Imagine a feeling that encompasses coziness and warmth, but with an added sense of belonging and inner peace—that’s Gemütlichkeit, just one of many non-translatable German words (yes, we’re capitalizing the nouns like real Germans). There are many ways to achieve Gemütlichkeit: a comfy evening on the couch, a lazy afternoon spent cooking with friends, or a weekend getaway somewhere quiet. But the best example is “Kaffee und Kuchen“—literally, coffee and cake. It’s a ritual that’s all about gathering with family or friends on a leisurely afternoon for a chat over, well, coffee and cake. The secret ingredient, though? Losing track of time. Think of it as Germany‘s answer to Swedish fika or English afternoon tea.