Baristas behind bars: Thai prisoners brew a path back to daily life

It looks like a regular coffee shop, albeit set up in an old red bus. Stairs lead up to a serving hatch, with a menu of drink options. A selection of jaunty coffee-related messages like “My one and only love: Americano” and “Miss you a latte,” adorn the side of the bus.

But Cook & Coff, which is located in Khao Khuen Lan, a town in eastern Thailand, is no ordinary coffee shop.

Open to the public, it is managed by Thailand’s Department of Corrections and run on a day-to-day basis by prisoners.

Tup* is 26 years old and is the man preparing today’s brew. He spent six months in a maximum-security prison in Khlong Phai, in northeastern Thailand, before being transferred to Khao Khuean Lan, a more open facility, where he learnt to be a coffee barista.

Every day after his shift serving customers finishes at 3pm, he returns to prison. Gradually he is relearning how to once again become accustomed to the outside world.

In 20 days, Tup is due to be released. He looks forward to seeing his mother. If she can help him, he’ll invest in a coffee machine and start his own business.

The stigma that incarcerated people carry in Thailand often makes reintegration back into society challenging.

To relieve this burden, Thailand is attempting to reduce reoffending through rehabilitation rather than punishment.

The Kyoto Model Strategies, adopted by UN Member States in December 2025, provide a comprehensive framework for the process.

They emphasise that breaking the cycle of crime requires addressing root causes, poverty, lack of education and social exclusion, and not just imprisoning offenders.

“The real problem lies in society,” said Thitiphan Manuchantrarut, director of the Khao Prik Agricultural and Industrial Correctional Institution in Sikhio, northeastern Thailand.