Discovering the Joy of German “Kaffeetrinken” ☕️🍰
When Catriona came to visit us from Scotland, she was brimming with excitement about something.
She had heard about our German “Kaffeetrinken” tradition and was eager to experience it. ☕️ She loved the idea of taking a break in the afternoon to enjoy a hot cup of coffee and a slice of delicious cake.
“You mean you do this every afternoon?” Catriona asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
“Absolutely,” I replied, pouring her a cup of coffee (confessing that we often just have a biscuit on weekdays). “It’s our way of taking a break and enjoying life’s simple pleasures.”
Catriona’s eyes practically popped out of her head when she saw all the cakes. She went from being curious to fully committed after one bite. I swear, she was like a child in a sweet shop. From classic Black Forest gateau with its layers of rich dark chocolate cake, thick cream, and cherries to fruity apple strudel to the well-known Bienenstich (Bee Sting cake), she was on cloud nine.
By the end of her visit, Catriona had fallen in love with “Kaffeetrinken” and decided to take this lovely tradition back to Scotland. Who knew a cup of coffee and a slice of cake could be so life-changing, right?
So, next time you’re feeling stressed or need a little pick-me-up, why not try “Kaffeetrinken”?
Grab a cup of coffee and a slice of cake (or a biscuit — no judgments here), and give yourself permission to slow down and enjoy the moment. It’s a small step towards a more mindful and balanced life.
Trust me, it’s a tradition worth adopting.
Or is it something you do already?
Good morning Christine,
the German „Kaffeetrinken“ means different things, not only to take a break.
Depending on who is making an appointment to drink coffee together. For example: You are invited to have coffee with someone who wants to discuss something with you. The time of day is almost irrelevant. This is closer than if you wanted to discuss the same thing on the phone.
It can lead to more intimate conversations and initiate a relationship, whether business or private. If you are invited for coffee, you don’t necessarily have to drink coffee. The invitation formula is: Let’s go for a coffee and discuss everything in peace. It is also an option to pay for the coffee (or other drink) for the invitee.
Similar to this is the arrangement to “have a beer”, but this tends to take place in the evening.
There are certainly other drinks that you can arrange to have. But the origin of the “need to talk, meet and get to know each other” is “drinking coffee”.
Kind regards
Ruth
Hello Ruth, Thank you for your detailed comments. When my family gets together, our afternoon “Kaffeetrinken” is an event that cannot be missed. Our daughter would rather skip lunch!