If you haven’t already guessed, we are highlighting Scandinavian coffee this week. We have found that some people don’t always understand the differences between Nordic and Scandinavian, so let’s start there.
Scandinavia usually means 3 main countries: Denmark, Sweden and Norway. Finland is sometimes included in that list but is not technically Scandinavian. Refer to the countries as Nordic, and you can add Finland and Iceland to the group.
A common stereotype is that Scandinavians are blue-eye blonds. While it is true that the percentage of blondes is a bit higher, it’s a long way from being a majority. Another false idea about this region is that everyone’s house is full of IKEA furniture, as it is a Swedish-based company. There are more than 20 IKEA stores in Sweden, nine in Norway and five in Denmark. It is possible that because homes are small there, and IKEA furniture is functional, with clever storage options, you may find some in Scandinavian homes.
But there is one thing that really sets the region apart from any other area of the world: Coffee drinking. These countries drink more coffee than anywhere else in the world, even Italy and France. The Nordic people like strong, delicious filter coffee. And, they drink it all day long. We know they love coffee, they know how to roast coffee and they know how to drink coffee.
We have 3 Nordic coffee brands that will light up your taste buds: Paulig, Lofbergs Lila, and Arvid Nordquist. We will give you 15% off these iconic brands with no minimum order at www.EnjoyBetterCoffee.com.*
Please use coupon code: NORDIC15
*Discount valid from 6/3/2018 through 11:59PM ET on 6/5/2018 at www.EnjoyBetterCoffee.com with 15% off no minimum order required on Arvid Nordquist, Lofbergs Lila and Paulig coffees. Offer not redeemable for cash. Not valid with other coupons or discounts, special sale or case sale products. Questions? Call us at 800.582.6617 Mon-Fri 9AM-5PM ET.
Can’t Decide? Read On…
Use our roast reviews to help you decide among these always-enjoyable brews.
Paulig, from Finland, roasts and packages coffee out of their facilities in Helsinki. We offer three roasts. Juhla Mokka Ground Coffee is light-roasted, rich, balanced from an intense blend of beans from South America and Africa. Presidentti Ground Coffee is a light roast (1 out of 5) from a blend of beans grown in Africa, and delivers a strong and rich coffee. Juhla Mokka Dark is a medium/dark roast with chocolate and toasted notes. These coffees are perfect examples of Finnish coffee.
Lofbergs Lila, one of the largest coffee roasters in the region, is based in Sweden. We offer three exemplary roasts: Lofbergs Lila Medium Roast is a light roast (2 out of 5) from Arabica beans, with a rich taste and aroma. Jubilee is light roasted (3 of 5) 100% Arabica beans, including beans certified by the Rainforest Alliance (an international sustainability organization we have written about before). Kharisma is dark, intense, and nutty with subtle fruit notes (4 of 5).
Arvid Nordquist opened a small shop in Stockholm, Sweden in 1884. Today Arvid Nordquist is a leader in premium coffee, food and wine products. We offer two roasts: Medium roast and Extra Dark roast, both prime examples of Swedish coffee roasting. In addition, they are UTZ Certified and CO2 Compensated (you can read more about these organizations on the product page). The Medium roast is balanced, with chocolate and spice notes. Extra Dark is full-bodied, and intense, with just the right amount of bitterness.
Try one, two or even more to experience the best in Nordic regional coffee. We get it directly from the area, so you are getting the real deal, just as a native would drink. As they say in Nordic country: “Je er glad i kaffe” which means “I love coffee!” The discount above will help you save.
Coffee In The News
Coffee Makes You Social
A new study found that people who drank a moderate amount of caffeine before a group activity were not only more alert, but better at tasks in the group. Those who had coffee before participating in an activity saw themselves and the others as more productive and more active. The study attributed the positivity of oneself and others to heightened alertness and improved performance (not a perception of improvements, but actual improvements). So, if you find yourself not liking someone you have to work with, try downing some coffee before the interaction.
As always, enjoy better coffee and thanks from the EnjoyBetterCoffee Team!
That’s right! In Sweden and Finland, Fika is a seriously taken ‘coffee break’ where school and work are stopped two times a day, mid-morning and mid-afternoon. Workers can earn 5 minutes for every hour on the clock for their fika (or fika pause). The key here is that it’s rarely a solitary event. Friends, coworkers, family – all get together over steaming cups of coffee and cookies, cake, or a warm cinnamon roll.
4 Cups strong fresh coffee
Christmas is known as Jul or Joulua in Scandinavia. Santa Claus was originally described as a gnome, a simple bearded farmer, who did good deeds and caused a little trouble too. He expected a bowl of porridge with a pat of butter to be left out for him on Christmas Eve. In the last 100 years, he has become more like Santa Claus in size and shape, but instead of a chimney, the jolly elf enters through the front door.
Traditional foods include meatballs, ribs, specially-marinated cod, herring, cabbage, and ham washed down with a big mug of glogg, a mulled wine. Finding the almond in your Christmas pudding means you will have a prosperous year, and you may even get a little gift for the honor.
