Sourcing Local in Koh Samui, Thailand

Tucked in a corner in Koh Samui, Thailand, we have found a cafe has made a name for itself serving cult coffee beverages, and a curious long mac topped up: Sasatorn Coffee.

Koh Samui is an island widely visited by tourists from all around the world, and coffee specialist Wanvirot Uthaikan (or Mr Phon) was inspired to showcase unique coffees from different countries at Sasatorn. The beverage menu features cult coffee and coffee - based cocktails, to which the drinks are also paired with food Some of which include the piccolo latte (Sydney), the flat white (New Zealand), Magic (Melbourne), Gibraltar (San Francisco) and the long mac topped up (Perth). Mr Phon mentioned that when customers travel to Sasatorn and order a cup of coffee, they see a coffee menu that is global in its offerings, and remains grounded in its Thai roots. Locality is a fundamental element, with Mr Phon sourcing Thai Arabica beans which are of mixed varieties —SL28 and Java beans sourced from the north of Thailand, mainly from Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Nan province. Mr Phon explains that when the blend is pulled as an espresso, the coffee has flavour notes reminiscent of nuts, chocolate milk, dried fruit, earthy. The resulting coffee has a medium body, with a low to medium acidity, and is smooth in its finishings.

When asked about how he serves a long mac topped up (LMTU), Mr Phon explained that Sasatorn serves it with 36g of espresso, topped with steamed milk and foam, and served in a 5oz glass. This precision is meant to allow for a beverage that is smooth, comforting and reflective of provenance. Sasatorn’s roasters are based in Bangkok, and the beans are regularly transported to Sasatorn’s two branches in Koh Samui and one in the Songkhal province. The establishment was started in late 2015, with it’s first branch founded on Koh Samui itself by Mrs. Sasatorn Srithongkul, and her husband. It was when the pair started getting more serious about coffee and Srithongkul decided to start to her own brand,“Sasatorn Coffee“.

As the business grew, Mr. Phon was roped in to assist in operations, creating the coffee menu and training baristas at Sasatorn. He believes that purchasing Thai Arabica coffee goes a long way in supporting local coffee farmers in not just their livelihoods, but also towards producing coffee beans of higher standards. This ongoing dialogue with the farmers are necessary in improving the coffee industry in Thailand, overall.

Talking with Mr Phon, he oozes with enthusiasm when talking about coffee, and is keen to showcase the myriad flavours that coffee reflects. Among his favourite bean varietals, is the Wush Wush, from Ethiopia. He shared that he was interested in coffee sensory and the science behind coffee - from growing to pulling espressos. He completed three courses of coffee sensory modules, from foundation to professional levels from the Singapore Coffee Association two years ago. In tasting from a wide variety of coffees, Mr Phon is able to channel his experiences to the Thai coffee scene and to Sasatorn, where the team is able to adapt local flavours to their selection of cult coffees. Currently, the team is looking to open a new branch in Bangkok, and they are also developing a menu to reflect the origins of these cult coffees, using various blends of Thai arabica coffee as a twist to the original versions. Sasatorn is committed to sourcing locally - and in time to come, this philosophy will yield the fruits of its labor, one cup at a time.

Sasatorn Coffee (Koh Samui Branch)

2/52 Moo. 2

T. Bophut Koh Sa-mui,

Surat Thani,Thailand 84320

Thailand