Hello everyone!
In stark contrast to Italy and Portugal, which favour rich, intense dark roasts, Norway's coffee scene is known for its distinctive light-roast coffee. It's a very different style to its Nordic neighbours Sweden and Denmark, and there are a number of interesting facts behind this.
Before the discovery of the oil fields that made Norway so wealthy, the country was not in a very good financial position. The idea of trading coffee for dried cod, a Norwegian speciality, was born, and the country began importing Brazilian Arabica beans instead of African Robusta beans, giving rise to a unique coffee culture.
The meticulous, complex flavours of the Arabica bean and the clean, low mineral content of Norway's water created a perfect synergy: the light roasting method, which brings out the natural flavours of the bean, combined with the clean water of Norway, maximises the light acidity and nuances of the bean. This suits the Norwegian palate, which prefers lighter flavours and is often intimidated by strong, bitter dark roast coffee. This has helped Oslo become one of the world's coffee capitals, despite its small size.
Even in Oslo, with its many interesting roasteries, Puglen is definitely worth a visit. Not only because of the beautiful coffee they make with their own roasted beans, but also because they serve up some of the best cocktails around. If you're thinking, "What's a cocktail in a coffee shop?", you're wrong. Because that's what I was thinking :)
Founded in 1963, the coffee brand has become a favourite among coffee lovers around the world, with branches in Tokyo and Fukuoka, Japan. Coffee lovers in Korea may have heard of the Shibuya branch, and while the Japanese branches have a Norwegian sensibility that combines simplicity and wit, the Oslo space, including the main store, has a different charm and welcomes people with a different kind of charm.
If you're ever in Oslo, I hope you'll take a look at the film. I hope you have as much fun as I did!
Website: fuglen.no
Instagram: @fuglenoslo