Contrary to popular belief, fine Lao coffee doesn't only come from southern Laos, it's also grown here in the northern part of the country, and this charming café, started over a decade ago, has helped change the lives of highland farmers in the surrounding rural areas. There are great sandwiches and pastries, but the absolute highlight is the artisanal coffee and the amazing views of the Mekong from their riverside terrace. Many an afternoon has been lost to gazing at boat traffic plying these waters.

Run by American and Australian aficionados, Saffron has not only amazing coffee but a great food menu, Wi-Fi and outdoor seating along the Mekong. Find a spot to watch the boats cross the river from the nearby ferry dock as you eat a pastry and take in the beauty of the surrounding mountains.

Get your caffeine fix at Saffron Coffee, a two-storey ‘profit- for-purpose’ cafe supporting Lao farmers. Coffees are made with quality Lao Arabica, shade-grown and roasted by northern Lao hill tribe farmers. Have your Lao latte with stacks of gingerbread pancakes.

Saffron: Very serious about its coffee—there’s a choice of single-origin and blended brews—Saffron also has a nice selection of sandwiches, wraps, and sweets, as well as bags of local coffee for purchase.

The beans at this hip riverfront cafe are sustainably sourced from the micro coffee plots of nearby hill tribes, while profits are reinvested in the…

Tourism these days is the lifeblood of Luang Prabang, so it would be churlish to quibble about change, especially when it comes in the form of Saffron Coffee’s revamped location on riverfront Khem Kong Road. Now called Saffron Espresso, Brew Bar, and Roastery, it’s a casually cool spot with terra-cotta floor tiles, a wall covered in hessian bags, and an impressive-looking roasting machine front and center. And the coffee—I tried an iced latte—is exceptional, made from organic, shade-grown arabica beans cultivated by hundreds of hill-tribe families in northern Laos.

A true farm to cup enterprise, Saffron Coffee traces in detail the trail of the coffee bean to the brew. Working directly with Lao coffee farmers, they provide education in maximizing quality production through organic, sustainable methods of farming, and a promise to purchase entire crops, guaranteeing a regular income and an increase in standard of living. Saffron Coffee’s mission is to provide the highest quality of coffee in Laos, and if the word on the street is to be heeded, they’ve already well and truly accomplished this goal.

Located on the charming Mekong riverside lined with boutiques, luxe heritage hotels, and street food stalls, Saffron is one of the pioneers in Luang Prabang’s coffee scene. Saffron began back in 2006 to support the country’s minority hill tribe farmers as they struggled to sell the coffee they produced. Grown and produced entirely in Northern Laos, this specialty coffee shop now sources its single-origin coffee, which is shade-grown, washed, graded, and hand-sorted, directly from nearly 800 tribal farmers.

Since we always need some caffeine (or a smoothie or tea) from the early wakeup, we always find our way to Saffron Coffee. We met the owners several years ago (pictured above in 2017), and they are from the States but ingrained in the local community. They're passionate about the country and started the venture about a decade ago by supporting farmers growing coffee in Northern Laos (who were previously relying on the opium crop, which is a lot riskier than coffee).

Almost everyday, we have Saffron Coffee , it is the coffee of choice of most businesses and households in Luang Prabang. Not only are their flat whites poured to perfection but as a ‘profit-for-purpose’ business, Saffron's profits are reinvested for the benefit of Lao people by helping every individual farming family. We've done their Cherry to Cup tour and loved learning all the love that goes into our morning coffee.

Saffron Coffee has to be one of the most scenic cafes in Luang Prabang for having an outdoor veranda facing the Mekong River. We could not pass up the chance to sit under the shade while I played “I spy” with my son where we had to look out for the long-tail boats moving up and down the river. Although the cafe just opened in 2016, Saffron Coffee was established in more than a decade ago as a social enterprise.

We didn’t expect a space like Saffron Coffee to exist in this town, located in a quieter corner off the main street and complete with a view of the Mekong River. With a vision of promoting sustainable farming, all the beans here are local produce to support the local coffee farmers. The wooden interior cafe is a spacious two-storey where you can pretty much laze here the whole day without any disturbance.

Saffron Coffee is one of the pillars of Luang Prabang’s café community; an example of excellent coffee and service. It was one of the first cafés of its kind in Luang Prabang; one that featured a full menu of espresso drinks, snacks, meals, and an inviting environment for remote workers, coffee enthusiasts, and families. It sets the bar for superb espresso in Luang Prabang.

Partner of Sanakeo Boutique, Saffron Coffee is a fair trade, specialist coffee producer and hot favourite on the Luang Prabang cafe scene. They're housed in a lovely street front cafe by the river, where you can pop in 7 days a week for a freshly roasted brew and a piece of cake. Pick up a bag of their signature Peaberry beans on the way out; you can't buy it anywhere else.

Back in 2004, David Dale saw an opportunity to turn the opium farms of northern Laos into coffee bean plantations. The results were astounding!. Local farmers could earn several times more money than before, the environment was saved from hazardous slash and burn agricultural methods, and at the end of the day, you have some of the best coffee in Luang Prabang.

TAKE A TOUR WITH SAFFRON COFFEE (AND VISIT THEIR CAFE) – Saffron Coffee is a sustainable coffee company who prides itself on working with local farmers to give them opportunities to earn a living wage in a legal manner, replacing what used to be opium fields. This delicious, organic + sustainable coffee can be enjoyed at their cafe in town.

If you don’t have an early morning flight, enjoy breakfast at Saffron Coffee. I’m not a coffee drinker, but any review of this café will tell you that they do the best coffee in town. I enjoyed the best gingerbread pancakes I’ve ever eaten at Saffron Coffee, so if their pancakes speak to their coffee – don’t miss this little coffee house.

