Einspänner

Vienna whipped cream coffee

The Einspänner, a quintessential Viennese coffee specialty, embodies the elegance and sophistication of Vienna's historic café culture. Named after the one-horse carriages (Einspänner) used by Viennese carriage drivers, this drink was designed to stay warm longer thanks to its protective layer of whipped cream. The classic preparation consists of a double shot of strong Viennese coffee topped with a generous dollop of lightly sweetened whipped cream, traditionally served in a glass with a metal handle to showcase its beautiful layering.

The genius of the Einspänner lies in its temperature contrast and textural interplay. The cold whipped cream slowly melts into the hot coffee, creating a gradually changing drinking experience. The cream serves multiple purposes: it keeps the coffee hot, provides a sweet contrast to the strong coffee, and historically protected the drink from cooling too quickly in the cold weather while carriage drivers wore gloves. Today, it remains a beloved symbol of Vienna's coffee house culture, where it's often served with a small glass of water and sometimes accompanied by traditional Viennese pastries.