A Look at Vienna’s Coffee House Culture
Austrian coffee culture is one of the most diverse and layered in the world. Served hot, cold, iced or sometimes even spiked, coffee is a beverage enjoyed all over the world, and especially so in Austria.
When we weren’t exploring the city, Vic and I spent pretty much all of our time in Viennese cafes, sipping on cups of melange and watching the world go by. I have to admit it took some time getting used to because we’re always so rushed back in the US – you forget what it’s like to sit and just relax.
Coffee houses first became a thing in Austria back in the 19th century when they started to spread throughout the Austrian landscape. It was soon after that Viennese coffee houses became recognized as an Austrian institution, leading them to be declared a cultural heritage by UNESCO.
In 1861, when the Ringstrasse was still being built, Cafe Schwarzenberg was the first cafe to open its doors to guests. Cafe Landtmann was also a pioneer in Vienna’s coffeehouse scene. Opening its doors in 1873, Franz Landtmann created a coffeehouse institution, with patrons including Gustav Mahler, Sigmund Freud, Marlene Dietrich, Paul McCartney, and Hillary Clinton.
A Vienna coffee house has always been the meeting point for prominent people in society – writers, artists, thinkers, educators…you name it, they frequented it! Traditional cafés are known for serving a variety of coffee drinks, international newspapers, and utterly delicious pastries.
When you order coffee, you’ll almost always receive it on a silver plate, with a glass of water next to it. The glass of water apparently symbolizes the coffee house’s desire to let you know that you can stay as long as you want.
RECOMMENDED VIENNA COFFEE & CULINARY TOURS
As I said earlier, there are a variety of coffee drinks, so you can’t get away asking the server for a small/large coffee! It doesn’t work that way, so best to be prepared. Here’s a breakdown of some of the coffee drinks you’ll find on most Viennese coffeehouse menus.
Table of Contents
Hot Coffee
- Melange – FAV
Coffee with water and milk added, and topped with foamed milk. Served in a large cup. - Franziskaner – FAV
A melange with whipped cream instead of foamed milk.
- Kleiner Schale Gold
Coffee with hot milk, and topped off with some foamed milk. Served in a small cup.
- Kaffee Verkehrt
Coffee with lots of milk. Served in a tall glass.
- Verlängerter Schwarzer
Black coffee in a large cup with hot water added. - Verlängerter Brauner
Coffee in a large cup with hot water (diluted), and a shot of cream. Typically served with milk. - Einspänner
Black coffee topped with whipped cream, served in an Einspänner glass. Sugar is usually served on the side.
- Kapuziner
A double portion coffee with whipped cream.
- Kleiner Schwarzer & Grosser Schwarzer
Black coffee served in a small cup with less water added, so it’s stronger – the equivalent of an espresso. And Grosser Schwarzer is a double espresso.
- Kleiner Brauner & Grosser Brauner
Kleiner Brauner is made from a Kleiner Schwarzer with cream added. Grosser Brauner is made from a Grosser Schwarzer with cream added.
Sometimes regular patrons to the coffeehouse didn’t like the drinks on offer and ended up creating their own. Two such examples are the Überstürtzer Neumann, named after a coffee-goer at Cafe Herrenhof and the Obermayer, named after a member of the Viennese Philharmonic Orchestra.
- Überstürtzer Neumann – whipped cream is put in the empty coffee cup and a double portion of coffee is poured over it. Hence the upside-down, ubersturtzer in German.
- Obermayer is made of a double portion of coffee in which a very cold, liquid cream is poured into the coffee over the back of a coffee spoon.
Alcoholic Specialities
The Austrians are never ones to shy away from afternoon libations, which is why you’ll find alcoholic-infused coffees included in coffee house menus! Hey, I’m not one to judge, some days just call for a strong coffee.
- Fiaker is a coffee served with a small portion of rum, and whipped cream. It’s named after Vienna’s horse-draw carriages.
- Maria Theresia consists of a double portion of coffee, mixed with a shot of orange liqueur, and cream.
Cold Coffee
They don’t just stick to hot coffee. When temperatures rise, there’s nothing better than a glass of cold coffee to you off and go about your day.
- Weiner Eiskaffee
Cold coffee poured over vanilla ice cream. Of course, topped with some freshly whipped cream. - Mzagran
A double coffee cooled with ice cubes, a shot of maraschino liqueur is added.
- Gerührter Eiskaffee
Just like the Weiner Eiskaffee, except it’s stirred to a smooth consistency before being served.
If none of these interest you, and you’re looking for something familiar fear not! The coffeehouses also serve “imported” coffees like the cappuccino, the cafe latte or an Irish coffee.
Vienna is no doubt the city of coffee. Coffeehouses have been serving up freshly brewed coffee in a variety of styles for over a century – they know what they’re doing. So, the next time you find yourself in Vienna, spend some time in a Vienna coffee house, partaking in an integral part of Viennese culture.
15 Comments
My partner and I were just talking about how in the US it’s coffee to go, rather than sitting down and really enjoying the experience. We found it quite sad how we’re always rushing around with our wasteful paper cups. It’s nice to see in other places that the coffee to go culture doesn’t dominate the scene.
How about all those cakes in your photos, though?!
Yeah, I can’t believe how uncomfortable it was for my friend and I to just sit and relax. We always felt like we had to leave, but that just wasn’t the case.
OMG, in addition to delicious coffee, the Viennese have a delicious pastry culture as well…I drool just thinking about all the slices of cake I devoured!
This is one of my favorite things to do while traveling, coffee and people watch. Though I’m actually not used to the strength of the European coffee. So strong!
I can’t do terribly strong coffee either, and didn’t find what they served in Vienna to be all that strong. So, perhaps give it a try? It was very very smooth…and delicious!
Count me in.
Oh no, it all looks so delicious! I love coffee houses and tarts they serve there 🙂 Amazing!
Oh YES, I think the tarts and pastries deserve a post of their own!
Woa, I knew about the Viennese “coffee approach”, but had no idea about the historic facts you shared! Love the story behind 🙂
I know, it was fascinating to learn how it’s such an ingrained institution (something I can get used to), and how far back it actually went.
I love drinking coffee in Vienna. It is very special for me. Thanks for sharing this.
Do you go to Vienna often? If so, color me jealous!
We fell in love with life in Europe because of how laid back everything is. We’re always rushing or caught in traffic on our way to events here in Hawaii, that we forget how to sit back and enjoy, and sometimes let life pass us by.
Oh, to be in a Viennese coffee house right now sipping on some joe, and watching life happen!
Hawaii could do with 50% less traffic, the lifestyle there can be pretty relaxed! I miss it 🙁
Cooffeeee. Mmmmmmmmmm. I now want to go to Vienna and work my way through the list.
I know, I can’t wait to be back in Vienna, sipping on a melange!
Comments are closed.