Austrian Coffee Culture: Sophisticated, and Always Served on a Silver Tray
- maxtravelabroad
- Feb 25
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 3
by Cindi H. Fries, Max Travel Abroad LLC
Austria established a sophisticated coffee culture long before Italy or America even figured out what to do with a coffee bean. While Americans gulp down venti-sized sugar bombs, Austrians treat coffee as an art form—slow, refined, and always paired with a slice of cake. If you want to truly experience coffee, forget your tumbler to-go cup and take a seat in an elegant Austrian café.
Austrian Coffee Culture: Deliberate, Elegant, and on a Silver Tray
Step into a traditional Austrian konditorei or coffee house, and you’ll immediately see the difference. Here, coffee is not just a drink—it’s a take-your-time ritual.
Coffee is served in a proper coffee cup and saucer, not a mug.
It almost always comes on an oval silver tray, with a small glass of water (one of the few times that you'll receive a glass of water in Europe without requesting it).
It’s expected that you’ll stay a while—many cafés encourage hours of reading, conversation, or people-watching.
And let’s not forget the cake. Austrian coffee without a slice of butter cream cake or Apfelstrudel? Unthinkable.
The Birth of European Coffee Culture: Austria Did It First
Many think Italy birthed European coffee culture, but hold your espresso—Austria beat Italy to it by 40 years! It's like claiming you invented the wheel while your neighbor’s driving a car!
In 1683, after the Ottoman Empire failed to capture Vienna, they left behind sacks of mysterious brown beans. The locals mistook them for camel feed—like confusing a gourmet cheese platter for cat food! But clever Jerzy F. Kulczycki, a Polish nobleman and spy, recognized them as coffee beans. In 1683 he opened one of Vienna's first coffeehouse and introduced coffee with milk and sugar. Suddenly, Vienna became the café capital of Europe, long before espresso machines—imagine baristas relying on charm instead of gadgets!
Italy? The initial genuine coffeehouse in Venice emerged in the early 1700s, but the espresso culture we recognize today only developed in the 20th century. When it did, it left a significant mark—today, people globally use Italian names for their preferred coffee beverages, like "cappuccino" and "macchiato." To explore more about Italian coffee culture, read this post.
So, while Italy made coffee quicker and stronger (like a wake-the-dead espresso), Austria turned it into a leisurely elegant experience—like a coffee date that lasts longer than most relationships!
Types of Austrian Coffee You Need to Try
All Austrian coffees are based on espresso. Although an Austrian coffee house can offer up to 20 plus different ways to serve coffee, they don't add syrups or flavorings to their coffee.
Here are a few types of Austrian coffees that I recommend trying:
☕ Melange – Consider it Austria's version of the cappuccino. It's made with a single shot of espresso, a dash of hot water in a cup, crowned with a generous layer of frothy, steaming, foamy milk (we know, it sounds as enticing and alluring as its name).
☕ Einspänner – A shot of espresso topped with a massive cloud of whipped cream, is usually served in a tall glass, and it can be dusted with powdered sugar or cocoa powder. Traditionally, it is not stirred, and the coffee should be slowly sipped through the whipped cream.
☕ Verlängerter – Similar to an Americano, but with Austrian flair. Espresso with hot water, but still full-bodied and rich.
☕ Kleiner Schwarzer/Großer Schwarzer – Single or double shot of espresso, Austria’s direct equivalent to Italian espresso.
☕ Kleiner Brauner/Großer Brauner – Espresso with just a touch of milk or cream, available as a single or double shot.
☕ Franziskaner – A Melange with whipped cream instead of milk foam. Because everything is better with whipped cream.
☕ Kapuziner – A stronger, bolder version of a Melange, named after the brown robes of Capuchin monks.
☕ Mokka – A traditional black coffee, similar to espresso but brewed differently for a more intense flavor.
☕ Fiaker – A black coffee served with rum or brandy and topped with whipped cream, named after Vienna’s famous horse-drawn carriages.
☕ Maria Theresia – A luxurious espresso spiked with orange liqueur and topped with whipped cream, named after the Austrian Empress.
Austrian Coffee Houses: The Heart of Viennese Culture
In Austria, coffee culture extends beyond just the drink—it’s about the place. Traditional Viennese coffee houses are iconic institutions where time slows down, conversations flow, and the world outside fades away. Coffee houses aren’t only found within Vienna though, and are found dotted throughout the entire country of Austria.
Konditorei – An elegant pastry shop and café hybrid, where decadent cakes, tortes, and strudels are just as important as the coffee. Perfect for an afternoon indulgence with a crystal chandelier for ambiance.
Kaffeehaus – The classic café is a social hub where locals linger over a single coffee for hours and newspaper racks filled with international publications. A casual, everyday coffee spot where locals pop in for a quick Verlängerter or a gossip session.
Many of these institutions have been around for centuries, and some even boast literary and artistic histories—Freud, Trotsky, and Klimt were all known to frequent Viennese coffee houses.
Want to Experience Austria’s Legendary Coffee Culture for Yourself?
If you travel to Austria, embrace the slow coffee culture. Ditch the to-go cup, find a cozy café, and do as the Viennese do—order a coffee, take a seat, and stay a while. Trust me, you’ll never look at your morning Starbucks run the same way again.
Travel with Max Travel Abroad to Austria and experience the magic of a real Viennese café. We plan everything, so all you have to do is sit back, sip, and soak in the old-world charm.
📩 Contact us today to start planning your European adventure!
Travel With Max Travel Abroad for More Insider Tips
If you want to experience Austria like a local—not just in coffee culture, but in everything—join us on one of our immersive small-group tours. At Max Travel Abroad, we take you beyond the tourist traps, teaching you the fine art of eating, drinking, and traveling like an Austrian. No pumpkin spice required.
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