Walking along the Narathiwat Ratchanakarin Road sidewalk in Sathorn, you’ll find the SWERB Specialty storefront, immediately evoking a sense of greenery from the vines and plants covering the entrance. SWERB is a specialty coffee shop that has been open for nearly five years, founded by Mon Wathanasiriroj. After working in motion design and lighting design for about ten years in San Francisco, USA, Mon made a major decision during the COVID-19 pandemic to return to Thailand and open a coffee shop he had once hoped to start in retirement.
“Everything stopped during COVID. My side was supporting events with visuals, so the first thing cut was that work, and there was basically no work left,” Mon said.
Before this, Mon had no serious interest in coffee until he became acquainted with Marley Coffee, the brand of Rohan Marley, son of Bob Marley, the reggae king. The coffee beans are blended according to Bob Marley’s songs. Although Mon started with simple home coffee drinking, experiencing these distinct coffee beans inspired him to dream of opening a coffee shop.
After deciding to seriously pursue opening a coffee shop during COVID, Mon sold his condo and car to fund the venture and to have more time to care for his mother in Thailand. At that time, specialty coffee wasn’t as popular as it is now, giving Mon ample time to study coffee through repeated experimentation. He worked on blending beans his way, even traveling to Chiang Rai to select specific roasted beans for his unique SWERB formula, and created a distinctive identity by collaborating with artists on the packaging design.
“I designed it so people could enjoy it as everyday coffee. For example, office workers nearby don’t want to pay too much. Our coffee starts at 80 to 100 baht, which is our house blend.”
The shop’s building has three floors, with the top floor being an open space available for rent for activities such as yoga or wine tasting. These events, organized by Mon’s wife, have been very popular. Inside SWERB, there are areas suited for workers, those seeking unique coffee flavors, and even a movie-watching space. Mon explained that in the future, they might hold outdoor film screenings in the parking area to foster a friendly community space that can host various events.
Although the coffee beans change weekly to keep flavors fresh, the shop’s special menu item is Coldpresso, its signature cold-extraction coffee. Mon explained that while heat does extract coffee, it can reduce flavor complexity. Coldpresso uses pressure from foam to extract coffee at normal or cool temperatures, unlike Coldbrew, which soaks ground roasted coffee beans in water for a long time to extract flavor.
“Customers call my shop ‘speedy coffee.’ At first, I thought it sounded negative, but actually it’s because of the taste, uniqueness, and deliciousness. Cleanliness is also very important.”
In an era where cafes are increasingly numerous, appearing on almost every corner, it is challenging for any coffee business, new or old, to survive. The key to a shop’s longevity is its unique identity and the personal connection the owner brings to their business.
“I think the shop is me—it has my identity. I’m not a genius, but I’m dynamic, I like to experiment, and I’m open to many things. I want people to be open-minded as well toward what I do,” Mon said.
“I liken the shop to new media art because I wouldn’t be able to do anything—whether design or content—without my background in visual work.”
Anyone passing by or stopping intentionally can try various coffee blends, Coldpresso, and delicious pastries at SWERB Specialty, open daily from 6:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.