Cambodia
Cambodia's coffee culture is a vibrant mix of tradition and modernity, much like its Southeast Asian neighbors. While tea, particularly green tea, has long been a staple, coffee has seen a massive surge in popularity, especially in urban centers like Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. You'll find everything from bustling street-side stalls serving traditional Khmer coffee to chic, air-conditioned cafes offering international espresso drinks.
Here's a breakdown of the different ways to order coffee in Cambodia and what's in them:
General Ordering & Common Terms:
Hot or Cold:
Hot Coffee (កាហ្វេក្តៅ - Kaafe Kdao): Standard hot coffee.
Iced Coffee (កាហ្វេទឹកកក - Kaafe Tuek Kok or just Kaafe Tok): Extremely popular. This is often the default if you just ask for "coffee."
Sweetness: Cambodians generally have a sweet tooth, so coffee often comes pre-sweetened, especially at local stalls. You can usually specify:
Kat Chini (កាត់ស្ករ): Less sugar.
Min Yok Chini (មិនយកស្ករ): No sugar.
Sugar or sugar syrup is usually provided separately in modern cafes.
Milk:
Condensed Milk (ទឹកដោះគោខាប់ - Tuek Doh Ko Khav): This is the quintessential addition to traditional Cambodian coffee, providing both sweetness and creaminess.
Evaporated Milk (ទឹកដោះគោឆៅ - Tuek Doh Ko Chao): Less common than condensed milk in traditional preparations, but used.
Fresh Milk (ទឹកដោះគោ - Tuek Doh Ko): Available in modern cafes for lattes, cappuccinos, etc.
For Here or To Go:
At street stalls, iced coffee is very often served in a plastic bag with a straw, tied with a rubber band.
In cafes, you'd usually get a cup. You can say "Yoke Tov" (យកទៅ) for takeaway.
Traditional / Local Style Coffee (Khmer Coffee):
This coffee is typically brewed using a "phin" (phin filter), a metal drip filter similar to a Vietnamese phin. The beans are often Robusta, dark-roasted, sometimes with butter, oil, soybeans, or corn added during roasting to enhance flavor and create a richer, darker brew.
Kaafe Tuek Kok / Khmer Iced Coffee (កាហ្វេទឹកកកខ្មែរ): This is the iconic Cambodian coffee. Strong, dark-roasted coffee poured over a generous amount of sweetened condensed milk and ice.
Ingredients: Strong brewed Robusta coffee (often roasted with butter/margarine), sweetened condensed milk, ice.
Kaafe Kdao (Hot Coffee): The hot version of the above, often with condensed milk.
Ingredients: Strong brewed Robusta coffee, hot water, sweetened condensed milk.
Kaafe Kmao (Black Coffee): Black coffee, sometimes with sugar.
Ingredients: Strong brewed Robusta coffee, hot water, sugar (optional).
"Coffee with Bread" (Nompang Kaafe - នំប៉័ងកាហ្វេ): It's common to dip fried dough sticks (Nompang) into coffee for breakfast.
Ingredients: Any of the above coffees, served with a side of fried dough sticks.
Instant Coffee:
Still widely consumed at home, in offices, and at simpler eateries.
Instant Coffee (e.g., Nescafe 3-in-1): Pre-mixed sachets are very popular for quick preparation.
Ingredients: Instant coffee powder, hot water, often pre-mixed with sugar and powdered creamer/milk.
Modern Cafe Style Coffee (Espresso-Based & Brewed):
The burgeoning cafe scene, led by local chains and international ones offers a wide range of Western-style coffee drinks. Many of these cafes also highlight locally grown Cambodian Arabica and Robusta beans, particularly from regions like Mondulkiri and Ratanakiri.
Espresso:
Ingredients: Finely ground espresso beans, hot water.
Americano:
What it is: Espresso diluted with hot water. Can be hot or iced.
Ingredients: Espresso, hot water.
Latte (Café Latte):
What it is: Espresso with steamed milk and a thin layer of foam. Popular with various flavored syrups (vanilla, caramel, hazelnut, etc.).
Ingredients: Espresso, steamed milk.
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.
Flat White:
What it is: Espresso with microfoam (very finely textured steamed milk), less foam than a latte or cappuccino, often with a stronger coffee taste.
Ingredients: Espresso, steamed milk (microfoam).
Iced Latte/Cappuccino/Mocha:
What it is: Cold versions of the above, served over ice.
Ingredients: Espresso, cold milk, ice, syrups/chocolate (for mocha), often topped with whipped cream.
Frappe / Blended Iced Coffee:
What it is: Blended coffee drinks with ice, milk, and various flavorings, often topped with whipped cream.
Ingredients: Coffee (often strong brewed or espresso), milk, ice, sugar/syrup, and various flavorings (e.g., chocolate, caramel, vanilla), whipped cream (optional).
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.
Pour-Over / Drip Coffee:
What it is: Filtered coffee made by pouring hot water over ground coffee. Often found in specialty cafes for single-origin beans, including increasingly high-quality Cambodian beans.
Ingredients: Ground coffee, hot water.
Places to Order Coffee in Cambodia:
Street Stalls / Local Eateries: Ubiquitous and affordable, serving the classic Khmer iced coffee in plastic bags or simple glasses.
Kopitiams: Traditional coffee shops, often with a more rustic feel, serving traditional brews.
Modern Cafes / Specialty Coffee Shops: Dominant in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. These offer a comfortable environment, Wi-Fi, and a wide array of options for a higher price point.
Hotels/Guesthouses: Most tourist accommodations will offer a range of coffee options.
The Cambodian coffee scene is dynamic, reflecting a blend of traditional preferences for strong, sweet, and often iced coffee, alongside a growing appreciation for global coffee trends and the emergence of high-quality local coffee production.
*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.