Karo Coffee Roasters: the Bangkok cafe that became a local landmark

Karo Coffee Roasters occupies a sunlit corner on a leafy backstreet in the emerging Bangkok neighbourhood of Phra Khanong Nuea, known to locals as “Pridi”. Independent businesses, a fruit market and a strong sense of community colour the area, shouldering Ekkamai and Thonglor.

The Bangkok coffee shop and roastery business is owned by Sri Lankan-born Karo Iyash, whose warm presence is as much a draw as the drinks. You’ll find a local creative crowd sipping and chatting inside and out, while brushed concrete walls and flooring create a low-key, stylish backdrop.

The in-house beans are some of Bangkok’s best. The menu centres on three in-house espresso blends, which are roasted nearby off-site. Karo Coffee Roasters also supplies coffee to clients, including collaborations with Public House and Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok, and operates a pop-up container shop serving coffee on the go in nearby Thonglor.

An ever-changing global list of filters spotlights countries including Nepal, Thailand and Ethiopia, served alongside local Thai craft beers and home-fermented ginger beer. Another boon: there’s Wi-Fi and plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, while a food menu includes loaded sourdough sandwiches, house-smoked bacon, burgers and fresh baked goods. Visitors can also pick up the headless-tiger branded merch, such as T-shirts and caps.

But more than that, Karo Coffee Roasters is a social hub; an unofficial living room where regulars gather, conversations stretch, and people come to linger. In a city of shopping malls that open after 10am, Karo welcomes you from 6am. Choose from an espresso, pour-over, matcha or fresh local coconut water to start the day, always served with a warm welcome.

“We’re brewing more than just coffee,” says Iyash. “We’re brewing purpose.”