The city’s cafe-hopping culture is well-established, and opening a new hangout spot for caffeine enthusiasts can be both tough and rewarding. For Patricia “Pat” Yothinwattnaudom and Gabriel Carol, it has been more of the latter.
A shared passion for coffee encouraged the duo to open this venture, with no other aim than to satisfy the city’s craving for quality brews. The thought that people would come to take photos amid the shop’s white-washed minimalist aesthetics (a style that never fails to attract the crowd) never entered their mind. “We didn’t initially plan to make the place look good for photos,” Pat says. “But the designers did a wonderful job and that turned out to be a great thing.”
All that aside, Pat and Gabriel’s focus is on brewing single-origin beans from Ethiopia into flavorful boosters that are not limited to a simple latte or espresso. Gabriel, a Romanian native, was the champion of the 2017 Romania Brewers Cup and has put his knowledge to great use in creating a line-up of exciting drinks at PAGA.
The menu is divided into four different categories, ranging from simple milk coffees to juice-mixed refreshments. Classic drinks like cappuccino and long black are available, although they do recommend you try the signatures, Freddo and Paga (both priced at B150), before you decide on a favorite. Freddo is a shot of medium-roast espresso topped with whipped milk, while the latter is the opposite—a whipped espresso shot on top of fresh milk.
Those who don’t fancy milk in their cuppa can go for their fruit-blended options. Fruits and herbs are made into syrup and kombucha-like extracts, and then blended with PAGA’s cold brew. Try Joy (B170) if you’re a sucker for the sweet and sour hits of strawberry, or Zuri (B170) where bittersweet bael syrup is mixed with coffee and tart kiwi puree.
PAGA also dedicates one area for a filter coffee session if you're in the mood for something fancier. Currently, the couple has imported six sorts of beans for you to choose, such as Finca Carmen from Panama and Santa Monica from Colombia. The price starts from B200.
Spirits-injected brews are in the pipeline, and Pat and Gabriel also plan to launch a space on the third floor dedicated to coffee classes and workshops.
PAGA Microroastery is located on Soi Sukhumvit 31, and is open every day from 08:00 to 17:00. Parking is limited.
