The Fika Company: Art of the Break

By

Share

The Fika Company bumps South Bay’s coffee consciousness even higher

In Sweden, there’s an age-old cultural tradition called fika, named for the practice of taking some time out of one’s day for a break and a chat, perhaps with a pastry or two, and always a cup of coffee. A local nod to the practice has opened in the form of The Fika Company, an elegantly hip coffee haunt along Pacific Coast Highway in Redondo Beach.

Founded by Andres Pineros, a Colombian native who, despite being born in a land known for producing an exceptional brew, discovered his love for a fine cup of coffee while living in Sweden, where he also met partner Emelie, a pale blond Swede with a broad smile who can often be spotted at the counter.

The focus of the already buzzing shop is on serving only the highest grades of Colombian beans, purchased by direct-trade from producers and roasted in small batches at Fika’s onsite roastery. There’s a daily offering of fresh pastries to savor with that cold brew or warm “pour over” (both are ways to prepare coffee that optimize flavor). And “savor” Pineros sincerely hopes you do, perhaps seated on a leather couch or in the fresh-air seating area out front.

“Take 10 minutes. Cool down. Get down your thoughts,” says the coffee maestro. “Take off the stress. Enjoy a cup of coffee. Talk to someone. That’s quality of life.”

The Fika Company
350 N. Pacific Coast Highway, Redondo Beach
TheFikaCompany.com

Photography by Paul Jonason

RELATED TAGS

The Bureau: Collaboration at Its Best

The Bureau, a California-based design studio led by Sarah Giesenhagen, crafted an immersive 5,500-square-foot glass pavilion at Caymus-Suisun winery, showcasing their dedication to collaborating with local artists. The pavilion, located in an up-and-coming wine destination near Napa Valley, features custom-made pieces by over 30 creatives, blending art and architecture with nature.
  • September 18, 2024
  • Karine Monié

Vincent Van Duysen: Redefines Minimalist Design

Architect Vincent Van Duysen adds another honest intervention to his repertoire of understated designs with his tour to de force transformation of a 19th century convent into an urban hotel.
  • August 21, 2024
  • Jenn Thornton

Schenkar Luxury Homes: Cutting-edge Sustainability in Scenic Guatapé

Built by Schenkar Luxury Homes, this stunning house in Guatapé, Colombia, showcases innovative design harmonized with the natural landscape. Founder Alex Schenkar, with almost two decades of experience, created a sustainable, erosion-resistant home cantilevered over a 55-degree cliff.
  • May 29, 2024
  • Karine Monié

Clayton Korte: Going Underground

Wine, from its earliest days, required the storage of its age, with solutions both inelegant and sophisticated. The Egyptians had mud-bricked and limestone cellars, the Romans fumitories and catacombs, the Italian's damigiana.
  • May 15, 2024
  • Jenn Thornton

Rock Formation: OPEN Architecture’s Chapel of Sound

Located in rural Chengde, China, at the base of a valley with ruins of the Great Wall, the almost alien-looking performance venue Chapel of Sound, which hosts concerts in warmer climes and contemplation year-round, is an architectural opus by Beijing-based OPEN Architecture.
  • May 1, 2024
  • Jenn Thornton
Sign Up for DIGS Newsletters