Oona, 24, is building a very welcoming community around coffee to combat loneliness: “There are no boring people here”

Oona Malmström, 24, who lives in Helsinki, decided to start a coffee club after moving to the city and realizing she did not have many friends. A year ago, she posted a video on TikTok inviting people to meet for coffee, and the post quickly went viral. The response was so overwhelming that it led to the idea of founding her own club, Kaffekaveri.

Only five people attended the first meeting, but today the club has become a well-established weekly gathering held at different cafés across Helsinki. Participants are welcomed warmly, tables are pushed together, and extra chairs are found to make room for everyone, creating a cozy, family-like atmosphere. The core idea is simple: share a coffee, have a conversation, and help people feel less alone.

A community open to everyone

Kaffekaveri is an inclusive and accessible space with no age restrictions. Attendees range from 17 to 55 years old, and meetings include an introduction round for newcomers. Nalle Fyrqvist, a 35-year-old electrical engineer, says the concept makes it easy to meet new people and build a sense of community, something she believes is especially needed in Finland, according to Helsingin Uutiset.

Eero Jokinen, 30, highlights the relaxed atmosphere and how easy it is to socialize. Participants exchange ideas, news, and personal experiences, and many see these gatherings as a way to ease the loneliness that affects people of all ages.

Attending a Kaffekaveri meeting costs very little, as participants only pay for the drinks and pastries they choose to order. The founder also emphasizes that those who arrive feeling shy or insecure always find support to help them fit in. Over time, they tend to relax and take an active part in the conversations.

Because of its success, the concept has expanded to other Finnish cities such as Jyväskylä, Tampere, and Turku, and it continues to grow in popularity. Malmström, who left her job as a restaurant manager to focus on marketing, believes Kaffekaveri is ideal both for people looking to make new friends and for those who want an easy way to maintain social connections.

With weekly meetings, a welcoming atmosphere, and a strong focus on community, Kaffekaveri has shown that something as simple as having a cup of coffee can become a meaningful way to fight loneliness and strengthen connections among people in Finland.

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