{"id":1863,"date":"2016-02-02T12:05:44","date_gmt":"2016-02-02T11:05:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/?p=1863"},"modified":"2025-12-18T20:57:48","modified_gmt":"2025-12-18T19:57:48","slug":"coffee-glossary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/food\/coffee-glossary\/","title":{"rendered":"A coffee glossary for Vienna"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/coffeeglossarysmall.jpg\" alt=\"A melange coffee\" class=\"wp-image-27046\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/coffeeglossarysmall.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/coffeeglossarysmall-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Starbucks has taught us all that there is more than one type of coffee. But it&#8217;s still a linguistic minefield out there. Especially in Vienna. Here&#8217;s some help&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Nobody really serves &#8220;coffee&#8221;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Popular local option is a Melange (not unlike a cappuccino)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Book a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/en\/food-tours-vienna-tickets-l205283\/?partner=visitingvienna&amp;tq_campaign=LG_Coffee\" rel=\"sponsored\">culinary experience<\/a>* for your Vienna trip<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>See also:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/cafespubsbars\/coffee-houses\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"7689\">Best local coffee houses<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/food\/vienna-cakes\/\">Cake glossary for Vienna<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Popular types of coffee<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/cafelatte.jpg\" alt=\"A Latte\" class=\"wp-image-74059\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/cafelatte.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/cafelatte-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(Not a local alternative, but you can usually get a Latte in Viennese caf\u00e9s too)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Coffee (<em>Kaffee<\/em> in German) is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/coffee-house-experience\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"1947\">part of the culture<\/a> here. No wonder, then, that the drink has its own specialist vocabulary. And just to complicate matters, some choices on the caf\u00e9 menu are more or less unique to the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In more bad news for the confused visitor, the smartly-dressed waiters sometimes seem so intimidating that you&#8217;re too scared to pop an innocent question about what it is you&#8217;re actually ordering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I once made the mistake of requesting &#8220;a coffee&#8221; from one such waiter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Basic &#8220;coffee&#8221; is not really an option on Viennese menus, so my reward was a look of disdain honed across decades of practice to a perfection not seen since the time someone suggested to Louis XIV of France that Versailles was &#8220;quite nice&#8221;.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I seem to recall the response was something like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Very good, sir. And did sir perhaps have any particular <strong>kind<\/strong> of coffee in mind?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>(Actually, waiting staff here are usually perfectly friendly.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, with coffee and cake an essential part of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/viennese-experiences\/\">Viennese experience<\/a>, you should arm yourself with a few definitions before ordering. Which brings us nicely to the commonest coffees served in the city&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Kleiner Schwarzer \/ Gro\u00dfer Schwarzer<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/espressokleinerschwarzer.jpg\" alt=\"Espresso or Kleiner Schwarzer\" class=\"wp-image-41416\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/espressokleinerschwarzer.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/espressokleinerschwarzer-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(The tray, glass of water and upturned spoon are all part of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/coffee-house-experience\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"1947\">coffee house culture<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You&#8217;re on pretty firm ground here. A <em>kleiner Schwarzer<\/em> is essentially a single espresso, though the term predates the arrival of Italian espresso machines in Vienna a few decades ago. A <em>gro\u00dfer Schwarzer<\/em> is a double espresso.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The literal translation is &#8220;small\/large black&#8221;, and you may see the word <em>Mokka <\/em>used instead of Schwarzer. Technically, Mokka should refer to Turkish coffee, though.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Kleiner Brauner \/ Gro\u00dfer Brauner<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Also essentially a single\/double espresso, but this time served with a small jug\/carton of milk or cream for you to add at your pleasure. <em>Kleiner\/Gro\u00dfer Brauner<\/em> translates as a &#8220;small\/large brown&#8221;.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Einsp\u00e4nner<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/einspanner.jpg\" alt=\"Einspanner\" class=\"wp-image-46316\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/einspanner.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/einspanner-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(A drink with a history)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An espresso topped with whipped cream (<em>Schlagobers<\/em>) and usually served in a glass. This one has a lovely etymological background.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The word refers to a carriage driving system which requires just one hand, leaving the other free for holding a coffee. Allegedly, the cream kept the drink insulated long enough for the driver to enjoy it warm in the cold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Verl\u00e4ngerter<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>An espresso with added hot water. <em>Verl\u00e4ngerter<\/em> translates as &#8220;an extended one&#8221;.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Kapuziner<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/kapuziner.jpg\" alt=\"A Kapuziner coffee\" class=\"wp-image-46318\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/kapuziner.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/kapuziner-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(&#8230;and more cream)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Typically a double espresso with a decent serving of whipped cream on top. Kind of like a powered-up Einspanner, but in a cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cappuccino<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/cappuccino.jpg\" alt=\"Cappuccino\" class=\"wp-image-46317\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/cappuccino.