A Clay Cafe & ceramic crafts, the destination for people who are coffee and ceramics lovers

There is a recent trend where coffee shops are spreading around Bangkok and other provinces. But, how many cafes can attract people by their foods, beverages or the unique identity, which can only be found in some cafes. For me, I have one place in my mind which is not simple like any other coffee shops as it is a cafe that has a studio room inside available for others to join a ceramic workshop. This cafe is located in Sathorn, a district that combines commercial, residential and entertainment properties. As Sathorn is a crowded district, who will know there is a peaceful coffee shop like this established in this busy area. It is a place where people can find peace, relaxed, and chill while sipping coffee. Not only that, we can learn how to mold ceramics.

Front of A clay cafe

This place is called A Clay Cafe, an outstanding coffee shop and ceramic studio in Sathorn district found in an old renovated building. Also, it is one of the popular spots in this area because of its attractive blue building that might catch peoples’ eyes immediately. This place is located in Soi Sathorn 8. Walking from an alley around 300 meters, you’ll see a commercial building that was painted blue and white. This building obviously stands out from other buildings around there. Even though this alley has several street vendors on both sides, this cafe is still one destination for workers who want to find a place to take a break during the day. 

I will bring you to know A Clay Cafe, a coffee shop that can make you feel like home by its warm and peaceful atmosphere. If I explain this cafe in my point of view, you might not be able to imagine how interesting it is. So, I will tell this story through the perspective of Wan - Piraon Amnuaypronsakul, the owner and ceramic maker of A clay cafe. People might think that molding ceramic is quite hard, and there might be something only old crafters can do. Actually, it is not as Wan shows me that molding ceramic is an activity that anyone can do. In order to get clearer pictures, Wan will tell her story towards two things that she has a passion for, which are coffee and ceramics. She shares how these two things offer some positive emotions to her life.

Wan, the owner of A clay cafe

The beginning of A Clay Cafe

Before A Clay Cafe was established, Wan has done a ceramic brand for sale as she has studied and graduated from the ceramic department of Silpakorn University. She named her brand “A clay ceramic”, which is a brand that sells ceramic jewelries and wares. Until one day, Wan felt that she wanted her products like plates and glasses to be used because she thought that “If those plates and bowls were used, I would feel that they are alive more than just standing still on the shelf.”  Wan said coincidentally, at the same time she also met Pui, her co-founder of A clay cafe, she is the one who has a passion for homemade foods. Therefore, they agreed to open a coffee shop so as to combine two things that they are passionate about together. Because of the intention and passion that Wan has for ceramics, it can be said that this cafe is quite successful as she has a chance to do what she loves. Personally, I think that if anyone has an opportunity to do something they prefer, it will surely be a success.

Three different aspects of A Clay Cafe

The very first intention of Wan to build this place is that she wants to have an area for work, which is not close to the coffee shop that she opened now. But, the idea of a coffee shop came later as Wan wanted this place to be a place for people who are interested in ceramics or who want to try molding ceramics can experience it here. Wan decided to push this area to the basement of the 3 floors building in order to use this area as not only as her working space but also as an area for people to participate in the ceramic workshop that was hosted by her. For the second floor, Wan uses this floor to open a cafe, in which she has arranged space appropriately by separating the coffee counter from the eating zone. By organizing a floor plan like this, it helps customers to eat and experience the warm atmosphere of A Clay Cafe excessively. And for the top of the building, Wan turned it to be an art gallery where artists can arrange events, which Wan thinks that it is another advantage for her cafe to lead people coming to her cafe more while there is such an art event is showing. In this case, it means that people who come here will have a chance to experience many interesting aspects such as ceramics, arts, and foods in one place. This is the main outstanding point of A Clay Cafe that Wan uses several aspects of art and craft giving customers calm and relaxed feelings.

Desserts and coffee counter inside the coffee shop

Floor 2: eating zone

Floor 3: Art gallery

The combination of cafe and ceramic workshop

Even though Wan has an intention to build this place to be her working area, and the idea of turning it to become a cafe came later, deep in her heart, molding ceramics is still the work that she is passionate about the most. Wan said that “The actual highlight of this cafe is still ceramics, but I let ceramics sell values by itself. On the other hand, the cafe is the thing that attracts people to come. That’s it.” So, Wan decided to build A Clay Cafe to be a place that includes ceramics and coffees that she loves in one area. An area that she hopes this place to be her office, and also a place that is available for people who have the same preferences to visit. That is the reason why she came up with the idea to open a coffee shop that has a workshop room inside.

The outstanding identity of A Clay Cafe that catches peoples’ eyes

The point that indicates these are Wan’s ceramic products is the way that they are painted in white and blue combining with the pattern of humans’ faces. Wan said that her own product was painted as a pattern like peoples’ faces because she was inspired by many things around her. She said that when she goes out and sees windows and manholes, she will imagine it likes humans’ faces that have eyes, noses, and lips. Therefore, Wan brings those inspirations that she meets in her daily life to paint in her ceramicwares. Although the patterns of A clay ceramic’s product are humans’ faces, each product is different, but still remains the pattern which is the identity of a clay ceramics’ product like that.

