Bangkok’s specialty coffee chain, ve/la, is set to expand internationally with its first overseas café in London, UK, scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2025. The brand, known for its quality coffee and unique offerings, will make its debut in the European market, marking a significant milestone in its growth.
Owned by the multi-brand lifestyle company Apostofi, the first ve/la café opened in March 2021 in Bangkok’s vibrant Sukhumvit shopping district. Since then, the chain has expanded rapidly, currently operating eight outlets across the Thai capital. In addition to its standard cafés, Apostofi also runs two smaller kiosks, which focus on quick service and offer a cold brew range on tap, catering to the fast-paced needs of city dwellers.
The coffee chain predominantly sources its beans from Doi Pangkhon, located in Thailand’s Chiang Rai province, a region renowned for its coffee production. On the menu, customers will find a variety of espresso-based beverages, cold brews, and health-focused smoothies, positioning ve/la as a diverse and health-conscious coffee provider.
Founded in 2020, Apostofi has established itself as a lifestyle powerhouse, operating across multiple sectors. In addition to ve/la, the company manages popular dining establishments such as Gardens and Norm, the premium stationery brand Mediums, and the creative studio Archytipe.
During Apostofi’s annual keynote event on September 10, 2024, the company announced that ve/la’s expansion into London marks a significant milestone—it will be the first time a Thai specialty coffee chain has entered the global market. According to Apostofi, this expansion is just the beginning, with plans also underway to open a café in Seoul, South Korea. The company already ships its packaged coffee products to multiple countries, including the UK, South Korea, Singapore, the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.
At the same event, Apostofi unveiled several new initiatives. These included the launch of ve/la’s first mobile app and the introduction of a new concept, ve/la Studio, an all-day café-restaurant hybrid set to open in Sukhumvit before the end of the year. The company also introduced the ve/la for Business model, which will offer coffee cart services for events and a subscription-based delivery service for workplaces, further diversifying its reach.
Thailand’s branded coffee shop market, which comprises 8,400 outlets, is currently dominated by convenience-focused chains like Café Amazon, Inthanin, and PunThai, all of which have a strong presence in petrol stations. However, Thailand’s domestic specialty coffee segment has also flourished in recent years, with popular brands like Roots, Graph Coffee Co., and Mingmitr gaining traction. International specialty brands such as Hong Kong’s The Coffee Academïcs, France’s Café Kitsuné, and Brazil’s The Coffee have also established themselves in the Thai market.
With ve/la preparing to enter the international scene, it seems poised to bring Thailand’s specialty coffee culture to a broader audience, starting with its landmark opening in London.