Coffee in Ukraine

The best coffee deal in Kiev?

McDonald's

In my opinion, the best coffee deal in Ukraine is at the numerous McDonald's. For $1.25 you'll get a fresh brewed 10 oz. coffee. Order the American if you want something similar to (slightly strong) American brewed coffee. Be sure to ask for the big size, which is not always on menu. (Besides American, they also have espressos, lattes and cappuccinos.) What's nice about McDonald's coffee is that they are relatively big (some places give you only 2 ounces or less) and it tastes very good. Their machines grind the coffee beans and brew it fresh. Plus there are quite a few McDonald's around, and you can carry the cup around with you. (Though if you do that, you'll look like a foreigner. Ukrainians don't seem to sip drinks while on the run.)

Some of the local fast food chains also have similar coffee machines, though their portions are the more typical (smaller) size common in Ukraine. Some sch chains are: Shvidko (looks kind of like WBNAKO in Ukrainian) and Trali-Vali (which looks kind of like TPAAI-BAAI).

There are also some coffee specialty shops around Kiev, if you'd like to sit and sip in a more elegant setting. Two such chains are Coffee Haus, Double Coffee and Coffee Time.

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Instant coffee on the street in Kiev

There are many places to buy instant coffee on the street in Kiev

Coffee on the Street

If there's nothing else around, you can get a quick cup almost anywhere that you see kiosks aggragated. (Or even on table set up on the sidewalk, see photo above.) For 20 to 30 cents, they'll mmix some instant coffee (usually Jacobs, from Germany, which is pretty good) and some hot water from a thermos for you. You'll get a tiny 2 oz portion, but it will be very strong. Note: if you like your coffee black, be sure to order it "without sugar," as they will invariably add sugar to it by default. If you need cream or milk in your coffee, order a "capuchino". It's just a mix too, but it has also some artificial cream ingredient in it.

In addition to Jacobs, many kiosks (and some cafes) offer an instant coffee called "MacCoffee." (Don't mistake this for a coffee at McDonald's. This one has sugar already in the packet, so don't get a MacCoffee is you like black coffee,

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