Meet Emma: The sourdough baker

Some people are drawn to complexity. Others find their magic in simplicity, and then commit to doing it exceptionally well. Emma Fjordside Kristensen (31) belongs firmly to the latter.

Originally from Jylland in Denmark, Emma spent seven years in Copenhagen before moving to Oslo about a year ago. There’s something distinctly Danish in the way she shows up in the world.

“Many people would probably say I’m quite Danish. I’m very straightforward and honest in the way I am. I say things as they are, but always with respect.” Emma says.

She loves new things, is curious and reflective, and has a strong ability to sense both herself and the people around her. There’s a grounded calm to her presence, not loud or rushed, just steady and intentional.

Let’s Talk About Passion

Emma’s passion is sourdough and good craftsmanship, especially the idea of taking something simple and doing it really, really well. For her, even the smallest things carry meaning.

“For me, a regular sourdough bun with cheese isn't just a bun with cheese, it can be so much more. It’s the taste, the quality and a small pause in a hectic life.”

What started as curiosity quickly became something deeper. She began baking for herself and family, experimenting and refining to find the perfect sourdough bun. 

“And there have been a lot of failures and frustrations but I have patience and determination to succeed” She says. “I began baking for my friends and family. With their positive feedback that's when the dream started taking shape.”

There was a moment when it shifted from hobby to something more real, when people started asking if they could buy what she baked.

“That’s when I realised it wasn’t just a hobby,” she explains. “It was something that could be shared with loved ones - something that could give others a tasteful pause in their weekend too.”

Getting there took time. Emma is open about being self-critical, and trusting that this could become something bigger didn’t happen overnight. What sourdough gives her in return is presence. Calm. Focus.

“It gives me a feeling of being completely present,” she says. “Creatively, I get to nerd out on details. Emotionally, it’s the joy of creating something that makes other people happy.”

 

Your Unexpected Side

“People often associate me with being spontaneous,” she says, “but it surprises many how detail-oriented and patient I actually am.”

Working with sourdough has taught her discipline and precision, but also something more personal. It’s taught her to let go of comparison.

“I’ve been very insecure and have had a tendency to measure myself against others,” she reflects. “But I’ve realised that’s not the way forward. What’s important to me is finding my own rhythm, my own taste, and my own journey.”

Then there’s a more playful, very personal side. Emma sometimes jokes that she relates a little too much to Monica from Friends.

“I actually really enjoy cleaning,” she laughs. “Seeing something go from dirty to clean is incredibly satisfying.”

So satisfying, in fact, that she admits she can easily spend far too much money on cleaning products.

“Maybe I should start a cleaning company,” she jokes.

 

Someone who inspires you

“I’m inspired by people who aren’t chasing the quick or perfect,” she says. “But who build something slowly, honestly, and with their heart.”

Two of those people are especially close to her: her partner and a former colleague who is now a close friend. Both believed in her early on and gave her the courage to take the leap into this new chapter. From her time as a boarding school teacher, there’s also a quote she’s carried with her for years - one she often shared with her students.

“Goodness breeds goodness,” she says. A simple sentence, but one that quietly underpins how she moves through both work and life.

 

Just for fun

If there’s one thing Emma would be terrible at, it’s anything that requires sitting still in front of a computer all day - especially websites, IT, and technical systems.

“It simply doesn’t interest me,” she says. “I’m still learning social media, and honestly, I don’t always find it very fun.”

What she really wants is to bake sourdough buns.

Of course, starting her own small business does require some technical work. She’s lucky - her partner helps, and a website with ordering options is currently in the making. For now, orders come through Instagram. It’s not about speed or perfection. It’s about care, rhythm - and doing something simple well.