Thai Robusta Coffee is grown on plantations in Southern Thailand, mainly in the following provinces: Surat Thani, Chumporn, Ranong, Nakorn Si Thammarat, Phang-Nga and Krabi. Robusta coffee grows in lower altitudes. For the growers, Robusta has many advantages: the trees are easier to cultivate, more disease-resistant, can tolerate larger temperature and moisture extremes, produce more beans and their fruits mature considerably quicker than their Arabica counterparts.

At the same time, however, Robusta is generally regarded as lesser quality beans and accordingly yield lower prices. Thai Robusta is of good quality and internationally well established. Major export markets are the United States, Europe, Japan and Singapore. In the local market, Robusta is mainly used for all kinds of canned coffee drinks as well as soluble (instant) coffee. Proper processing and new roasting technologies, however, allow gourmet and bean coffee roasters to also create good quality blends with Thai Robusta.

Thai Arabica Coffee is grown on plantations in Northern Thailand, mainly in the following provinces: Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lampang, Mae Hong Son and Tak. Arabica trees thrive at higher altitudes, which in Thailand is between 800 to 1,500 meters. In These altitudes, the beans mature at a slower pace, producing generally a richer, denser, more flavorful bean.

Arabica in Thailand is still in a kind of experimental stage, which helps explain its low yearly harvest. Most Thai Arabica coffee is grown by small holders, such as hill tribe families and villages, as well as in research stations (Wawi, Chang Khian, etc.) and development programs. The few hundred tons of beans that are annually picked are brought almost entirely by local traders and roasting factories for producing roast and ground coffee.