A Coffee Lover’s Guide to Helsinki

With a Sustainable Twist

Author

Nickolaus Hines
July 18th, 2025

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two people drinking coffee at a coffee shop
Nickolaus Hines - Nickolaus Hines is the managing editor at Matador Network. He’s spent the past decade writing and editing stories about food, drinks, and the bites and bottles you book a trip for.

A Coffee Lover’s Guide to Helsinki

Welcome to First Class Fare, Matador Network’s dispatch for travelers who know the first thing they want to eat, the drink they'll order first, and the reservation that sets the tone for the rest of the trip before they even book a flight.

Finland’s climate is close to the opposite of what coffee plants need to survive. Nevertheless, the country has one of the most enticing coffee cultures in the world — something that contributor Vicki Denig saw first-hand on a reporting trip to Helsinki.

Her story for Matador gets into where to go for great coffee on your next Helsinki trip, as well as how this Nordic country’s love for coffee started and how it has evolved. Denig lives between New York City and Paris and writes for the top wine and beverage publications. She’s not above NYC cart coffee, but knows a good cup when she tastes it. And that goes for Helsinki’s coffee cocktails she covered in her story, too. Espresso martinis are on seemingly every menu in the Big Apple, so I asked the native New Yorker how they compare to what she tasted in Helsinki.

“I personally find that coffee-based / infused cocktails are easier to find in NYC, though many often leave something to be desired,” Denig told me in a text. “While I found less coffee cocktail options in Finland, the ones I had were amazing – especially the Make’s Nightcap from Tiima in Tampere!”

You don’t have to love coffee to appreciate the drink culture in Finland. That love may come to you on your next trip.

“I’ve been impressed by a variety of global coffee cultures, from Australia to Finland and beyond, though the scenes in Nordic countries have resonated with me most, particularly those in Denmark, Finland, and Sweden,” Denig said. “Maybe it’s the cozy ambiances that have continued to regularly pull me back in, but I also think they’ve really nailed the whole process down from start to finish (roasting, drink creation, and ambiance). Let Hygge reign!”

Cheers,

Nickolaus Hines, managing editor

T O - D O

a bison standing before the Grand Tetons

Book it: Wyoming

A handful of states like to promote themselves as somewhere to experience a taste of the old Wild West. Nowhere lives it like Wyoming. Though if you know where to look, the food and drink is certainly much more appealing — and a reason for a visit in itself.

woman pouring beer

Photo: Terry Bison Ranch

Eat

Bison isn’t Wyoming’s official food, but it does play a big role at restaurants across the state. Go to Terry Bison Ranch to see the animals up close by train, horse, or foot, and stop by the gift shop to pick up some bison meat to enjoy later.

a glass of whisky

Drink

Wyoming Whiskey makes spirits that benefit national parks while leaning into Wyoming ingredients and a sense of place. You’ll find bottles on store and bar shelves, but make the detour to the distillery in Kirby to sample the full portfolio from flagships to limited-edition releases.

A view of a hotel with mountains in the background

Photo: Hotel Yellowstone

Stay

Need a break from the kids? Jackson Hole’s first adults-only hotel is situated atop East Gros Ventre Butte with unobstructed views of the Tetons and easy access to Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks.

a cowboy riding a bull

Photo: Cheyenne Frontier Days

Do

Cheyenne Frontier Days is one of the hottest rodeo tickets in the country, and the food doesn’t disappoint. All things fried, as to be expected on fair grounds, but also traditional chuckwagon cookouts.

N E W S

Surprising 2025 Global Wine Award Winner

a vineyard in China

If your idea of wine country begins and ends in Bordeaux or Napa Valley, the 2025 Decanter World Wine Awards may change your mind. The DWWA is the world’s largest and most influential wine competition, and this year, it highlighted some unexpected stars. So while France and California still hold their ground, this year’s biggest surprises came from farther off the beaten vineyard path.

F E A T U R E

Kauaʻi Poke Food Fest

a girl eating poke

Twenty-odd types of poke, Hawaiian comfort food at its finest, filled the booths and tables at this year’s Kauaʻi Poke Fest in June. Ranging from extremely traditional to wildly creative, the dishes were crafted by local chefs, fisherpeople, and even lifeguards, all hoping to impress judges like “godfather of poke” Sam Choy and Top Chef: Seattle finalist Sheldon Simeon.

G U I D E

Vineyard-Laced Napa Valley Resort

The Meritage Resort and Spa with vineyards

Spanning 36 acres, the estate consists of two properties where guests can stay: The Meritage Resort and Spa and Grand Reserve at the Meritage, which together make up one of the largest resorts in Napa Valley. Oh, and there’s a spa in a wine cave.

Travel Well

The Matador Editorial Team

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