Napoleon’s Coffee Obsession and Vienna’s Battle for Brews

When a short, stocky young officer couldn’t pay his bill at Paris’s famed Procope Café, the waiter took his military cap as security—never guessing he’d just stiffed the future Emperor Napoleon. That incident is just one of many where coffee, power, and defiance intertwined in Napoleon’s turbulent life.

So what did Napoleon really drink? Brandy-laced black coffee with lemon—not milk. And yes, he took it with him to war.

Napoleon’s Early Coffee Haunts and Chess Obsession

Before crowning himself Emperor, Napoleon was a regular at Paris’s Procope Café and the Regency Café, known for chess. Though not a great player, he loved the game, once grumbling, ‘It’s neither rigorous as science nor easy as play.’ His favorite chess table, with its distinctive brass trim, still sits in the Regency Café today.

The Soldier Who Made ‘George Coffee’ Famous

Napoleon was so hooked on coffee that he brought his own personal brewer, George Francis, on military campaigns. Whenever he wanted a cup, he’d bark, ‘George, coffee!’ This phrase spread through the court as shorthand for high-quality brews—and eventually gave rise to ‘George Coffee.’ After Napoleon’s exile to Elba, Francis opened a café in Paris called ‘Café George,’ serving a signature ‘Napoleon Coffee’ that played on the emperor’s notoriety.

Napoleon’s Unusual Coffee Recipe

Unlike most, Napoleon despised milk. Its smell revolted him. So he drank his coffee black—but with a twist: a few drops of brandy and lemon juice. That mix fueled his claim that coffee gave him ‘energy, warmth, and made him feel no pain.’ Turns out, it wasn’t just caffeine—it was the booze.

Coffee Under Fire: Vienna’s Napoleonic Coffee Crisis

During the 1805 invasion of Vienna, Napoleon occupied the Schönbrunn Palace, slept in Empress Maria Theresa’s bed, and even married an Austrian princess. Locals got their revenge any way they could—some cafés had waiters dress as Napoleonic soldiers, a passive-aggressive jab at the emperor.

More seriously, French occupation choked off coffee supplies, sending prices soaring. Desperate substitutes like herbal roots tried to mimic coffee’s flavor, but failed. Worse, Emperor Franz cracked down on political speech in cafés, banning political books and allowing only state-sanctioned newspapers. German poet Ernst noted that while Italian, French, and German coffee shops buzzed with debate, Viennese cafés fell silent with fear.

The 1810 Coffee Ban and Vienna’s Backlash

In early 1810, the government went a step further: it outlawed coffee sales entirely. For coffee-loving Viennese, used to starting their day with coffee and bread, it was unthinkable. Cafés pivoted to wine at lunch and hot meals by evening, becoming ad-hoc diners.

But when Napoleon abdicated in 1814 and the ban lifted, Vienna erupted. Citizens mobbed streets to buy coffee, with men and women brawling in the chaos. Some suffered head wounds, others broken ribs. Yet amid the mayhem, joy reigned. ‘We lost a princess,’ the Viennese seemed to say, ‘but we got our coffee back.’

Today, Viennese coffee culture remains defiantly rich—topped with milk, cream, milkshakes, and sugar. A sweet, creamy rebuke to the emperor who drank his black with liquor.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Napoleon drink when he ordered ‘coffee’?

Napoleon drank black coffee with added brandy and lemon juice—not milk. He avoided dairy due to its smell and preferred stimulants that included alcohol, which he claimed gave him energy, warmth, and pain relief.

Did Napoleon really leave his military cap at a Paris café?

Yes. As a young officer in Paris before rising to power, Napoleon once couldn’t pay his bill at the famous Procope Café, and the waiter kept his military cap as collateral. The server had no idea he was serving the future emperor.

What is ‘George Coffee,’ and where did the name come from?

‘George Coffee’ refers to both the nickname for high-end coffee that spread from Napoleon’s habit of calling for ‘George, coffee!’ to his personal brewer, and a real café opened by George Francis after Napoleon’s exile. Francis served a special ‘Napoleon Coffee’ at his Paris café.

Why did Vienna ban coffee in 1810?

The Austrian government banned coffee outright in 1810, largely due to supply shortages caused by Napoleon’s occupation and economic disruption. The ban also helped suppress political discussion in cafés, which the state viewed as dangerous.

How did Viennese coffee culture recover after the ban?

When the coffee ban ended in 1814, Viennese citizens rushed to cafes in chaotic, joyful scenes. Coffee returned as a central part of daily life, leading to Vienna’s famous coffeehouse tradition—though now with generous milk, cream, and sugar, contrasting Napoleon’s preferences.

Did Napoleon bring coffee with him to war?

Yes. Napoleon insisted on having his personal coffee prepared by his attendant, George Francis, even during military campaigns. His constant demand for coffee contributed to the phrase ‘George coffee’ as a mark of quality.

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