Popular from the 18th century with hard-up artists, writers
and composers who used the coffeehouses as their extended
living rooms, in particular during the cold winter months
to save on heating costs (there's progress for you).
They were also a hive of political activity and a highly valued
source of information where national and international newspapers
were freely available and where political discourse was not
censored (although Prince Metternich sent his spies into the
coffeehouses). If you wanted to have your finger on the pulse
of Vienna, then you would find it in the coffeehouses.
Coffeehouses were also a place for games (Leon Trotsky
was a regular playing chess at the Cafe Central), for
breakfast (Sigmund Freud at the Cafe Landtmann
before lecturing at the university across the road) and for
music.
Protected by the UNESCO
(intangible heritage list) the
coffeehouse culture of Vienna is unique and central
to its identity.
Ordering a coffee
If you go into a traditional Viennese coffeehouse and order
"a coffee" the waiter might give you a blank look.
You need to be more specific. For example, you could order
a Melange, which is one of the commonly consumed coffees
in the capital (it's a white coffee with frothy milk on top).
But if you'd like to try something different, then here is
a guide (provided by the Fachgruppe
Wien der Kaffeehäuser) to some of the other coffees
you may find served in the Viennese coffeehouses.
Coffees
served warm
Kleiner Schwarzer
A small black coffee.
Grosser Schwarzer
A large black coffee
(=a double Kleiner Schwarzer).
Verlängerte Schwarzer
A small black coffee (=Kleiner Schwarzer)
served in a large cup and topped up
with hot water (=not so strong).
Kleiner Brauner
A small black coffee served with cream.
Grosse Brauner
A large black coffee served with cream (=a double Kleiner
Brauner).
Verlängerter Brauner
A small black coffee (=Kleiner Brauner)served
in a large cup topped up with hot water and cream (=not so strong).
Melange
A small black coffee with hot water
and warm milk added and
finished off with frothy milk.
Served in a large cup.
Franziskaner
Just like a Melange but topped off with
whipped cream instead of frothy milk.
Kleine Schale Gold
A small black coffee with hot milk finished with frothy milk.
Kaffee Verkehrt
A small black coffee with much milk added (=a milky coffee).
Einspänner
A small black coffee with a topping of whipped cream and a sprinkling
of icing sugar. Served in a glass.
Kapuziner
A large black coffee topped off with whipped cream.
Überstürzter Neumann
Whipped cream in an empty cup with
a large black coffee then added.
Obermayer
Cream is poured over the back of a
teaspoon onto a large black coffee.
Fiaker
A small black coffee served
with a shot of hot rum.
Maria Theresia
A large black coffee with a shot of
orange liquor and topped off with
whipped cream. Served in a glass.
Coffees
served cold
Wiener Eiskaffee
Cold black coffee poured over vanilla ice cream finished off
with whipped cream.
Mazagran
Ice cubes are added to a large black coffee with a shot of cherry
liquor. Served in a glass.
Gerührter Eiskaffee
Vanilla ice cream stirred until smooth with cold black coffee
and whipped cream.
International
coffees
Capuccino
A small black coffee with hot water
and hot milk added and finished
off with frothy milk and a
sprinkling of cocoa powder.
Cafe Latte
A small black coffee with a lot of milk
added and topped off with frothy milk.
Served in a high glass and with a long spoon.
Irish Coffee A large black coffee with Irish whisky,
sugar and finally whipped cream.
Served in a glass.
