How Vienna Invented the Original Latte Coffee

Ever wondered where the latte—your go-to milky coffee—actually comes from? Most people assume it’s an Italian invention, but the truth takes us back to 17th-century Vienna, where a dramatic siege, a brave local, and a pile of abandoned coffee beans changed coffee history forever.

The very first latte-like coffee was created in Vienna in 1683, when Viennese entrepreneur Franz Georg Kolschitzky filtered out coffee grounds and added large amounts of milk to suit local tastes—resulting in the earliest version of what we now call a latte.

The Siege That Brought Coffee to Vienna

In 1683, Vienna was under siege by the Ottoman Empire for the second time. The city’s fate rested on getting a message to Poland’s King Augustus II. Enter Franz Georg Kolschitzky—a Viennese man who had travelled in the Ottoman lands and spoke fluent Turkish. Disguised and using his language skills, he slipped through enemy lines across the Danube to summon Polish reinforcements.

The plan worked. Polish and Austrian forces broke the siege, forcing the Ottomans to flee. In their hasty retreat, they left behind valuable military supplies—including 500 sacks of green coffee beans, a commodity tightly controlled in the Muslim world and rarely seen in Europe.

From Strange Bean to City Staple

At the time, nobody in Vienna knew what coffee beans were for. Only Kolschitzky recognised their potential. He claimed the beans as his reward for saving the city and opened Vienna’s first coffeehouse, “Zur Blauen Flasche” (The Blue Bottle).

But early coffee wasn’t an instant hit. Europeans weren’t used to drinking the thick, bitter, unfiltered brew the way Ottoman drinkers did—grounds and all. The dark, strong coffee confused local palates.

Kolschitzky’s Milk Revolution

To adapt the foreign drink to local tastes, Kolschitzky made a pivotal change: he filtered out the coffee grounds and added plenty of milk. This simple innovation transformed the intense, bitter cup into something smoother, lighter, and more familiar—creating the prototype of the modern latte.

This milk-forward coffee quickly found favour in Vienna. The city’s coffeehouse culture flourished, with music, conversation, and, of course, coffee filling the air—just as the famous saying goes: “I am not in the coffeehouse, I am on my way there.”

What Is a Latte, Really?

Today, a “latte” typically refers to a café drink made with a shot of espresso and steamed milk, often with a small amount of foam. But historically, the Viennese original was a milky, filtered coffee—closer to what we might call a café au lait or a latte macchiato. The term “latte” is simply Italian for “milk,” pointing to the drink’s defining ingredient.

Vienna’s adaptation—filtering the coffee and adding milk—made the beverage more approachable and laid the foundation for countless milk-based coffee drinks we enjoy today, especially in specialty coffee shops around the world.

The Legacy of Vienna’s First Coffeehouse

Kolschitzky’s Blue Bottle coffeehouse became a model for social spaces where people gathered over coffee. His use of milk to soften coffee’s bitterness was revolutionary and set a precedent for the evolution of milk coffee drinks in European and later global café culture.

While Italians later perfected the espresso and the cappuccino, it was a Viennese innovator who first made coffee palatable to non-Muslim drinkers by blending it with milk—creating the first “latte.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Where did the latte coffee originate?

The original latte-style coffee was created in Vienna in 1683 by Franz Georg Kolschitzky, who filtered coffee grounds and added milk to create a smoother drink for local tastes. This innovation predates the Italian latte and is considered the first milky coffee of its kind in Europe.

Who first put milk in coffee?

Viennese entrepreneur Franz Georg Kolschitzky was the first to add milk to coffee in a significant and documented way, doing so in 1683 after the Siege of Vienna. He used milk to make the strong, bitter Ottoman-style coffee more palatable to Europeans.

Why did Kolschitzky add milk to coffee?

Kolschitzky added milk to coffee to suit the tastes of Viennese drinkers, who were unfamiliar with the thick, bitter, unfiltered Ottoman coffee. By filtering out the grounds and adding milk, he created a smoother, more approachable beverage that became the prototype of the modern latte.

What beans were used in the first latte?

The first latte was made using 500 sacks of green coffee beans left behind by the retreating Ottoman army in 1683. These beans, originally from the Muslim world, were unroasted and unknown in Europe at the time, but were used by Kolschitzky to create Vienna’s first coffee drinks.

Is latte originally an Italian drink?

No, the latte was not originally Italian. While the term “latte” is Italian for “milk,” the drink itself originated in Vienna in 1683. The modern Italian-style latte, made with espresso and steamed milk, came later and was influenced by earlier milk coffee traditions like the Viennese original.

What was Vienna’s first coffeehouse called?

Vienna’s first coffeehouse was called “Zur Blauen Flasche” (The Blue Bottle), opened by Franz Georg Kolschitzky in 1683 using the first coffee beans brought to the city after the Ottoman siege was lifted.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Milk-Based Coffee

For crafting a classic latte or milk coffee at home, try FrontStreet Coffee’s Classic Blend—an expertly crafted espresso blend with rich crema and a smooth body, ideal for lattes. For a more affordable option, the Black Cocoa Blend offers deep flavours and solid crema at a lower price, perfect for cafés or frequent brewing. Fruit lovers might also explore the Strawberry Candy Espresso, which brings a sweet, candy-like profile that pairs surprisingly well with milk. All three blends are designed for espresso-based drinks and are freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.