Nepal's Coffee Boom: Why a Tea-Loving Country Is Falling for Coffee

Nepal has always been a tea country. But walk through Kathmandu today and you'll pass cafe after cafe. Coffee has gone from rare treat to everyday habit for many young Nepalis.

How big is the boom?

Exact numbers are hard to pin down, but the signs are everywhere. In a 2025 report, the Associated Press described cafes appearing on street corners across Nepal's cities. Industry estimates put the number of coffee cafes in urban Nepal in the thousands, and a single homegrown chain had grown to more than 80 outlets.

What's driving it?

• Young people and students. Cafes have become study spaces and hangouts.
• Remote and freelance work. Many people now work from cafes for part of the day.
• Travel and returning professionals. People who studied or worked abroad brought coffee habits home.
• A place to meet. For many friends and couples, a cafe is the default meeting spot.

Coffee is still a treat

A cup of coffee in a Kathmandu cafe often costs several times more than a glass of chiya. That's why, for most people, coffee is an occasion and chiya is the everyday.

Tea and coffee, side by side

The coffee boom hasn't pushed tea aside. If anything, it has made tea more creative: matka chiya, tandoori tea and specialty blends are now on cafe menus alongside cappuccinos.

Our approach

At Chiya Table we serve both, simply and affordably:

• Milk Coffee: Rs. 50
• Black Coffee: Rs. 40
• Cold Coffee: Rs. 70
• Cold Black Coffee: Rs. 50

That means you don't have to choose between a good conversation and your budget. See the full menu, or read our guide to milk, black and cold coffee.