Viennese coffee specialties - the reason why you should never just order a "coffee" in Vienna
Coffee in Vienna belongs together like an apple belongs to a strudel. It doesn't matter whether it's lengthened, brown, white or with alcohol, there are probably at least as many Viennese coffee specialties these days as there are pieces of apple in the famous apple strudel. We'll tell you in this blog all about the different Viennese coffee specialties and the reason why you should never just order a simple "coffee" in Vienna.
The history - Viennese coffee specialties back in the days
According to legend, Jerzy Franciszek Kulczycki (a Pole, born in 1640) brought coffee to Vienna. Coffee houses and their Viennese coffee specialties were not long in coming. In 1683, after Austria was defeated by the Turks, the first coffee houses opened in Vienna. By the turn of the century, the number had already risen to 600 cafés.
At that time, typical Viennese coffee specialties were limited to cocoa, tea, milk, lemonade, soda water, chocolate, wine, schnapps and liqueurs. No comparison to today's range of Viennese coffee specialties.
More than just a hot drink - Viennese coffee specialties today
Today, Viennese coffee specialties such as mocha, small or large browns, carriages, one-horse carriages, the classic “Viennese Melange” and Franziskaner dominate the drinks menu in Viennese coffee houses.
Especially for tourists (but also for some locals) it is often difficult to understand what Viennese coffee specialties are all about. We will therefore inform you about the most common creations and reveal their components.
The most popular Viennese coffee specialties at a glance
Mocha: Whether double or single - black coffee is the heart of Austrian coffee houses and the basis for all Viennese coffee specialties.
There are two differences to the Italian espresso. On the one hand it is prepared with a little more water and on the other hand other types of beans are used. Coffee beans from Yemen or Ethiopia are mainly used for this Viennese coffee specialty.
Kleiner/großer Brauner: This typical Viennese coffee specialty gets its name from its color (Brauner = brown) and is the Austrian counterpart to espresso or double espresso, which is served with milk or optionally whipped cream in a small pot. It is one of the second most popular Viennese coffee specialties after the “Wiener Melange”.
Fiaker: The Fiaker is either a horse-drawn carriage, the driver himself or a Viennese coffee specialty. It consists of a mocha with a dash of alcohol. Rum and plum brandy have established themselves.
Einspänner: A Einspänner is a horse-drawn carriage, i.e. a carriage that is pulled by a single horse. The Viennese coffee specialty comes from the fact that the drivers of these “Einspänner” drank it a lot and liked it.
The coffee in the glass, marked with a sumptuous whipped cream cover, has (and had) two major advantages: The coffee stayed warm under the whipped cream and even if it was drunk while driving, nothing was spilled. Therefore, this Viennese coffee specialty is not stirred, but slurped through the cold whipped cream.
Wiener Melange: The heart of all Viennese coffee specialties is the Wiener Melange. Melange means mixture in French. The coffee specialty from Vienna is simply called Viennese mixture in German. It consists of a mocha, a portion of milk and a topping of foamed milk.
Franziskaner: The Viennese coffee specialty "Franziskaner" includes a longer melange with hot milk and whipped cream. Coffee wasn't invented in the monastery by the Franciscans, but its beautiful brown color of the typical monk's habit - and as creative as the people in Austria are, they named a coffee specialty after it.
The delicious Viennese coffee specialties are decorated with chocolate sprinkles.
Insider tip: In Vienna, the word “coffee” is stressed on the last syllable, not on the first like in Germany. It can happen that a grumpy "waiter" pretends that he hasn't understood a German pronunciation.
Viennese coffee houses and their special features
Going to the coffee house is one of the most popular hobbies of the Viennese. People meet to observe, spread gossip, play cards and skip school or work.
Small round marble tables on which the coffee is served and newspaper tables are typical of a Viennese coffee house. The coffee houses are a place "in which time and space are consumed, but only the Viennese coffee specialty is on the bill".
Conclusion: Viennese coffee specialties are firmly anchored in the Austrian capital and are much more than just a hot drink. Whoever visits Vienna cannot avoid enjoying the traditional handicraft and its incomparable ambience for a while.
With our experience "Wiener Melange - everything about a coffee classic" you have the opportunity to learn everything about Viennese coffee specialties. Look forward to an unforgettable and different experience in Vienna. We are happy to server you.