Saffron Coffee, is probably the city’s most famous coffee shop. Saffron Coffee has its own roastery and Saffron coffee beans can be found in high-end cafes, hotels and shops all across Laos. The Luang Prabang Saffron Coffee sits in pride of place on the banks of the Mekong River and is the perfect spot to sit back and watch life flow by.

Run by American and Australian aficionados, Saffron has not only amazing coffee but a great food menu, Wi-Fi and outdoor seating along the Mekong. Find a spot to watch the boats cross the river from the nearby ferry dock as you eat a pastry and take in the beauty of the surrounding mountains. Saffron Coffee | © Regina Beach/Culture Trip

The story of Saffron Coffee is an uplifting one that deserves to be shared. The Hmong, Khamu, and Yao (Mien) who lived up in the high lands were unable to grow typical crops like the rest of Lao. They turned to opium as a way to earn income until the government banned this practice, having to then resort to slash and burn agriculture.

Saffron Coffee has more than just ethically-sourced espresso on the menu. Falafel wraps, gingerbread pancakes, paninis, and salads all await you in the Mekong Riverside café. I can personally attest to every vegetarian-friendly option on their menu being served fresh and tasting absolutely delicious {particularly the falafel}.

If you’re looking for an easy-going cafe with a relaxing atmosphere, check out Novelty Cafe. At Novelty, you’ll find excellent breakfasts as well as a cozy place to chill and read or catch up on work. Feel free to just hang out for a meal, or make yourself comfortable with a steaming cup of coffee in the cafe’s book corner.

With an open-air terrace overlooking the meandering Mekong River, Saffron is more than a simple coffee shop to the people of Luang Prabang — it is a profit-for-purpose company assisting smallholder farmers by reinvesting profits. The cafeteria features 100% Arabica coffee beans along with scrumptious delights to go along.

Caffeine lovers and digital nomads who are also plant-based need to look no further than Saffron Coffee ( Google Maps). They have a great iced soy latte and a vegan-friendly falafel wrap. Several friends recommended the Cascara Kombucha but I kept forgetting to order it–give it a taste and tell me how it is!

Laos’ neighbour, Vietnam, gets a lot of attention for its thriving coffee culture and the delicious roasts it produces— and rightfully so. But, no one should count Laos out of the coffee game. In fact, Laos produces some of the most exceptional coffee in the world, especially if you like it rich and strong.

Laos produces world class coffee which can be sampled anywhere in the city, but nothing beats sipping it on a terrace overlooking the Mekong river like at Saffron Coffee. Their special Arabica coffee is grown right in the mountains surrounding Luang Prabang so you can’t find anything more local than this.

Saffron Cafe is a famous cafe among tourists in Luang Prabang. It’s a cool and atmospheric cafe on the riverside, and you can choose to sit inside the cafe in the calm atmosphere, or sit across the road by the river and admire its beauty. The cafe has wide variety of drinks, pasteries, and food.

Saffron Coffee has awesome chill vibes and great food, making for an excellent experience for travelers. The staff here are amazing, always smiling and able to assist with requests. With views overlooking the incredible Mekong River, there is plenty of shade and comfortable tables to relax at.

Make your way to Saffron Coffee for breakfast and to enjoy the locally-grown coffee. There’s no Vietnamese-style drip coffee but I really enjoyed the gingerbread pancakes and the cold brew made from their blonde roast. They can also arrange visits to their plantation if you’re interested.

The story of Saffron Coffee is an uplifting one that deserves to be shared. The Hmong, Khamu, & Yao (Mien) who lived up in the highlands were unable to grow typical crops like the rest of Lao. They turned to opium as a way to earn income until the government banned this practice.

We tried Saffron Coffee’s Espresso a couple of times and the coffee and service was really good. Joma Bakery Cafe has 2 locations both with large spaces to hang out in AC. Good coffee drinks of all kinds and if you’re a Thai Iced Tea fan be sure to try it here.

Without a doubt, Saffron coffee shop is the best coffee shop in Luang Prabang – it’s so good, I found myself here multiple times a day. They use locally grown coffee beans and support local growers, and do their own roasting. Their coffee is outstanding.

If you miss your big city latte art hipster coffee, fear not, Saffron’s got you covered. We saw at least two outlets in Luang Prabang and they serve a quite decent cup of coffee. Their tamarind and apple tarte was decent but served icecold.

Located right next to the Orange Robe Tours office, this coffee place was our favorite while we were in town. They have a few pastries and food options, but their coffee was unforgettable. They are an amazing company with a great mission.

Then some coffee at the famous Saffron Coffee, which has their own coffee plantations and beans. That means really fresh, authentic Laos coffee but done in the Western style. Because it was swelteringly hot I had some cold brew instead!

The cute cafe is set on the banks of the Mekong and gives patrons the option to dine inside or riverside. Saffron is another cafe with a conscience. They believe that coffee shouldn’t just taste good, it should do good.

Ask any local where you can find the best coffee in Luang Prabang, and they will whisper, “Saffron.” The popular Saffron Coffee is a cafe located in a wooden house on Khem Khong Road, right by the Mekong River.

Saffron Coffee– Another great business is Saffron coffee, a crop-to-cup coffee shop that practices sustainable farming at the same time as providing Melbourne-worthy coffee to all coffee addicts craving a fix.

They roast and grind beans in the store, which smells fantastic. Profits from coffee are used to help Lao people. Opium was a main cash crop for many farmers before the government made it illegal.

We imagined it to be the fluffy kind of banana bread type but this one had a different texture but was tasty. Good strong coffee too.

Other popular cafes around include Saffron, Joma and if you’re feeling fancy, Cafe de Laos serves coffee in a Siphon apparatus.