The name ‘Fika’ is a nod to the Swedish coffee culture – can you tell us more about why you chose this name and how it influences your brand?

Fika is Swedish for taking time out to share a coffee (or tea), a snack and a chat.

Fika’s beautiful branding is inspired by Swedish coffee pots and folk art.

Fika can also be defined as a social ritual or state of mind but it’s inherently social and generally associated with a good cup of coffee, which is exactly what we’re about at Fika Coffee Roasters.

What sets Fika Coffee apart from other speciality coffee brands?

We roast in relatively small batches to ensure our customers receive their coffee within days of it being roasted. 

We offer a really personal service to our customers – delivering to the doors of local customers or welcoming them to the roastery to enjoy a coffee, chat and introduction to speciality coffee.

Our passion for coffee began during a six-year stint in Melbourne where Matt trained as a barista. 

At its core, Fika is about making speciality coffee accessible and building a community with our coffee customers locally, and the farmers who work relentlessly to supply it. 

Can you share the story behind your coffee beans – where do they come from, and how do you ensure they are ethically sourced?

We source our green beans from far flung destinations including Uganda, Rwanda, Ethiopia and Timor-Leste as well as much-loved Latin American varieties from Colombia, Brazil, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico and Nicaragua. Our coffees change with the seasons, but our regulars include Brazilian coffee from Cal’s Coffee, a direct trade supplier, and Ugandan beans from the Rwenzori Coffee Company farmers in the Rwenzori mountains. 

Making sure that green beans are sourced directly from farmers and importers that are dedicated to ensuring those working across the supply chain have sustainable livelihoods, are treated fairly and paid what they deserve, is a priority for us. 

One of Fika’s single origin coffees that’s proving very popular is one we source directly from the Bom Jesus family farm in Brazil. With its high-altitude crops almost 1300 metres above sea level, the region of Alta Mogiana is famed for the unique characteristics of its Arabica beans. The farm works closely with the local community and was the first farm in the region to be UTZ certified in recognition of its sustainable farming practices and providing better opportunities for local farmers and their families. The farm has also been Rainforest Alliance (RFA) certified since 2008. Fika is working directly with Cal, the great grandson of the farmers, from his base in the UK. 

Another single origin firm favourite is from Agri Evole in Uganda’s Rwenzori region. The altitude, soil and climate in the region is perfect for producing high quality arabica coffee beans. Poor processing from harvest to export had given the region’s coffee a poor reputation and presented Agri Evole with a challenge to get the cherries harvested at the optimum time, processed to the highest of standards and exported quickly to ensure optimal freshness. Fika has partnered directly with Martin, based in Cumbria, while his son, Jonny runs Agri Evolve in the Rwenzori mountains with his growing team of Ugandan colleagues. Through dedication, hard work and training, they’ve enabled local farmers to see a bright future ahead for their families and the community. 

Many people love the ritual of coffee – do you have any tips on how to brew the perfect cup at home?

It couldn’t be easier to enjoy speciality coffee at home. We sell fresh beans or grind them in the roastery for all brewing methods – cafetiere, moka pot and AeroPress.

Cafetiere, moka pot and AeroPress are generally low cost, easy, repeatable and most of us have at least one of them at home (although often lurking in the back our kitchen cupboards).

Check out our blog for the perfect cafetiere brew – Cafetiere brew guide — Fika Coffee Roasters

What’s your personal favourite way to enjoy Fika Coffee – black, with milk, or in a speciality drink?

We have a commercial San Remo machine at the roastery so I can’t resist a flat white when I’m working. At home, I’ll go for an AeroPress or pour over with Fika coffee specially ground for this brew method at the roastery. An AeroPress is like a giant syringe, super easy to use and makes a consistently great brew that really brings out the unique flavours in our coffees.

What role does sustainability play in your brand, from bean to cup?

Sustainability at Fika starts with the farmers producing the great coffees that we roast and serve. 

We have great respect for the land and the people that farm it so where possible, work with coffee farmers directly and coffee beans importers with transparent supply chains dedicated to helping create sustainable livelihoods for farmers serving local communities with fair pay and working conditions.

It’s also really important that the packaging we supply and serve our coffee in is environmentally friendly. Packaging for our beans and ground coffee is fully recyclable while the cups that we serve our coffee in are fully compostable.

If someone is new to speciality coffee, which blend or roast would you recommend they try first?

Our direct trade Brazil Bom Jesus is our most popular coffee and is a great place to start for coffee newcomers. With its chocolate and hazelnut flavours and notes of brown sugar and maple syrup for a naturally sweet cup, it’s a perfect all-rounder for all brew methods. Our Brazil Bom Jesus is provided in Rest at the Nest’s lodges and treehouses for guests to enjoy.

How do you think the experience of drinking coffee changes when enjoyed in a peaceful setting like Rest and Nest?

The whole idea of fika is to take that step away from being glued to a screen, phone calls, meetings or day-to-day tasks and take some time for yourself that doesn’t include gulping down coffee! 

For many in Sweden, the fika “state of mind” encourages us to take the time to drop whatever you’re doing, taking time out from a stressful life and appreciating your environment while you’re taking a break. 

Rest at the Nest is a perfect setting for a fika, enjoying both the ritual of making coffee and savouring quality time and the flavours of Fika coffee, to the full. 

What’s your favourite thing about the local area, and does it influence your approach to coffee? 

Absolutely! The North-East is famed for being so friendly and that’s what bringing the best coffee to this region and the rest of the UK is all about, enjoying the people around you while drinking quality coffee in the friendly setting of the roastery or at home.