Your essential guide to fika: Sweden’s beloved coffee break tradition

The term ‘fika’ is becoming increasingly well-known, and this Swedish concept is rapidly growing in popularity outside of Sweden. It’s a wonderful ritual, and one of the first things I do when I’m in the Nordic country. It’s also one of the habits I genuinely miss when I get back home. The Swedes truly love coffee, and they’ve elevated their coffee break into a fine art and an indispensable tradition.

What exactly is ‘fika’?

As a newcomer to Sweden, one of the first customs that strikes you is the fika moment! A cup of coffee with a kanelbulle (cinnamon bun) is virtually the cliché image of the Swedish coffee break.

Is there anything more Swedish than fika? I highly doubt it. It’s so much more than just a quick break. It’s about consciously making time to catch up with people while enjoying a hot drink (Swedes are genuinely coffee-obsessed, but you can also fika with tea, hot chocolate, or a cold drink) and a tasty treat (like a kanelbulle, a kladdkaka, or another delicious pastry). The treat doesn’t necessarily have to be sweet; it could be a piece of fruit.

For a super traditional fika, you’re actually meant to have seven different types of biscuits or cookies!

The fika tradition is deeply embedded in Swedish culture. It’s a bit like afternoon tea, but it happens every day, sometimes even twice a day! It’s a delightful habit that is happily adopted by expats, immigrants, and tourists alike.

The origin of “fika”

In the nineteenth century, it was bon ton in Sweden to reverse the syllables of words. This is how the word kaffi (coffee) was flipped to become ‘fika’. So, originally, it meant nothing more than ‘coffee’.

Fika at the office

In many Swedish companies, they hold a communal fika at around 10 am. Often, colleagues take turns bringing in a home-baked treat to share. No one would dare risk just staying at their desk while everyone else takes the fika break. Sometimes, it’s even compulsory.

It’s the ideal opportunity to socialise with your colleagues for a moment, after which you can all return to work feeling refreshed and able to concentrate. A ‘klockan tre fika’ (fika at 3 o’clock in the afternoon) is also incredibly popular.

Favourite Fika Recipes & Treats

Here are a few popular sweet treats to enjoy during your fika:

The Kanelbullar (cinnamon buns) are definitely number one, but you should also try the cardamom variant (kardemummabullar) or the classic Swedish cake known as kladdkaka (a sticky chocolate cake). For something a bit more celebratory, a Princess cake (prinsesstårta) is a fantastic choice.

Around Lucia (St. Lucy’s Day), the saffron buns called lussekatter are usually eaten, and in January or February, the special semla buns take centre stage. And let’s not forget the delightful almond biskvier and chocolate chokladbollar to complete this delicious baking list!

Essential Fika Vocabulary

• Fikapaus: Coffee break
• Fikabröd: Literally “fika bread” – referring to all the sweet baked goods you eat with your coffee.
• Kanelbulle/kanelbullar: The famous cinnamon bun (singular/plural).