Tajikistan
Tajikistan's coffee culture is still in its nascent stages compared to its deeply ingrained tea-drinking traditions. Choykhona (teahouses) remain the primary social hubs. However, especially in the capital Dushanbe, a modern cafe scene is emerging, influenced by Russian and Central Asian trends, as well as broader international coffee styles. Coffee is entirely imported, making it a relatively more expensive beverage for the general population.
Here are the different ways to order coffee in Tajikistan and what's in them:
Commonly Available & Everyday Coffees:
Instant Coffee (Растворимый кофе - Rastvorimyy kofe / Инстант қаҳва - Instant qahva): This is by far the most widespread and accessible form of coffee, found in homes, offices, and smaller, local eateries.
What's in it: Instant coffee granules dissolved in hot water. It's almost always served with options for sugar and milk (often powdered milk or UHT milk/creamer) to be added to taste. 3-in-1 sachets (coffee, sugar, creamer) are also very popular for convenience.
How to order: "Растворимый кофе" (Rastvorimyy kofe) is the most common Russian term, widely understood. In Tajik, it's "Инстант қаҳва" (Instant qahva). You'd then specify "с молоком" (s molokom - with milk) or "без молока" (bez moloka - without milk), and "с сахаром" (s sakharom - with sugar) or "без сахара" (bez sakhara - without sugar).
Turkish Coffee (Турк қаҳва - Turk qahva / Кофе по-восточному - Kofe po-vostochnomu): Due to historical and cultural ties, especially with the Middle East, Turkish coffee preparation is known and offered in some places.
What's in it: Finely ground coffee beans are boiled directly in a cezve (or turka, a small pot) with water, and often sugar. It's served unfiltered in small cups, allowing the fine grounds to settle at the bottom. It's a very strong, concentrated brew.
How to order: "Турк қаҳва" (Turk qahva) in Tajik or "Турецкий кофе" (Turetskiy kofe) / "Кофе по-восточному" (Kofe po-vostochnomu - Eastern-style coffee) in Russian.
Black Coffee (Сиёҳ қаҳва - Siyoh qahva / Черный кофе - Chernyy kofe): Simple brewed black coffee.
What's in it: Hot water with coffee, without milk or creamer. Sugar would typically be offered on the side.
How to order: "Сиёҳ қаҳва" (Siyoh qahva) in Tajik or "Черный кофе" (Chernyy kofe) in Russian.
Coffee with Milk (Бо шир қаҳва - Bo shir qahva / Кофе с молоком - Kofe s molokom): A straightforward coffee with milk.
What's in it: Brewed coffee (or instant) combined with hot milk.
How to order: "Бо шир қаҳва" (Bo shir qahva) in Tajik or "Кофе с молоком" (Kofe s molokom) in Russian.
Modern Cafe-Style Coffees (Primarily in Dushanbe):
Dushanbe, the capital, has seen a rise in modern cafes. These establishments cater to a younger, more cosmopolitan crowd and foreign visitors, offering a range of espresso-based drinks similar to those found internationally.
Espresso (Эспрессо - Espresso): A concentrated shot of coffee, the base for many other drinks.
Americano (Американо - Amerikanoh): Espresso diluted with hot water.
Cappuccino (Капучино - Kapuchino): Espresso with steamed milk and a thick layer of frothed milk.
Latte (Латте - Latte / Кафе Латте - Kafe Latte): Espresso with a larger proportion of steamed milk and a thin layer of foam. Popular variations include:
Spanish Latte (Испанӣ латте - Ispani latte / Испанский латте - Ispanskiy latte): A common sweet and creamy latte, often made with condensed milk.
Flavored Lattes: Such as Caramel Latte, Vanilla Latte, etc.
Mocha (Мока - Moka / Мокко - Mokko): Espresso, steamed milk, and chocolate (syrup or powder), often topped with whipped cream.
Raf Coffee (Раф Кофе - Raf Kofe): A very popular creamy, sweet coffee drink originating from Russia, also widely found in Tajikistan.
What's in it: Typically an espresso shot blended with cream (often 10-20% fat cream) and vanilla sugar/syrup, all steamed together to create a smooth, velvety, and sweet beverage.
How to order: "Раф Кофе" (Raf Kofe).
Cold Brew (Колд брю - Kold bryu): Coffee steeped in cold water for an extended period, resulting in a smooth, less acidic concentrate.
Iced Coffee (Мөстэй қаҳва - Mөstei qahva / Холодный кофе - Kholodnyy kofe / Айс Кофе - Ays Kofe): Generally hot-brewed coffee served over ice, often with milk and sugar.
Iced Latte (Айс Латте - Ays Latte): Espresso poured over ice and topped with cold milk.
Frappe (Фраппе - Frappe): Blended iced coffee drinks, often with ice, milk, syrup, and sometimes whipped cream.
Ordering Tips:
Language: While Tajik is the official language, Russian is very widely understood, especially in Dushanbe and among the older generation, and will be essential for ordering coffee in most settings. English is understood in a growing number of modern cafes, particularly those catering to tourists.
Sweetness: A preference for sweeter beverages is common in Central Asia. If you prefer less sugar, specify "без сахара" (bez sakhara - without sugar) or "мало сахара" (malo sakhara - little sugar).
Availability: Outside of Dushanbe, your coffee options will be much more limited, primarily to instant coffee.
Price: Cafe coffee in Dushanbe can be relatively expensive compared to local wages, reflecting its imported status.
The coffee scene in Tajikistan, especially in Dushanbe, is evolving to offer more modern and diverse options beyond traditional instant coffee, catering to changing tastes and international influences.
*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.