Coffee from Paulig
The Paulig concern is the leader in coffee production in Finland. Most popular brands belong to him.
Finnish coffee Juhla Mokka
The most famous brands of Paulig coffee and their degree of roasting (strength):
- Juhla Mokka (1) and Juhla Mokka tumma paahto (2) are ideal for evening gatherings with friends;
- Presidentti (1) and Paulig Presidentti tumma paahto (3) for preparing a “celebratory” drink with a mild taste;
- Brazil (2) from the Brazilian variety of santos beans;
- Presidentti Black Label (4) with a chocolate aftertaste thanks to Kenyan Arabica;
- Presidentti Gold Label (4) premium blend of Arabica beans from Ethiopia and Papua New Guinea;
- Parisien Coffee (5) made from robusta beans, usually drunk with milk.
In addition to the listed brands, the Paulig line includes Arabica, Espresso, and Mokka coffee blends of varying degrees of roasting and taste.
The history of coffee in Finland
Finn Axel Käg first experienced the aroma and taste of coffee in 1637, when he served a German prince. There are two versions where the Finn could try it. According to the first, he met him on a trip to Persia, where the German prince often visited. In the 17th century, coffee was already a traditional drink for the Persians. They drank it while listening to music and leisurely conversation. According to the second version, in Europe, where it was brought in 1615 by Venetian merchants.
Coffee came to Finland itself in the 18th century. The first who were lucky enough to try it were the residents of Vyborg. They were delighted with its taste. Soon the number of drink lovers exceeded 100 people.
The Lutheran Church and the King of Sweden prohibited the consumption of coffee. Finland was under Swedish rule from the 12th to the early 19th centuries. Lutheran priests sounded the alarm when they saw the mark of the “Black Moors” in the coffee. For the king, large volumes of imports of expensive products threatened the national currency. In 100 years, 4 bans were issued. Residents who, despite the ban, made coffee, were fined, and then all the dishes were taken away.
This did not deter wealthy families, who continued to buy smuggled coffee. Resigned, in 1801 the king lifted all restrictions. After 100 years, it became available to all segments of the population. In almost every home, the morning began with a cup of coffee prepared in Finnish style.
The Finns' fiery love for coffee is reflected in many literary works. For example, Moominmama of the Finnish writer Tuvi Janson brewed it every day. If there were any difficulties, she would say: “Everything will work out, you just need to make some coffee.” Adults and children drank it. And if suddenly it ended during the campaign, then everyone was very upset.
In 1876, the German Gustav Pauling created the first company importing coffee. He named the company after himself - Pauling. First, they imported green coffee, which the Finns roasted at home themselves. It was only at the end of the 19th century that John Arbuckle invented the industrial roasting method. In 1926, roasted coffee sales exceeded green coffee sales.
Further difficulties with coffee supplies arose only during the Second World War. Then, instead of it, they brewed chicory, and when things were really tight, they brewed dandelion roots. After the end of the war, the ship with coffee was greeted with genuine joy.
Meira
The second most popular coffee brand in Suomi is Meira. Finns love it for the good taste of the drink and low prices.
Finnish coffee Saludo
The most famous brands of Meira coffee and their degree of roasting:
- Saludo (1) from Arabica beans grown in Latin America;
- Kulta Katriina (1-3) with a slight sourness due to the presence of robusta.
Features of Finnish coffee
Finns still drink the most coffee in the world, but in recent years Finns have become increasingly concerned about where their drink comes from and how it is made.
“I drink 5 large cups of coffee a day: one in the morning, one at work, another at lunch and 2 in the evening. I buy the most ordinary coffee for a drip coffee maker. I’m willing to buy ethically produced coffee, and I’m willing to pay more for it,” Maia Heinonen describes her coffee habits.
The majority are like her, say the organizers of the annual Helsinki Coffee Festival, who have been studying the habits of Finns for the last few years. “Finns drink a lot of filter coffee, which they add cow’s milk, and now oat milk,” confirms festival spokeswoman Maja Kestilä.
In Finland they prefer light roast
“Almost 90% of Finns drink coffee. We consume almost 50 million kg per year, that is, every Finn on average enjoys 4-5 cups a day,” says Heidi Päiväniemi, Marketing Manager at Meira. Photo: Evgeniy Bogdanov
“Almost 90% of Finns drink coffee. We consume almost 50 million kg per year, which means every Finn enjoys on average 4-5 cups a day,” adds Heidi Päiväniemi, Marketing Manager at Meira, which produces a third of all coffee in Finland.
Competitors from Paulig, whose Juhla Mokka is in every second cup of the country, remind that Finland is the only place where the rather rare light roast coffee is most popular. It is most often prepared in a drip coffee maker. “Most people drink filter coffee, while in other European countries the most popular way to enjoy coffee is espresso or drinks based on it,” states Paulig Barista Institute teacher Jori Korhonen.
Heidi Päiväniemi adds that light roast filter coffee accounts for 70% of all drinks consumed in the country. According to her, this type of coffee is now becoming popular in other countries. Finnish coffee is also appreciated by Russians.
