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Kaffeost (coffee with cheese)
Kaffeost / Kahvijuusto: cubes of squeaky baked bread cheese soaked in hot black coffee and eaten with a spoon
In the far north, across Swedish Norrbotten and Finnish Lapland, coffee comes with cheese in the cup. Leipäjuusto, a mild, squeaky cheese baked or grilled until spotted brown (called kaffeost or 'bread cheese'), is cut into cubes and put in a cup, often a carved wooden kuksa, then hot black coffee is poured over. Sámi reindeer herders and Tornedalen farmers have made it this way for generations; it is a fireside or mid-morning drink on a cold day, and in some families a little sugar or a slice of dried reindeer meat goes in as well. The cheese warms through, softens slightly and soaks up the coffee, so you drink the coffee and then spoon out the warm, chewy, milky cubes. The common mistake is using a soft or melting cheese: it collapses into strings. Use proper leipäjuusto or halloumi, which keep their shape. It is ready when the cubes are hot to the centre, about 2 minutes, and slightly puffed. Strong coffee means real caffeine here, so it is an adult drink. Leipäjuusto is sold in Nordic shops; halloumi is the nearest substitute. Chef's tip: warm the cheese on a dry pan first for extra browned flavour.
- Total time
- 6 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 2
Ingredients
- 2 ⅞ oz leipäjuusto (Finnish bread cheese)or halloumi; vegetarians check the label for microbial rennet
- ⅔ oz medium-ground coffeea light Nordic roast
- 1 ¾ cups water
- 1 tsp sugar (optional)traditional in some families
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Cut the 2 ⅞ oz leipäjuusto (Finnish bread cheese) into 2 cm cubes. If you like, warm them in a dry frying pan over medium heat for 1–2 minutes until lightly browned on two sides.
3 minStep 2: Bring the 1 ¾ cups water to the boil, take it off the heat for 30 seconds, then brew the ⅔ oz medium-ground coffee in a pot or press for 4 minutes and strain. Nordic style is a light, generous brew rather than espresso.
5 minStep 3: Divide the cheese cubes between two cups or wooden kuksas and add 1 tsp sugar if using.
1 minStep 4: Pour the hot coffee over, leave 2 minutes until the cheese is hot right through and slightly puffy, then drink the coffee and eat the cheese with a spoon.
2 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 140 kcal
- Protein
- 8 g
- Carbs
- 2 g
- Fat
- 11 g
- Fibre
- 0 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does kaffeost (coffee with cheese) take?
- About 6 minutes in total: 2 minutes to prepare and 4 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 2 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
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