Coffee and other popular hot drinks

[Joana_L]

I read that Finns are among the world's most avid readers and that the country's extensive library network suports the reading habit. If this is true I'm very happy and even more anxious to go to finland

I read other thing that made my curiosity explode : coffe gets Finns moving on cold, dark winter mornings. It provides strenght to last the day and ( here goes the strange thing)even sends people to sleep.. Is this true?
Coffee is a very popular drink in Finland as i read. They talk about other hot drinks : hot blackcurrant juice and "glogi", a Nordic version of mulled wine. Are this drinks good? hum?

[AlexInHelsinki]

The coffee here is rubbish. Yes, they drink lots and lots of it, but it's deeeeeeeeeeeeeesgusting. I have yet to have a decent coffee anywhere in Finland, for real. If it's not bitter (in a bad, non-coffee sort of way), it's weak and bitter. Blech.

Funny enough, I had the best cup I've ever tasted over in Sweden, but maybe it just tasted really good after Finnish coffee...dunno.

Anyway, they sell Starbucks (still not great and I don't like promoting them, but as far as pure taste goes, surely better than the alternatives) for 17 euros ( ) a package here if you want to go that route and your pockets are lined with gold.

Drinking coffee to go to sleep?? Never heard of that one.

[Pursuivant]

Considering the English drink only tea as they can't understand the concept of proper coffee, and Americans whose coffee is only good for washing old ladies cooters, thats pretty ripe. Then again the Tibetans drink their tea with rancid yak butter.

[AlexInHelsinki]

the Tibetans drink their tea with rancid yak butter.

Ew.

[Bubba Elvis XIV]

Hello, I'm bubba...I am from England and never drink tea neither do my family. - You racist Hank!!!!

Tea is for plebs. Problem is most English drink that instant shiiite in the UK. Friggin' vile stuff...

Kind of funny that you say the Swedish coffee is better, Alex, as most people here would say that theirs is better...but they would wouldn't they. But yeah, Finnish coffee is quite weak. The fancy pants coffees here are terrible. I'd say the Swedes make better fancy stuff...The 'normal' coffees are about the same, but are quite different.

I thought the Indians read the most.

[EP]

I thought the Indians read the most

Well, no. Finns do, according to some statistics I remember. It is always per capita statistics, and it would be quite impossible for India to top that when you think of the amount of people and the amount of literacy.

And yes, Finland is the #1 coffee drinking country. But coffee does not favour good sleep, so people usually don´t drink it after 6. Black currant juice is for sick days (vitamin C) and after skiing trips. And Glögi has come from Sweden, and it is for Christmas time.

[EP]

double post

[Bubba Elvis XIV]

Well, no, according to statistics I read Indians do...

I think normally those kind of stastics take into account population size differences....

go and sit on a train in Japan....and you'll see something a little different.

[Pursuivant]

I warmly suggest "the Devils Cup" by Stewart Lee Allen. Gives you an insight on coffee.

I drink LIDL instant mind you, as I am too lazy to do filter at home, and then the brewed "industrial" juhla mokka at work. That sucks, but then again its strong enough for the spoon not to show in the cup. I guess thats the thing, Finns do a light roast with "thick" coffee whereas the Swedes prefer a darker roast. Not going into the fancy machines using coffee condoms.

As for sleeping - some people actually do drink a cup before bed. Its something to do with the effects on the metabolism, and its a personal thing how it effects.

Plebes re-boil their filter coffee suds.

[Pursuivant]

go and sit on a train in Japan....and you'll see something a little different.

schoolgirls & tentacles

[Bubba Elvis XIV]

go and sit on a train in Japan....and you'll see something a little different.

schoolgirls & tentacles

Yeah....awesome.

Funniest thing is watching the school girls climb the stairs to the ticket area and automatically putting their brief cases behind their asses to stop all the skebe (sp?) salary men looking up their skirts.

now...that's a bit short in the middle.

[EP]

I think normally those kind of stastics take into account population size differences...

Of course, but as long as a country is only 60+% literate and there is an on-going "literacy program", I find it hard to believe.

[Bubba Elvis XIV]

Well of course, Finland is best at everything.

You have to remember that the educated Indians are highly educated...With numerous qualifications as opposed to Finland where you do an MA in 10 - 15 years and don't finish it and walk around telling everyone that you still have the MA...
"yeah, just got to hand in my papers".

[catfish78]

and Americans whose coffee is only good for washing old ladies cooters.

Well if you have any old ladies cooters to wash let me know. Just got some Dunkin Donuts coffee this week.

[Joana_L]

"The coffee here is rubbish. Yes, they drink lots and lots of it, but it's deeeeeeeeeeeeeesgusting. "
I had no idea:)))

Well .. here in Portugal in general people like the coffee ... are small cups and the coffee is intense. Each cup of coffee, anywhere, usually costs 50 cents. In other countries the coffee is served in bigger cups,right? and is more diluted, I think.
Now here in Portugal there is also Starbucks! Two stores across the country

"does not favour good sleep, so people usually don´t drink it after 6. Black currant juice is for sick days (vitamin C) and after skiing trips. And Glögi has come from Sweden, and it is for Christmas time." Thank you, EP ,it's curious )

and about Finnish writers? Never read book wrote by a Finnish writer. Is there any recommendation? (Of books translated into English)