October 1 is International Coffee Day. And if there is one country particularly well prepared to celebrate, it’s Finland.
Sauna might be one of Finland’s most recognizable traditions, but there is another ritual woven just as naturally into everyday Finnish life: coffee.
At home. At work. At the cottage. After a meal. With something sweet. With friends. Sometimes for no particular reason other than it being a good time for a cup.
For Finns, coffee is less about grabbing something on the way to the next thing and more often part of the rhythm of the day. And they drink quite a lot of it.
Four cups a day
Finland has earned a reputation as a nation of serious coffee drinkers. According to Visit Finland’s guide to Finnish coffee culture, Finns drink an average of about four cups of coffee every day, putting Finland at the top of global per-capita coffee consumption.
The country’s relationship with coffee stretches back centuries. Coffee arrived in Finland in the 18th century and eventually made its way from a luxury enjoyed by relatively few people into an ordinary part of Finnish life.
Today, the usual Finnish cup is surprisingly straightforward. Filter coffee, or suodatinkahvi, remains the most common choice, and Finns traditionally tend toward lighter roasts. But what happens around the cup might be more interesting than what’s in it.
There is always time for kahvitauko
There is a Finnish word worth knowing: kahvitauko. Quite simply, a coffee break.
It doesn’t have to be elaborate. That’s partly the point. Stop what you’re doing. Pour a cup. Sit down for a few minutes. Maybe have something sweet. Talk to the person beside you. Then continue with the day.
In a culture that also gave us sauna, there is something familiar about that rhythm. Pause. Be where you are. Take the time.
Sauna. Cold water. And a cup of coffee.
At Vettä, that idea has always felt close to home. A day here isn’t meant to be rushed from one experience to another.
You might begin in the sauna, step into the cold, then find somewhere among the trees to rest. And eventually, you might get hungry. Or simply decide it’s time for coffee. That’s part of the day too.
Our Finnish inspiration doesn’t stop at the sauna door. It finds its way into the food we serve, the moments we encourage people to take and the simple pleasure of sitting down together without needing to be anywhere else just yet. Which means the coffee we pour matters.
The coffee in your cup at Vettä
At Vettä, we serve Sierra Verde from Reunion Coffee Roasters, an Ontario-based, family-owned specialty coffee roaster.
Sierra Verde is a medium roast with notes of nut, molasses and chocolate, made using Organic and Fairtrade-certified coffees. It’s creamy and balanced, but what drew us to its story goes beyond the cup.
Every pound of Sierra Verde sold helps fund tree planting in Kilifi, Kenya. Reunion reports that its current and legacy tree-planting partnerships have helped plant more than 1.1 million trees. Reunion has committed to planting at least 10,000 trees each year as part of its work toward what it calls a restorative economy.
Coffee with something behind it
Reunion has spent more than 30 years building its approach to specialty coffee around both quality and responsibility.
The Canadian company has been a Certified B Corporation since 2013, a certification that evaluates a company’s social and environmental impact, transparency and accountability.
Its roasting facility uses 100% green electricity through Bullfrog Power. The company works with certifications and programs including Fairtrade and the Rainforest Alliance, and maintains long-term relationships with coffee producers and farmers. In 2015, Reunion was named Macro Roaster of the Year by the Specialty Coffee Association.
Good coffee should taste good. It’s even better when there’s thought behind how it gets into the cup.
A Finnish tradition, not far from home
There are plenty of ways to mark International Coffee Day. The Finnish approach might be one of the simplest: pour a cup, sit down and don’t drink it on the way somewhere else.
At Vettä, you can take that idea a little further. Spend some time in the sauna. Step into the cold. Rest among the trees. Then find a table, order a Sierra Verde coffee and stay for the conversation that follows.
No rush. After all, if the Finns can find time for around four cups a day, there’s probably time for one more here.
Hyvää kansainvälistä kahvipäivää. Happy International Coffee Day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Coffee is woven into everyday Finnish life: at home, at work, with guests and during kahvitauko, the coffee break. Visit Finland reports an average of about four cups per person per day.
A coffee break is called kahvitauko in Finnish. It is a chance to pause, enjoy a cup and often spend a little time with others.
Filter coffee, or suodatinkahvi, is especially popular in Finland. Visit Finland notes that Finns have traditionally favoured lighter roasts, although preferences continue to evolve.
Vettä serves Sierra Verde from Reunion Coffee Roasters. It is a medium roast with notes of nut, molasses and chocolate.
Yes. Reunion describes Sierra Verde as made with Organic and Fairtrade-certified coffees.
Every pound sold helps support tree planting in Kilifi, Kenya. Reunion reports more than 1.1 million trees planted through current and legacy Sierra Verde partnerships.
Sierra Verde is served at SAVU Bistro and KOIVU Restaurant. SAVU is open daily and KOIVU is open Friday to Sunday; check current dining hours before visiting.
