Kyrgyzstan
While Kyrgyzstan is historically a tea-drinking nation, with various traditional fermented milk drinks also being very popular, coffee culture has been rapidly growing, especially in the capital city of Bishkek. You'll find a blend of traditional post-Soviet era preferences and a burgeoning modern cafe scene.
Here are the different ways to order coffee in Kyrgyzstan and what's in them:
Traditional / Commonly Available Coffees:
Instant Coffee (Растворимый кофе - Rastvorimyy kofe): This remains incredibly common in homes, offices, and even smaller, more traditional eateries. It's affordable and convenient.
What's in it: Instant coffee granules dissolved in hot water. Often served with milk (powdered or UHT milk is typical) and sugar, to taste. You'll often find 3-in-1 sachets that include coffee, creamer, and sugar.
How to order: "Растворимый кофе" (Rastvorimyy kofe). You'll likely be asked if you want it "с молоком" (s molokom - with milk) or "с сахаром" (s sakharom - with sugar).
Turkish Coffee (Турецкий кофе - Turetskiy kofe or Кофе по-восточному - Kofe po-vostochnomu): Given the historical and cultural connections, this method of preparation is popular.
What's in it: Very finely ground coffee beans are boiled in a cezve (or turka) with water, and sometimes sugar. It's served unfiltered in small cups, allowing the fine grounds to settle at the bottom. It's a strong, intense brew.
How to order: "Турецкий кофе" (Turetskiy kofe) or "Кофе по-восточному" (Kofe po-vostochnomu - Eastern-style coffee).
Coffee with Milk (Кофе с молоком - Kofe s molokom): A simple and widely consumed option.
What's in it: Brewed coffee (could be from a drip machine, French press, or even strong instant) generously mixed with hot milk.
How to order: "Кофе с молоком." If you want it black, specify "черный кофе" (chernyy kofe - black coffee) or "без молока" (bez moloka - without milk).
Modern Cafe-Style Coffees:
In cities, especially Bishkek, you'll find a booming cafe scene that mirrors international trends. These cafes typically use espresso machines and offer a wide array of popular Western-style coffee drinks.
Espresso (Эспрессо): A concentrated shot of coffee, the foundation for many other drinks.
Americano (Американо): Espresso diluted with hot water.
Cappuccino (Капучино): Espresso with steamed milk and a generous layer of frothed milk foam.
Latte (Латте / Кафе Латте): Espresso with a larger proportion of steamed milk and a thin layer of foam, often served in a taller glass.
Mocha (Мокко): Espresso, steamed milk, and chocolate (syrup or powder), often topped with whipped cream.
Flat White (Флэт Уайт): Espresso with velvety steamed milk, less foam than a cappuccino, offering a stronger coffee taste.
Macchiato (Макиато):
Caffè Macchiato: Espresso "marked" with a dollop of foamed milk.
Latte Macchiato: Steamed milk "stained" with espresso, poured in layers.
Raf Coffee (Раф Кофе): This is a very popular drink in Russia and other former Soviet countries, including Kyrgyzstan.
What's in it: Typically a single shot of espresso, mixed with cream (often 10-20% fat cream), and vanilla sugar or vanilla syrup, all steamed together until frothy and velvety. It's sweeter and creamier than a latte.
How to order: "Раф Кофе."
Cold Brew (Колд брю): Coffee steeped in cold water for an extended period, resulting in a smooth, low-acid concentrate.
Iced Coffee (Холодный кофе / Айс Кофе): Generally hot-brewed coffee served over ice, often with milk and sugar.
Iced Latte (Айс Латте): Espresso poured over ice and topped with cold milk.
Frappe / Frappuccino (Фраппе / Фрапучино): Blended iced coffee drinks, often with ice, milk, syrup, and sometimes whipped cream.
Ordering Tips:
Language: While English is increasingly understood in modern cafes in Bishkek, knowing the Russian names for drinks (as listed above) will be very helpful across the country.
Sugar and Milk: Sugar is almost always served on the side, allowing you to sweeten to your preference. For milk, if you don't specify, you'll likely get dairy milk. Some larger cafes might offer alternative milks (oat, almond) but it's not as widespread as in Western countries.
Specialty Roasters: Bishkek now has local coffee roasters that focus on specialty beans and various brewing methods (pour-over, Aeropress), appealing to coffee enthusiasts.
While tea remains deeply ingrained in Kyrgyz culture, the rising popularity of cafes, especially among the younger generation, indicates a burgeoning and diversifying coffee scene.
*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.