Coffee in Sweden

King Charles XII, during his stay in the Ottoman Empire in the early 18th century, developed a taste for coffee and introduced Turkish coffee-making practices upon his return, contributing to its spread in Sweden.

As a result, rural Swedes often consumed coffee-based or coffee-like beverages up to five times a day, stretching their supplies with local substitutes such as dried chicory, grains mixed with syrup, or a dough made from rye and potatoes.

Alcohol consumption during work hours became socially unacceptable, with coffee replacing it as the drink of choice for workers.

[14] Swedes generally prefer medium to dark roasts,[15] and the popularity of speciality coffee has grown in recent years.

[16] Sweden is among the highest coffee-consuming countries globally, with an average consumption of approximately 8.2 kilograms per capita annually.

[18] This process involves adding water and coarsely ground coffee to a pot or pan, bringing it to a boil, and then straining it into a cup or flask.

[15] Sweden’s coffee industry has an annual roasting volume of approximately 88,000 tonnes, accounting for about 5% of the European Union’s total.