The highlight of Wan’s ceramic products

The environment of Workshop ceramic at A Clay Cafe

Fortunately, on the day that I went to A Clay Cafe for my interview, there were also students there doing a ceramic workshop coincidentally. Wan allowed me to take pictures and videos in that room while the ceramic class was going on. After I open the door, I see a rectangle room, which is not that big. By looking around the room, there are many shelves that are settled around the room, and each shelf is filled with ceramic products including glasses, plates, bowls, and small ceramic pieces. In the center of the room, there is a long bench that has two students and one teacher are sitting oppositely on the bench. I try to guess what they are molding, but it is quite hard as the class just began. And, what I see is only clay that waits for forming shapes in the next process. I was observing in the workshop room for a while, and what I felt was a peaceful environment. The songs that were played in that room gave me such a good feeling that made me feel calm and relax. In this cafe, there is one assistant teacher besides Wan to teach the clay workshop, and on the day that I went for an interview is the day that Wan did not have to teach any classes. By not disturbing the class that much, I went out of that room and talked more about this cafe with Wan until my curiosity is solved. For people who want to take part in the ceramic workshop class, there are two options which are 2,000 baht for 1-day class and 3,000 baht for 2 days. The differences between these two options are not only the duration, but also techniques, color for painting, and pieces of work that students will get. To be more specific, for the 2 days class, the color of works that participants will get would be darker as the works that they made will be coated by specific substances. Ceramic workshop at A Clay Cafe is open every day, except every Thursday, there will be no class. If you are interested in joining the class, you should make the reservation via the inbox of A Clay Cafe’s Facebook page only. And for works that participants have made, they can come and get their work after 2-3 weeks since the day that they do it. This is because ceramic works take much time to burn, and teachers have to spend time dealing with small mistakes and details of each work so as to make the products strong and usable in real life.

A room for a ceramic workshop

Feelings for ceramics

“When molding ceramic it makes me calm and knows the way to wait for something. Moreover, it treats me when I get bored too.” Wan said. From my curiosity, is it true that molding ceramics can really help us to relax? This is the answer from a person who has been spending her life with ceramics since she was a university student until now that she already has her own ceramic workshops and her own ceramic brand. Wan also tells me that when she is a molding, it makes her stop thinking about what is on her mind at that moment, and focusing on molding instead. This is because “Molding ceramics requires concentration and understanding that when is the right time that we can start to form shapes. It also teaches me not to be impatient as we have to wait until the clay is set and ready to mold then we can continue molding it.” Wan said. So, this might be the explanation why Wan looks so calm and being a slow-life person no matter it is the way that she talks, actions that she does, or even working with everything in her cafe.

Wan is sitting in her workshop room

An activity that likens shelters for mind and body

Recently, there are many people who tend to be more interested in participating in ceramic workshops or other DIY classes more than in the past. The reason for it might be the chaos of society right now, also several problems that occur in individual’s lives unexpectedly. Those threats make people want to find some reliable things that they can take some rest with. For instance, doing activities that they can spend time with themselves or do it by themselves because these kinds of activities help people to have more concentration by focusing on what they are doing and forgetting those busy stories that disturb their mind for a while. Molding ceramics is counted as one of the activities that give those feelings too. Wan told me based on her experience that “Most people who got their works look so happy with it. This is because they know that they do it by themselves. Although the color of the products might not turn out to be liked what they have expected or it has weird shapes, that’s okay and still usable for them.” This means that even though the final version of their pieces of work may not look perfect, at least these are what they have done by their own hand, and they are proud of it.

Seeing another aspect of life because of ceramics

“Now, I think doing ceramics is like a hobby, but I just have to do my hobby as my main job. Also, improving myself along the way. Meaning that I have to work on my job, and be able to gain money from it.” Based on what Wan said, it can be defined obviously that living a life with ceramics places some positive effects on her in several aspects. Opening workshop class and cafe together is like the motivation for her to always improve herself. Meeting many students who are testy or calm also practices her to be a person that can control her consciousness and emotion so as to continue teaching students to mold ceramics with happiness and pride with works that they have created.

Peacefulness among chaos

Time passed by until now, A Clay Cafe has been opened for almost 3 years, and there still have more and more people come, especially during mid-day until noon. This is because the area that A Clay Cafe is located is crowded. However, even though the location might not be that peaceful, but when we step into this cafe, it feels like we step across to another peaceful world. Despite this cafe having limited spaces, the atmosphere of this cafe can truly be defined by the word “peaceful”. The atmosphere like a house, the good scent of coffee and calm sound that was opened for improving peoples’ mood are three factors that when combined together, they make A Clay Cafe be a place that impresses everyone who wants to feel be relaxed, escape chaos from outside or even find some working spaces, I would suggest A Clay Cafe is a MUST cafe to visit.