One of the truly sublime moments of each day is the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee. It’s even a delight for those who don’t drink it. That Thai’s love their coffee is no secret but perhaps less known is that Thailand is one of the largest producers of premium coffee in Southeast Asia.

The highlands of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai provinces in northern Thailand are home to the species of coffee bean known as Arabica. With Arabica’s rich flavors and full body it is the principle bean in most of the world’s gourmet coffees. Lower elevation farmland in the southern provinces is the source of hearty but often harsh Robusta beans, containing nearly twice the caffeine of Arabica, and used primarily to make instant coffee.