Coffee in Vienna goes together like apples in a strudel. Whether extended, brown, white or with alcohol, there are probably at least as many Viennese coffee specialties as there are apple pieces in the famous apple strudel. Here we tell you what the different Viennese coffee specialties are all about and why you should never order just one "coffee" in Vienna.
The story - Viennese coffee specialties back then:
If you believe the legend, Jerzy Franciszek Kulczycki (a Pole, born in 1640 in what is now the Ukrainian town of Sambir) brought coffee to Vienna. Coffee houses and their Viennese coffee specialties were not long in coming. In 1683, after Austria was besieged by the Turks, the first coffee houses opened in Vienna. By the turn of the century, the number had already risen to 600 cafés increased.
Back then, the 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:
Whoever came up with the idea of making coffee also with milk and sugar It was the ability to mix coffee with other drinks that made coffee so popular and gave Viennese specialty coffees their big breakthrough.
Today, Viennese coffee specialties such as the mocha, small or large brown, Fiaker, Einspänner, the classic Viennese Melange and the Franziskaner dominate the drinks menu of 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 therefore explain the most common creations and reveal their ingredients.
The most popular Viennese coffee specialties at a glance:
Mocha: Whether double or single - the Black coffee is the heart of Austrian coffee houses and the basis for all Viennese coffee specialties.
There are two differences to Italian espresso. Firstly, it is prepared with slightly more water and secondly, a different type of bean is used. This Viennese coffee specialty is mainly made from coffee beans from Yemen or Ethiopia for use.
Small/big brown: This typical Viennese coffee specialty gets its name from its color and is the Austrian Counterpart to espresso or double espresso, which is served with milk or whipped cream in a small pot. It is the second most popular Viennese coffee specialty after the Viennese Melange.
Fiaker: The Fiaker is either a horse-drawn carriage, the coachman himself or a Viennese coffee specialty. It consists of a mocha with a Shot of alcohol together. Rum and slivovitz have established themselves.
Single harness: A "Einspänner" is a one-horse carriage, i.e. a carriage pulled by a single horse. The Viennese coffee specialty comes from the fact that the coachmen of these one-horse carriages enjoyed drinking it a lot. The coffee with a lavish hood marked coffee in a glass has two major advantages:
The coffee remained warm under the whipped cream and even if it was drunk while driving, nothing was spilled. That's why this Viennese coffee specialty is not stirred, but sipped through the cold whipped cream.
Viennese melange: The heart of all Viennese coffee specialties is the Viennese Melange. Melange means blend when translated from French. In German, the coffee specialty from Vienna simply means Viennese mixture. It consists of one part mocha and one part milk and a hood made of frothed milk.
Franciscan: The Viennese coffee specialty "Franziskaner" contains a longer melange with hot milk and whipped cream. Although coffee was not invented in a Franciscan monastery, the beautiful brown color of the typical monk's habit was - and as creative as the people of Austria are, they have named a coffee specialty after it. The delicious Viennese coffee specialty is decorated with chocolate sprinkles.
Insider tip: In Vienna, the word "Kaffee" is stressed on the last syllable, not the first as in Germany. It can happen that a grumpy "waiter" pretends not to have understood a German pronunciation.
Viennese coffee houses and their special features:
Going out for a coffee is one of the most popular hobbies of the Viennese. People meet up to: Watching, spreading gossip, instagramming, playing cards and skipping school or work.
Typical for a Viennese coffee house are small round marble tableson which the coffee is served, boxes and newspaper tables. The coffee houses are a place "where 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. Anyone visiting Vienna cannot avoid enjoying the traditional craftsmanship and its incomparable ambience for a while.
With our experience "Viennese Melange - Everything about a coffee classic" you have the opportunity to learn all about Viennese coffee specialties and taste them afterwards. Look forward to an unforgettable and different Vienna experience. So what are you waiting for?
