
#Swedish coffee break free
When it’s time to fika, pour yourself a cup of coffee (or tea, or soda) and put out a selection of cookies or snacks Resist the urge to pick up your phone instead, use the time to give yourself a break from screens and be free from responsibility. Does fika work?įika is good for productivity Numerous studies have found that if you want more focused and productive employees, the best way to do that is to give them more free time, space, and to let them build their own schedule. Fika is a ritual that’s important in swedish culture, giving yourself a moment to have a break and socialise. But it’s not just about savouring a good cup of kaffi (the Swedish word for coffee). Is fika just Swedish?įika is a typical Swedish tradition where you take time out of your day to pause and enjoy a hot drink and a snack. Is coffee banned in Sweden?Ĭoffee made a comeback by 1800-now dominant drink in Sweden It lifted the ban and imposed a stiff import tax instead.

People in the Nordic countries drink more coffee than anyone in the world, even the Italians.

For a good Fika you’d be expected to serve good scandinavian coffee.

If you’re in Norway or Denmark you don’t use the actual word Fika, but the rules of the game are the same. What do Swedes eat during fika?įika is a Swedish concept that involves drinking coffee, whilst eating baked goods such as pastries, cookies or pie. For them, fika is the same as going to the bar for a beer!. More than just a cup of coffee! You can’t go fika alone, rather with friends and family It requires social interaction despite the popular belief (and true to a certain extent) that the Swedes are introverted, quiet and even unsocial. The Swedish custom of lördagsgodis, or Saturday candy, was spurred by the outcomes at Vipeholm, which definitively proved that sugar, particularly between meals, causes tooth decay The idea behind lördagsgodis is moderation-to limit candy consumption to a weekly, rather than a daily, occurrence. Why do Swedes only eat candy on Saturdays? Fika is such an important part of life in Sweden that it is both a verb and a noun. The swedish concept of fika (fee-kah) means taking a little break from the daily grind to sit down, connect with someone and perhaps have a cup of coffee and something sweet.įika (pronounced fee-ka ) is a Swedish custom, a kind of social coffee break where people gather to have a cup of coffee or tea and a few nibbles. What is Fika and Hygge?įika and hygge are two Scandinavian words gaining more and more popularity – and we understand why. When everyone gathers in the meeting room, you better stop working and join the group. How long is a Swedish fika break?įika at work For you sweet little new-Swede, that means two 10 – 30 minutes -extra breaks, called fikarast or fikapaus. The word is an inverted syllable slang term derived from “kaffi,” the 19th century word for coffee. In Sweden, the coffee break holds an exalted status with a special name: “Fika” (pronounced fee-ka). It’s pretty simple: Invert the word kaffi, and you get fika. The word fika actually derives from the 19th-century slang word for coffee, kaffi.

Nowadays, the Swedes generally take two fika breaks a day: once in the mid-morning, and again around 3 p.m. In Sweden, it’s obligatory to eat coffee and cake. But, as Elizabeth Hotson finds, it’s catching on around the world. Surely it’s just a coffee break? What is a fika in Sweden?įika, a Swedish custom where people gather to eat, drink, and talk, is a welcome workplace tradition in the country. Fika, the delightful custom of enjoying a coffee and a treat with friends, is as Swedish as ABBA.
