I’ve decided to kick off a series of posts today about things that are “typically Swedish”. I haven’t decided on a subject for a second post yet; it will be a case of writing one when the inspiration hits me, and so as a result, my next post will be “back to normal” with a nice recipe I’m looking forward to sharing with you. Today’s post though is all about coffee and I’m doing a little giveaway as well so read on for details of that!
What “country” do you think of when you think of coffee? Do you think of Italians supping countless tiny, perfectly made espressos? Perhaps the French, with their café-culture? In actual fact, all of the Nordic countries – Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and Iceland are among the top six highest consumers of coffee in the world. The other one being..? The Netherlands, surprisingly.
According to statistics from 2008, Swedes consumed an average of 8.2kg of coffee per person, per year. I believe I read somewhere that this figure had even increased in recent years, but suffice to say – the Swedes like their coffee. But what sort of coffee you may wonder? While the desire for macchiatos and fancy lattes definitely exists, many people want something a bit more pure – me included. A very common method of coffee preparation in Sweden – especially in the north – is called “kokkaffe”, or literally “boiled coffee”. It’s made in a very simple way. You add water and a very coarsely ground coffee together in a pot (or pan if you don’t have a special pot) and bring it to the boil. The coffee is now ready. It is then often strained into a flask or other receptacle to keep it hot and there you go. Simple, easy, and delicious.
I made a quick video for you to see how easy it is to make boiled coffee, which you can watch below:
It should be noted that this isn’t the same kind of coffee that is used to make Turkish or Arabic coffee. This is far less strong – the amount that I use myself when making this kind of coffee makes for a very easy-drinking cup.
Did you know that Sweden even has its own coffee roasting company? Based in Karlstad, the company called “Löfbergs Lila” was founded in 1906 and is one of the biggest coffee roasters in the Nordic region, as well as being a very well-known brand here in Sweden with its distinctive purple packet.
In celebration of this drink loved by millions the world over, I will send one reader some coffee! All you have to do is leave a comment below and tell me that you like coffee and two packs of deliciousness might come winging their way to you (1x pack of Löfbergs Lila Kokkaffe and 1x pack of another type from the Löfbergs Lila range – I will send you the list of available types in case you win) – that’s 1kg of coffee in total… enough to keep even the biggest fan going for a while!
How to enter:
- Required: Leave a comment and tell me you like coffee! If you don’t say this then I’ll just assume you’re dropping by to say hi and aren’t interested in the giveaway!
- 1x extra entry if you like FiveEuroFood on Facebook. Leave a separate comment letting me know if you do (or if you do already).
- 1x extra entry if you subscribe to FiveEuroFood on YouTube. Leave a separate comment letting me know if you do (or if you do already).
- 1x extra entry if you follow FiveEuroFood on Pinterest. Leave a separate comment letting me know if you do (or if you do already).
- 1x extra entry if you subscribe to FiveEuroFood’s mailing list. Leave a separate comment letting me know if you do (or if you do already).
Rules and other information:
- Giveaway is open only to residents of Europe, Canada and continental US.
- Giveaway is paid for by me only. This post is not endorsed or affiliated in any way with Löfbergs Lila – I just happen to think they make good coffee!
- Winner will be picked by random draw and announced in a post on the 2nd of February. The winner has 48 hours to contact me, otherwise a new winner will be drawn.
Good luck folks, and I’ll be back soon!
Hello Charles, I usually think of Austria and Hungary with their beautiful and ornate coffee houses but recently my friend, neighbour (old boss) gave me her very expensive and excellent Jura automatic espresso/coffee maker from the office and it’s Swiss! So there’s another country to add to the list. I’m glad you said the Swedish coffee us not like the caustic Turkish type, that’s just too much for my taste, although I do love a robust, darkly roasted bean.
Now for housekeeping as I’d live to win your most excellent prize:
• I LOVE coffee.
• definitely leaving some words for you on Facebook.
• I’m pretty sure I follow (not sure if it’s the same as subscribing) your wonderful blog.
• not sure about Pinterest but I’ll remedy that now.
If I win, I’ll post another biscotti recipe to have with your special coffee!
Hi Eva, for some reason your comment was in the spam. Maybe it was because you got fancy with your bulletted list :D. In any case, I rescued it now – could you leave a separate new comment for the Facebook/Pinterest stuff though? I will be using random.org to chuck out a random comment number and you’ll end up only showing up as 1 comment otherwise!
No problemo!
(sorry Charles) Eva, Swiss coffee is not good at all. Never buy it! (Well at least I haven’t met a single person here who would prefer Swiss coffee rather than French or Italian or from any other country…). Swiss chocolates are good though 😉
Swiss kitchen appliances are good indeed. Jura is a famous brand too.
