Finns often drink four to five cups of coffee a day, and consume more coffee per person than anywhere else in the world. That amounts to a lot of socalizing!
Sometimes, when I go for coffee, I enjoy getting a pulla (sweet roll) or cake. While I like cakes with fruit, one of my favoite Finnish treats is a korvapuusti (sweet cinnamon roll). While cinnamon rolls in the United States are often large, sticky and very sweet, korvapuusti are more like a fancy cinnamon bread. If you look closely, you can see the large pieces of sugar on top! They are the perfect treat to enjoy with a cup of coffee.
My first time having coffee with my professor and her friends, I felt very intimidated. Everyone else at the table was speaking Finnish, and I was afraid I would be left out! At the time, however, I did not know how polite Finns are. As soon as I sat down, my professor and her friends made me feel welcome in the conversation. They even explained some Finnish jokes to me!
Meeting for coffee in Finland is not just about the food: it is also about the chance to get together and to talk about your day.
When going for coffee, the cafe is the place to go! If you want to order coffee and a sweet roll, you should say the following in finnish:
yksi kahvi ja yksi pulla (ook-see kah-vee ja ook-see pull-a: one coffee and one roll).
At the university, cafes work cafeteria-style. You take a cup and select you food before paying at the register. When you are done, it is your job to return your cup and any silverware to the dish rack, so that it can be washed.
