Nepal’s Coffee Awakening: From Tea Tradition to Café Culture
Kathmandu, July 25, 2025 (QW ) – In a country where tea is more than a beverage — it’s a daily greeting and a cultural cornerstone — coffee is making quiet but remarkable inroads.
Long known for its prized Himalayan tea, Nepal has traditionally favored sweet, milky brews served in glass tumblers. But today, from the busy streets of Kathmandu to towns across the country, a new aroma is wafting through the air — the smell of freshly brewed coffee.
A Slow Brew Turns into a Surge
Coffee’s journey in Nepal began in earnest in the 1990s, and one man is widely credited with leading the movement: Gagan Pradhan, founder of Himalayan Java. What began as a single alleyway café has grown into a nationwide chain of 84 outlets, setting the tone for Nepal’s emerging coffee culture.
“There are tea shops everywhere,” said Pradhan, “but they tend to be old-fashioned. Coffee shops, on the other hand, are modern, intentional, and more refined — from lighting and décor to location and service.”
He estimates there are now around 7,000 cafés across the country. Though international giants like Starbucks have yet to enter the Nepali market, the domestic scene is vibrant and competitive.
The Lifestyle Appeal
Coffee in Nepal remains a luxury. A single cup at Himalayan Java costs around $2 — the same price as a full local meal or five cups of tea. But that hasn’t deterred consumers. Offices buzz with workers sipping espresso on breaks, and cafés are full of students turning their coffee purchases into hours of study time.
According to Deep Singh Bandari, a social worker and regular café-goer, coffee initially caught attention as a symbol of upward mobility. “People thought coffee was for the elite,” he said. “But once they tried it, they enjoyed the taste. Now, it’s become part of life for many.”
From Import to Homegrown
Nepal still relies heavily on imported beans, but its own coffee production is starting to percolate. In the mountainous regions of eastern Nepal — long famed for tea — coffee plantations are now joining the landscape.
According to the National Tea and Coffee Development Board, Nepal produced 400 tons of coffee in the 2021–2022 fiscal year. Though modest compared to the 26,000 tons of tea harvested in the same period, officials expect significant growth.
“Coffee’s popularity is rising across all generations,” said Pradhan. “We believe this is just the beginning.”
Regional Shift in Taste
Nepal’s transformation mirrors a broader shift across Asia, where traditionally tea-drinking nations — from India to China to Vietnam — are embracing coffee culture as part of a new urban lifestyle. With Nepal’s young population and increasing exposure to global trends, the country is poised to become a notable player in South Asia’s coffee story.
