Cafe boutique is a lesson in how to satisfy that coffee craving

CHIANG MAI boutique coffee roaster Pacamara is opening its fifth branch in the up-market Thonglor district to satisfy gourmets and also educate neophytes in a relaxing atmosphere.

Pacamara is the brainchild of Chartree Treelerkul, the first Thai taster who received a Q Grader certificate from the Speciality Coffee Association of America. He started the business in 2001 with Zana’s Bean Coffee in Chiang Mai which quickly became popular with local residents and foreign tourists. 

In 2009, he set up Pacamara boutique coffee roaster and coffee supplier Peaberry Limited that sells premium coffee grinders, coffee roasters and coffee brewing machines, by leading brands such as Astrolia, Synesso, Slayer, Compak, Marco and Zassenhaus. 

Pacamara recently celebrated the opening of its latest branch, in tranquil Thonglor Soi 25. The black-and-white building houses a well-decorated bistro, multifunctional coffee academy and co-working space under one roof. 

The first floor has an indoor and outdoor dining area fashioned with copper metal tables and oak wood stools, while the marble coffee counter contrasts with the plain concrete floor.

The Specialty Coffee Lab offers several classes on the fundamentals of coffee, basic latte art, a basic brewing class and management skills for those who want to set up their own coffee shop. More private and serene, the second floor is designed to be a co-working space and meeting room, furnished with leather armchairs and long wood tables. 

“We want to promote this branch to be a cafe and coffee academy. We have supplied all kinds of coffee equipment. Our class will help educate people on what a good coffee bean is, how to use a coffee making machine and how to create their own cafe character. Everyone can take a course, not only customers who buy our equipment,” says Karnchanok Waiwat, assistant marketing manager. 

The cafe offers two signature coffee beans. Pacamara House Blend, which won the 2012 International Coffee Tasting Award in Italy, is a mixture of Arabica beans from Northern part of Thailand, Indonesia, Guatemala and Brazil that has a milk chocolate, caramel and nutty body. The other is special single origin coffee beans which will rotate every week.  

A perfect place to hang out all day, the cafe also expands its coffee menus to a series of Australian-style fusion dishes and homemade pastries. 

We start with Snow Cold Brew (Bt130), a mixture of gelatin and tender milk shaved ice, served with a cold brew shot. Then we follow with Tortilla Serrano Ham (Bt190), Italian Serrano ham, mozzarella cheese, mascarpone cheese in homemade balsamic sauce, in which the chef uses honey rather than sugar. 

A big portion of Truffle Egg Benedict (Bt250) is topped with smoked salmon, creamy homemade Hollandaise sauce that is mixed with black truffle oil, while BBQ Pork Rib Half Rack (Bt430) is cooked 12 hours with sous-vide techniques to make a melt-in-the-mouth texture. It is served in full-flavour herbal BBQ sauce with coleslaw and French fries. 

A meal ends up with Very Berry Green Tea Pancake (Bt220), where the flour has been blended with green tea powder and served with strawberry, mulberry, banana and marshmallows and Chocolate Fondant (Bt260) filled with green tea lava and served with homemade vanilla ice cream. They can, of course, pair with hot Cafe Latte (Bt100). 

  

ACADEMY OF FLAVOUR

>> Pacamara Boutique Coffee Roaster is located on Thonglor Soi 25 behind Camillian Hospital. It’s open daily from 8am to 7pm. Call (02) 048 5500, (090) 930 9340 or visit “PacamaraCoffee” page on Facebook.