A Viennese favorite, a coffee drink called wiener melange is made with milk and foam. This is similar to the Italian cappuccino but contains less coffee and does not use dark roast beans. In both cases, a small glass of water is usually served at the same time as the coffee.
The Vienna coffee tradition of serving a glass of warm milk with coffee has inspired several variations on the theme, including the Wiener melange, which combines steamed or foamed milk with coffee. Some people serve the foam on top of the drink; others stir it in to blend the flavors.
Origins of the Name
The name of this drink comes from the German term for “Viennese mixture” and refers to its popularity and likely origin in Vienna. The drink can be made with any type of coffee, but it is commonly made with a fairly mild coffee, unlike Italian cappuccino or French coffee.
The traditional way of drinking a glass of Wiener melange involves a glass of water to help the drinker cleanse his or her palate between sips. This allows you to drink more coffee without getting dehydrated.
How do you Drink Wiener Melange?
The Melange is a Viennese creation that is half espresso, half milk and topped off with a layer of milk foam.
Winer Melange Recipe (Very Easy!)
Ingredients
- Mild Coffee
- Milk
- 2 Eggs
- 1 Vanilla Pod
- Whipped Cream
- 140g Cane Sugar (Brown)
Instructions
- Mix the eggs with the cane sugar and the pulp of the vanilla pods in a mixer until fluffy, then gradually stir in the remaining ingredients by hand.
- Pour into a bottle and leave in the fridge for about 1 week. Only then will the full aroma unfold (Although it is not necessary).
- Shake well before serving and enjoy chilled with whipped cream on the top!
- Store in the refrigerator – can be kept for approx. 4 weeks.
You can find several methods online to prepare Wiener Melange. However, I discussed the most common and the best way to make it at home. A wide variety of restaurants and cafes prepare the beverage differently. Mild coffee combined with milk foam is another common method, but some locations also use a combination of steamed milk and milk foam itself.
A popular way to enjoy a cup of Viennese coffee is with a topping of milk foam. Adding milk to coffee creates a unique flavor that many people prefer over drinking the Wiener melange by itself.
Conclusion
Although Wiener melange is typically considered a Viennese drink, there is some confusion regarding what goes into making it. You can still order a “Wiener melange” in Vienna, but if you do, you might get something called a Franziskaner.
This drink is more like an espresso con Panna, meaning “with cream” in Italian; the difference is that whipped cream tops a coffee drink rather than steamed milk or milk foam. Although the difference between an espresso con Panna and a café Vienne or café Vienois is often unclear, the terms have become somewhat interchangeable in many areas.
