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section provides estimated income at each stage: from roasted coffee to green beans,
parchment coffee, and cherries at the farmer level.

1. The analysis assumes the use of Arabica beans to produce freshly brewed coffee, with 15
grams of roasted coffee required per cup, following standard international brewing

practices.
2. The conversion ratio across each processing stage—cherry to parchment, to green bean, to
roasted coffee—is set at 10.0 : 2.0 : 1.4 : 1.0, as shown in the “Conversion Ratio” column of
Table 10.2.
3. The price ranges for coffee cherries, parchment, green beans, and roasted coffee are based
on the values shown in the “Price” column of Table 10.2.

According to Table 10.2, if each cup of coffee uses 15 grams of roasted beans, the cost of the
beans alone would range from 7.50 to 9.00 baht per cup, based on a price of 500–600 baht per
kilogram. Of this amount, approximately 3.75 to 4.50 baht would go to the farmer supplying

the coffee cherries, assuming a farm-gate price of 25–30 baht per kilogram. This income is based
on the fact that producing 15 grams of roasted coffee requires about 150 grams of ripe coffee
cherries. At that volume, the cost of cherries is roughly 3 baht, based on a production cost of
12,000 baht per rai, or about 20 baht per kilogram, assuming a yield of 600 kilograms per rai
for Arabica. Under these conditions, the farmer would earn a net return of roughly 1.25 to 1.5
times their cost.

Table 10.2 Quantity of Each Coffee Type Used for One Cup of Coffee

Coffee Price (Baht/kg) Revenue per Cup (Baht)
Conversion
Type of Coffee Quantity per
Ratio (kg) Lower Upper Lower Upper
Cup (g) Estimate Estimate Estimate Estimate
Assumption: One cup of coffee uses 15 grams of roasted coffee (coffee cost per cup: 7.50–9.00 Baht)

Roasted Coffee 1.0 15.0 500 600 7.50 9.00
Green Coffee 1.4 21.0 200 250 4.20 5.25
Parchment Coffee 2.0 30.0 130 160 3.90 4.80
Cherry Coffee 10.0 150.0 25 30 3.75 4.50
Note: Estimates are based on Arabica coffee.
Source: Calculations are derived from interviews with Mr. Pathom Meekaew, a Thai coffee expert and practitioner (October 14,
2024), and Professor Dr. Pongsak Angkasit, an academic with both domestic and international expertise in coffee who oversees
coffee-related initiatives for the Royal Project (October 31, 2024).
A single cup of freshly brewed coffee generates approximately 3.75–4.50 baht in revenue for
coffee cherry producers, 3.90–4.80 baht for those processing parchment coffee, 4.20–5.25 baht

for green bean processors, and 7.50–9.00 baht for roasted coffee sellers. Notably, the value-
added margin between parchment coffee and green beans is relatively small compared to other
stages. Consequently, the same producers often handle both stages. Those processing ripe
cherries typically do not sell parchment coffee but continue refining it into green beans. Roasted
coffee, on the other hand, provides the highest margin, although it also involves higher
production costs. In addition to the relatively low cost of coffee itself, running a café involves a
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