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Coffee in Sweden

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Coffee was introduced to Sweden in the late 17th century, and today coffee plays a significant role in Swedish culture, characterised by Sweden ranking among the world's top coffee consumers per capita,[1] and a distinct tradition of coffee breaks known as "fika".

History

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Cleaning women at coffee break in tram depot, Stockholm 1930

Early history

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Coffee was introduced to Sweden in the mid-17th century. In 1657, Swedish diplomat Claes Rålamb encountered coffee during a diplomatic mission to Constantinople. He described it as a "cooked drink of beans" consumed hot.[2] Despite this early mention, coffee did not gain immediate popularity in Sweden.[3]

The first recorded shipment of coffee arrived in 1685 in Gothenburg.[4] Initially, coffee was regarded as a medicinal product and was sold in pharmacies. Its high cost restricted consumption to the wealthier classes. King Charles XII, during his stay in the Ottoman Empire in the early 18th century, developed a taste for coffee and introduced Turkish coffee-making practices upon his return, contributing to its spread in Sweden.[4]

Restrictions

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Coffee consumption faced opposition in its early years. Critics such as Carl Linnaeus warned of its health effects,[5] advocating for herbal alternatives,[6] while economic concerns, including the negative balance of trade caused by the importing of exotic ‘luxuries’ including coffee,[6] led to government bans. King Gustav III opposed coffee, commissioning an experiment on its effects.[7] Between 1756 and 1823, coffee was prohibited on five occasions,[8] but these bans were largely ineffective. Coffee consumption continued, with underground societies known as "coffee guilds" forming during prohibition periods.[9] Restrictions ended in 1823.[10]

Widespread popularity

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Coffee for sale in a Swedish shop 1951

Coffee gradually gained popularity in Sweden, becoming a staple by 1850, even among the working class and rural poor. While brännvin (vodka) could be home-distilled, coffee beans had to be imported. As a result, rural Swedes often consumed coffee-based or coffee-like beverages up to five times a day, stretching their supplies with local substitutes such as dried chicory, grains mixed with syrup, or a dough made from rye and potatoes.[11]

Around this time, the temperance movement and new alcohol regulations transformed Swedish drinking culture. Alcohol consumption during work hours became socially unacceptable, with coffee replacing it as the drink of choice for workers. This shift led to a café boom, with Stockholm hosting nearly 800 cafés by 1887.[12]

The introduction of the iron stove in the 19th century made home coffee brewing accessible, and coffee became central to Swedish households. The cultural tradition of "fika," a coffee break often accompanied by pastries, began to emerge during this time.[13]

Coffee culture in Sweden today

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Fika remains a notable aspect of Swedish coffee culture. It involves taking a break to enjoy coffee and buns of pastries, often in a social setting.[14]

A coffee shop in Gothenburg

Swedes generally prefer medium to dark roasts,[15] and the popularity of speciality coffee has grown in recent years. Cafés featuring artisanal brewing methods and micro-roasteries have become more common.[16]

Coffee Consumption

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Sweden is among the highest coffee-consuming countries globally, with an average consumption of approximately 8.2 kilograms per capita annually.[17] Brewed coffee remains the most popular preparation method, although espresso-based drinks have gained traction.[15]

Another historic coffee preparation method in Sweden, still common in the Northern Sweden, is "kokkaffe," or boiled coffee.[18] This process involves adding water and coarsely ground coffee to a pot or pan, bringing it to a boil, and then straining it into a cup or flask.[15]

Coffee industry in Sweden

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Gevalia coffee roastery in Gävle

Sweden’s coffee industry has an annual roasting volume of approximately 88,000 tonnes, accounting for about 5% of the European Union’s total. The industry includes a mix of large-scale roasters and smaller micro-roasteries.[19]

Four major companies dominate the Swedish coffee market:[19]

These companies primarily import green coffee beans through the ports of Gothenburg and Gävle. Smaller roasters and micro-roasteries, specialising in speciality coffee, account for the remaining market share.[20]

References

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  1. ^ "Coffee Consumption by Country 2024: Lifetime Data & Statistics". cafely.com. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
  2. ^ Rålamb, Claes (1657). "Description of Constantinople". Retrieved 2025-01-09.
  3. ^ Svanberg, Ingvar (April 1993). "Coffee in Sweden: A question of morality, health, and economy". Food and Foodways. 5(3):239-254.
  4. ^ a b "Sweden's Coffee History Began in Gothenburg". A43 Kaffebaren. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
  5. ^ Brown, Carolina (2024-07-15), "6. At the coffee table", Comfortable Everyday Life at the Swedish Eighteenth-Century Näs Manor, Amsterdam University Press, pp. 243–274, doi:10.1515/9789048562381-009/html, ISBN 978-90-485-6238-1, retrieved 2025-01-09
  6. ^ a b Hodacs, Hanna (November 2023). "Substituting Coffee and Tea in the Eighteenth Century: A Rural and Material History with Global Implications". Journal of Global History. 18 (3): 461–480. doi:10.1017/S1740022823000086. ISSN 1740-0228.
  7. ^ Sempler, Kaianders (15 March 2006). "Gustav IIIs odödliga kaffeexperiment" [Gustav III's immortal coffee experiment] (in Swedish). Ny Teknik. Archived from the original on 1 October 2012. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
  8. ^ Knutsson, Anna; Hodacs, Hanna (2023-05-04). "When coffee was banned: strategies of labour and leisure among Stockholm's poor women, 1794–1796 and 1799–1802". Scandinavian Economic History Review. 71 (2). doi:10.1080/03585522.2021.2000489. ISSN 0358-5522.
  9. ^ "How coffee travelled from Ethiopia to Sweden and became a national tradition". 2024-03-01. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
  10. ^ "Once upon a time, when coffee was illegal in Sweden... say what now?". The Local Sweden. 2018-07-02. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
  11. ^ Gershon, Livia (2022-11-21). "The Swedish-American Coffee Tradition". JSTOR Daily. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
  12. ^ "Sweden's alcohol policy". The Absolut Group. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
  13. ^ "The Evolution of Fika in Sweden". Swedish National Heritage Board. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
  14. ^ "Swedish Coffee and Culture". Nescafé. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
  15. ^ a b c Andersson, Karl (2023-10-15). "Nordic Coffee Culture Explained: From Fika to Kask". Nordic Perspective. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
  16. ^ "Coffee in Scandinavia: Market Potential". CBI Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
  17. ^ "Per Capita Coffee Consumption in Sweden". Statista. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
  18. ^ "Typically Swedish: Kokkaffe (Boiled Coffee) - Five Euro Food". homesweetsweden.com. 2014-01-26. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
  19. ^ a b "Coffee in Scandinavia: Market Potential". CBI Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
  20. ^ "The Evolution of Fika in Sweden". Swedish National Heritage Board. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
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