How the Vienna Cafe Latte Was Born

Ever wondered who first thought to mix milk into black coffee—and why we now call it a 'latte'? The answer goes back to a bold act of espionage, a victorious battle, and a clever refugee who changed the way we drink coffee forever. This is the true story behind the very first latte.

In 1683, Viennese coffee pioneer Fanz George Kolschitsky used his knowledge of Turkish to sneak through enemy lines and summon Polish reinforcements, helping lift the Ottoman siege of Vienna. As his reward, he claimed 500 sacks of coffee beans left behind by the retreating army—and opened Vienna’s first coffeehouse. But locals found the strong, unfiltered brew unpalatable. So Kolschitsky filtered out the grounds and added plenty of milk, creating the prototype of today’s cafe latte.

The Siege That Changed Coffee History

In 1683, the Ottoman Empire launched its second major attack on Vienna. The city’s fate rested on getting a message to Poland’s King Augustus II. Enter Fanz George Kolschitsky: a local who had travelled in Turkey and spoke fluent Turkish. Dressed as an Ottoman, he deceived the besieging troops, crossed the Danube, and alerted the Poles. Reinforcements arrived, and the combined Austrian and Polish forces drove the Ottomans away.

As the Turks retreated, they abandoned critical supplies—including 500 bags of coffee beans. At the time, these were tightly controlled by the Muslim world and rarely seen in Europe. Most Viennese had no idea what coffee was, let alone how to prepare it.

Vienna’s First Coffeehouse—and Its Early Struggles

Kolschitsky asked for the 500 bags of coffee beans as his reward and used them to open Vienna’s first coffeehouse, called “The Blue Bottle.” Early customers, unfamiliar with Middle Eastern coffee traditions, disliked the thick, bitter, unfiltered brew that Europeans associated with the Ottoman style. Unlike in the Muslim world, where coffee was consumed with the grounds, Christians found the texture and taste off-putting.

The Birth of the Original Latte

To make the strong, dark coffee more appealing, Kolschitsky devised a simple solution: he filtered out the coffee grounds and added large amounts of milk. This transformed the harsh, bitter brew into a smoother, milder drink—creating what we now recognise as the original version of the cafe latte. This innovation helped popularise coffee among Viennese locals and laid the foundation for the modern latte.

His cafe became a cultural hub, and while the famous line “I am sitting in a café, or on my way there” is attributed to a musician in Vienna, the city’s cafés—with their music, pastries, and coffee aromas—have embodied that spirit for centuries.

What Happened to the Other Coffee Beans?

The 500 bags of coffee beans Kolschitsky received were enough to launch not just one, but many coffeehouses. His success inspired the spread of the Viennese coffeehouse tradition, with many such establishments still operating today, some over 300 years old. These cafes often feature live Bohemian-style music, and the scent of coffee and pastries mingles with the ambiance of old-world Europe.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Fanz George Kolschitsky?

Fanz George Kolschitsky was a Viennese man who had travelled in Turkey and spoke fluent Turkish. In 1683, he disguised himself as an Ottoman soldier, infiltrated the besieging army, and successfully summoned Polish reinforcements to help lift the siege of Vienna. As his reward, he was given 500 sacks of coffee beans, which he used to start Vienna’s first coffeehouse.

Why did early Viennese dislike Turkish-style coffee?

Early Viennese coffee drinkers were unaccustomed to the Middle Eastern method of brewing and consuming coffee, which involved drinking the brew along with its fine grounds. The strong, bitter, unfiltered taste of traditional Turkish coffee was not appealing to local palates, which preferred milder and smoother beverages.

How did Kolschitsky create the first latte?

Kolschitsky filtered out the coffee grounds from the strong, dark brew and added large amounts of milk to make the drink smoother and more palatable for Viennese tastes. This milk-heavy, filtered coffee became the prototype for what we now call a cafe latte.

What happened to the 500 bags of coffee beans?

The 500 bags of coffee beans abandoned by the retreating Ottoman army were claimed by Kolschitsky as his reward. He used them to open Vienna’s first coffeehouse and, thanks to his milk-based innovation, helped spark the growth of coffee culture in the city, leading to the establishment of many historic coffeehouses.

Did Vienna really inspire the modern latte?

Yes. The original cafe latte—made by filtering out coffee grounds and adding milk—was created in Vienna by Fanz George Kolschitsky in 1683. Though the term 'latte' is Italian, the practice of mixing steamed milk with coffee originated in this Viennese innovation.

FrontStreet Coffee Beans for Milk-Based Drinks

For a classic latte inspired by Vienna’s coffee history, try FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Yirgacheffe for floral and citrus notes that shine through milk, or the Colombia Huila for balanced caramel and nuttiness. Both single origins highlight the smooth texture milk adds, much like Kolschitsky’s original creation. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.