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Take Your Smooth, Low-Acid Lifeboost Brew To The Next Level With Scandinavian Egg Coffee

Take Your Smooth, Low-Acid Lifeboost Brew To The Next Level With Scandinavian Egg Coffee

12 min read SEP 15, 2025

Key Takeaways

Learn the basics of brewing Scandinavian egg coffee as well as the history and benefits of this unique, ultra-smooth, low-acid, protein-packed brew.

Scandinavian egg coffee is a brewing method which calls for the addition of a whole egg to ground coffee prior to adding the mixture to boiling water. The mixture is then steeped and strained prior to consuming.
The addition of an egg to coffee grounds in the brewing process provides a clarifying effect, cutting the bitterness of the coffee resulting in a smoother, less acidic, (and protein-infused) brew.

How do you take your coffee?

Black? A touch of cream? A hint of sugar? With all the syrups and sauces? Perhaps a little cold foam on top of an iced coffee or cold brew?

We each have our preferred methods of brewing and preparation when it comes to coffee. I mean, most of us even have a specific mug or travel cup that we routinely enjoy sipping our java from.
But, how many of you reach for a carton of eggs when gathering all of the items necessary to craft your personal perfect brew? Anyone… Anyone… Bueller?

I get it. Eggs aren’t exactly your typical coffee addition.

I mean, personally, I can’t say it even sounds all that appealing…

…but what if it is?

What if I told you that brewing coffee with an egg, shell and all, produced one of the smoothest, lightest cups you’d ever tasted?

And, what if I told you that brewing coffee with an egg, shell and all, served to bring out the natural, delicately sweet, and nutty flavors in any brew?

Scandinavian egg coffee boasts these exact qualities, flavor notes, benefits, and more, a healthy brew birthed from both tradition and necessity, one which may have you re-thinking how you brew your beloved beans after only a single sip!

Scandinavian Coffee - History, Necessity, & Benefits

A speckled ceramic coffee mug filled with hot coffee sits on a wooden surface, with traditional Scandinavian houses and snow-covered mountains in the background.

In the words of our CEO, Dr. Charles, Scandinavian coffee can be described as “protein meets pour over, old world tradition meets modern wellness.”

But, what is it, exactly?

First, Scandinavian egg coffee isn’t actually a coffee that originated in Scandinavia.

This brew has been called by numerous monikers over the years - Norwegian coffee, Hungarian coffee, Swedish egg coffee, and Scandinavian coffee - but technically there is no such beverage that originated in Scandinavia.

Instead, this curious beverage, egg coffee, was the invention of Scandinavian immigrants, those who’d settled in midwestern America throughout the 1800s.

Sadly, the specifics surrounding the original reason behind the invention of this brew are said to have been lost over time. But most believe the age-old saying “necessity is the mother of invention” is rooted in the makings of this brew.

Scandinavian egg coffee is simply coffee brewed with the addition of an egg.

The egg is added to the grounds, the two mixed together thoroughly. Then the crushed egg and coffee ground mixture is added to boiling water where it simmers for a few minutes, steeps for a few more minutes, and is then poured through a fine mesh strainer to remove the coffee grounds and egg.

What you’re left with is a light-colored (lighter than a traditionally brewed cup), mild flavored, incredibly smooth cup of coffee.

Of course, like anything, there are actually numerous ways folks have made this brew over the years:

Some people make Scandinavian egg coffee using water, ground coffee, and a whole egg, shell and all.
Some folks make this type of coffee without the shell, only including water, ground coffee, and a single egg (minus the shell).
Others prefer making Scandinavian egg coffee with several eggs, some with and some without the shell.
Within each of these methods people tend to use varying amounts of ground coffee and water as well.

A woman with closed eyes holds a large ceramic mug of coffee on a balcony, with a red brick church and trees visible in the background.

However, for the purpose of this discussion today, we’ll go with those records which indicate that Scandinavian immigrants used a single, whole, egg in the process of brewing coffee.

Now for the eggy elephant in the room…

Why on earth would someone add an egg, shell and all, to the coffee brewing process?

What’s the purpose of such an addition?

As we hinted above, it seems that necessity played a large role in this invention.

As immigrants migrated across middle America throughout the 1800s, items like coffee weren’t always easy to obtain.

Sure, they would commonly load down their wagons with such goods as they set out on their journey, but making these items last could often be challenging.

Weather, sickness, and any number of travelling difficulties could easily extend their time on these trails, and this often meant that a bit of ingenuity was required to ensure supplies lasted for the long haul.

And, according to most records, this seems to be how Scandinavian coffee originated - as a way to further stretch ground coffee, even by re-using grounds - while on such arduous journeys.

