While I was in Bangladesh, coffee was not for me. Almost everyone around me preferred tea above anything else. Tea seemed to be the essence of everything-whether it was a morning at home or an afternoon hanging out with the friends. The chai was the strong brew with milk and in healthy amounts of sugar. Coffee was indeed available but it run as an instant coffee loaded with milk and sugar such that it tasted like dessert more than coffee.
I didn’t dislike coffee, but I didn’t love it either. It just didn’t have the same cultural or personal significance as tea. So, for most of my life, I didn’t think much about coffee at all.
My First Steps into Finnish Coffee Culture
That all changed when I moved to Finland. If tea is the heart of Bangladeshi culture, coffee is the soul of Finnish life. Finns almost form the coffee-drinking Olympic fraternity because they drink so much coffee: at work, during social gatherings, or halfway through a snowy hike.
At first, I stuck to my habits, sipping tea while everyone around me drank coffee. But curiosity got the better of me. One winter morning, a friend invited me over for a cup of coffee. She brewed it the traditional Finnish way—simple, light, and smooth. The aroma alone was enough to intrigue me.
The first sip I took hit me with surprise. It was nothing like the instant coffee I had back in Bangladesh; it was mild, balanced, and warming—the very kind of drink to sip when it is cold outside.
Learning the Finnish Way
That coffee stuck with me, and soon I was finding myself wanting to recreate it. I bought myself a light roast, the kind that most Finns prefer, and decided to give it a try. I did not own a proper kahvipannu, so I used a French press instead.
Making coffee Finnish-style is quite refreshing in its simplicity:
- Heat the water just below boiling point (around 90-95°C)
- Put 1 tablespoon of coffee grounds per cup of water
- Allow to steep for 4 minutes and press down the filter.
The first time I made it, my kitchen filled with a soft, inviting aroma. As I poured the coffee into my mug and took a sip, I felt an immediate connection—not just to the drink but to the calm, mindful process of making it.
Transforming My Mornings
Mornings in Bangladesh were usually loud and busy, with the sound of family life mixing with that of tea being made. My mornings in Finland had been busy and utilitarian: a quick tea or instant coffee to get on with the day.
However, making Finnish-style coffee had changed all that. It had paid me to stop and meditate on the making of it.
This is how I begin every single one of my mornings, brewing coffee and having a slice of either pulla or rye bread, settling by the window. I may read, write, or let my gaze drift outside.
This slow, mindful start sets the tone for my day. It’s a small but meaningful change that has brought a sense of calm into my routine.
Coffee vs. Tea: A New Perspective
While tea will ever carry memories of home, coffee bears a different significance for me now. What I’ve learned from Finnish coffee culture is that it is much more than the drink itself; it embodies the moments made possible by that very drink. In Finland, coffee is never something that gets rushed under the pretense of setting a person’s day straight; it is always the drink shared with friends on a kahvitauko or sipped quietly in solitude.
I also began inviting people over for coffee; just like my friend had invited me for coffee that winter. We brew a pot and share some stories, basking in the warmth of the moment. It’s become one of my favorite bonding times.
The Joy of Everyday
Brewing Finnish-style coffee has transformed how I see mornings—and coffee itself. It’s no longer just about caffeine or energy; it’s about finding joy in the small things. From a tea-drinking life in Bangladesh to my coffee-filled mornings in Finland, this journey has been unexpected but deeply rewarding.
Now, as I sit with my warm cup of Finnish coffee, I reflect on how drastically this simple ritual has changed my life. It is my pause button, hitting slow-mo on life, breathing in, and savouring every moment from one sip to another.
