Seeking good coffee, a Lithuanian writer finally finds a gem in Stockholm's SoFo district

The author, a Lithuanian writer, embarks on a quest for excellent coffee in Stockholm's trendy SoFo district, a neighborhood known for its Scandinavian design shops, vintage stores, restaurants, bars, and specialty coffee roasters.

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Stockholm is like a Northern New York, because it is bursting with diversity, complexity, cultural intertwinings and adaptations.

She describes Stockholm as a "Northern New York" due to its diversity, complexity, and cultural fusions, finding it superior to Copenhagen, Helsinki, and Oslo in many aspects, though she notes a fondness for Copenhagen's metro system. The SoFo area, an abbreviation of "Söder om Folkungagatan" (South of Folkungagatan street), is situated near the bustling Slussen area, considered the city's core, making it an ideal starting point for exploring the city, from Gamla Stan (Old Town) to Gullmarsplan.

On a Saturday morning, the "Drop Coffee" cafe buzzed with a quiet energy. Outside, dogs waited patiently as their owners grabbed coffee and pastries. The clientele comprised a mix of "vagabonds," locals, expatriates, coffee aficionados, and the "urban creative class." The atmosphere reminded the author of "Johan och Nystrom" and other original Swedish roasteries she admired years ago, noting a decline in such establishments post-pandemic.

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SoFo is great because it is near the fantastic Slussen area, which is practically the center of the city.

She observes the diminished presence of "Starbucks" in Stockholm, with only three locations remaining, contrasting it with Oslo's single airport-based branch. This, she explains, is due to Sweden and Norway's well-developed local coffee culture, which appeals more to those seeking a break or appreciating American culture.

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The cafe is humming pleasantly like a muffled beehive.

Her coffee order, a cortado (or "cortadito" as a friend calls it), was accompanied by a chocolate pastry and a traditional Swedish cardamom bun. The author reveals she visited the cafe twice, even bringing her son on the second visit, who had previously recommended the cafe to her when he was in eighth grade.

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Sweden and Norway have a highly developed local coffee culture, so the American chain can only appeal to those who occasionally want a change or are simply fans of American culture.