The Finns are world champions. At least if you calculate coffee consumption per capita in Finland: every Finn consumes an average of almost 10 kilograms of roasted coffee per year. That's a lot of cups of coffee every year. But how do they like to drink it? And why do Finns prefer light roasts ? We've had a look and discovered something interesting for you.
How people drink coffee in Finland – quantity and frequency
The Finns are the best coffee drinkers in the world. Several studies have already proven this. In particular, since 1982 the Institute for Health and Social Affairs has been studying the food consumption of the Finns every five years as part of national nutrition surveys. The most recent FinRavinto survey found that the Finns drink an average of 4.4 cups of coffee a day. In Germany, for example, it is only 3.5 cups per person. According to the study, Finnish men consume 553 grams of coffee every day, i.e. more than half a liter, while Finnish women consume "a little less" at 459 grams. Between the ages of 18 and 44, 86 percent of men and 73 percent of women drink coffee every day, and the older people are, the more coffee they drink. When they reach retirement age, almost all Finns drink coffee every day.
How to drink coffee in Finland – History
Kahvi, or coffee, came to Finland late compared to other countries. The hot brown drink was already popular throughout Europe in the 16th century, but it took almost a century to reach Finland. Coffee came to Finland via Russia and Sweden and quickly brewed its way into the hearts of the Finns. And even though the rich wanted to keep the drink exclusive by charging high import duties, the coffee beans remained available and affordable for everyone for a long time. And above all, popular.
How to drink coffee in Finland – roasting at home
Just another century later, in the 18th century, the Finns had reached the top of the world and celebrated their beloved coffee break three times a day. When alcohol was banned in the 19th century, the Finns were finally done for and simply drank even more coffee. The reasons for this are quite simple: it tastes good and warms you up (Finland can be very cold). In addition, the Finns also "attributed" other health-positive properties to coffee. This is why coffee was initially available in pharmacies. The Finns usually bought green coffee and then roasted it themselves at home. This is also where the Finns' preference for light roasts, which still exists today, comes from. Since energy was expensive back then, they only roasted for a short time!
How to drink coffee in Finland – the Great Depression
Things got difficult during the Second World War: coffee was in short supply everywhere, including in Finland, and often not available at all. Necessity is the mother of invention, and so the Finns made substitute coffee out of all sorts of things like potato peelings, bark, beets and grain. This is still done today (roughly) when making muckefuck, i.e. substitute coffee. In 1946, a merchant ship with coffee beans for the Finns finally arrived in the port of Turku. The Finns celebrated this wildly.
This is how people drink coffee in Finland – a name for everything
Coffee breaks are a thing in Finland. Finns actively take time to enjoy their coffee. Several times a day, alone, together and at social events of course. And this "Kaffeepaussi" or "Kahvetauko" is so important in Finland that it is even an employee right. Yes, it is laid down in law. Every employee is entitled to a 15-minute coffee break twice a day. And these conscious breaks, in which the Finns really just concentrate on relaxing and drinking coffee, are also taken into their private lives. Perhaps that is why the Finns are considered to be some of the happiest people in the world. And what is even cooler: the Finns have lots of different terms for their beloved coffee break.
This is how people drink coffee in Finland – up to 6 times a day
Morning coffee is called “Aamukahvi”, mid-morning coffee is called “Aamupäiväkahvi”. In the afternoon there is “Iltapäiväkahvi” and at night there is even “Yökahvi”. Finns mostly consume light roasts and drink it black. Sometimes with a dash of milk or a cube of sugar in the mouth. In recent years, milk coffee specialties such as cappuccino and latte macchiato have become increasingly popular. Just like in Germany, coffee is often consumed with cake. And here it has its own name again: “Kakkukahvi”. And if you take the yeast rolls popular in Finland, called pulla, with your coffee, it quickly becomes “Pullakahvi”.
