How Finland Drinks Coffee: Facts and Figures

When you think of countries that take coffee seriously, Finland might not be the first to come to mind—but it should be. With just 5.7 million people, Finland ranks among the world’s top coffee consumers. But what makes Finnish coffee culture unique isn’t just volume—it’s the emphasis on quality, roast styles, and brand dominance that tell a deeper story.

Finns drink more than 12 kilograms of green coffee per person each year, favoring high-quality arabica beans and largely avoiding instant coffee. The market is led by local roasters using imported beans, with Gustav Paulig controlling 40% of retail sales.

How Much Coffee Do Finns Really Drink?

Finland has one of the highest per capita coffee consumption rates in the world. With a population of 5.7 million, the country consumes over 12 kilograms of green coffee annually per person. That’s significantly higher than the European average and places Finland near the top globally. Coffee is deeply embedded in Finnish daily life, often enjoyed multiple times a day in social and solitary settings alike.

What Kind of Coffee Beans Do Finnish Roasters Use?

Finnish coffee is almost exclusively made from 100% arabica beans imported from abroad. The typical blend includes:

• Colombia: 40%
• Brazil: 20%
• Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Mexico combined: 20%–25%

These beans are all high-quality arabica, with no robusta used in mainstream offerings. The focus remains on traditional, well-balanced profiles suited for filtered brewing methods common in the region.

Who Controls Finland’s Coffee Market?

The Finnish retail coffee market is dominated by two major players:

• Gustav Paulig: Holds 40% of the market. By April 1990, the company had imported 65,461 tonnes of coffee, with the following breakdown: Brazil (29%), Colombia (28.6%), Costa Rica (12.4%), Guatemala (10.8%), and Kenya (7.2%). Gustav Paulig does not produce instant or decaffeinated coffee. Instead, it focuses on lightly roasted, pre-ground beans for filter brewing.

  

• Meira: Accounts for approximately 31% of market share.

Both companies import 100% arabica beans, and neither offers low-quality alternatives like instant coffee in significant volume. The market prioritizes traditional roast profiles and fresh-ground coffee over mass-market solutions.

Why Do Finns Prefer Certain Roast Styles?

Although the source does not specify exact roast levels in detail, the emphasis on lightly roasted, freshly ground coffee suggests a preference for profiles that highlight origin characteristics without heavy development. This aligns with the Nordic tradition of lighter roasts that showcase acidity, floral notes, and clarity—especially in filtered coffee preparations common in the home and workplace.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much coffee does the average Finn drink per year?

The average person in Finland consumes over 12 kilograms of green coffee annually, the highest per capita rate in the world and significantly above most other countries.

What types of coffee beans are used in Finland?

Finnish coffee is made almost entirely from imported 100% arabica beans. The main origins include Colombia (40%), Brazil (20%), and a mix of Central American countries like Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Mexico (20%–25%).

Which companies dominate Finland’s coffee market?

Gustav Paulig holds 40% of the retail market, importing a wide range of beans but no instant or decaf. Meira follows with about 31% market share. Both focus on high-quality arabica and traditional roast styles.

Does Finland produce its own coffee beans?

No, Finland does not grow coffee. All coffee is imported, with roasters sourcing 100% arabica beans from countries like Colombia, Brazil, and Central America.

Why don’t Finns drink much instant coffee?

Finnish coffee culture emphasizes quality and freshness. Instant coffee has a very small market share, as consumers prefer traditionally roasted and freshly ground arabica beans.

What roast level is common in Finnish coffee?

While not explicitly stated, the market focus on lightly roasted, pre-ground coffee for filter use suggests a preference for light to medium roasts that highlight origin flavors.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Nordic-Style Coffee

For fans of Finnish-style coffee culture, try FrontStreet’s Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Gedeb Cooperative for bright citrus and floral notes, or Jamaica Blue Mountain No.1 for a balanced, tea-like cup. Both are 100% arabica and reflect the clean, high-quality profiles favored in Finland. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.