Viennese Coffee - Melange

by Max Shrem, Posted Mar 31st 2009 @ 11:00AM

A sip of this deliciously creamy and smooth cup of coffee is sure to please even those non-coffee drinkers. Similar to the French cafe au lait and the Italian cappuccino, the Viennese melange is a combination of coffee with steamed milk and foam. Unlike cappuccino, this "Wiener Melange" is made with milder coffee and is traditionally served with a glass of water. The accompaniment of water allows the coffee to go down more easily without dehydration.

The experience of sitting in a plush Viennese café with a cup of Viennese coffee, a glass of water and a newspaper seems to awaken the intellect within you. It conjures up images of the Austrian intelligentsia in the early 20th century with characters like Egon Schiele and Gustav Klimt.

While in Vienna, I visited several Viennese cafés, such as the famous Café Central, and tried several variations on this deep rich coffee. My favorite, Franziskaner, also called an "espresso con panna," is served with whipped cream instead of foam. I also tasted rich delicious café mocha served with whipped cream. The Viennese café culture dates as far back as the late 17th century.

The influence of the melange on American coffee can be seen in Starbucks and several smaller coffeeshops. One of the best places to try the classic melange is Café Sabarsky located on the first floor of the Neue Galerie in Manhattan.

Filed Under: Drink Recipes
Tags: austrian cafe, AustrianCafe, cafe, coffee, coffee shop, CoffeeShop, europe

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Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)

3-31-2009 @11:49AM FoodieSearching said... I loved ordering melange in Wien, especially at Hotel Sacher with my slice of Sacher Torte. I was surprised at the small glass of water served with it--now I know the reason!
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4-01-2009 @7:55AM Michael said... I just have a latte in the morning, but it is served on a small tray with a glass of water. I think the small glass of water is served more out of hospitality than anything medical. I remember reading an article that while caffeine can act as a diuretic, the effect is only noticable after very large amounts which would have you bouncing down the street anyway.

They did serve big pints of water with just about everything in Athens, but that's very hot and filled with smog in the summer.
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4-01-2009 @8:11AM Richard said... Actually, it's been disputed whether the glass is to fight dehydration. According to various sources, coffee does in fact not dehydrate the body, and the glass of water is served in order to clean the palate so the coffee tastes best.

But I share your opinion on the Melange, it's what I order most of the time too.
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4-01-2009 @8:52PM Greg Sherwin said... Given my last trip through Vienna, which was years ago, it was a touch watered down for my tastes. Which also probably explains why non-coffee drinkers would definitely like the Viennese melange: it's a coffee drink that's well-suited for those who don't like coffee all that much.

Starbucks has made billions on the concept of making millions of people who don't like coffee believe that they actually do. (Genius, really.) So the comparison is definitely appropriate here.

Vienna has a great deal of café culture and history. Unfortunately, that reputation seems earned more for the place than for the quality of the beverage it serves. But the coffee there still beats the pants off of much of Europe and the Americas.
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4-06-2009 @3:25PM Lee said... The Melange is popular at the Julius Meinl coffee houses in Chicago. They also have the best food you'll ever find in a coffee house!
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