Kaffe/Coffee/Fika

Kaffe, Coffee, Fika

Scandinavian people drink more

coffee than any other ethnic group in

the world.

Coffee came to Sweden around 1674. Only a small amount arrived, but that was just the beginning. Nowadays people in Sweden consume on average about 24 # of coffee per person every year, this is only surpassed by the Finns who consume 25# per person per year. That works out to 11 cups of coffee per person per day. Americans come in at 16# per year per person or 3.1 cups per person per day.

Because of a French doctors declaration in 1715 that coffee shortens life, King Gustav III carried out an experiment with twins who were sentenced to life in prison. One twin got coffee to drink and the other tea. This is jokingly referred to as the first Swedish clinical trial. Sadly Gustav did not live to see the result of his experiment, but the first twin died at the age of 83. It was the one who drank tea.

Fika (pronounced fee-ka)

A Swedish verb that roughly means to take a break. The word is an example of the backslang used in the 19th century-- where the syllables for a word are reversed, deriving from kaffi, an early version of the Swedish word kaffe (coffee). Fika is a social institution in Sweden. It means taking a break from one's activities and having coffee with one's friends and colleagues. The word is also used as a noun, meaning the actual event of "fika" i.e. "a lovely fika" ta en kopp fika" or "have a cup of coffee". Fika breaks in Sweden are sacred and there are usually two or three every day. Pictured are coffee cafes in Linköping.

Swedish Egg Coffee

As I remember it-- it always needed an enamel coffeepot without the stem or basket and I used to put it on the wooodstove in the kitchen to cook -- which is the term we used instead of the more common word today brew.

This from the Chicago Sun Times

By Lisa Donovan on January 18, 2008 9:23 AM

I'm still getting over the fact that this recipe calls for crumbled egg shell. I first spotted it some years ago, when I was perusing a hand-me-down Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook. The new part of the title, of course, being irrelevant now because it was given to me in the early 1990s, passed on to me by my sister, who believed she had gotten it either for her wedding -- in 1976 -- or sometime thereafter. Cookbooks of yesteryear are mysterious with those unattractive photos and tips about using muffin pans to make groundbeef recipes. And yet, they're foodie-friendly with the Cafe au Lait to paella recipes. Note: to make foam for the au lait, the only machinery needed is a rotary beater. So quaint.
OK, back to Swedish Egg coffee.

I have traveled to Sweden and have never seen this mellow, even bland, drink on a coffeehouse menu anywhere. But on a Swedish genealogical web site, which includes a listserv that tackles this very recipe, the consensus was that this is a very Swedish-American drink popular in the 1800s and even through the 1900s, particularly at post-service luncheons in Lutheran Churches across Minnesota and beyond. I'm checking in with the Swedish American Museum in Andersonville for some kind of insight. Will update if I hear anything.
In the meantime, here's the recipe:
In a small bowl, combine 1 slightly beaten egg (reserve shell) and 2/3 cup of ground coffee. If you want it stronger, make it a whole cup. Add 1/2 cup of cold water; blend well. Stir in crumbled egg shell. Add to 8 cups of boiling watrer. Heat and stir over high heat until foam disappears, about 4 minutes. Remove from heat; cover; let settle about 7 to 10 minutes. Serve clear coffee of top or strain through fine mesh strainer.

and something new on boiled coffee:

Boiled Coffee cuts breast cancer risk:

Women who drink boiled coffee more than four times per day have a lower risk of contracting breast cancer than those drinking less than one cup a day, a new Swedish study shows.

The researchers at Umeå University explain that the health benefits of boiled coffee, as opposed to filter coffee, are due to the residual content of 80 times as much coffee-specific fatty acids which have been proven in animal tests to hinder the growth of cancer.

But the health effects of boiled coffee were not uniquely positive, the study shows, carrying a heightened risk of pancreatic and lung cancer among men. There were no links established between these forms of cancer among men and filter coffee.

Filter coffee was also shown to cut the risk of late breast cancer (after 55-years-old) but increase the risk for early breast cancer (before 49-years-old).

The study of 64,603 people, published in the scientific journal Cancer Causes and Control, is the first of its kind worldwide to compare the consumption of coffee with two different preparation techniques.

The Nordic countries lead the world in coffee consumption.

Peter Vinthagen Simpson
news@thelocal.se
+46 8 656 6518

Pouring-Latte Art ~ Mattias Klasson @ Gusto

From Växjö, Sweden/ Coffee with cream

Coffee the Videos

Charlie Chaplin

Coffee Video Sweden

Fika, Coffee and Cake

Presentation

Once brewed, coffee may be presented in a variety of ways. Drip brewed, percolated, or French-pressed/cafetière coffee may be served with no additives or sugar (colloquially known as black) , or with either milk, cream, or both. When served cold, it is called iced coffee.

Espresso-based coffee has a wide variety of possible presentations. In its most basic form, it is served alone as a "shot" or in the more watered down style café américano—a shot or two of espresso with hot water The Americano should be served with the espresso shots on top of the hot water to preserve the crema. Milk can be added in various forms to espresso: steamed milk makes a cafè latte equal parts espresso and milk froth make a cappuccino and a dollop of hot, foamed milk on top creates a caffè macchiato.The use of steamed milk to form patterns such as hearts or maple leafs is referred to as latte art.

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