From the morning espresso you take at the "comptoir" to the filter coffee served after lunch. Over the last 10 years, the french coffee scene has changed to set more place to "specialty coffee". A movement dedicated to the art of coffee degustation putting the bitter espresso cup from traditional "bistro" to an end, or nearly.
When moving to Sweden, I knew already coffee and more specifically FIKA is part of every day life.
But FIKA is not only about having a cup of coffee (or tea) and a pastry.
FIKA is all about the time off you give to yourself while having a cup of coffee (or tea) and a pastry (not mandatory but highly recommended).
More than what "café en terrasse" is to French, FIKA is for Swedes a time off to have chat with family, friends or colleagues at work. More than a cup of coffee and a snack, it is a very social moment.
At work, it is considered as important as any other task as this time off contribute to a good work atmosphere, give a time off that then boosts your energy to work or give a time off to speak about work tasks in a more relax context.
A creative moment.
While for a long time, the french traditional "pause café" had been badly considered by employers as a waste of time, FIKA has been elevated as a part of daily job.
How not to love it ?
I fell in love at first FIKA and made it mine since i moved to Sweden even if i am still unable to pronounce it with the right swede intonation.
To make it yours, here are a few lecture tips :
- Fika, the art of the swedish coffee break by Anna Brones and Joanna Kindvall (my personal bible to Fika)
- Swedish Fika by Milo Kalén (and i can not but highly recommend a stop by her coffeeshop in Malmö, Kaka på kaka)
- The little book of Fika by Lynda Balslev
Here are my favorite places for fika :
Café Pascal
Norrtullsgatan 4, Stockholm
my first fika in Stockholm, even before moving. and also the very coffeeshop where i met the love of my life.
Komet café
Kungsholmsgatan 10, Stockholm
because...the ultimate best croissant, pain au chocolat and bread one can have in Stockholm. the perfect match between french and swede.
because sometimes one desperately needs to ear and speak french !
Juniper Tree café
Rasundavägen 139, Solna
not in Stockholm city center but not that far away, a little bubble of peace with a californian vibe.
Caffé Mezzo
Rasundavägen 110, Solna
a little gem out of Stockholm center but so worth the detour !
Rosendals Trädgard Café
Rosendalsterrassen 4, Stockholm
on the island of Djürgarden, a café in a greenhouse in a middle of a garden... had a crush just looking at some pinterest accounts 4 years before having my first vacation in Stockholm...no need to say it was one of my first spot to visit and i had not been disappointed. Rosendals is an enchantment.
I could go on listing places on so many pages that i will stop there but please feel free to reach out by mail or in comment if you are in need of more places to stop by when in Stockholm or around.
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