Ashes in the Light

During our recent trip to Bangkok, my husband and I stumbled upon a coffee spot that I ended up loving so much—we went back twice. It’s called Factory Coffee, and it’s tucked just a short walk from Phaya Thai BTS station.

The space has an industrial design style—raw textures, concrete finishes, a touch of minimalism—but it works. It doesn’t feel cold or uninviting; in fact, quite the opposite. There’s a relaxed, almost effortlessly cool vibe to the place. The ambience was spot on, and the staff? Super friendly, even with the steady stream of customers.

On our first visit, I ordered a Tiramisu Cold White with oat milk, which was both smooth and rich, without being too heavy. My husband picked something called Steve Jobs (yes, that’s the name of the coffee), and it tasted as bold as it sounds. We shared a francier and a croissant—both pastries were warmed up and honestly, so satisfying with our drinks.

We liked it so much, we went back a few days later. This time, I had a Rocky Road Cold White (oat milk again) and he had the Caramel Sea Salt. I switched up my pastry to an Earl Grey Francier, while he had a Thai Tea Croissant—and that croissant was oozing with creamy Thai tea filling. Once again, everything was warmed to perfection and just… hit the spot.

There’s something about finding a good coffee place while travelling that makes the day feel a little more special. Maybe it’s the comfort in something familiar, or maybe it’s just the joy of sipping something good while being somewhere new.

Factory Coffee gave me both—and a reason to return the next time I’m in Bangkok.