Coffee Culture
Although tea was traditionally the drink of choice in the UK, with afternoon tea being quintessentially English, in 2023 coffee became the UK’s hot drink of choice. The UK has followed the US with an explosion of coffee shops on every corner enticing us to consume pints of calorie laden drinks on the go. Now the UK has more Starbucks stores than any other European country.
Coffee historically was only served with milk at breakfast in Europe
In many European countries, coffee is habitually only taken with milk at breakfast. Cappuccino, served in Europe as an espresso topped with frothy milk, is only drank by Italians for breakfast. Macchiato in Italian literally means stained (with milk).
In France, coffee with milk was traditionally served in bowls for breakfast and un café crème, as a white coffee was originally called was served with cream. Even nowadays coffee is served black unless you specify café au lait to receive milk in your coffee.
Northern Europe connect over coffee and cake
The Swedes have a single word for coffee and cake or something sweet: fika. This is more of a ritual to connect with family or friends and is not taken alone. Fika to Swedes, is what pubs are to the British - fika is more than sharing coffee, it is about connection. The Germans also enjoy “koffie und küchen” coffee and cake in the afternoon and is a chance to catch up with friends.
Coffee, traditionally served after dinner to aid digestion, has now become a meal in itself.
Our coffee is now served in giant throwaway beakers and topped with far more than just a dusting of cocoa. Previously served with or without milk or caffeine, the choice has now extended to range of milk-substitutes and an array of flavoured syrups. There is even a range of cup sizes with a ‘regular’ measuring over half a pint and the largest whole-milk latte containing over 1000 calories! Adding in caramel syrups and you are almost hitting 1500 calories - more than some diet plans recommend for a day.
Having fast-food at our fingertips has led to a shift away from the social engagement
The take-away culture has increased both drinking and eating on the go, which not only is disruptive for digestion but also reduces the opportunity to socialise. I explored in Why Eating Together Matters how societal influences on eating together may help regulate intake. As we grab and go, our morning coffee we are not only filling our tummies with liquid calories, we are losing out on social vitamins.