LOL! 😀 I never tried it at all… it can’t be that bad, surely…?
Charles, I don’t exaggerate: the majority of nice-looking, always full cafés and bars in the centre my city have undrinkable coffee and even a week ago I discovered another place where I will never have coffee again (I guess people here get used to it because many clients drink coffee…); when I say “undrinkable”, I mean I’d pay them twice the price to get the quality equal to Starbucks! (now you imagine I guess!). They have good espresso machines, but the coffee itself is awful. There are exceptions, where you can get decent coffee, and I know them by heart (not difficult: there are very few of them). To tell you the truth, before coming here, I had no idea coffee in a city centre of a European city could be actually bad… And you know, I’m not a coffee snob: I’m happy with many French brands sold in supermarkets and I have never had coffee I’d label as bad in French cafés for example.
I like drinking coffee, Charles. In fact, I drink at least 3 cups every day. Except on the weekend when I’ve gotten to 5 cups. 🙂
However, it’s been instant Nescafe for the last 30 years. I finally started using my coffee machine again at Christmas after getting a small package of ground coffee and then 2 days ago I knocked the glass container off the stand and it shattered when it hit the lip of an empty bottle of wine sitting on the floor of my pantry. Getting a replacement carafe is going to be pricey so I may try out your boiled method soon.
Oh no! Disaster… that’s too bad! If you win (or even if you don’t) then at least you can maybe give boiled coffee a try!
I’ve got most of a package of Maxewell House ground coffee to experiment with in any case. 🙂
Hello Charles,
Boiled coffee sounds so simple . . . feels like there must be somthing more to it. I didn’t realize that scandanavians were such big coffee drinkers, but it must have something to do with the lack of sunlight in my opinion. It has been in the range of -14 to -20 for the better part of the past few weeks so I feel like we have something in common with Sweden these days. Hope you are keeping well. I happen to love coffee (hint). Though I should mention that the little man from Sweden that you sent me hangs in our tree every year. I can remember his official name though… Anyway, I love using him as a decoration and think of you every year when we pull him out. Have a good one!
Yeah, it’s curious that the countries that drink the most coffee, by and large, also have the longest winters. Can’t be coincidence I think!
It’s a “tomte” you have a type of väsen. As long as you’re nice to him he’ll keep your home safe (so says the tomte-lore).
Hi Charles. I like coffee! And beyond that I like anything coffee-flavored: ice cream, pudding, syrup, etc.
As long as it’s not coffee-flavoured alcohol then it’s all good I say! (Can’t stand coffee-booze :p )
Oh, I like that, too! I like Kahlua the best, either in milk or over ice cream.
Hi Charles, I happened to like Swedish style coffee. Some years back I was able to find it in one of the local stores, but haven’t seen it since. I think in Sweden, Stockholm specifically, they make the best coffee in the world. 🙂
Thanks for visiting my blog! How are you adjusting in a new country?
Hi Marina, it’s a big adjustment – still getting used to the cold and shorter days, but at least in the summer it’ll all be reversed!
There’s a type of coffee I discovered which I absolutely love. It’s got an absolutely fantastic flavour – I might recommend that one as the other type to the person who wins!
So this is how you make coffee…I don’t drink coffee at all but I enjoyed this post and it was actually fun to see the video too, well done, the music is great! I absolutely love your cobalt blue cups and also love the photos.
Thanks Nipponnin – you’re like my wife. She thinks coffee is disgusting… I joke and tell her she should hand in her Swedish passport since it’s uncommon that a Swede hates coffee!
Even though I am SriLankan, I must have some Swedish blood in me as I LOVE coffee! It is one of my food groups! No Kidding!
I am so intrigued by this boiled coffee – almost like the method my mom uses to steep tea leaves – she brings the water to a boil and then as soon as that point is reached she takes it off the stove and lets it sit.
Awesome post – to coffee addicts er lovers all over – this is an ah-mazing giveaway – thanks for hosting it!
Hi Shashi, I know someone from Pakistan who makes her tea in a not dissimilar way… but she boils the tea with the water. Dear me, it must be so strong!
Believe it or not, I actually knew Sweden was one of the top coffee drinking places, and the Nordic region in general. There was also another hint, I’m reading Stieg Larsson’s Dragon Tattoo series, and I swear, all they do in that book is drink coffee, make coffee, think about coffee….my kind of book. You know I like coffee, my blog is named after some! So send me some of your Swedish coffee!! I want to try some! I follow you on everything except You Tube, only because I hardly get on You Tube, and I get your email. So, put down my extra points!!
