The Case for a Daily Coffee Hour

Why a little coffee, a little something sweet, and a comfortable chair deserve a place in your day.

COZY LITTLE MOMENTS

There are meetings that could have been emails, errands that somehow multiply, and laundry that seems to reproduce when no one is looking. And then there is coffee hour.

Coffee hour asks very little of us. A favorite cup, a freshly brewed pot, perhaps a biscotti or a square of chocolate, and a few minutes when absolutely nothing needs to be accomplished. It doesn’t require reservations, a complicated recipe, or a new pair of leggings. It doesn’t even require company, although a friend who brings something from the bakery is always welcome.

We think this lovely little ritual deserves a place in every day.

Not because we need another item on our wellness checklist. Goodness knows we have enough of those. But because there’s something rather nice about having one small part of the day that belongs to you.

And if the Swedes, Danes, and Germans have a few thoughts on the subject, we’re happy to listen.

The Swedes Have a Word for It: Fika

The Swedes have been enjoying fika for generations, and we suspect they are onto something.

Fika is a Swedish coffee break, usually involving coffee, something sweet, and a little time to enjoy it all. But it isn’t simply a matter of drinking coffee while answering emails. Fika is about taking a proper pause, often with friends or colleagues, and enjoying a bit of conversation along with your cinnamon bun. It can happen at home, in a café, or just about anywhere a cup of coffee can be persuaded to go. 

We particularly appreciate that fika has its own place in the rhythm of the day. In Sweden, coffee breaks are a familiar part of working life, and some workplaces even schedule two of them.

Two! Imagine a calendar that makes room for coffee instead of simply filling every available square with appointments.

Of course, we needn’t book a flight to Stockholm to participate. We can make our own little version right here at home. Put the kettle on, find the good mugs, and bring out something delicious. A homemade scone would be lovely. So would yesterday’s shortbread, a slice of comforting banana bread sweetened with maple syrup, or our latest recipe for a really moist Banana Bread Loaf thanks to a little almond flour and greek yogurt or a few chocolate-covered almonds arranged on a plate as though you have been expecting company! (Oh wait, you are… it’s you!)

The important part is that you sit down long enough to enjoy them.

A Little Hygge Goes Nicely with Coffee

The Danes have given us hygge, another word that makes us want to put on a cardigan and find a comfortable chair.

Meik Wiking of the Happiness Research Institute has described hygge as creating a pleasant atmosphere, spending time with people you love, enjoying good food, and allowing yourself to relax. It is less about acquiring a particular collection of candles and more about enjoying the comforts of everyday life. Which sounds very much like an invitation to make coffee hour a little more special.

Perhaps you bring a small vase of garden flowers to the table. Perhaps you light a candle on a rainy afternoon, pull out the linen napkins you usually save for guests, or sit by the window where the light is particularly pretty.

Or perhaps you do absolutely nothing to improve the surroundings because your kitchen is already perfectly pleasant and the dog has finally settled down. That counts, too!

Hygge isn’t a decorating assignment. You don’t need matching mugs, a carefully styled tray, or an interior that looks as though nobody has ever made toast in it. A comfortable corner and a little time are quite enough. And if the coffee happens to be especially good, well, that certainly doesn’t hurt!

The Germans Have Kaffeeklatsch

The Germans have a delightful word for gathering over coffee and conversation: Kaffeeklatsch.

Think coffee, cake, and a good chat. The German coffee tradition also includes Kaffee und Kuchen—coffee and cake—a familiar way for friends and family to spend time together over the afternoon. The Goethe-Institut notes that this tradition has long been about enjoying coffee and a little treat in good company. 

We admire the practicality of this arrangement. Someone makes the coffee. Someone brings the cake. Everyone sits down. Conversation ensues.

And while the word Kaffeeklatsch can suggest a bit of gossip, we prefer to think of it as an opportunity to catch up on the important matters of the day: whose garden is flourishing, which book is worth reading, whether the new bakery is as good as everyone claims, and what on earth happened to the neighbor’s hydrangeas.

Of course, a daily coffee hour doesn’t need a gathering of friends to be worthwhile. But it does make a very good excuse to invite someone over.

You don’t need to prepare a luncheon. You don’t need to tidy every room in the house. You don’t need to apologize for the stack of mail on the counter (though honestly, just go through it, it’ll take 3 minutes). Most importantly, just put on the coffee.

If you have something homemade to serve, wonderful. If not, a good biscuit from the bakery is perfectly respectable. The Germans have been enjoying coffee and cake for a long time; we suspect they would agree that the company matters at least as much as the frosting.

Why We Think Coffee Hour Belongs in Your Day

We’re not suggesting that coffee itself is a magic ingredient for a happier life. And we’re certainly not proposing another routine that you must follow perfectly to earn a gold star.

