Why This Country Drinks The Most Coffee

Coffee is enjoyed all over the world in a dizzying array of ways. From the cappuccinos sipped in Milan (so long as it's not in the afternoon) to the strong black java known as Turkish coffee that's made with the world's oldest brewing method, many countries have a distinct coffee culture that has lasted for generations. However, it's clear that certain countries drink much more of this beverage than others.

If you've ever wondered which country drinks the most coffee, you may have assumed it is a place where coffee is cultivated, like Guatemala or Costa Rica. Those who live in these countries certainly do enjoy their afternoon cafecitos but are not even among the top five global consumers of coffee. To find that destination, you'll have to head north.

As it's often calculated, the U.S. consumes the most coffee overall simply due to its large population, but if you look at the number of cups per person, Finland takes the number one spot. The average Finn drinks around three to five cups of coffee per day and, on average, consumes over 26 pounds of coffee every year. Many Finnish coffee sippers prefer light roast coffee, which has a more delicate flavor than dark roast but has no practical difference in caffeine content.

Finland's winters are long and brutal, with temperatures dipping to below -58 degrees Fahrenheit in the coldest regions. In the most northerly parts of the country, the sun doesn't rise for weeks in the depths of winter. Cold weather and dark days would have most of us looking for a hot brew to rouse us from a deep winter hibernation.

Coffee is taken so seriously in Finland that employers are required to give staff two coffee breaks twice a day. There's even a word for your subsequent cup of coffee (santsikuppi) which simply means refill in Finnish. If offered a refill, it's considered polite not to decline it but to ask for only half a cup (which usually means you won't get offered another). In fact, there are many Finnish words for coffee enjoyed in different situations, including morning coffee (aamukahvi), coffee enjoyed in a sauna (saunakahvi), and even medal coffee meant to be enjoyed after winning a sports medal (mitalikahvit).