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Coffee, connection, and kanelbulle. ☕

Coffee, connection, and kanelbulle. ☕

Fika with friends and family? 👀

Michael Horne
March 19, 2023

Hey there! Buckle up and brew up, our latest issue of The Red Eye is ready for takeoff! Get ready for an exciting ride filled with caffeine and wanderlust. ☕️✈️

Today, we're taking you on a virtual trip to the vibrant city of Stockholm, where coffee is more than just a drink; it's a way of life.

Join us as we meet up with Joanna Alm, Swedish Barista & Roasting Champion, and co-founder of Drop Coffee Roasters, as we delve into the city's thriving coffee scene where we’ll discover the passion, craft, and innovation that make Stockholm's coffee culture truly exceptional.

So sit back, grab your favorite cup of coffee (we’re lovin’ the Stockholm roast), and let's embark on this caffeinated journey together!

COFFEE, CONNECTION, AND KANELBULLE.

EXPLORING STOCKHOLM'S THRIVING COFFEE SCENE.

Imagine a culture where coffee is so deeply ingrained into daily life that it has its own verb. In Stockholm, Sweden, the art of coffee is so much more than just a morning pick-me-up. It's an essential part of social interaction and a way for people to connect with each other.

We had the pleasure of talking with Joanna Alm, co-founder of our favorite Stockholm coffee roastery and café Drop Coffee Roasters in the creatively chill Södermalm district, to get an inside look at the thriving coffee culture in the city.

It's Fika time.

Drop into any Stockholm coffee shop around 10AM and you'll find the place buzzing. Small groups of 08'ers ("oh-eight-ers" as locals are often called, referring to the Stockholm telephone city code) and travelers in-the-know are gathering for Fika — the very Swedish ritual of sharing time with friends over coffee and pastries.

"The word Fika is both a noun for 'coffee and a sweet bun' like a kanelbulle (pronounced "kah-NEEL-bool-eh"), but it's also used as a verb," explains Joanna.

"To me, Fika is more of a verb — it's about catching up with a friend and having coffee together. If you haven't seen someone for a while, you just text them and say 'shall we grab a Fika soon?' "

Coffee at the center of life.

Drinking an average of 3.2 cups of coffee a day, more than double what we drink here in the States, the Swedes take their coffee very seriously. Coffee is stitched deeply into the fabric of everyday life here.

"Wherever you are, you will be offered a coffee," shares Joanna. "If you walk over to visit a neighbor, you will be offered a coffee. At a party, there's always coffee or a Fika offered. Even at a funeral, you'll be offered a coffee. At any occasion, coffee is always part of the experience."

THE STORY CONTINUES…

When you travel around China, Taiwan, South Korea…really everywhere in Asia, in the markets you can sometimes participate in a raffle for a valuable prize.

The raffle is called a Lucky Draw. Here’s how it works:

You do something to earn the right to put your name in a hat. 🎩
Once everyone has a chance to put their name in the hat, someone randomly draws out a name (the “Lucky Draw”). ☘️
The lucky person whose name is drawn wins a really cool prize! 🔥

So let’s play Lucky Draw!

To put your name in the hat, all you gotta do is answer this question:

How do you like to buy your coffee?

Share your answer in the poll below, and you’ll be entered into the Lucky Draw for a FREE Trial Roast Taster of fresh-roasted coffee. We’re shipping out free bags of coffee this week to 5 Lucky Draw winners! 🔥

Winners get to pick their favorite roast style from world cities Stockholm (light roast Ethiopia Yirgacheffe), Prague (medium Guatemala), Milan (medium+ blend), and Istanbul (dark blend).

(BONUS: Find out instantly how you compare against other coffee lovers! We reveal your grouping right after you submit your answer.)

Ok, here’s the poll. This is easy, you got this: 🤞

How do you buy your coffee?

Let us know if you buy your coffee whole, pre-ground, or if you're a fan of pods & capsules.

Ok, that’s a wrap for this week’s edition of The Red Eye!

Looking for a layover? Got some time left before your day starts? Here are a couple more things you can check out:

When we hear about coffee prep hacks, we pay attention!
Secretly dreaming of becoming a caffeinated vagabond like us? We understand. Here is a classic how-to guide. You’ll learn a lot.

Share The Red Eye, win coffee.

Tell your friends and family about The Red Eye, and let's grow this community of coffee-loving travelers together!

Share your personal referral link anywhere your friends hang out. When you share and your friends sign-up, we’ll send you free coffee! ☕