Napoleon’s Coffee Obsession and Vienna’s Coffee Ban

In 1790s Paris, a short, stocky young officer walked into the famed Procope Café—but couldn’t pay his bill. The waiter took his military cap as collateral, never guessing he’d just humiliated a future emperor. That officer was Napoleon Bonaparte, and his lifelong love affair with coffee included battles, exile, and a peculiar recipe that defied convention.

Napoleon drank coffee with a few drops of brandy and lemon juice—not for taste, but for the alcohol’s effects. He claimed it gave him energy, warmth, and dulled pain. His habit inspired "George Coffee," named after his personal coffee maker, and later, a whole café in his name.

Napoleon’s Early Coffee Haunts in Paris

Before rising to power, Napoleon frequented Parisian cafés known for chess and debate. One of his favorites was the Regency Café, where he played chess obsessively—despite being a mediocre player. He once complained, "It is neither scientific enough to be a science, nor easy enough to be a game." The café still displays the copper-edged chess table he used.

The Soldier Who Made His Coffee

Even while campaigning, Napoleon insisted on having his coffee prepared a certain way. He traveled with a personal attendant, George Francis, whose sole job was brewing his coffee. Whenever Napoleon wanted a cup, he’d simply bark, "George, coffee." This phrase became synonymous with high-quality coffee in court circles, giving rise to the term "George Coffee."

Exile and the Birth of 'Napoleon Coffee'

After his defeat and exile to Elba, George Francis opened a café in Paris called "George Coffeehouse." To capitalize on Napoleon’s fame, he created a unique blend dubbed "Napoleon Coffee." Though details of the recipe have been lost, the name alone drew customers eager for a taste of imperial history.

Napoleon vs. Coffee with Milk

Napoleon had an infamous distaste for milk-based coffee. The very smell of milk repulsed him, leading him to doctor his brew with brandy and lemon instead. This explains his oddly specific praise: that coffee gave him "energy, warmth, and made him feel no pain"—effects more likely tied to the alcohol than the caffeine.

Vienna’s Coffee Struggle Under French Rule

When Napoleon captured Vienna in 1805, he occupied the Schönbrunn Palace—the Habsburgs’ summer retreat—and even took an Austrian princess as his bride. The occupation stirred resentment, and some coffeehouse waiters mocked him by dressing in French military uniforms. But the real blow came economically.

The Great Vienna Coffee Shortage

The war disrupted coffee supplies, sending prices soaring. Desperate substitutes like roasted root vegetables were brewed as ersatz coffee—but drinkers noticed the difference. Worse, Austrian Emperor Francis I cracked down on political speech in cafés, banning political books and allowing only state-approved newspapers. By 1810, the government went further: issuing a full Coffee Sales Ban.

Life Without Coffee in Vienna

Austrians, who traditionally drank coffee with bread for breakfast, were devastated. Cafés stopped serving coffee and switched to wine at lunch and hot meals at night, effectively becoming cheap eateries. The public outcry was immense. When Napoleon fell in 1814 and the ban lifted, Viennese crowds rushed the streets in chaos—fighting over coffee supplies, with injuries reported.

Back to Black (and Milk)

Once coffee returned, Vienna reclaimed its café culture. To this day, the city’s coffee is famously consumed with milk, cream, milkshakes, and sugar—a deliberate culinary thumbing-of-the-nose at Napoleon’s brandy-and-lemon preference. The Viennese coffee tradition remains one of Europe’s richest, centered on milk-rich drinks like melange and einspänner.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Napoleon really drink coffee with brandy and lemon?

Yes. Historical anecdotes state that Napoleon added a few drops of brandy and lemon juice to his coffee, claiming it gave him energy, warmth, and reduced pain—likely due to the alcohol content rather than the coffee itself.

What is “George Coffee” and where did it come from?

“George Coffee” originated from the nickname given to the high-quality coffee prepared by Napoleon’s personal attendant, George Francis. It became a court term for premium coffee and later inspired a Paris café named after the attendant.

Why did Vienna ban coffee in 1810?

The Austrian Empire, under Emperor Francis I, banned coffee sales in 1810 partly due to wartime supply issues, but also as a political move to suppress revolutionary discussion in cafés, which had been heavily monitored since the French occupation.

What happened when the Vienna coffee ban ended?

When the ban was lifted following Napoleon’s defeat in 1814, Viennese citizens rushed to buy coffee, leading to chaotic street scenes and even physical fights. Coffeehouses quickly reverted to serving traditional milk-heavy coffee drinks.

What did Napoleon think of milk in coffee?

Napoleon disliked milk intensely. Its smell disgusted him, so he avoided milk-based coffee and instead altered his brew with brandy and lemon—an unusual combination reflecting his preference for strong flavors and stimulants.

Did Napoleon’s coffee habits influence anything in Vienna?

Indirectly, yes. Napoleon’s disdain for milk in coffee contrasted sharply with Vienna’s milk-forward coffee culture. The city’s embrace of creamy, sweet coffee drinks after the French occupation can be seen as a cultural rejection of his preferences.

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