangkhon for nearly a decade. In Chiang Rai, Doi Pangkhon has 300 households with each typically producing about 1-2 tonnes of coffee.

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The Merlaeku Family in Doi Pangkhon, Thailand

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