DEC 16

India

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On Slotsholmen, where Copenhagen’s history begins, stands a majestic statue overlooking the city like a guardian of the past. Absalon—the courageous bishop and warrior who founded Copenhagen in the 12th century—is proudly displayed in armor, as if ready to lead the city into new adventures.

Created by sculptor August Saabye in 1902, the statue is not only a monument to a historical figure but also a tribute to the will and vision that set something great in motion. Today, Absalon stands as an enduring symbol of the city’s origins—a reminder that even the most extraordinary places have roots deep in the mysteries of history.

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Absalon’s equestrian statue on Højbro Plads—the green man of bronze with cloak, cross, and warrior’s gaze, looking out over the Slotsholm Canal—has stood there majestically since 1902.

Today’s Anecdote

Absalon’s Helmet Beer

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And although he looks serious, both horse and rider have played host to more than one wild and highly unofficial event. Here comes perhaps the funniest and most unbelievable story, which night watchmen, street performers, and even a municipal technician still tell with a “no, really, it happened!” in their voice:

The anecdote of “Absalon’s Helmet Beer” – and the improvised horseback ride

One late summer night in 1994, a group of partying students from the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts’ School of Architecture had been drinking their way through a theme evening titled: “Monuments, Myths, and Men in Metal.”

They ended up on Højbro Plads, where one of them—a guy named Simon— looked up at Absalon and said: “Honestly… he looks thirsty.”

That’s when another had the “brilliant” idea: “Let’s give him a beer. For research purposes.”

Operation Helmet Beer: The group set to work. One climbed onto the plinth. Another stayed below, giving directions. A beer can was armed with string and tape. The mission: to place a Tuborg in Absalon’s open helmet or, failing that, in his outstretched hand.

After a few failed attempts (including one near-fatal beer-to-the-head incident with a passing cyclist), they finally managed to place the can perfectly between Absalon’s fingers—as if he were toasting the city’s honor.

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The crowd cheered. A passing American shouted: “Cheers, Viking Jesus!”

But the best part was still to come. The improvised horseback ride (or: how to get thrown off a statue) Simon—perhaps overconfident, perhaps just very drunk—suddenly declared: “I’m sitting on the horse. Just one picture!”

He climbed up (impressively agile), sat behind Absalon, struck a cowboy pose, and shouted: “High from the castle I ride!”

At that exact moment, a taxi drove by, stopped, and the driver yelled out the window: “You’ve got five seconds before the police arrive, Don Quixote!”

Simon lost his balance, slid down the horse’s rear, and landed—splash!—in the small fountain basin at the foot of the statue, grinning crookedly.

The police showed up but only said:

“If you can get the beer down without dying, we’ll let it go.”

The group retrieved the can, Simon got a dry t-shirt, and the next day a photo appeared in a local student paper under the headline: “Absalon Accepts Beer—but Not Passengers.”

Since then, nightlife in the inner city has coined the expression “to take an Absalon”—meaning to do something grandiose and stupid at the same time.

MORE ABOUT THE COFFEE

India

Origin

Baba Budangiri

coffee roast

Taste Notes

Chocolate, plum,

toffee, clove

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India’s coffee story began in the 1600s, when the mystic Baba Budan planted “Mocha” seeds in the hills that now bear his name. Nestled in the Western Ghats, a global biodiversity hotspot, this region remains at the heart of India’s coffee tradition.

The result is a cup that often carries sweet and fruity aromatics, rich body, and gentle acidity—a reflection of both India’s terroir and centuries of cultivation.

Altitude: 1000-1400 m.a.s.l.

Variety: Bourbon

Process: Washed

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Did you know that you can order same coffee as beans?

SHOP INDIA BEANS

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