Bhutan
Bhutan's coffee culture, while relatively new compared to its deep-rooted tea traditions (especially Suja or butter tea), is rapidly growing, particularly in its urban centers like Thimphu and Paro. The emergence of modern cafes and local coffee growers is transforming the way people enjoy coffee.
Here's a breakdown of how coffee is typically ordered and what's in them in Bhutan:
General Ordering & Key Aspects:
Hot or Cold: Similar to most places, you'll specify if you want "hot coffee" (often just "coffee") or "iced coffee" (アイスコーヒー - Aisu Kofī, borrowing from Japanese/English pronunciation).
Sweetness: Bhutanese tend to have a preference for sweeter beverages. Coffee shops will usually provide sugar or sugar syrup ("gomme syrup") separately, allowing you to customize. In simpler settings, sugar might be pre-added.
Milk/Cream: Fresh milk is common in cafes. In more traditional or rural settings, powdered milk or evaporated milk might be used if fresh milk isn't readily available.
Common Coffee Drinks and Their Ingredients:
You'll find a blend of instant coffee at home and local eateries, alongside a growing range of espresso-based drinks in cafes.
Home & Local Preparations (often using instant coffee):
Instant Coffee: This remains a very common way to consume coffee, especially outside of dedicated cafes. People will buy instant coffee sachets (like Nescafe) from shops.
Ingredients: Instant coffee powder, hot water, sugar (to taste), and milk (powdered, evaporated, or fresh if available).
"Plain Coffee" / Black Coffee: Simply instant coffee with hot water.
Ingredients: Instant coffee powder, hot water. Sugar is usually added by the individual.
Milk Coffee: Instant coffee mixed with milk and sugar.
Ingredients: Instant coffee powder, hot milk, sugar.
Modern Coffee Shop Options (in urban centers like Thimphu, Paro):
With the growth of cafes a wide variety of espresso-based and brewed coffees are now available. These cafes often use locally grown Bhutanese coffee beans, which are gaining international recognition for their quality.
Espresso:
What it is: A concentrated shot of coffee, forming the base for many milk drinks.
Ingredients: Finely ground espresso beans, hot water.
Americano:
What it is: Espresso diluted with hot water. Can be ordered hot or iced.
Ingredients: Espresso, hot water.
Latte (or Café Latte):
What it is: Espresso with steamed milk and a thin layer of foam.
Ingredients: Espresso, steamed milk. Flavored lattes (vanilla, caramel, hazelnut) are also popular.
Cappuccino:
What it is: Espresso with steamed milk and a thicker layer of foam.
Ingredients: Espresso, steamed milk, foamed milk.
Mocha:
What it is: A latte with chocolate syrup or powder.
Ingredients: Espresso, steamed milk, chocolate syrup/powder.
Iced Coffee (Standard Cafe Style):
What it is: Brewed coffee or espresso served over ice, often with milk and sugar/syrup added.
Ingredients: Brewed coffee or espresso, ice, milk (optional), sugar/syrup (optional).
Blended Iced Coffee / Frappe-style drinks:
What it is: Coffee blended with ice, milk, syrups, and often topped with whipped cream. Very popular in warmer weather.
Ingredients: Coffee (often strong brewed or espresso), milk, ice, sugar/syrup, various flavorings (e.g., caramel, chocolate), whipped cream (optional).
Pour-Over / Drip Coffee:
What it is: Filtered coffee made by pouring hot water over ground coffee, allowing for a clean and nuanced cup. This is particularly offered by specialty coffee shops showcasing local Bhutanese beans.
Ingredients: Ground coffee (often single-origin Bhutanese beans), hot water.
Cold Brew:
What it is: Coffee steeped in cold water for an extended period, resulting in a smooth, low-acid concentrate.
Ingredients: Coarsely ground coffee, cold water.
Places to Order Coffee in Bhutan:
Homes: Instant coffee is predominant for daily consumption.
Small local eateries/restaurants: Often offer simple instant coffee.
Modern Cafes: Found mostly in Thimphu, Paro, and gradually in other towns. These are the places to find espresso-based drinks, brewed coffee, and a wider variety of preparations. Many are proud to serve locally grown Bhutanese coffee.
Hotels/Guesthouses: Most tourist-standard accommodations will offer a range of coffee options, usually a mix of instant and brewed coffee, and increasingly espresso drinks.
While Suja (salted butter tea) remains the culturally significant traditional beverage, the burgeoning coffee scene in Bhutan is providing locals and tourists with an increasing number of ways to enjoy a cup of coffee, often highlighting the country's own nascent coffee industry.
*The content in this document was generated using artificial intelligence, drawing from various online sources, and subsequently refined for accuracy and conciseness in 2025. Users are advised to consult multiple sources to corroborate information and should not rely solely on this document for comprehensive research.