Kaffe Coffee Fika

I found a nice little coffee shop close to where we live. This is one of the non-chain cafés here in Pasadena and the picture shows the entry and some of the small tables on the sidewalk. The name is Zona Rosa and I go here quite often for a coffee. When being asked about what size I want I have learned to always go for the small one. A small size Californian coffee cup is more of a normal sized cup in Sweden. People do drink there coffee in larger volumes here, and it isn't that surprising when you consider that it sometimes is more of a brown watery drink than actual coffee. There also seems to be a lot more running around with a paper cup trying to gulp a few sips in here and there. The concept of Fika clearly needs to be exported.

"Fika is a social institution in Sweden: it means taking a break from work or other activities and having a coffee with one's colleagues, friends, or family. This practice of taking a break for a coffee and a light snack (some biscuits, cookies, or a sandwich) between more substantial meals like lunch and dinner is central to Swedish life, Swedes being among the heaviest consumers of coffee in the world." (Wikipedia)