Why Chiang Mai Highlands Make the Best High-Caffeine Dark Roast Beans
February 02, 2026
I'm not here to sell you hype. I'm here because I found something real in Chiang Mai's misty mountains and I can't shut up about it. At 1,200–1,700 meters, the air is cooler, the mist hangs longer, and the soil is volcanic-rich. That forces Arabica trees (especially Peaberry) to ripen slowly — packing more sugars, acids, and caffeine density into every cherry. The result? Beans that roast up glossy and oily, with explosive dark chocolate, caramel, and hazelnut depth you don't get from lowland or mass-produced lots.
Screened to 18 mesh, roasted fresh by Hillkoff, this Vienna dark roast hits hard on caffeine without bitterness or burnout. It's not "just coffee" — it's horsepower in a cup from actual highland farmers who still pick by hand. If you're tired of flat, generic dark roast that fades by lunch, this is the wake-up call you've been missing.
— Jarrad, Hua Thong Brand