Napoleon’s Coffee Obsession and the Vienna Ban

In the years leading up to the French Revolution, a squat, solid young military officer walked into Paris’s famed Procope Café—only to have his military cap held hostage by an insistent waiter over an unpaid bill. That officer? A not-yet-emperor named Napoleon Bonaparte.

Napoleon drank coffee throughout his military campaigns, insisted on a specific mix of brandy and lemon, and inspired both a drink and a Paris café bearing his name. His habits—and the political drama around him—even helped spark Vienna’s short-lived coffee ban. Here's how one man shaped early modern coffee culture.

Napoleon at the Café: From Procope to Regency

Before he was emperor, Napoleon was a regular at Paris’s Procope Café and the chess-centric Regency Café. Though not a great player, he loved the game, once griping, 'It’s not precise enough to be science, but too hard to be just a game.' One of his old chess tables, with its distinctive copper trim, remains on display at the Regency Café to this day.

Napoleon’s Unique Coffee Ritual

Napoleon was famously coffee-dependent, even taking his own personal coffee preparer, George Francis, into battle. Whenever he wanted a cup, he’d bark, 'George, coffee!'—a phrase that became shorthand in court for high-quality coffee, later dubbed 'George Coffee.' After his exile to Elba, Francis opened 'Café George' in Paris and launched a signature 'Napoleon Coffee,' playing on the emperor’s name and preferences.

What set Napoleon’s coffee apart? He detested milk and deliberately avoided it. Instead, he added a few drops of brandy and lemon juice to his brew. That explains his famous quote: 'Coffee excites me, gives me warmth and unusual strength, and makes me insensitive to pain.' The 'unusual strength' likely came from the alcohol—not just the caffeine.

The Vienna Coffee Crisis and Napoleon’s Role

During the Napoleonic Wars, French troops occupied Vienna in 1805. Napoleon took up residence in Empress Maria Theresa’s bedchamber at Schönbrunn Palace for a year and even married an Austrian princess. The occupation rankled Austrians, who couldn’t attack the French directly—but some coffeehouse waiters got their revenge by dressing as Napoleonic soldiers to serve customers.

More seriously, the war disrupted coffee supplies, sending prices soaring. Some cafés resorted to serving a root-based 'fake coffee' that failed to impress anyone. The Viennese, used to coffee with bread, were miserable. The government, already anxious about revolutionary talk, cracked down further: political books were banned in cafés, only state-sanctioned newspapers allowed. By 1810, the coffee trade was so disrupted that the government issued a full Coffee Sales Prohibition.

The public outcry was immediate. 'What do we drink with breakfast?' became the question of the day. Without coffee, cafés turned into ad hoc restaurants or wine bars. When the ban finally lifted after Napoleon’s fall in 1814, Viennese crowds rioted in the streets, fighting over fresh coffee supplies. People were injured—some even hospitalized—but coffee was back.

Today, Viennese coffee culture embraces milk, cream, milkshakes, and sugar—a deliberate contrast to Napoleon’s bitter, booze-laced preferences.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Napoleon really put brandy and lemon in his coffee?

Yes. Historical accounts state that Napoleon disliked milk and instead added a few drops of brandy and lemon juice to his coffee. This combination was likely responsible for the energizing effect he described, more so than the coffee alone.

What was 'George Coffee'?

'George Coffee' was the nickname for the high-quality coffee prepared by Napoleon’s personal attendant, George Francis. The term became synonymous with premium coffee in court circles and later inspired a café and coffee blend named after Napoleon himself.

Why did Vienna ban coffee in 1810?

The Austrian government banned coffee due to supply shortages caused by the Napoleonic Wars, political concerns over revolutionary discussions in cafés, and general economic disruption. Political books were also forbidden, and only official newspapers could be read in cafés.

What happened when Vienna’s coffee ban ended?

When the ban was lifted in 1814, Viennese citizens rushed to buy coffee, leading to chaotic street scenes and even physical fights. The return of coffee was seen as a major victory and a restoration of normal life after years of occupation and restriction.

Did Napoleon drink his coffee black?

No. Despite his reputation, Napoleon did not drink coffee black—he customarily added brandy and lemon juice to it. He avoided milk entirely, which set his coffee preferences apart from later European traditions, especially those in Vienna.

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