Akha Ama Coffee

 If Chiang Mai has a love language, it’s coffee. And while there’s many a great barista to parlez with, Akha Ama speaks it fluently. Founded by Lee Ayu Chuepa from the Akha hill tribe, the brand is built on a story of self-reliance – coffee could become a way for his community to thrive, not just survive.

What’s different here is that Akha Ama operates as a social enterprise, buying coffee directly from Akha farmers at fair prices while supporting sustainable intercropping methods that grow coffee alongside fruits, tea and vegetables. The focus on quality and speciality processing helped turn local beans into an internationally recognised product, with real impact back home. 

It’s also why the cafe has become a favourite for nomads – there’s outdoor seating, a quiet second floor for focused laptop time and you can stock up on custom-ground beans and even Nespresso pods. With four branches in Chiang Mai, it’s an easy daily ritual and for the full story, you can even visit their Living Factory and roastery in Mae Rim.

Akha Ama Phrasingh. Rachadamnoen Road. 8am-5.30pm