Expertise Cambodia’s blossoming specialty-coffee scene at these three noteworthy spots: Kinyei Café, Ok’Trey Ok’Trok, and The Lab.

BY MICHAELA TOMCHEK
BARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE

Pictures by Michaela Tomchek

Awe-inspiring temples, unimaginable meals, and sprawling landscapes full of huge, grassy plains: Cambodia is really a wondrous place, full of a lot tradition and historical past. Battambang is the third-largest metropolis within the Southeast Asian nation, situated about three hours away from Siem Reap, house to the long-lasting Angkor Wat temple. Right here, you’ll additionally discover a lot of one-of-a-kind cafés: a mirrored image of the realm’s blossoming specialty espresso scene.

At present, we’re sharing our three favourite espresso retailers in Battambang, Cambodia: Kinyei Café, Ok’Trey Ok’Trok, and The Lab. Learn on to be taught extra about these must-try spots.

Kinyei Café / Really feel Good Espresso

Within the coronary heart of Battambang close to the Battambang Central Market, you’ll encounter Kinyei Café. The inside of the espresso store is an unimaginable, open area, with two expansive flooring serving not solely espresso, but in addition quite a lot of breakfast dishes and different treats. The café additionally homes a group of artwork by native creators, making it an area for each Cambodian espresso and paintings to actually shine. 

The espresso right here is roasted by Really feel Good Espresso, a roastery primarily based in Cambodia’s bustling capital metropolis, Phnom Penh. Working since 2013, Really feel Good was one of many first roasteries to start selling specialty espresso in Cambodia.

When requested concerning the specialty-coffee scene in Battambang, Sophorn Phan, supervisor of Really feel Good Espresso, shares that, whereas there’s nonetheless ample room for the scene to develop, it has positively seen a optimistic shift over the previous a number of years. “(There’s) not a lot espresso group in Battambang, however (over) the final three years, the espresso business has been enhancing,” Sophorn says. “We see the potential of Southeast Asia’s espresso.”

Really feel Good sources espresso completely from Southeast Asian international locations, together with Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and, after all, Cambodia. Due to their efforts, they’ve helped convey consciousness to specialty espresso in Cambodia and have impressed many others to open their very own roasteries and low retailers.

Aside from collaborating with Really feel Good Espresso, Kinyei can also be house to a lot of Cambodia Nationwide Barista Championship rivals. Cease by to take pleasure in some scrumptious meals, Southeast Asian-grown espresso, and native paintings earlier than heading out into the town.

Ok’Trey Ok’Trok

Proper subsequent door to Kinyei, you’ll discover Ok’Trey Ok’Trok—why not cease by for a second espresso? A go to to Ok’trey Ok’Trok is really an area expertise: an instance of the retailers that paved the way in which for the Cambodian specialty-coffee scene. With its cozy, rustic interiors, vast collection of specialty-coffee drinks, smoothies, juices, and even an area for stay music, this store provides a bit of one thing for everybody.

The café, which first opened in December of 2021, is made up of two flooring and has an intensive meals menu, together with flavorful noodle and rice dishes to go along with your beverage of alternative. Additionally they provide cocktails within the night, making it the proper place for both a morning brew or an evening cap.

Pay a go to to Ok’Trey Ok’Trok to calm down, drink one thing refreshing, and expertise a number of the finest that Battambang has to supply.

The Lab

When wandering alongside the Sangkae River, nibbling on native sweets or maybe some corn on the cob, there’s a fantastic place to cease for a espresso after a morning of exploring or taking the native bamboo practice: The Lab.

From the road, you possibly can see a line of motorbikes guarding the store’s entrance entrance, revealing the recognition of what’s inside. Upon coming into the entrance doorways, you’ll discover a set of stairs that can lead you to the café: a peaceable, warmly lit retreat surrounded by a cave of colourful work.

With its ethereal balcony, fantastically tiled flooring, and array of antiques from the Nineteen Forties, together with a classic file participant, The Lab appears like a portal by means of time—a glimpse into the center of Cambodia. On the menu are commonplace espresso-based choices in addition to matcha drinks, and there’s additionally an assortment of tasty pastries to select from, making this an excellent area to seize a snack, take pleasure in a espresso, and sit outdoors as you watch the site visitors under.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Michaela Tomchek finds espresso an necessary a part of life and the world. She is an appreciator of the crop, the producer, and the various cafés all through the world serving stunning drinks. At the moment, she writes about espresso, hoping to unfold her pleasure throughout the globe. 

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