Ristr8to

Ristr8to is one of the best-known names in Chiang Mai's speciality coffee scene. It was opened on Nimmanhaemin Road in 2011 by Arnon Thitiprasert, known as Tong, who had worked in coffee in Australia, including running a speciality shop in Sydney, before coming home. In 2017 he won the World Latte Art Championship.

The interior is dark, almost entirely in shades of midnight, and compact, so it feels more like a bar than a living room. The house espresso is a blend of Thai, Colombian and Mexican beans, roasted by the team, and the café uses beans from both Thailand and well-known growing regions worldwide. Latte art is the signature, so milk drinks are where Ristr8to shines: a cortado or flat white shows off the free-pour work at its best.

There is also a menu of signature creations that goes well beyond the usual. The Cigar8to is a small doppio ristretto with steamed milk, the Shakerato from Hell arrives in a set of glass test tubes, and the Black Martini combines gin, vodka and ristretto. Other drinks with alcohol include the Ethiopian Monkey and the Mexican Latte. These are fun to try once, but regulars often come back for a straightforward milk coffee.

Ristr8to also runs Ristr8to Lab, a roastery a short distance from the café that holds classes for customers who want to learn more about brewing and coffee. The founder has spoken about how foreign customers tend to be more open to Thai beans than locals, and the café serves Thai beans alongside imports.

The café suits coffee enthusiasts and anyone curious to see what a world latte art champion can do. Because it is small, it is better for a coffee and a chat than for long laptop sessions. Nimmanhaemin Road is described as Chiang Mai's caffeinated centre, with one of the highest concentrations of coffee shops in Thailand, so you can easily make a morning of it by visiting several cafés nearby.

Go early in the day for the calmest atmosphere and the best chance of a seat, and ask the barista which beans are on the bar that day.