4 cups cold water
½ cup ground coffee, preferably medium or coarse grind
1 large egg, including the shell
½ cup cold water, for settling the grounds
You can adjust the amount of coffee to suit your preferred strength.
Helpful Tools
Medium saucepan or traditional coffee pot
Mixing bowl
Fork or whisk
Measuring cup
Spoon
Fine strainer, optional
Heat-safe serving pot
Step 1: Prepare the egg
Wash the outside of the egg thoroughly under running water and dry it with a clean paper towel.
Crack the egg into a small bowl, keeping the shell.
Beat the egg lightly with a fork. Crush the shell into small pieces and mix it into the beaten egg.
Use a clean, intact egg from a reliable source. Because the egg is used in a cooked beverage, it should be heated thoroughly rather than added to finished coffee.
Step 2: Mix in the coffee grounds
Add the ground coffee to the beaten egg and crushed shell.
Stir until the grounds are evenly coated.
The mixture will look thick and rather unusual. Don't worry—that's exactly what you want.
Step 3: Heat the water
Pour the four cups of cold water into a medium saucepan.
Bring it to a boil over medium-high heat.
Step 4: Add the coffee mixture
Carefully add the egg-and-coffee mixture to the boiling water.
Stir gently to distribute it through the water.
Reduce the heat and allow the coffee to simmer gently for about 3–5 minutes, stirring occasionally at first.
Avoid letting the mixture boil aggressively or scorch on the bottom of the pot.
Step 5: Let the coffee settle
Remove the saucepan from the heat.
Pour in the additional ½ cup of cold water. This traditional step helps encourage the grounds and egg mixture to settle.
Let the coffee stand for approximately 5–10 minutes, until the grounds have collected near the bottom.
Step 6: Pour and serve
Carefully pour the coffee into a serving pot or directly into cups, leaving the settled grounds behind.
If needed, pour through a fine strainer to catch any remaining particles.
Serve hot with milk, cream, or sugar if you like.
And there you have it: a cup of old-fashioned egg coffee!
What Does Egg Coffee Taste Like?
Despite the unusual ingredient, properly prepared egg coffee should not taste like eggs.
The egg is used as part of the brewing process, not as a flavoring ingredient.
People who enjoy this traditional method often describe the coffee as:
Smooth and mellow.
Less harsh-tasting.
Light-bodied and easy to drink.
Clean, with less loose sediment.
Rich in familiar coffee flavor without an overly sharp finish.
The actual flavor depends on the beans, roast, grind, water, and brewing time. Some people notice a difference immediately, while others may prefer their usual brewing method.
The fun is in trying a piece of coffee history for yourself!
Is the Eggshell Really Necessary?
Not always.
Some traditional recipes use the whole egg, including the shell, while others use only the egg white or the entire beaten egg without the shell.
The eggshell is often included because of its alkaline calcium carbonate content. It may help influence the acidity of the brew, although it isn't a guaranteed way to make every coffee taste less acidic.
If you choose to use the shell, wash the egg carefully before cracking it and crush the shell into small pieces.
You can also try a version without the shell. The egg itself still provides the coagulating proteins that help gather the coffee grounds.
Why Was Egg Coffee Popular in the Midwest?
The story of Scandinavian egg coffee is closely connected to immigration and family traditions.
Swedish and Norwegian immigrants brought familiar food and drink customs with them when they settled in the United States. In communities across parts of the Midwest, these traditions became part of everyday household life.
Coffee was often prepared in large quantities for family gatherings, church events, community meals, and celebrations.
The egg method offered a practical way to brew a large pot of coffee using simple ingredients. It also became a familiar tradition passed from one generation to the next.
Over time, people developed their own versions. Some used an entire egg, others preferred egg whites, and some included the shell.
That's why you may hear different names and slightly different instructions depending on the family or region.
For many people, the memory of this coffee is about more than its taste. It's about the people who made it.
Swedish Egg Coffee vs. Norwegian Egg Coffee
You may see both names used for this traditional brewing method.
In many American recipes, Swedish and Norwegian egg coffee refer to essentially the same general technique: mixing coffee grounds with egg, sometimes including the shell, then simmering the mixture in water.
There isn't one universally standardized recipe that separates the two names.
The ingredients and proportions can vary from family to family, which is why one person's grandmother may have made it differently from another's.
