We first noticed Nitro Labs coffee several months ago as we rushed by on our way to the Bangkok BTS. The multiple coffee taps in the side of a decked-out tuk-tuk caught our eye. So, we made sure to leave five minutes earlier the next day (no easy feat for us) to grab ourselves a cup.
We tried the Original Nitro (THB70) and were instantly hooked. The taste is so light that it doesn’t need milk or sugar, though they have it for those who want those additions.
We met up with Nitro Labs’ manager Siri Amnuaychai in their Asoke location, where she told us about the brand and the business. She said that they have three current tuk-tuks, the Phra Kanong truck, the Asoke one, a newer one in Bangkok Hospital, and one they only bring to events, such as Wonderfruit festival and Madface food festival this year.
Though they are open daily until 7pm, and weekends until 6pm, they hope, one day, to offer the first 24-hour fresh cold brew in Bangkok.
When asked if they sell a lot of coffee in the evening, she said the best-sellers after dark are the cocoa and tea — but Bangkokians, with their go, go, go lifestyle, do drink coffee at all hours.
According to Siri, business is booming. They opened their first location, the Phra Kanong truck, just a year ago and already have several other location under consideration.
They are on the hunt for more locations, searching for places with lots of foot traffic. They have considered moving into a brick-and-mortar shop, but prefer the casual feel of doing it from a cart — which also gets a lot of attention and provides a signature look.
Then, we sampled the coffees on offer:
Siri tells us that the most popular drink with their foreign clientele is the Single Origin Nepal (THB100). But, she says, Thai customers prefer stronger, more bitter coffees, so the Original Nitro (THB70) or Signature Blend (THB90) are their preferred drinks.
The Original Nitro and Signature Blend mix premium arabica beans with domestic robusta beans. “I think that’s why Thai people love those blends, because they have robusta and the taste is familiar to them,” she said.
Their most popular non-coffee drink is Lemon Tea (THB70). “It goes great with hot weather!” she said, as we stood outside on a particularly scorching afternoon.
They also offer a Coco chocolate drink (THB80) and Matcha (THB110). The single origin offerings differ from day to day and they have a total of 8 taps on the trucks.
Nitro Labs has a kitchen in Punnawithi where they make the coffee daily and distribute it to the trucks.
Siri took the time to explain to us how cold brew differs from ice coffee:
“The process is different, when you make it with hot water, it comes out as a concentrate and you mix with more water and milk. Here, we soak the coffee in room temperature water for a long period, it makes all the flavor of the coffee come out, so it’s not just the bitter, but the sweetness, sourness and you can taste the origin more, you can better taste the different flavor or the different beans.”
Her favorite of their offerings is Single Origin Kenya (THB100), which she favors for its very light and sour notes, with a refreshingly smooth aftertaste. ”It’s fruity and I just love it,” she said.
FIND IT:
Asoke (Sukhumvit Soi 21)
Phra Kanong (near entrance to W Market)
Bangkok Hospital
Daily, 7am-7pm, weekends, 9am-6pm
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