Our Coffee Concept
Rooted in Craft, Brewing for the Future
At Café Salween, coffee is more than a drink. It is a craft, a journey, and a reflection of place. While Myanmar has grown coffee since 1885 and embraced espresso culture in the 1990s, true appreciation for specialty coffee is still emerging. Yet, our country lies within the Coffee Belt, blessed with fertile highlands, favorable climates, and immense potential.
For decades, Myanmar’s coffee remained largely unknown to the world, cut off by history and overlooked by markets. That began to change after 2010, as international collaboration and renewed local efforts improved farming practices and brought Myanmar’s beans into the global specialty scene.
Pioneering the Third Wave in Yangon
Café Salween opened in June 2017 as the first third wave café in Yangon. From the beginning, we’ve been guided by quality, traceability, and craftsmanship—offering a specialty coffee experience rooted in care and precision.
We brew beans from around the world, including Ethiopia, Colombia, Brazil, Indonesia, and Myanmar. We proudly work with both international roasters and local growers, helping Myanmar’s coffee find its place on the world stage. Today, we also roast our own beans, allowing us to control flavor, freshness, and storytelling at every step.
A River of Ideas
Why “Salween”? Known in Burmese as Than Lwin, the Salween River flows through Tibet, China, Thailand, and the Shan Hills of Myanmar. It represents energy, creativity, and resilience—values that shape our identity.
Our baristas live those values daily. We offer one of the most extensive and distinctive coffee menus in Myanmar, combining international brewing techniques with our own original methods. From pour-overs and cold brews to signature drinks created in-house, every offering reflects both craft and imagination.
A Cup with Purpose
Every cup at Café Salween is an invitation to discover, connect, and experience what Myanmar coffee can be. Whether you're a curious newcomer or a seasoned enthusiast, we welcome you to explore the richness of specialty coffee through thoughtful roasting and meaningful brewing.
Many of our coffees are also designed to pair beautifully with traditional Myanmar sweet desserts, such as coconut-based treats or sticky rice delicacies—creating a tasting experience that is balanced, nostalgic, and deeply local.
Let your coffee journey begin here, at Café Salween.
