Viennese Coffee: a simple recipe with a century old history

Αν και ο καφές στην Ευρώπη είναι συνώνυμος της Ιταλίας, υπάρχουν κι άλλες ευρωπαϊκές πόλεις με μακραίωνη κι αξιοσημείωτη κουλτούρα καφέ.

The history of Viennese coffee goes back centuries, beginning in 1683, when the defeat of the Ottomans in the siege of Vienna constituted the definitive embankment in the out-of-control expansion of the Ottoman Empire. Among the spoils collected from the battlefield by the Viennese, there were also several sacks of coffee beans.

The loot was distributed to the military, but the sacks ended up with Georg Franz Kolschitzky, along with a permit that allowed him to open the first Viennese coffee shop. To this day, a street in central Vienna bears its name, while a statue serves as a reminder of the beginnings of rich Viennese coffee culture.

Over the years, the culture of coffee in Vienna has evolved and spread, and today it is recognized by the Austrian capital's Unesco "intangible cultural heritage". Slowly, cafes began to add lunches and snacks, but also newspapers, thus becoming a must-have for social life. Despite their occasional fluctuations in popularity (largely due to the wars), cafes remained a key pillar of Viennese daily life. As early as the mid-190th century, women's access to cafes was no longer banned, and these hangouts would play a decisive role in the development of Viennese literature. As the Viennese typically say, "in a coffee shop you enjoy space and time and in the end you only pay for your coffee".

Despite the importance of coffee to the everyday life of the Viennese, Austrians did not develop separate or special recipes for their coffee. Coffee followed the course of the rest of Europe: initially brewed similar to Greek, then filter coffee flourished and during the post war years, espresso conquered Vienna as well. However, the typical 'Viennese' style of serving remains.

We know from our own "Viennese chocolate", which broke into cafes in the 90s, that is, hot chocolate with whipped cream and cocoa or chocolate syrup. Often abused, this specialty actually hides the way Viennese coffee is served, as double espresso is served with fresh whipped cream and sweet cocoa! The lavish way of serving has its roots in the early coffee shops, as the locals, skeptical of bitter coffee, added milk and sugar profusely. The cookie is a local specialty that is good to miss - it tastes great and carries real Viennese air.

What do you need for a Viennese Coffee?

• A double espresso (60ml)
• 40 ml whipped cream
• Bitter Cocoa
• A viennese butter cookie

How is Viennese Coffee served?

• Prepare two espressos and serve them in a glass of cappuccino
• Beat the cream very well to make whipped cream
• Place the whipped cream over the double espresso
• Serve sprinkled with cocoa and topped with a butter cookie

Enjoyment often lies in simplicity. A good double espresso, a spoonful of fresh, fluffy whipped cream and a cookie are enough to drink our coffee as authentic Viennese. Guten Appetit!