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/cappuccino-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(A familiar beverage)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This one&#8217;s easy. It&#8217;s more or less a cappuccino as you know it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But (oh yes, there&#8217;s a but)&#8230;occasionally it comes with less milk than you expect. Or with a huge dollop of whipped cream on top, rather than frothed milk (<em>Milchschaum<\/em>). Or even <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/cafespubsbars\/fenster-cafe\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"85506\">in a wafer cone<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Wiener Melange<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/wienermelange.jpg\" alt=\"Wiener Melange\" class=\"wp-image-46319\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/wienermelange.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/wienermelange-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(Perhaps the most local coffee in Vienna)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A local favourite (mine, too) that combines German and French words that mean, taken literally, &#8220;Viennese mixture&#8221;. Often shortened to just <em>Melange <\/em>on menus and when ordering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This type of coffee is an espresso with steamed milk, topped with a little foam. Which sounds a lot like a cappuccino.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In my experience, the amount of milk varies considerably, but is usually less than with a traditional cappuccino. Equally, I&#8217;ve had cappuccinos that look more like a Melange.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Melange can also arrive with a surprising dollop of whipped cream, sometimes known as a <em>Franziskaner<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And, if you do order a Franziskaner, then you face the eternal dilemma that has split communities and families across Austria&#8217;s capital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Do you eat the whipped cream using the spoon, then drink the coffee? Or do you mix it all together and drink the results?<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/franziskaner.jpg\" alt=\"A Franziskaner\" class=\"wp-image-46320\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/franziskaner.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/franziskaner-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(A Franziskaner)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Anyway, all very confusing, no?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I actually asked a specialist at the local coffee museum about the Melange and he told me that (officially) it&#8217;s essentially like a cappuccino, but with a little extra hot water. So there you have it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Anecdotally, I&#8217;ve also seen menus where the Melange is based on a single espresso and the cappuccino on a double espresso. And menus where the reverse was true. What fun!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">H\u00e4ferlkaffee<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Literally a &#8220;mug of coffee,&#8221; so coffee with milk &#8211; not quite as much milk as you&#8217;d get in a Caff\u00e8 Latte though. And not always served in a mug but in a large cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Eiskaffee<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Another easy one: this is just iced coffee. Or not so easy as you need to check the contents. It can vary from the basic concept with ice to a giant monstrosity laden with ice, ice cream and whipped cream: the kind of drink that gives your nutritionist nightmares.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Koffeinfrei<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If your nerves are already running on maximum with all the excitement of your trip, you can always ask for your coffee to be <em>koffeinfrei<\/em> (decaffeinated).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">And the rest&#8230;<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/macchiato.jpg\" alt=\"A macchiato\" class=\"wp-image-73849\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/macchiato.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/macchiato-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(In the interests of disclosure, this macchiato is actually from a holiday in Italy. Although, to be fair, the town itself was once part of the Austrian Empire)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A host of specialties exist beyond these common choices, particularly in the very <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/cafespubsbars\/coffee-houses\/\">traditional coffee houses<\/a> in the centre. You may find, for example, a <em>Maria Theresa<\/em> named after the famous 18th-century Empress: commonly a single or double espresso with whipped cream and orange liqueur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Equally, many Vienna locations have absorbed the international language of coffee. So you&#8217;ll also find a few reassuring macchiatos and lattes on menus now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If this is all a struggle, drop into an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/cafespubsbars\/aida\/\">Aida caf\u00e9<\/a>. Their menu includes cutaway drawings of cups that show exactly what goes into each type of coffee. Last time I checked, their version of a Melange, for example, is a double espresso with steamed milk and whipped cream!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">And two final tips to finish with&#8230;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>1. Don&#8217;t forget the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/food\/vienna-cakes\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"22533\">cake<\/a>. This is Vienna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>2. If you&#8217;re wondering about milk options, the German word is Milch. Common alternatives are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Hafermilch: oat milk<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Soyamilch: soy milk<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mandelmilch: almond milk<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Most places these days should give you the option to have a plant-based milk with your coffee, though you may have to pay a little bit extra for it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Starbucks has taught us all that there is more than one type of coffee. But it&#8217;s still a linguistic minefield out there. Especially in Vienna. Here&#8217;s some help&#8230; Popular types of coffee (Not a local alternative, but you can usually get a Latte in Viennese caf\u00e9s too) Coffee (Kaffee in German) is part of the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":27046,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-1863","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-food","8":"entry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1863","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1863"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1863\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":87633,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1863\/revisions\/87633"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27046"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1863"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1863"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1863"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}