Skip to Content

Scandinavia in New York: $10 Lattes and Nordic Design at Budin

Scandinavia in New York: $10 Lattes and Nordic Design at Budin

Sharing is caring!

For the first in our series exploring souvenirs closer to home, we visit the Scandinavian haven of Budin in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.

If you’re fascinated by Scandinavian crime thrillers like I am (I whipped through the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and its sequels in record time) you might have picked up on an interesting detail– the characters in the books are often drinking coffee. I was curious– did the frequent coffee references stem from the cravings of sleep-deprived crime novelists or were they a larger reflection of Nordic culture?

While you’d have to ask a Scandinavian that question, one thing’s for sure– Sweden has a lot of coffee shops. In fact, coffee breaks are so popular that Swedes even have a word for it, fika. Fika is another one of those words that has no exact English equivalent, but it’s basically a coffee break with snacks (tasty ones like cinnamon buns).

sweden in us

A little bit of viking fun in Seattle’s Belltown neighborhood.

But you don’t have to go all the way to Sweden to experience fika, you can find it right here in the US. From Seattle to Minnesota to New York, you’ll find pockets of Swedish culture all over America, brought by the immigrants who settled there.

In my home city of New York, Swedish coffee shops seem to be a new trend, with new ones popping up all over the city. But only one Nordic cafe offers a little Scandi shopping along with that coffee– Budin, in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.

Budin: the Most Expensive Latte in New York

DSC03040

Before we look at Budin’s Scandi shopping, we need to address what Budin is really known for. Last year when Budin first opened, it was the favorite subject of click bait headlines everywhere, earning the dubious distinction of serving New York City’s most expensive latte (a whopping $10 a mug). But Budin didn’t just inflate the price of a standard latte– it created an entirely new different kind of latte. Called the lakkris latte, Budin’s licorice-flavored concotion is fussed over by its expert staff, prepped with fancy imported ingredients like Danish raw licorice powder and black licorice syrup. We decided to give it a taste test.

budin licorice latte nyc

Your lakris latte isn’t made in a back room somewhere– the skilled staff puts on a show worthy of the price tag, frothing your latte to perfection.

licorice latte most expensive latte nyc budin greenpoint brooklyn scandi

A silver platter adds to the ambiance. The chocolate-covered licorice ball is a nice bonus.

DSC03015

My lakkris latte was definitely delicious, with a distinct licorice flavor that tasted natural, not artificial. Was it worth $10? Sure for a treat, but I don’t think I would buy them everyday.

But you don’t have to spend $10 on a coffee to enjoy the Scandi atmosphere at Budin. Budin is one of the few New York cafes that serves coffee made with beans roasted in the Scandinavian style. Yes, I too was surprised to learn that there is such a thing. Apparently Scandinavian roasting is much lighter than what you’ll find in the US–  and a lighter roast means a bigger caffeine jolt.

Shopping Budin for Scandinavian Souvenirs

After your caffeine buzz, browse the ample collection of Nordic goods at the back of the store.

Take home some Scandinavian coffee and licorice.

DSC03028

The sky-high prices also add to that authentic Scandinavian feel. $220 Icelandic pancake pan anyone?

DSC03024

My friend (and fellow Scandi-obsessive) Kristina models hand-knit mittens.

While I loved checking out Budin’s interesting collection of high-quality Scandinavian goods, ultimately I left empty-handed– the prices were just too steep for me.

Even though I didn’t bring a souvenir home this time, one of the reasons I love exploring other cultures at home is that they can serve as the inspiration for future travels. After lingering over fika and being reminded of how much I loved my last trip to Sweden, I started plotting my next trip Nordic trip (on deck: a first trip to Norway and a return visit to Iceland).

*I realize I use Scandinavian and Nordic interchangeably here, but Scandinavia most often refers to Sweden, Norway and Denmark and Nordic usually refers to those countries as well as Finland and Iceland, Greenland, the Faroe Islands– and probably a few other islands I’m forgetting.

Do you have a favorite place to enjoy Swedish culture at home? Tell is about it in the comments!

Sharing is caring!

Amy

Friday 6th of March 2015

This sounds like my dream store. Licorice lattes, yum! Do they have soy or other milk alternates?

Kristin Francis

Friday 6th of March 2015

I'm not sure! Probably I'm sure that is pretty common in this hipster neighborhood!

dianaveggienextdoor

Thursday 5th of March 2015

I would pay $10 to try that! I've never seen a licorice latte before. Amy would love it too!

Kristin Francis

Friday 6th of March 2015

Haha Diana Amy was invited! It was fun we should all go the next time you are in town.

Chanel | Cultural Xplorer

Thursday 5th of March 2015

This looks like a nice little coffee shop :D If I go for the $10 it will only be once haha - will definitely eat (or drink) into my travel budget ~~

Sue Slaght

Wednesday 4th of March 2015

Perhaps I will put my $220 toward a trip to Iceland rather than the pan. :) I would love a trip to Scandanavia