A German and a Swedish woman head out for a brief break at a cafe; he orders a piece of cake while she opts for a cinnamon bun. They both take a coffee.
So why is it different when Swedish people do the same thing?
Swedish people take regular coffee breaks during their working day as well as in their free time, in a habit known as "fika". And somehow, they manage to not only top up their caffeine levels but also their feeling of well-being and happiness.
The Swedish tradition of fika is firmly entrenched in the culture, as essential to the nation as Ikea, Abba and Greta Thunberg.
The Swedish dictionary defines fika as "drinking coffee" or "taking a coffee break".
But it means so much more to Scandinavians who celebrate fika as a welcome break during the working day or escape from stress with their colleagues or friends.
Some people have a cake during these breaks while others might have a cinnamon bun, say. Coffee is the part that does not vary.
Happiness surveys may suggest that people in neighbouring Finland and Denmark are even happier than the Swedes but people in Sweden have long been among the world's most satisfied. The latest data suggests they are ranked seventh worldwide.
How big a role does fika play?
Swedish employees have fika breaks enshrined in their contracts; they are part of their paid working hours, Richard Tellstrom of Stockholm University told dpa.
The fika is a communal work break that grew out of wage agreements with Swedish unions, says Tellstrom, who is considered one of the leading experts on Swedish food culture and history.
Under this agreement, "people can take a 20-minute break in the morning and a 20-minute break in the afternoon".
Swedish people have therefore been taking fixed breaks from their workplaces for decades in order to drink a cup of coffee together, talk about work and chat.
Attendance is more or less mandatory.
"If you don't attend, then you're making yourself look suspicious. Why don't you want to have coffee with us? Don't you like us?" says Tellstrom.Other countries have breaks for coffee or tea, of course, such as Germany.
"But I think you take the coffee cup with you to the workplace or computer. Here, it's a special, communal time-out," says Tellstrom.
A further feature of fika is that the boss is also present and chats with staff about ordinary things like what they did last weekend, the latest football game or what's planned for the upcoming holiday season.
You don't have the kind of hierarchies that you might in some German workplaces.
"Everyone is on the same level," Tellstrom says.The tradition is considered a crucial part of Swedish work culture.
"A fika can seem like a waste of time, but it is actually important for employees to exchange information about work," Tellstrom says, adding that this helps efficiency as well as the social aspect.
"It also makes you feel like you belong to a group."
Does fika thus make Swedes happier?
"Yes, definitely," he says.Consider the pandemic, the climate crisis and the Ukraine war, Tellstrom says, "It's really nice, especially in times like these."
And it is happening, in offices as well as at Ikea, the Swedish flagship furniture chain.
All Ikea locations are specially equipped with designated fika locations for employees, Ikea Germany spokesperson Sabine Nold told dpa.
Some of those breaks have had to go online during the pandemic, given contact restrictions and remote working. But fika has not lost its importance for the group, as these time-out sessions are not only beneficial for people, but also work.
"When people feel well connected to each other and work well together, there's a much more pleasant working environment," says Nold.
Regular fika helps people collaborate better and solve problems.
"So the whole work atmosphere is different. It makes you happier, promotes cohesion, and I'm firmly convinced that it also produces better results." – dpa
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