Finns are interested in the origin of coffee
Finland has its own coffee culture, but consumers want new experiences and try new products and roast levels. Traditionally, they drink light roast filter coffee here, but recently they are increasingly switching to other methods of preparation. Photo: Anna Ruohonen
At the same time, Heidi Päiväniemi claims that the Finns themselves are increasingly ready to experiment. They are also increasingly interested in the origins of the drink in their cup. “Consumers now want new experiences - new products and degrees of roasting,” says Heidi. “Responsible consumption is also of interest: about a quarter of all coffee in Finland is certified by Fairtrade, UTZ or Rainforest Alliance, and this share is growing.” Meira is also pleased with the increased interest in organic coffee, as their Gold Katriina Organic holds the number one spot in this category.
Paulig states on their website that almost all of their products come from certified sources with UTZ or Fairtrade & Organic sustainability certifications.
“Coffee lovers are now really interested in where the coffee beans come from, whether they are grown in an environmentally friendly manner or whether the drink is produced in a factory. Even big producers are now disclosing the origins and farmers behind their coffee,” confirms Maja Kestilä.
Finns are ready to experiment with coffee
“Coffee lovers are now wondering where the coffee beans came from, whether they were grown in an environmentally friendly manner or whether the drink was produced in a factory. Even big producers are now revealing the origins and farmers behind their coffee,” says Maja Kestilä, spokeswoman for the Helsinki Coffee Festival. Photo: Rodeo
In recent years, Finns have also become interested in the freshness of their coffee, which has a positive effect on the sales of beans and coffee grinders. “Various manual methods of preparing coffee are now popular (Aeropress, V60), which allow you to use less coffee. The use of coffee grinders has become common. Almost 44% of respondents have it,” says Maja Kestilä. At the same time, coffee capsules are used in Finland less than the European average.
All surveyed visitors to the Helsinki Coffee Festival 2021 confirm that for Finns, coffee is a special drink that allows them to share pleasant moments at home (66%) and at work (24%). Only 11% of respondents go to coffee shops, but since 2021 their number has doubled.
Text: Evgeny Bogdanov, October 2021
Coffee from Sweden
There is quite a lot of Swedish coffee in Finnish stores. The most popular products are from the Gevalia brand, which is a supplier to the Swedish royal court. Gevalia coffee is offered in roasts from 2 to 4, has a delicate aroma and taste without sourness.
Coffee Gevalia
The products of the Swedish brand Lofsberg Lila are also made from Arabica. The Kharisma brand allows you to get a drink with a nutty aftertaste, and Magnifika - with a chocolate aftertaste.
What coffee to buy in Finland
Which coffee you choose when returning from Finland depends on your taste, as well as under what circumstances you like to drink this aromatic drink.
If you prefer to drink a cup of coffee on the run (and more than one a day) or sit with friends, sipping coffee and having a casual conversation, you can opt for the weak Paulig Juhla Mokka. The Finns themselves prefer weak coffee.
Paulig Presidentti is suitable for a more measured and leisurely enjoyment of coffee in the morning or during the day, as well as preparation on holidays.
Paulig Parisien is worth choosing for those who like to drink coffee with milk; it has a deep roast, which is rare for Finland.
Meira products will also delight coffee lovers who like to enjoy their favorite drink more than once a day.
Coffee from the local brand Lidl Hieno Kahvi is also suitable for frequent consumption, and Lidl Fin Mokka to cheer you up in the morning.
Swedish coffee is often brought from Finland, and there is quite a lot of it on store shelves. The most popular coffee brands are Gevalia (with a subtle aroma and no sourness), as well as Lofsberg (one of the largest coffee companies in Scandinavia). The Lofsberg Kharisma drink has a nutty aftertaste, and the Lofsberg Manifika has a chocolate aftertaste.
Where can I buy
There are departments with coffee from Finnish and Swedish brands in every supermarket. There are also specialized coffee shops. To be fair, prices are often lower in supermarkets. But in specialized stores they will tell you in detail about each type of coffee.
When choosing which package of coffee to buy, you need to pay attention not only to the popularity of the brand and the degree of roasting. If you buy coffee not in beans, grinding is important, which determines the recommended preparation method. It is usually indicated by a small design of a cup, a Turk, or a coffee machine on the package.
Features of the coffee ritual in Finland
Finnish coffee is not so much a tradition as it is an addiction and a habit. According to statistics, Finns drink more coffee than any other people in the world - about 12 large cups daily. True, their drink - kahvi - is no different in strength and is more reminiscent of an Americano. Finns do not use any additives, and if they do use them, it is extremely rare. Finnish style does not imply anything superfluous, and therefore in their coffee shops there is practically no division between latte, espresso and other types of drink.
Pikakahvi - instant coffee - is not particularly liked by Finns: they drink it extremely rarely. The drink is prepared using drip coffee makers by passing water through roasted ground coffee beans collected in a paper filter.
Separately, it is worth mentioning “Scandinavian roasting” - beans roasted in this way turn out to be a soft light brown hue, and the drink is weak and calm. Each product package sold in Finland is marked on the reverse side according to the degree of strength, that is, the degree of roasting of the beans - from 1 to 5. Buy strong Finnish ground coffee, reviews of which can be found not only on the Internet, but also in coffee shops, with a degree Roasting more than 1 or 2 beans is extremely difficult.