However, others insist this method was simply employed to cut the bitterness and…well…bad taste of coffee during this time.

Another nickname for Scandinavian coffee is church basement coffee, and this gives a nod to the notion that immigrants commonly attended Lutheran church meetings, both while travelling and also upon settling throughout the Midwest.

Churches were known to be important to Scandinavian-American immigrants as these meetings served to preserve the social institutions and even the language of those newly entering the US.

But, if you’ve ever attended a church gathering, then you know two things - coffee is a must, and it’s almost always a low-quality, burnt, ill-tasting cup.

(No offense to any church-goers, I’m only speaking from years of experience here. If your congregation gatherings provide the best cup known to man, then you are undoubtedly unique. For everyone else, well, if you know, you know.)

Still, at the end of the day, whether this brew originated as a method to stretch used coffee grounds further on long journeys or as an attempt to better the typical church basement brew, either way, Scandinavian coffee was born.

So then, why eggs?

Hmmm, do you remember that commercial jingle from the late 1970s, early 1980s - “the incredible, edible egg?”

Well, those words are entirely true!

Brown eggs, broken eggshells, and small bowls containing separated egg yolk and egg white are arranged on a wooden surface with scattered coffee beans.

Eggs aren’t simply a tasty breakfast option (in your coffee or on the side), they also possess many other wonderful talents, such as:

Egg whites act as a clarifying agent. Clarifying agents are substances that improve the transparency, clarity, and purity of a solution, here a liquid. In doing so, the egg white absorbs any impurities in the liquid. And in the case of coffee, it also absorbs the tannins.

Since these are partially responsible for the astringency and bitterness of any brew, the clarifying work of the egg white tames this bitterness, leaving you with a much smoother sip.

Eggs are also, as many of you know, a great source of protein. We’ll provide more details on this in a moment, but simply stated, the addition of an egg to the brewing process transforms an ordinary cup of black coffee into a smooth mug which provides a boost of macronutrient goodness!
Egg shells also play a significant role in the smooth, mild, and velvety brew known as Scandinavian coffee.

Here, as eggshells contain calcium carbonate, this serves as an extra measure (on top of the clarifying effects of the whites) to reduce the bitterness and acidity of the coffee.

As you can see, the easy addition of a single egg to your daily coffee can truly cut down on the acidity and inherent bitterness of your cup.

Of course, Lifeboost Coffee customers know that our coffee is already a low acid brew, a much smoother cup than what we typically experience in other coffees.

And we can attest that making Scandinavian egg coffee using Lifeboost indeed yields what we have found to be an even less bitter, velvety, and incredibly smooth cup of coffee…I believe unparalleled would be an appropriate adjective here!

But, other than a less bitter brew, what else does Scandinavian coffee have to offer?

1- Protein Boost

A soft-boiled egg in a white egg cup with the top removed, showing the yolk, sits beside a white ceramic mug filled with black coffee on a light surface.

A single egg provides roughly 6 grams of protein.

An 8-ounce cup of black coffee contains less than half a gram of protein.

Obviously, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that coffee alone isn’t a protein-packed beverage. But, the addition of an egg in the brewing process changes this macronutrient equation.

Health experts have described this unique coffee as “an amazing pre-workout drink…as it combines the energy-boosting properties of coffee with the nutritional benefits of eggs.”

To add, the addition of protein here may also improve satiety, which in turn reduces appetite and keeps you from overeating.

But Scandinavian egg coffee doesn’t just give you a protein boost, it also provides you with other nutritional boosts specific to eggs (and coffee), including antioxidants, healthy fats, vitamin D, and vitamin B12.

Hmmm, so Scandinavian egg coffee is ultra-smooth, ultra-low acid (when using Lifeboost Coffee), provides a protein boost, is a source of antioxidants, healthy fats, and other essential vitamins and minerals? Sign me up!

2- Low Acidity

A white coffee mug, cracked egg with yolk, and scattered coffee beans sit on a table, while a man in the background holds his stomach with a glowing stomach graphic overlayed.

For individuals with acid reflux, GERD, and other digestive issues, drinking coffee can be problematic due to the acid content of most brews.

As many of you know, Lifeboost Coffee is naturally low acid, almost as alkaline as water, and this has been a game changer for many of our customers.

But, Scandinavian egg coffee takes the notion of low acid to the next level.

As the egg whites clarify and the shells boost this benefit through further reductions in acidity, the result is an incredibly smooth and ‘doubly’ low acid brew.

Why does this matter?

