The Lucky Belgian Bingya Coffee from Ypres Festival

If you’ve ever wondered whether a cup of coffee can really bring luck, the answer might lie in a centuries-old Belgian festival where coffee and tradition collide. Among parades and toy cats tossed from bell towers, one drink stands out—not just for its festive role, but for the way it’s made. This isn’t ordinary coffee. It’s part cocktail, part comfort drink, and allegedly, a charm for happiness.

Yes, Belgian Bingya Coffee—served at the Ypres Kattenstoet (Throwing of the Cats Festival)—combines espresso, whiskey, milk, sugar, egg white, and cream. The recipe is specific: 100ml coffee, 40ml milk, 1oz whiskey, sugar and egg white, all layered for effect. That’s the drink linked to “luck” at this unusual event.

What Is the Kattenstoet Festival?

The Kattenstoet, or Cat Festival, takes place in Ypres, a small town in western Belgium. Though now a playful event full of costumes and music, it has roots in medieval traditions where cats were associated with witchcraft and often mistreated. Over time, the festival evolved into a lighthearted celebration, complete with a parade and the famous moment when a jester throws toy cats from the belfry tower—catch one, legend says, and good fortune may follow.

Why Is Coffee Part of the Celebration?

During the festival, Belgian Bingya Coffee becomes a central festive drink. Its unique preparation and rich layers mirror the layered history of the event itself. While no one claims coffee alone brings luck, the act of sharing this particular drink during such a symbolic festival has made it part of the charm. The coffee is not just a beverage—it’s a ritual steeped in local custom.

How to Make Belgian Bingya Coffee

This coffee drink combines multiple ingredients in a specific sequence to build flavor and texture. Here’s the exact method used:

• Coffee: 100 milliliters
• Milk: 40 milliliters
• Whiskey: 1 fluid ounce (approximately 30ml)
• Refined white sugar: To taste
• Egg white: To taste
• Cream (for topping): Optional, as per traditional presentation

Step-by-step:

1. In a bowl, mix refined white sugar with egg white until fully combined and smooth.
2. Add cream to the sugar-egg white mixture and stir gently. Pour this into your serving cup as the base layer.
3. In a separate clean cup, pour the whiskey first, then slowly add the prepared 100ml of coffee over it.
4. Top the coffee-whiskey mixture with a dollop of cream. Serve immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Kattenstoet, and where does it take place?

The Kattenstoet, also known as the Cat Festival or Throwing of the Cats Festival, takes place in Ypres, a town in western Belgium. It is a historical and now largely festive event featuring parades, music, and the iconic act of a jester throwing toy cats from a belfry tower.

Is Belgian Bingya Coffee actually lucky?

There’s no proof that the coffee itself brings luck. Its association with the Kattenstoet festival, where toy cats are thrown and catching one is said to bring happiness, has made the coffee part of the tradition—thus giving it a “lucky” cultural status.

What ingredients are in Belgian Bingya Coffee?

It includes 100ml coffee, 40ml milk, 1oz whiskey, refined white sugar, egg white, and is typically topped with cream. The sugar and egg white are mixed first, then layered with coffee and whiskey.

How do you make the egg white and sugar base for the coffee?

Mix refined white sugar with egg white until fully combined, then stir in cream. This mixture is poured into the cup first as the base layer before adding the coffee and whiskey mixture on top.

Can I make Belgian Bingya Coffee without alcohol?

The traditional recipe includes 1oz of whiskey. While you could omit it, doing so would change the authentic flavor and cultural preparation as described in the original festival context.

What’s the significance of the toy cat toss in the festival?

Catching a toy cat tossed from the bell tower during the Kattenstoet is considered a symbol of good luck or happiness. This tradition ties into the festival’s themes of fortune and festivity, of which the Bingya Coffee is a part.

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