Fika: The Story of Sweden’s Classic Coffee Custom

Over the past 1200 years, coffee has played a significant role in human society. With 2.3 million cups consumed worldwide each minute, coffee consumption is a truly global phenomenon. Coffee is the fourth-most consumed beverage worldwide, measured by total sales volume. Its consumption, which most likely began in northeast Africa, moved to the Middle East, then to Europe during the 15th century. Today, a lot of us rely on coffee as our go-to wake-up aid and partner in the battle against the tiredness demon. The second most valuable commodity in the world now, after oil, is coffee. It has become a daily part of life around the world and is one of the most widely consumed pharmacologically active drinks. Coffee, which we enjoy and use to start our days, is the world’s second-most-exported commodity. It is farmed and consumed worldwide in more than 70 nations. But do you know that many countries have their own rituals for celebrating coffee? You can always find the finest cup of coffee blended with indigenous flavor wherever you are. Traveling allows you to experiment with different coffee varieties and brewing techniques. 

Here are some of the most popular coffees in the world, where to find them, and some coffee customs related to them. Alongside, we will delve deeply into Sweden’s “Fika” break, which is as fascinating and rejuvenating as your morning brew.

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Fika

The slang term for coffee from the 19th century, kaffi, is where the word Fika originates. When you flip the word kaffi, you get fika. Several times throughout Sweden’s history, coffee has been outlawed. Since they didn’t want to quit kaffi because of the rules, they came up with a secret word to meet for “kaffi.” So “Fika” arrived.

In Sweden, fika is a concept, a way of thinking, a mindset, and a significant aspect of society. Swedish people, who are typically thought of as being distant, reserved, and unsociable, cherish their fika. Making time for Fika each day is something that many Swedes believe to be essentially mandatory. It entails setting aside time for colleagues and friends to get together and have a cup of coffee and a light meal.

The Swedish values coffee breaks so highly that even the nation’s most well-known company, Ikea, has a section about Fika on its corporate website. A Fika isn’t just a coffee break; it’s a time to share, relax and connect with colleagues. Fika is where some of the most creative ideas and decisions are made.

The Swedes believe that taking a break to pause and socialize improves mental clarity and relationships. Fika gives them the opportunity to make new friends, learn about others, look for potential relationships, and network with business people. Do you know? The Swedish management approach is unique compared to most other nations. It is flat and non-hierarchical. They believe, Fika is a fantastic way to bond with their employees and share knowledge and viewpoints about what’s going on in the business. Implementing Fika in workplaces makes sound commercial sense because better teams and higher productivity result in businesses. As a result, the company’s revenue improves and each employee’s well-being improves.

Fika is frequently a part of the daily routine at work in Sweden. It is customary to hold a fika at 10:00 in the morning and 3.00 pm in the afternoon. Fika is sometimes enjoyed by candlelight, even in an office. The idea is to take things slowly and enjoy a small snack and a drink with friends and colleagues.

It’s not just coffee these days – the striving, affluent New Yorker, Londoner, and Sydney-sider also prefer to take time out for fika. They have realized that taking breaks throughout the day is more helpful than grabbing a quick coffee cup.

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What used to be served at Fika?

The term “fikabröd” refers to the pastry that most Swedes eat with their coffee. Cinnamon buns, chocolate balls, and biscuits are a few of the most well-liked pastries. But, it doesn’t matter what you eat during Fika. Companionship, socializing, and catching up with friends and colleagues come first; food comes second.

But everything you serve at Fika should be edible and appetizing. It should ideally be homemade. In Sweden, a lot of team leaders think it’s essential to bring something home-baked to work for Fika.

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Coffee across the world

Around the world, coffee tastes vary considerably, just like brewing preferences.

• Traditionally, Arabic coffee is gently brewed and flavored with cardamom or ginger, giving it a chocolaty taste without adding any actual chocolate. This drink is traditionally served with dates in a tiny, handleless cup.
•  Americans love creamers and sweets in their coffee. However, this technique is significantly less common in Europe. In Southern Europe and the Middle East, coffee is often made very strong without milk, sugar, or cream. Some Scandinavians mix a raw egg into their powdered coffee before adding boiling water.
• Thais like iced coffee made by steeping coffee in hot water before adding ice and flavorings. You can make this delicious coffee by combining sweetened condensed milk with flavorful spices like cardamom and serving it over ice.
• Vietnamese coffee is similar to Thai coffee but egg yolk is added for richness. The recipe developed during a dairy shortage in the 1940s.
• Italians, renowned for their long-standing coffee culture, prefer their coffee served as a short but strong espresso after lunch, dinner, or late at night. Unlike in other countries, cappuccino, frothy milk, and coffee are occasionally served with meals in Italy. 
• The classic French “café au lait” is served in a bowl filled half with frothed milk and half with strong filter coffee.
• In parts of Ethiopia and Eritrea, hosting involves coffee ceremonies. When they make coffee for guests, they roast the green beans, grind them, and sieve them a few times. Ceramic pots are usually used to serve coffee.

Health benefits of coffee

Besides its energizing effects, coffee offers several possible health benefits, giving you more reason to indulge.

Take a look at some of the proven benefits of coffee.

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Enhance your energy levels

Coffee contains caffeine, a natural stimulant that inhibits the onset of fatigue. It blocks the inhibitory neurotransmitter adenosine as it travels through your bloodstream and enters your brain.

Adenosine contributes to our feeling of drowsiness. As a result of coffee blocking adenosine, the body releases dopamine and norepinephrine, which are neurotransmitters that aid in alertness and energy.

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Reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes

Regular coffee consumption may, in the long run, reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Two factors support this assertion:

According to one theory, coffee can keep the beta cells in our pancreas, which secrete insulin to regulate blood sugar levels, functioning properly.

Another factor is cafestol, a bioactive component of coffee that may prevent Type 2 diabetes by boosting insulin production.

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Promotes brain health

Caffeine stimulates your brain and helps regulate your blood-brain barrier by increasing serotonin and acetylcholine.

Polyphenols in coffee may guard against brain blood vessel blockages and free radical-induced tissue oxidative damage.

By activating antioxidants, trigonelline in coffee beans protects brain blood vessels.

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Stimulates weight loss

You can lose weight with coffee. Coffee has potent antioxidants, niacin, magnesium, and potassium, that speed up your metabolism. If you drink coffee in moderation and without too many additional sweets, you’ll lose weight and be healthier.

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Reduces the risk of liver ailments

According to multiple studies, coffee lowers the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma, slows the growth of fibrosis in several chronic liver diseases, and even makes the hepatitis C virus less virulent.

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Improves heart health

Drinking coffee regularly, whether caffeinated or decaffeinated, can reduce your risk of total mortality, including deaths from heart disease. According to studies being presented at the 71st Annual Scientific Session of the American College of Cardiology, drinking coffee—especially two to three cups a day—may reduce your risk of developing heart disease and irregular heartbeats.

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Why is Fika an age-appropriate practise?

Today, the tradition known as fika, which is rooted in Swedish culture, is recognized all over the world. Many people are drawn to its underlying idea of social gathering. In particular, working individuals and businesses are increasingly adopting the custom. It goes without saying that in this age, where people are becoming more and more dependent on technologies and devices, traditions like these that encourage interpersonal bonding are critical.

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