Finland #1 in coffee consumption?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the surprisingly high coffee consumption in Finland compared to the United States, exploring cultural habits, personal anecdotes, and humorous takes on coffee and beverage preferences. The scope includes cultural commentary, personal experiences, and light-hearted debate about beverage consumption trends.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express disbelief at Finland's high coffee consumption and the low ranking of the US, suggesting cultural differences may play a role.
  • One participant humorously suggests that the lack of Starbucks in Finland could contribute to higher coffee consumption.
  • Another participant shares a traditional view of Finnish life, listing activities such as drinking coffee, vodka, and playing checkers.
  • There are humorous suggestions about sneaking coffee into food and drink to increase consumption among Americans.
  • Some participants lament the rise of tea consumption in the US, describing it as a "tragic trend" and expressing concern over its popularity.
  • One participant notes that the price and taxes of beverages may influence consumption patterns, referencing their experience in the Caribbean.
  • Several participants share personal anecdotes about their coffee consumption habits, with some claiming to drink multiple cups a day.
  • There is a mention of the geographical and climatic factors in Finland that might influence coffee drinking habits, such as long winters.
  • Some participants express a sense of national pride or shame regarding coffee consumption statistics, particularly in relation to Norway.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally express a mix of humor and disbelief regarding the coffee consumption statistics, with no clear consensus on the reasons behind the differences. Multiple competing views on beverage preferences and cultural habits remain evident throughout the discussion.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference various statistics and cultural anecdotes without providing sources or verifying claims, leading to potential uncertainties in the accuracy of the information shared.

BobG
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How can that be? And how can the United States rank a lowly #27 in coffee consumption per capita?! Finns drink nearly three times more coffee than Americans!

I try and try to increase the coffee consumption per capita in the US, but I'm only one person! I can only drink so much coffee!

What is wrong with you people?! (and by people, I mean non-coffee drinking Americans)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_coffee_consumption_per_capita

(I always thought Scandinavians were shivering because of the cold, but is it possible they're just jittery because of drinking so much coffee?)
 
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Maybe they don't have Starbucks?
 
Being part Fin, I was my understanding that, tradtionally, there were abour four things to do in Finland in for most of the year: Drink Vodka, drink coffee, play checkers, and look at the snow, and in that order.
 
We need to find new and innovative ways to sneak coffee into people's food and drink. Starting of course with baby formula. Get em while they're young.
 
There's a tragic new trend called "tea" that is spreading across America. First only gravely ill people and 80 year olds drank tea. For some reason this drink spread to more Americans who found themselves unable to handle coffee or soda.
 
Pengwuino said:
There's a tragic new trend called "tea" that is spreading across America. First only gravely ill people and 80 year olds drank tea. For some reason this drink spread to more Americans who found themselves unable to handle coffee or soda.

US isn't good in tea consumption either
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_tea_consumption_per_capita

Neither http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_beer_consumption_per_capita" .

P.S. I would also call "tea a new tragic trend

P.S.2 There' atleast one thing US http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_dietary_calorie_intake" :smile:!
 
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Wow what do we drink all day then? Oil?
 
Ivan Seeking said:
Being part Fin, I was my understanding that, tradtionally, there were abour four things to do in Finland in for most of the year: Drink Vodka, drink coffee, play checkers, and look at the snow, and in that order.

Partly an old wives tale. They drink a lot more alcohol than Americans, but Americans think Canadians drink a lot (Canadians rank #48, while Finland ranks #25, with the US ranking a paltry #57). But both Finland and Canada have good hockey teams - coincidence? You be the judge! Yemen drinks less alcohol than any country in the world and do they have anyone playing in the NHL?

Eastern Europeans drink alcohol. Only Andorra cracks into the block of Eastern European countries at the top of the list (Andorra ranks #7 in alcohol consumption and #4 in median life expectancy). After Andorra, you have to go all the way down to #13 South Korea to get a non-Eastern European country.
 
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I try, Bob. I do my part. But I can't carry the caffeine-load for all the others who choose to take the easy road. Shame on them.
 
  • #10
It may also depend on the price and taxes of those goods. Back home in the Caribbean, alcohol is sold way cheaper than the alcohol I've bought here in the USA.
 
  • #11
Pengwuino said:
Wow what do we drink all day then? Oil?

Soft drinks. We're #1 in the world in soft drink consumption! We drink 216 liters per person per year (about 3 cans a day) while #2 Ireland only drinks 126 liters per person per year.

Heck, in the US, we even mix soft drinks into our alcohol!
 
  • #12
I beat Finland.
 
  • #13
I do more than my share to boost US coffee consumption, but I'm half Finnish so it must be in my genes. My students probably joke about never seeing me without a coffee mug in one hand or on the table next to me. I can definitely vouch for the rate of coffee drinking in the "mother country," based on my visits to relatives there. Any time we visit someone there, out comes the coffee pot!
 
  • #14
A third of Finland is above the Arctic Circle, so they have to drink coffee to keep their pupils small as protection against those glaring summers.
 
  • #15
Wow, get drinkin' you Yanks!

I drink .. probably 3 cups a day on average, sometimes a couple more, rarely less. I used to be a right fiend, but I try to keep it under control these days. Getting up at 4am doesn't help. :S

Need. Coffee.
 
  • #16
i don't drink coffeeat all
 
  • #17
I am sad that this embarassing truth is out.
We have known since the 80's that Norwegians are outclassed by the Finns, and it was a major blow to our national psyche.

We have borne our shame in secret, but it has now been exposed for all the world to see..:cry:
 
  • #18
You guys do have better mountains! :!)
 
  • #19
jtbell said:
You guys do have better mountains! :!)

And gloomier woods and colder tarns..

We ought to be no. 1.
 
  • #20
arildno said:
We ought to be no. 1.

There are statistics where you undoubtedly lead :-p
 
  • #21
Borek said:
There are statistics where you undoubtedly lead :-p

But not on the one that REALLY matters.

I have had 3 mugs of coffee today, (had 2 just before I went to bed at 2A.M), and I am to get my 4th one now.

What more can I do?
 
  • #22
It's only going to get worse. I just quit shift work, so I've dropped from 4 (12 oz) servings a day to 1. Maybe 2 on a bad day.

I'm so ashamed. :frown:
 
  • #23
I just got back from Finland, they certainly do drink a lot of coffee, but it was all pretty good coffee too. And it's cheaper than their beer.
 

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