An integral part of Swedish culture, fika allows people to connect. In a story by the BBC, fika is said to be entrenched in Swedish culture. Yes, coffee is involved and often paired with sweet treats, but there is more to it than gastronomic pleasures. In the literal sense, fika means to "have coffee." In Sweden, to fika is to spend quality time with loved ones or colleagues and share a cup of coffee with something sweet. While the word fika can be used as a verb (as in, to take a coffee break) or a noun (describing the coffee or the break itself), the concept stretches far beyond the drink, says Swedish. In Sweden, people traditionally take a coffee and cake break called a fika. Loosely translated as coffee break, it’s far from our American idea of hitting up the closest Starbucks for a jolt of caffeine. But in Sweden, one of the top ten most coffee consuming countries in the world, there’s a singular word for it: fika. But it’s not just a thing you do when you have. Traditionally, you have coffee and something sweet like a cinnamon or cardamon bun or chocolate. Fika is really just the Swedish word for coffee break, says Anna Brones, author of Fika: The Art of the Swedish Coffee Break. Coffee breaks are so important to the Swedish that even the country’s mega-brand, Ikea,has a paragraph about on its corporate website: More than a coffee break, fika is a time to share. The Swedes call it "fika," and it's something we can all embrace to enrich our lives.įirst things first, fika is not exactly a coffee break. In most cultures, this is called a coffee break. Recently, the Swedish custom of fika has also become popular. Even having a cup of coffee can turn into an invigorating experience. Exhibit A: the toxic social media backlash that surfaced in response to someone sharing her leisurely morning routine involving wholesome coffee time and conversation with her husband.Īmericans could learn a lot from how Europeans approach breaks to appreciate food, amity, and conversations.
Each lesson is like going for a coffee (or a fika) with your friend who happens to speak Swedish and is helping you learn in a relaxed, enjoyable way.
#The swedish coffee break series
In a culture of limitless productivity, taking long breaks to savor food and beverages seems like a cardinal sin. Coffee Break Swedish is not a simple series of 'listen and repeat' audio programmes: in each lesson Hanna explains how the language works, helping Mark - and you - to manipulate the language and use it in practical situations. Learn Swedish with teacher Hanna and her student Mark.
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