A dance symbolizing the spirit of coffee, based on a Georgian lullaby. (Coffee originated in the Arabian region and spread among Muslims as a medicine to regulate health and elevate mood.)

The dominant figuration in the left hand imitates a drum. The theme begins from measure 14, which is originally assigned to the violin. In the orchestral version, the string section plays with mutes, adding a change to the timbre. Tchaikovsky attempts to represent an Oriental image using typical techniques such as melismatic rhythms expressed by quintuplets, the use of augmented intervals, and a low ostinato.