How Vienna’s Legendary Coffeehouses Began

When you picture a historic European coffeehouse—wood-paneled walls, newspapers stacked on marble tables, philosophical debates over demitasses—it’s likely Vienna or Rome that comes to mind. But how did these institutions actually begin? Why did certain cities become synonymous with coffee culture, and what really launched the Viennese coffeehouse tradition?

The short answer: Vienna’s coffeehouse legend began in 1683, after the city was besieged by the Ottoman Empire. When Polish forces broke the siege, they seized crates of mysterious Ottoman coffee beans. A local spy, Franz Georg Kolschitzky, was rewarded with some of these beans—but it wasn’t until 1685 that the first official coffeehouse opened under an Armenian license.

Rome’s Early Coffee Scene: A British and Northern European Hub

Long before Vienna’s coffee culture took shape, Rome was already a magnet for international artists and intellectuals. In 1750, the famed Caffè Greco opened its doors, quickly becoming a gathering spot for painters, sculptors, and antiquarians from Britain, Germany, and Scandinavia. These northern European creatives made the Caffè Greco their unofficial studio away from home.

By 1752, tensions between British and German artists led a group of British painters to break away and establish their own haunt a few hundred meters away at the Spanish Steps. By 1765, James Boswell used the location as his Roman mailing address, referring to it simply as “the English Coffee House.”

Young Welsh painter Thomas Jones arrived in Rome in December 1776 and was promptly taken there. He described finding “London’s old friends” inside a grimy vaulted room decked out in striking modern decor. Despite the damp cold of his lodgings, Jones found comfort in “rushing to the English Coffee House.”

The Legend of Vienna’s First Coffeehouse

The story of Vienna’s coffee culture is often romanticized, and much of it centers on a single man: Franz Georg Kolschitzky. In 1683, the Ottoman Empire laid siege to Vienna with a heavily armed force. After months of bombardment, when the city’s defenses were on the verge of collapse, Polish forces arrived to lift the siege. The Ottomans were defeated and left behind vast amounts of supplies—including crates of strange, unroasted coffee beans.

Kolschitzky, a Pole who had risked his life gathering intelligence behind enemy lines during the siege, was honored for his bravery. As part of his reward, he was given several bags of these mysterious beans—then an unknown commodity in Europe.

The Birth of Vienna’s First Licensed Coffeehouse

Although Kolschitzky began selling coffee in the city, the very first official coffeehouse in Vienna didn’t open until 1685. It was established by an Armenian entrepreneur who secured the city’s sole 20-year license to roast and sell what was then called an “Oriental drink.” This marked the official start of Vienna’s coffeehouse trade, built on the very beans that Kolschitzky had helped bring into the city.

The exact details of Kolschitzky’s personal role in that first licensed shop remain unclear, but his contribution to popularizing coffee among Viennese citizens is undisputed. The 1685 café became the prototype for what would become an enduring institution: the Viennese coffeehouse, a place for leisurely conversation, newspapers, and contemplation over coffee.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where was the first coffeehouse in Vienna?

The first officially licensed coffeehouse in Vienna opened in 1685. It was run by an Armenian who obtained the city’s sole 20-year concession to produce and sell coffee, then known as an “Oriental drink.” While Franz Georg Kolschitzky was instrumental in introducing coffee to Viennese society after the 1683 siege, the licensed café came two years later.

Who introduced coffee to Vienna?

Coffee was introduced to Vienna by Polish spy Franz Georg Kolschitzky following the lifting of the Ottoman siege in 1683. After the Austrians, aided by Polish forces, defeated the Ottomans, Kolschitzky was rewarded with sacks of coffee beans, which he began selling to locals, sparking interest in the drink.

What happened to the Ottoman supplies after the 1683 siege?

When the Ottoman siege of Vienna failed in 1683, the retreating army left behind large quantities of military supplies, including food and coffee beans. These supplies, particularly the coffee, were unfamiliar to the Viennese but became the foundation for the city’s future coffee culture.

Why did British artists leave the Caffè Greco?

By 1752, tensions between British and German artists at Rome’s Caffè Greco led a group of British painters to establish their own coffeehouse near the Spanish Steps. This new venue became known as the “English Coffee House,” hosting figures like James Boswell and attracting British expatriates.

What was the English Coffee House in Rome?

The English Coffee House was a coffeehouse set up by British artists around 1752, a few hundred meters from the Caffè Greco near the Spanish Steps. It became a mailing address for expats like James Boswell and a social hub for British painters, sculptors, and antiquarians in Rome.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Vienna-Style Coffee

Enjoy your Viennese-style coffee experience with FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Huakui, a bright, juicy Ethiopian single origin with notes of blueberry and floral tones that shine in lighter brews. For a deeper profile, try the PWN Golden Mandheling, known for its syrupy body and notes of caramel and almond—perfect for traditional-style pours. Both beans highlight the craftsmanship behind European coffee appreciation. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.