Introduction to Coffee Culture | Finnish Coffee Culture what are the customs of Finnish coffee

When, how and when do Finns drink coffee?

Compared with people in other countries, Finns are a very strange person because we like which kind of roasting, because 80% of the coffee consumed in Finland is (really) lightly roasted. Only in the past decade have Finns become accustomed to dark roasting. Most coffee is brewed using a drip filter (such as Moccamaster). Espresso is still a very new thing for us. It is mainly consumed in cafes. For example, my grandparents haven't even heard of espresso or cappuccino, but try it as soon as they taste it. "kahvi" (Finnish coffee) means lightly roasted filtered coffee for them.

Almost all coffee consumed in Finland is consumed at home or in the workplace. Finns start their day with a cup of coffee, and for most people, the first thing they do when they get home from work is to make a cup of afternoon coffee. Of course, you can also start your work with a cup of coffee. Usually, the corridors of the workplace are covered with coffee because everyone walks around with cups. Did you also know that Finland is the only country in the world where a collective labor agreement stipulates that there should be two 15-minute breaks in a working day?

The social rules of drinking coffee

Silence is indeed a Finn's business. I have learned from many tourists that the best thing to do when traveling to Finland is silence. I think the most unique thing about Finland is that you can remain silent. You can have a coffee break with colleagues or friends, but remain silent while enjoying the coffee.

If you invite someone to your home in Finland, it is a custom to provide them with coffee. It may be impolite to refuse someone's offer, especially if it comes from an elderly person. Don't mind the small cup, because it will provide you with "santsikuppi" (another round of coffee) and you don't want to refuse it, but you need to declare "Ehk ä p ä vain puoli kuppia" (maybe only half a cup). If you take another whole cup, as long as you only take half of the cup, it will provide you with more coffee. Similarly, in some traditional families, the hostess is not allowed to drink coffee until the guest does not want to drink a full cup of coffee.

Drink coffee in all kinds of celebrations. It's really weird if coffee is not served at weddings, christening, funerals or birthday parties. On many other occasions, it is customary to drink a cup of coffee, although these occasions are also named in Finnish: "l ä ksi ä iskahvit" (farewell coffee), "mitalikahvit" (cup coffee, which is the chance for Finns to win a cup of coffee) and "matkakahvi" (travel coffee). Its own concept is called "vaalikahvit" (election coffee), which means that after you vote in an election (parliament, president, etc.), you go to the coffee shop for a cup of coffee and a piece of bread. Coffee and bunhead are rewards for good work, in this case, to vote in the election.