Viennese Coffee Recipe: A Must-Try Austrian Drink

Bring Vienna’s famed coffeehouse culture into your own home!

Austria is a beautiful country to visit if you have the chance. But if a vacation isn’t in the budget, treat yourself to Vienna coffee instead. This delightful drink pairs rich espresso with a substantial layer of whipped cream for a simple but indulgent drink. It is available in most coffee shops and, better yet, easy to make at home. I’ll show you how in this quick guide.

What Is Viennese Coffee?

Many coffee drinks are popular in the Austrian capital of Vienna, but ‘Vienna coffee’ usually refers to espresso or hot coffee topped with whipped cream and sprinkled with cocoa powder. It’s served in a tall glass with a handle. 

In Vienna, this drink is called the Einspänner, the German word for a one-horse carriage. Originally, it was designed for the city’s carriage drivers. The handled glass made it easy to hold and drink while driving, and the layer of whipped cream kept the espresso warm during chilly Vienna evenings.

Viennese Coffee Shop Culture

Vienna is world famous for its vibrant coffee shop culture, and it forms an integral part of the national identity. UNESCO even awarded the Vienna coffee house the designation of Intangible Cultural Heritage (1). 

A Viennese cafe is not a place to grab a coffee to go. The Viennese coffee experience is meant to be appreciated and savored (2).

Viennese coffee houses typically boast a long list of drinks, many unique to the country. Along with the Einspanner, popular orders include the Melange, the Kleiner Schwarzer and Grosser Schwarzer, and the Franziskaner. 

Espresso drinks are traditionally served formally on a silver platter and accompanied by a small glass of water to cleanse the palate.

The Classic Viennese Coffee Recipe

Many recipes for Viennese coffee call for adding chocolate, similar to a mocha, but that’s not a part of the original Austrian drink. If the coffee and chocolate combination is calling your name, check out my recipes for the Marocchino coffee, Espressino, and Toasted White Chocolate Mocha.

How to Make Vienna Coffee

Here’s my step-by-step guide to making traditional Viennese (aka Vienna) coffee. The choice of coffee is up to you, but I like to use a boldly flavored medium-dark roast blend for this drink. It balances the richness of the heavy whipping cream.

Step 1: Make The Espresso

Pull a 2.5-ounce double shot of espresso using 18 to 20 grams of freshly ground coffee. Add it to 1 ounce of hot water in your handled serving glass. If you don’t have an espresso machine, you can use 3 or 4 ounces of strong coffee made with a Moka pot or Aeropress.

Step 2: Whip The Cream

Using a whisk or electric egg beater, whip the heavy cream until it has stiff peaks. 

Step 3: Assemble The Drink

Spoon the whipped cream over the espresso in the glass. You want the layer of cream to be about equal in size to the layer of coffee. 

Step 4: Add The Topping

Finish it off with a dusting of cocoa powder, a sprinkle of chocolate shavings, or a drizzle of chocolate syrup. 

Serve your Viennese coffee immediately, and prepare for a frothy cream mustache.

Vienna Coffee vs. Espresso con Panna

Espresso con panna is the most similar to Viennese coffee among the many different coffee drinks. It means “espresso with cream” in Italian and, depending on the preparation, can be identical to a Vienna coffee. Indeed, in many regions outside of Italy, an espresso con panna is known as a Viennois. 

The espresso con panna is a single or double espresso topped with an equal amount of whipped cream. The main difference is that the espresso is never diluted with water, so strong brewed coffee isn’t a valid substitute.

Final Thoughts

Although it tastes decadent, Viennese coffee with whipped cream is a simple drink to make at home. It’s an easy way to enjoy a taste of the famous Austrian coffee culture without splurging on a flight to Europe. 

I recommend enjoying it as you would in Vienna. Take your time, savor the experience, and perhaps indulge in an accompanying strudel or piece of Sachertorte.