How to drink coffee in Finland – the invitation
It is considered good manners in Finland to accept and drink a coffee that is offered to you. This is especially true if the invitation comes from an older person. If you turn down the cup, you are considered rude. After all, a freshly brewed coffee is a sign of appreciation. It goes without saying that if you invite someone to your home, you also brew fresh coffee.
This is how people drink coffee in Finland – to go?
No, Finns don't like their coffee to go. After all, people want to enjoy the Finns' favorite drink consciously. Preferably at home or in a coffee shop. That's why chains like Starbucks still find it difficult to establish themselves in Finland. There are still a few branches in the capital Helsinki. However, a good 90 percent of the Finnish coffee market is supplied by the traditional roasting company Paulig, which was founded in 1876 by the German Gustav Paulig. Today, there are also many small Finnish roasting companies that are always and happily used by Finns.
This is how people drink coffee in Finland – there are many occasions
Apart from coffee at any time of day, Finns drink a nice cup of freshly brewed coffee on a variety of occasions. “Läksiäiskahvi” is the farewell coffee and “Mitalikahvi” is the coffee you drink when someone wins a medal in sports. There is also the travel coffee “Matkakahvi” and the election coffee. This is the coffee you get after you have been in the voting booth. It is then called “vaalikahvi”.
This is how people drink coffee in Finland – the impending caffeine shock
As already mentioned, you don't say no to a cup of coffee that you love. But it doesn't stop there. If you finish your drink, you'll usually get "santsikuppi", or another cup. And you should know your way around here. Because if you finish your drink, you'll get a refill. For all beginners, it's recommended that if you don't want any more coffee, you don't say no, but just ask for half a cup. You'll say "Ehkäpä vain puoli kuppia" . And if you've drunk that half a cup, you'll usually not be offered any more "santsikupp".
How to drink coffee in Finland – the meaning of the cup
We all know that the right cup can make coffee even better. We all have our favorite cup at home or in the office. The Finns are no different. Well, a little different: there, people even have several cups for every situation: for example, the everyday cup, the cups for visitors, and the premium service for big celebrations like weddings. So-called Moomin cups are popular, for example - these are cups decorated with a Moomin. These are mythical creatures invented by the Finnish author Tove Jansson.
This is how people drink coffee in Finland – the Finns themselves
And since Finns like to drink their coffee anywhere, it's not surprising that they enjoy it outdoors while camping or walking. Drinking coffee outdoors is called "Kuksa" and of course there are special Kuksa cups for that. They are made of wood. You can buy them, but most Finns prefer to carve them themselves.
This is how people drink coffee in Finland – good beans are a must
Apart from the fact that Finns prefer light roasts, there is currently a trend that the origin and quality of the beans is becoming increasingly important. Because Finns consume coffee in large quantities, there is also a lot of coffee that is industrially produced: According to estimates, Paulig, Finland's largest coffee roaster, roasts around 1,000 kg of coffee in 5 minutes. But there are also more and more small artisan roasters - especially in the capital - that rely on gentle, long-term roasting. Consumers in Finland are also increasingly concerned about where their coffee comes from and the conditions under which it was traded. So, just like we do, they trade directly with the farmers and therefore pay a higher price per kilo than the farmers get with Fairtrade.
How to drink coffee in Finland – Wild coffee in Finland
So how are Finnish coffee lovers supposed to get wild coffee? It's actually very simple. They can order from us, we ship worldwide, including to Finland. Or you can take a look at Slurp . This is a Finnish coffee supplier that also has wild coffee roasts in its range from time to time.
How to drink coffee in Finland – Conclusion
Yes, the Finns really celebrate their coffee consumption. They consciously take their time, have a coffee definition for every occasion and often even different cups. That's what we call dedication. And what we like best is that the hectic sipping of coffee from a paper cup on the way to the next appointment is not at all popular in Finland. We don't like that either. The paper cup ruins the taste of the coffee and you should really take the time to consciously enjoy your coffee. With friends, colleagues, family or just alone.
