Melange, Einspänner & Co. – The Complete Guide to Viennese Coffee

Melange, Einspänner & Co. – The Complete Guide to Viennese Coffee

The Viennese coffee house has its own language and the best time to learn it is before you sit down. Melange, Einspänner, Verlängerter: knowing what to order makes you feel at home straight away. This guide helps you tell them apart and order the right coffee for the right moment.

 

At Vollpension – our intergenerational café in the 4th district (Schleifmühlgasse) and the 1st district (Johannesgasse) – all the classics are served. Exactly the way our grandmothers and grandfathers like it: with something homemade on the plate alongside.

The Viennese Coffee Specialties Explained

1

The Wiener Melange

The queen of Viennese coffee culture. A Melange is made from a lengthened Mokka topped with warm milk and a fine, airy foam. Milder than a Cappuccino, warmer than an espresso, cosier than anything else.

 

Our tip: the absolute gold standard paired with our homemade Apfelstrudel. This is how a perfect Vienna morning starts.

2

The Einspänner

Strong black Mokka in a glass, crowned with a generous layer of whipped cream. Named after Vienna’s one-horse carriage drivers, who could hold the glass with one hand while steering with the other. A classic of Viennese coffee house culture.

 

Our tip: do not stir. Drink the hot coffee through the cold cream – the temperature contrast is the whole point.

3

The Verlängerter

A classic Mokka lengthened with hot water – milder and more voluminous as a result. Less intense than a Kleiner Schwarzer, but more honest than a filter coffee. Ideal for those who like to take things slowly.

 

Our tip: ideal for a gentle start to the day. Pairs perfectly with a warm Buchtel with vanilla sauce.

4

Kleiner & Großer Brauner

The Kleiner Brauner is a short Mokka with a splash of milk or cream – the Viennese equivalent of an espresso macchiato. The Großer Brauner follows the same principle, only larger. Small but powerful. No frills, no foam – just coffee and a touch of milk.

 

Our tip: the afternoon coffee. Pair with a Sachertorte – it does not get more Viennese than this.

5

The Fiaker

Named after Vienna’s legendary carriage drivers: a strong Mokka in a glass, refined with a shot of cherry schnapps or rum, topped with whipped cream and often garnished with a candied cherry. A drink that warms from the inside.

 

We do not serve the Fiaker yet – but who knows what our grandmothers and grandfathers will come up with next.

6

Maria Theresia

A double Mokka refined with a shot of orange liqueur and generously crowned with whipped cream. Named after the Austrian empress, who reportedly had a fondness for coffee with orange flavour. Sweet, aromatic, festive.

 

The Maria Theresia is not on our menu – but we have imperial ambitions nonetheless.

At Vollpension: Coffee Meets Homemade Pastries

All Viennese coffee specialties at a glance

A quick overview for anyone who wants to get straight to the point and not spend too long deciding at the table.

 

Name Description Price (approx.) At Vollpension
Wiener Melange Lengthened Mokka, warm milk, foam €4.80 – 5.80 Available daily
Einspänner Strong Mokka in a glass, whipped cream €5.00 – 6.00 Available daily
Verlängerter Mokka lengthened with hot water, mild €4.20 – 5.20 Available daily
Kleiner Brauner Short Mokka with a splash of milk or cream €3.80 – 4.80 Available daily
Fiaker Mokka, cherry schnapps or rum, whipped cream €6.50 – 8.00 not yet available
Maria Theresia Double Mokka, orange liqueur, whipped cream €7.00 – 9.00 not yet available

* Prices are approximate values for traditional Viennese coffee houses, as of 2026. Current prices at Vollpension on our reservation page.

At Vollpension the coffee specialties are not an end in themselves. They are the frame – the centrepiece is what our grandmothers and grandfathers pull fresh from the oven every day. Classic Viennese pastries baked from family recipes, changing daily according to the mood of our baking grandmothers and grandfathers. What ends up on your plate today is Grandma's decision.

 

Melange

Pairs with: Apfelstrudel, Buchtel with vanilla sauce, Topfentorte or whatever our baking seniors have prepared today. The most classic breakfast Vienna has to offer – freshly baked here every day.

Einspänner

Pairs with: Sachertorte, poppy seed cake or a fresh Nussstrudel. Intense coffee needs an intense companion – that is exactly right.

Verlängerter

Pairs with: today's cake – whatever our baking grandmothers and grandfathers recommend. Mild, unhurried, cosy – ideal for a long afternoon in our public living room.

All Viennese coffee terms in our Coffee Lexicon

Experience Viennese coffee specialties in person!

In the 1st district between the State Opera and St. Stephen's Cathedral, or in the 4th district near the Naschmarkt – Grandma bakes fresh and the coffee comes exactly as it should.

Reserve your table now →

Frequently Asked Questions about Viennese Coffee Specialties

What is the difference between a Melange and a Cappuccino?

The Wiener Melange is based on a lengthened Mokka with warm milk and a fine, airy foam – milder and less intense than a Cappuccino, which is built on a stronger espresso. There is also a cultural difference: the Melange is not a quick drink for a standing counter but a companion for a long afternoon in the coffee house. At Vollpension it pairs perfectly with our homemade Apfelstrudel.

How do you order properly in a Viennese coffee house?

Sit down, wait for the waiter and order using the proper name: “Eine Melange, bitte” or “Einen Einspänner, bitte.” Simply asking for “a coffee” is considered a tourist move and usually prompts a counter-question. The glass of water comes automatically, no need to ask. When paying, round up and say the amount directly to the waiter: “Machen’s fünfzig.” That is Vienna.

What is a Fiaker coffee?

The Fiaker is a strong Mokka in a glass, refined with a shot of cherry schnapps or rum and a layer of whipped cream – named after Vienna’s carriage drivers who warmed themselves with it in the cold. A genuine Viennese classic that is missing from many standard menus. At Vollpension we do not serve it yet, but who knows what our grandmothers and grandfathers will come up with next.

Back to our Viennesse Coffee House Guide