Hahaha, I had to laugh about your book experience! I haven’t read it, but I can totally see that happening :).
Sorry to be a pain, but could you leave a separate new comment for the Facebook/Pinterest stuff though? I will be using random.org to chuck out a random comment number and you’ll end up only showing up as 1 comment otherwise!
I would have thought Italy was the top coffee drinking nation and it doesn’t even list on the Top 5! I guess the cold nations drink the most coffee! I think I’m following you in every possible way. I don’t drink coffee but can I please be in the giveaway because I love the smell of it as it’s brewing first thing in the morning – my husband is a coffee fanatic and we have a cafe-type barista set-up here in the house! xx
Maybe Italians don’t need so much because they get their weekly caffeine dose in a couple of those tiny espressos they make, hehe! :D.
Alas, I can only offer this giveaway to US, Canada and Europe this time around, else shipping would be too much and I’m just a poor student, but next time I can make it worldwide hopefully!
I don’t like coffee at all! 😉 I do like your video though, and the nice photos.
You’re weird, but not that weird, since you have good taste in videos (and men!).
Hello Charles. That data is really shocking. I would have thought straight away the winner would be in Italy or France. Boiled coffee sounds simple and perfect to start the day. It almost reminds me of campfire coffee. There is nothing better than coffee made out at the campfire. I don’t know if it is because you have to wait so long for the fire to perculate the coffee or that it tastes special but it certainly is good. Your coffee looks rich and delicious.
Mmm, campfire coffee… I never had it made over an open fire before – that sounds good!
I have heard of Swedish boiled coffee but didn’t know much about it until I watched your video. 🙂 Well done! I look forward to some traditional Swedish recipes.
It’s very good Maureen – I had a cup this morning which was especially good. Very comforting after you come in from the -20s 😀
I like coffee! Thank you for the wonderful giveaway!
Erin
fairyfractal at gmail dot com
Good luck – check back again soon for the results!
I like you on Facebook (Erin Ellis)
I subscribed to your Youtoube channel (Erin Ellis)
I follow you on Pinterest (Fairyfractal)
I just signed up for your email list. Thank you!
Oh yes, I’m a huge coffee fan – in fact, I don’t drink tea…just coffee! This was an interesting post as in Spain when we go for days out in the countryside, this is often how the coffee is made – over an open fire, boiled up in a saucepan – it’s called something which roughly translates as saucepan coffee! And when I was in Bali and drank the best coffee I have ever, ever had, it was made with ground coffee but made like instant – boiling water was poured over the coffee, it was stirred then you left it to rest a little then kind of drank through the bits that floated to the surface. Weird at first by oh my goodness, the taste was incredible!
Hi Chica, can you remember what sort of grind that coffee in Bali had? Was it very fine or coarse or…? I’d like to try it – it sounds interesting!
It was a very fine ground coffee – it looked almost like an instant coffee powder. I bought lots back with me but that was years ago and it’s long gone. It was so cheap out there and I’ve searched for Balinese or Indonesian coffee on the internet and it turns out that the only one I can track down is one of the world’s most expensive coffees! If you ever track some down that is reasonably priced, do let me know as I’d order it in a flash 🙂
I looooove coffee!
I liked FiveEuroFoods on Facebook!
I have subscribed on youtube!
I am following you on Pinterest
I had no idea the Nordic countries drank so much coffee. Love this idea for a new series!
I am quite perplexed Charles, I left a rather lengthy comment here the other day and I don’t see it. I would absolutely love to try this coffee, we are quite discerning of our coffees, we LOVE it so much! I believe I’m already following you on Facebook, Pinterest and of course, the blog!
Your temperatures looks similar to ours these days, damn cold.
I like coffee!!!!
Already following you on FB.
Following on Pinterest. http://www.pinterest.com/scrapdiva1/
Already a subscriber on the mailing list.
I have liked Five Euro Food on Facebook!
I follow Five Euro Food on Pinterest!
I have now subscribed to Five Euro Foods on You Tube.
Not sure if it’s the same thing as a subscription but I follow Five Euro Food in my Reader.
Hello, my name is Kelly, and I love coffee. 🙂 🙂 🙂
I had the biggest smile when I got to the part in your write-up about the Italians and their tiny, perfectly made espressos. My husband and I honeymooned in Tuscany and he kept teasing me about my second (and third) helpings of cappuccini in the morning but I am accustomed to a bountiful bowl of café au lait and kept thinking, they’re so darn small!! Little sips of bliss I tell you. Nice and strong just the way I like it :).
