Led by Jane Kittiratanapaiboon, Wiang Pa Pao Washed represents the clean and sweet flavors found in washed coffees from the northern provinces of Thailand.
Complemented by a vibrant acidity, this single-origin lot makes for a truly memorable espresso experience.
Flavor Profile
Origin
Wiang Pa Pao, Chiang Rai, Thailand
Tasting Notes
Flavors of blackberry, yellow plum, cashew butter, and vanilla wafer are complemented by a vibrant acidity.
Roast Level
LightMed LtMedMed DarkDark
Origin Story
Jane Kittirattanapaiboon & Smallholder Farmers
Wiang Pa Pao Washed is a project led by Jane Kittiratanapaiboon, a co-founder of Beanspire Coffee, in the Wiang Pa Pao district of Chiang Rai, Thailand. Jane was responsible for leading the processing and quality control of each contributing lot, as well as collecting the parchment coffee from a wet mill in Wiang Pa Pao for dry milling at Beanspire’s nearby
facility. Wiang Pa Pao Washed represents the clean and sweet flavors found in Washed coffees from the northern provinces of Thailand.
Coffee farming is a relatively new industry in Thailand, and one that is proving to be attractive to young farmers and entrepreneurs. Thailand's current coffee history dates back to the 1970s, when an opium eradication project introduced the first coffee trees to areas like Doi Saket. Efforts to reforest degraded land and introduce coffee and other crops to replace illicit cultivations have proved to be extremely successful.
Wiang Pa Pao Washed was sourced was sourced by Beanspire Coffee, an exporter founded by Fuadi Pitsuwan and Jane Kittiratanapaiboon, who are part of the young generation moving the Thai coffee industry forward. Thailand is unique as a coffee producing country; the country’s specialty cafe and roaster scene is thriving, and domestic consumption demands regularly outpace the country’s production volume. Only around 5% of Thailand’s specialty coffee is exported each year, while the rest is enjoyed by Thai coffee drinkers.
Beanspire’s mill is one of the most advanced in Thailand. Jane and Fuadi have built Beanspire to produce high quality coffee from the outset. This lot went through a 12–24 hours of wet fermentation depending on climatic conditions at the time of processing. The pulped coffee was then soaked for 12 hours prior to being fully washed. The washed coffee was dried on raised bamboo beds and in greenhouse drying areas to reach its optimal humidity.
Altitude
3,950-4,600 feet
Variety
Catuai, Typica, Chiang Mai
Processing
Washed
Why We Love This Coffee
Chiang Rai is Thailand’s northernmost province in what is known as the Golden Triangle, the intersection of the borders with neighboring Myanmar and Laos. The region’s high mountains were once the epicenter of the country’s opium cultivation and smuggling routes, but coffee, banana, coconut, and pineapple crops have replaced illicit farming with environmentally and socially sustainable alternatives.
The city of Chiang Rai is the largest in northern Thailand and has a long history of influence from the various dynasties who have ruled Southeast Asia. Recent reforestation efforts have restored Chiang Rai’s mountains, and Thailand’s young generation sees the potential of farming quality coffee as a path to success for landholders. Farms are located close to cities and are very accessible; this proximity expedites the transitions between processing stages and provides quality assurance.
While there are many variables that contribute to dialing in espresso, here are the parameters that have been yielding the best results in our lab:
1:2.1 coffee to water ratio in 22-24 seconds
Sustainably Sourced
Good Coffee, Better Planet
We treasure our relationships in the global coffee community and invest in projects at origin to support our partners in their commitment to environmental sustainability and social welfare. We also invest in reducing our day-to-day impact, through initiatives like energy-efficient Loring Smart Roasters to reduce carbon emissions per batch by 80%.
As a certified B Corporation, we are a leader in sustainable practices that impact people and the planet. This third-party certification requires us to demonstrate transparency and accountability throughout our supply chain and quantify the impact our business creates for our employees, the community, and the environment. We are proud to be part of this community working together toward one unifying goal: using business as a force for good.
Sustainably Sourced