The name often reflects family heritage or the community where the tradition was passed down.
Tips for Making the Best Egg Coffee
If you're trying this old-fashioned method for the first time, a few simple tips can help.
Use medium or coarse coffee grounds
Very fine grounds can be harder to separate from the finished coffee. A medium or coarse grind makes pouring easier.
Don't rush the settling time
Allowing the mixture to rest gives the grounds time to collect at the bottom of the pot.
Pour slowly
Avoid disturbing the sediment when transferring the coffee to a serving pot.
Adjust the coffee-to-water ratio
If you prefer stronger coffee, use a little more ground coffee. If you like a milder cup, reduce the amount slightly.
Keep the heat gentle
A steady simmer is preferable to a vigorous boil. This helps prevent the mixture from sticking or scorching.
Use safe egg-handling practices
Wash the outside of the egg before cracking it, avoid cross-contamination, and cook the mixture thoroughly. People who are pregnant, older, immunocompromised, or otherwise at increased risk from foodborne illness should be especially cautious with raw or undercooked eggs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does egg coffee actually contain an egg?
Yes! Traditional Scandinavian-American egg coffee uses a beaten egg mixed with coffee grounds. Some versions also include the crushed shell.
Can you taste the egg in the coffee?
The egg should not give the finished coffee a strong egg flavor when prepared properly. Its main purpose is to help gather the grounds during brewing.
Why do people put eggshells in coffee?
Eggshells contain calcium carbonate, an alkaline compound. Traditional recipes include them because they may help influence the coffee's acidity. They are also part of the old-fashioned brewing technique in some families.
Is Swedish egg coffee the same as Norwegian egg coffee?
The names are often used interchangeably in American recipes. Both generally describe a Scandinavian-style method of brewing coffee with egg and sometimes eggshell.
Does egg coffee have less caffeine?
Not necessarily. The caffeine content depends mainly on the coffee beans, the amount of coffee used, and the brewing method. Adding an egg does not automatically make the coffee lower in caffeine.
Can I make egg coffee without the eggshell?
Yes. Some recipes use the beaten egg without the shell. The egg proteins can still help collect coffee grounds as the mixture cooks.
Can I use instant coffee?
This method is designed for ground coffee that needs to be brewed and separated from the water. Instant coffee dissolves, so adding an egg would not serve the same purpose.
Can I use decaf coffee?
Absolutely. Decaffeinated ground coffee can be used in the same way. The flavor will depend on the particular decaf beans you choose.
Is egg coffee safe to drink?
It can be prepared safely when the egg is handled properly and the mixture is thoroughly cooked. Use clean equipment, avoid cross-contamination, and don't rely on a brief simmer without checking that the mixture has been heated sufficiently.
More Old-Fashioned Kitchen Traditions to Explore
If you enjoy discovering the little tricks and traditions that made their way through family kitchens, you might also enjoy exploring:
Why Grandmothers Added Salt to Sweet Recipes: The simple ingredient that helps balance flavor.
The Old-Fashioned Way to Make Coffee: How people brewed a pot before modern coffee makers.
Vintage Kitchen Tools and Their Forgotten Uses: Everyday objects that once had an important place in the kitchen.
Classic Church Potluck Recipes: The comforting dishes that brought communities together.
Traditional Homemade Bread: Simple techniques passed down through generations.
Sometimes the most interesting kitchen discoveries aren't new inventions. They're the old methods we almost forgot.
A Little Taste of Grandma's Kitchen
The secret ingredient in Grandma's coffee wasn't an expensive bean, a fancy coffee machine, or a special imported flavor.
It was an egg.
A humble kitchen ingredient that helped create a distinctive brewing method passed down through Scandinavian-American families and remembered in communities across the Midwest.
Whether you call it Swedish coffee, Norwegian coffee, or church coffee, the tradition is a lovely reminder of how simple ingredients can become part of family history.
And maybe that's what makes these old-fashioned recipes so special. They don't just tell us how people cooked. They remind us where we came from, who gathered around the table, and the little things that made ordinary days memorable.
Have You Ever Tried Egg Coffee?
Did your grandmother or another family member make coffee this way? Was it called Swedish coffee, Norwegian coffee, or simply church coffee in your family?
Share your memories in the comments. I'd love to hear what your family called it and whether you still make it today!