Interesting too about the Nordic countries and the lack of light. I wonder if there’s a connection. (what’s the alcohol consumption like? 😉 ).
Totally excited about the giveaway!!
I like FEF on Facebook :O)
I follow FEF on Twitter :o)
I follow FEF on Pinterest ;O)
I subscribe to FEF via email :o)
I subscribe to FEF on YouTube ;8)
Basically, I give FEF a WHOLE LOTTA LUV!! :0) 🙂 :o) 🙂
Hello Charles. Sorry for missing quite a few posts. Does moving to another country be enough of an excuse?
My husband got a job transfer to the UAE. It was sudden and unexpected and after a couple of crazy months, he left this week and we will catch up in June.
I am not a coffee drinker but I love the coffee making rituals.Thank you for sharing the Swedish way of doing it
Hi Sawsan, absolutely! Moving knocks the wind out of your sails at the best of times, let alone if you’re going to another country!
LOL! Coffee. This made me chuckle after our last exchange about how much coffee you are drinking. Love it. 🙂 I will say that while I don’t love coffee, Mike is a huge fan, so I will comment for him if that’s permitted. I’ll have to share with him your boiled coffee preparation too. He doesn’t like fancy coffee – except for the occasional pumpkin latte in the fall. I’m trying to think of what country I think of when it comes to coffee and I think I would have said France, Italy and Turkey. Turkey only because there is a fantastic Turkish coffee place I used to frequent. So good! Funny, now I am craving a good latte.
Hehe, I definitely am not averse to the odd “fancy” coffee, but I’ll usually take a cup of plain black any day. I have a great big travel cup which I fill up to the brim and take to school when I go. Keeps me going during the lessons 😀
Very interesting! My grandmother use to make coffee this way. During the day she would keep adding water and reboiling. It started off great, but by the end of day it was rather nasty. 🙂 I use to love coffee but after a physical trauma, my taste buds changed and I haven’t been able to drink coffee without lots of sugar and cream. So count me out of the giveaway. BTW – the black and white picture of the coffee cups is breathtaking!
Thanks MJ – too bad you had that experience… I think it’s one of the most pleasurable ways to start the day and I don’t mind the occasional cup of sweet, creamed-up coffee, but I’ll go for black any time!
I’m looking forward to your Swedish food series Charles. For some reason, I can’t watch your video. I runs for 14 seconds with great music and stops but I see that others commented on it so maybe just a glitch. 🙂
Hi Karen – that’s too bad… I had no problems with it myself. Hopefully just a glitch! 🙂
I must say I’m not surprised: even my Moomin’s cookbook has a recipe “how to brew coffee”! and I have read the coffee drinking statistics. I have also heard Northern Europe consumes quite a lot of ice-cream, but I may be wrong.
I can also believe Swedish coffee is excellent… The best coffee I have ever had was in Japan, in a traditional café, full of older ladies… It is impossible to describe my surprise after the transparent disgusting stuff I drank in my hotel (where everything else at breakfast was extraordinary!).
I don’t often take cappuccino, but the best one I had was in Berlin. I have also noticed lots of people drink cappuccino there! The world is sometimes very surprising.
(I will answer Eva, but no Swiss coffee is not good, though their kitchen appliances are good).
I had some quite ok coffee in Japan, but I definitely wouldn’t say it’s the best I’ve ever had. I’m trying to think where the best I ever had was… I just can’t. Problem is, when you drink a very large quantity, it all kind of blends together over time into one giant cup! :D.
Charles, if you had coffee made in Japanese way (yes, there is a Japanese way!), you would certainly remember (evenif maybe it wouldn’t be the best, you would remember). As a coffee drinker, you would be very surprised not to recognise neither drop coffee, nor espresso, nor simply water poured on ground coffee… depending on your experience with different methods. In Japan most coffee I had was bad: they make it very weak, in drop coffee makers, but in traditional cafés calles “kissaten” they often practice the Japanese method of coffee brewing and it produces amazing results. Such places are not evident to find alas.
Hi Sissi, do you have any information about the “Japanese way”? I’m curious now… I will try to look it up myself and see if I can find any guides.
I remember I read about it on Hiroyuki’s blog but I don’t remember which post/comments… You can find it on internet I’m sure! (I only remember it’s very very slow brewing method…). There are special pots, filters etc..
I missed the giveaway but I really enjoyed watching how the coffee is made (love the music too!). I used to drink coffee everyday, but now just the weekends. I love the smell of coffee being made (more than tea in a way). I’d love to try this coffee!
Oh yeah, the smell of freshly-brewed coffee is an incredibly intoxicating aroma. Especially when you wake up to that smell!