• Society

Mobile Coffee Carts Bring Life to Siem Reap’s Riverside

• By Heng Sreylin
• and Phat Dane
• December 19, 2023 8:59 AM

SIEM REAP – With only a simple coffee maker and a few camping chairs, El Farit is among the small vendors who decided to brew coffee along the Siem Reap river for walkers who want to relax and breathe some fresh air. 

The public area, at the heart of the city and near the Royal Residence, is one of the many relaxing places that are popular among the locals, who want to sit under the shade of ancient trees.

The many visitors in Cambodia’s tourist hotspot, especially younger people, offer a great opportunity for those who want to open a mobile coffee cart. 

Five mobile brewers are operating in the area. 

“I’ve observed that this is a good location for relaxing. That’s why I chose this place,” Farit said, noting that it’s also a good place for taking a break with refreshing air. 

He said the environment along the river is not the same as indoor coffee shops, where people can’t enjoy the beauty of the river as much.

Kham Phoo (L), El Pharit (C) and In Pisey (R) are coffee makers along Siem Reap river. Photo: Heng Sreylin

“Here, there is stream, tree. It’s so natural,” said Farit, who sells between 250 to 300 drinks a day. Most of his customers are teenagers.

When he first opened his mobile cart in this part of the city’s riverside two months ago, Farit was one of the only vendors, but he was soon joined by competitors who saw the business potential of such a location.

Like other sellers, Farit modified his motorbike and equipped it with a big box to store material needed for his daily operation. 

The simple material such as the pour-over coffee maker or the drip one – commonly used among camper – is being used to brew. 

There is no fancy decoration like other coffee shops tend to have. Only a few camping chairs and plastic tables are here to welcome the customers in the fresh and stress-free environment of the city.

The price of coffee also differs from fancier places: customers pay between 3,000 and 3,500 riel for their drink, while it tends to be more expensive in other places of the city.

The many visitors in Cambodia’s tourist hotspot, especially younger people, offer a great opportunity for those who want to open a mobile coffee cart. Photo: Phat Dane

While the area is attractive to coffee enthusiasts, it also offers more advantages. In Pisey, one of the vendors, said that she doesn’t need to pay a rental fee to operate her business. The location is also convenient, near her children’s school.

She said that due to the location’s unique atmosphere, she’s able to sell about 30 bottles per day, in addition to coffee. It is enough to maintain her business, she said.

“In the evening, some youth gather, play guitar and sing until late at night. Many people are strolling along the stream,” she said.

Kham Phoo, another seller, said that the outdoor café can attract tourists to the area since the place offers a greener and more natural environment for customers.  

The place offers a greener and more natural environment for customers. Photo: Phat Dane