We’re simply making a case for a small, enjoyable pause. Here are a few reasons to give it a try. It gives the day a pleasant little landmark.

Mornings can disappear into errands, work, appointments, and the business of getting everyone where they need to go. A regular coffee hour gives you something lovely to look forward to, even on an ordinary Tuesday.

It invites you to enjoy the things you already have.

That pretty mug in the cupboard? Use it. (Currently obsessed with every cute mug at Anthropologie), how about you? The good coffee you bought last weekend? Grind it at home! Brew it! The little plate you inherited from your grandmother? Bring it out. Everyday things are much more enjoyable when we actually use them.

It’s an easy way to stay connected. A coffee date doesn’t need to be an elaborate affair. Invite a neighbor over for half an hour, meet a friend at your favorite café, or call your sister while you both enjoy a cup. There’s something wonderfully unpretentious about catching up over coffee.

It gives you permission to stop multitasking. Try drinking your coffee without folding towels, checking messages, or mentally composing tomorrow’s grocery list. You may discover that a few uninterrupted minutes are rather enjoyable. You may also discover that you have been drinking lukewarm coffee for years. Either way, useful information.

It makes an ordinary day feel a little more considered. You don’t need a special occasion to set out a pretty plate or enjoy a favorite treat. Sometimes the occasion can simply be that it’s Wednesday and the coffee is ready. We think that’s reason enough.

How to Make Your Own Little Coffee Hour

The beauty of this ritual is that it can be as simple or as elaborate as you please. We offer a few suggestions, but consider them invitations rather than rules. Nobody is inspecting the table.

1. Choose a Time You Can Actually Keep

Late morning is lovely, especially after the first round of daily tasks. Midafternoon has its charms, too, particularly when the weather turns gray and the house feels cozy.

Choose a time that fits your life. If you’re sensitive to caffeine or find that it interferes with your sleep, make it a decaf or herbal-tea hour instead. The point is the pause, not the caffeine.

2. Use the Good Cup

You know the one. Perhaps it’s the floral china cup, the sturdy handmade mug, or the cup you bought on a trip and tucked away for special occasions. This is your special occasion.

A pretty cup won’t transform the afternoon, but it can make the ordinary business of drinking coffee feel a little more enjoyable. And unlike a new kitchen renovation, it’s an upgrade that takes approximately four seconds.

3. Add a Little Something to Eat

Coffee and a small treat are excellent companions. You might have a slice of homemade banana bread, a buttered biscuit, a few squares of chocolate, or a piece of cake left over from the weekend.

If you’re in the mood to bake, make something you can enjoy over several days. If you’re not, visit the bakery. We are firmly in favor of both approaches.

And if you’d like inspiration for something homemade, take a look at our From the Kitchen recipes. A little baking and a little coffee are a very agreeable combination.

4. Make the Setting Pleasant

Open the curtains. Sit near a window. Bring in a sprig of rosemary or a few flowers from the garden. Put your phone out of reach for a few minutes.

You needn’t rearrange the furniture or create an elaborate tablescape. A clear spot at the kitchen table will do nicely.

Although, if you happen to own a particularly charming little tray, this is an excellent opportunity to use it.

5. Decide What Sort of Coffee Hour You Need

Some days call for conversation. Invite a friend or family member. Other days call for a little peace and quiet. Read a chapter of your book, look through a magazine, or simply enjoy the view outside the window!

You can even make coffee hour a small creative interlude. Jot down a few recipe ideas, plan your spring garden, or browse the cookbooks you’ve been meaning to try. Just promise you won’t turn it into a productivity session with a cappuccino on the side. There are already plenty of hours available for that.

A Small Invitation from Fittbe

We rather like the idea of borrowing the best parts of these traditions.

From Sweden, we can take the pleasure of a proper coffee break. From Denmark, we can borrow the appreciation for a comfortable, welcoming atmosphere. And from Germany, we can take the happy combination of coffee, cake, and a good conversation. None requires a passport. All are available in your own kitchen.

So tomorrow, or perhaps this very afternoon, put the coffee on. Find the cup you love. Cut a slice of something delicious, if you have it. Sit down and give yourself a few minutes to enjoy it. The laundry will still be there afterward. The emails will not have developed a conscience and answered themselves. And someone will probably ask what we’re having for dinner.

But for a little while, there’s coffee.

Now, if you’ll excuse us, we believe the kettle is ready, and hopefully you’ll put yours on too! Join us…

Make it a Fittbe Day.

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coffee hour photo from the fittbe journal showing the joyful ritual with flowers, cake, and of course, coffee

Sources for the cultural references

A little further reading from some excellent sources

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