Orange Juice in Your Coffee? Thailand’s Love-It-or-Hate-It Drink!

Espresso is bold and bitter. Orange juice is sweet and sharp. Putting them together sounds completely wrong—yet orange coffee has become a familiar sight across Thailand.

Some find it surprisingly refreshing. Others believe the two drinks should remain firmly on opposite sides of the breakfast table.

There is rarely a neutral reaction.

What Exactly Is Orange Coffee?

Known as Orange Coffee, Orange Americano or Americano Som, it is usually made by pouring orange juice over ice and topping it with a shot of espresso.

The result is visually striking: vivid orange beneath a dark layer of coffee. Some cafés use freshly squeezed juice, while others add yuzu, honey, syrup or soda, meaning every version tastes slightly different.

Coffee can naturally carry fruity and citrus-like notes, so the combination is not as strange as it first appears. The orange softens some of the espresso’s bitterness, while the coffee prevents the drink from becoming overly sweet.

At least, that is the theory.

In reality, the first sip normally produces one of two reactions:

“Why is this actually good?”

Or:

“Who decided these should be mixed?”

Easy to Find, Impossible to Ignore

You will not need to search for a specialist coffee shop. Orange coffee is available at cafés throughout Hua Hin—and freshly prepared versions can even be found at most 7-Eleven stores.

Look for กาแฟส้ม, Orange Americano or Americano Som on the menu.

It is worth trying more than one. A version made with fresh juice and strong espresso can taste crisp and balanced, while a sweeter interpretation may be an entirely different experience.

This is not an endorsement, and we cannot promise you will enjoy it. But it is one of those curious Thai combinations worth tasting at least once.

The Unexpected Side of Hua Hin

Hua Hin is known for its beaches, warm weather and relaxed pace of life. But its character is also found in smaller discoveries: an independent café on a quiet street, an unfamiliar choice on a familiar menu or a drink capable of dividing an entire table.

These everyday moments are part of the pleasure of living here.

At The Vista Hua Hin, the city’s cafés, restaurants, beaches and local experiences are all within easy reach, while home remains a peaceful private retreat in the hills.

Orange coffee may become an unexpected favourite—or confirm that some things are better kept apart.

Would you try it?