Reduced acid content in your coffee…

preserves nutrients in your brew as high-acid environments can interfere with the absorption of some nutrients such as iron. This also serves you by helping to maintain balance in the stomach contributing to better absorption of nutrients.
protects the enamel on your teeth. Foods and liquids with a high acid content can erode the protective layer of enamel on your teeth, and over time this can lead to increased sensitivity, staining, and weakened teeth.
prevents upset stomach, digestive irritation, heartburn, nausea, and other discomfort as the stomach lining, esophagus, and other areas of the digestive tract are not exposed to as much acid in such a brew.

3- Flavor, Flavor, Flavor

A smiling woman with closed eyes holds a steaming mug of coffee at a wooden table, with an egg, cracked eggshell, and scattered coffee beans nearby.

I think this is best noted using the descriptions provided by various Scandinavian egg coffee connoisseurs…

unmistakably clean
silky body
clean, rich flavor without the harsh edges
very, very smooth
velvety texture
clearer brew, cleaner taste

We all know that coffee has a natural bitterness to it. It’s actually a small part of what makes coffee, coffee.

Similar to an ultra-dark, high cacao, dark chocolate, those bitter notes are inherent.

However, bitterness isn’t exactly a pleasant thing for all sippers. In fact, the reason cream and sugar were initially used in coffee was to tame this natural bitterness.

So, the addition of an egg in the brewing process here removes that bite of bitterness while also reducing the acidity of the coffee.

And the result is a smooth, velvety textured brew that is significantly less bitter, even bringing out the natural sweet and nutty notes of your coffee, notes that can often be masked when brewed using traditional methods.

Let’s Make Scandinavian Coffee…

We’ve covered the what’s and why’s, so now let’s get to the how-to.
If you’ve seen the video of our CEO, Dr. Charles, and his son CJ whipping up and trying this brew, you’ll notice they’ve included instructions in the video.

Here, we’re simply listing them in written format, so you can make your own smooth Scandinavian brew with ease. Enjoy!

Ingredients

8 cups water
3 cups ground Lifeboost Dark Roast Coffee
1 whole egg
½ cup water

Instructions

Add 8 cups of water to a saucepan over medium high heat and bring to a boil.
Add ground coffee and one whole egg (shell and all) to a medium sized bowl or jar, and mix using a fork. You’ll want to crush the egg as you mix it with the grounds. After you begin incorporating the egg, you can add ½ cup water to the mixture. This helps it to combine easily. Continue mixing until completely incorporated.
Add egg and coffee grounds mixture to the boiling water.
Turn down the heat and allow the mixture to simmer for three minutes. Keep a close eye on the coffee as this can easily boil over.
The coffee grounds and egg pieces will combine and float to the top; when this happens, immediately remove the coffee from the heat and let it steep for up to 10 minutes.

**Note: this was not included in the video, but many folks prefer adding one cup of room temperature or cold water after the above step, a measure which should cause the coffee grounds and egg mixture to settle at the bottom of your pan. Once this happens, it’s ready to strain. If you’re omitting this step, simply strain after the mixture steeps for the allotted time.

Strain the coffee through a fine mesh strainer.
Pour strained coffee into your favorite mug and enjoy!

Once you’ve finished brewing, feel free to add any typical flavors, toppings, sweetness, creaminess, as desired. However, we do recommend giving it a try before you include any additions as many find Scandinavian coffee to be so light and smooth that they don’t feel the need to add anything to fully enjoy their brew.

FAQ

1- Is drinking Scandinavian coffee safe?

Many express concerns about Scandinavian coffee due to the addition of a raw egg in the making of this brew; however, it is important to note that the boiling water used to brew the coffee should kill any bacteria present which makes the coffee safe to consume.

2- Will there be pieces of cooked egg in the coffee?

No.

The egg and coffee grounds essentially congeal and float to the surface during the brewing process, then as you strain this prior to drinking, it removes any solidified egg-coffee ground pieces from the mixture.

3- Does Scandinavian coffee have a lingering egg taste?

No.

The egg simply serves as “a natural clarifying agent” which neutralizes the acids in the coffee.

Some insist the coffee has a milder flavor using this brewing method, but there is no egg taste or flavor in the brew.

Check out Lifeboost Coffee Embolden Dark Roast.

"Medical Disclaimer
This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician. All readers/viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Neither Dr. Charles Livingston nor the publisher of this content takes responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement or lifestyle program."

Becky Livingston Vance Content writer

Becky is a mother, educator, and content writer for Lifeboost Coffee. She has had three years’ experience as a writer, and in that time she has enjoyed creatively composing articles and ebooks covering the topics of coffee, health and fitness, education, recipes, and relationships.

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