Einspänner
Coffee with whipped cream
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
An Einspänner is a Viennese coffee drink consisting of espresso ("Mocca" in Viennese terminology[1]) topped with whipped cream.[2] It is traditionally served in a glass rather than a mug or a coffee cup.
History
Origins
In German, an "Einspänner" is a kind of carriage pulled by a single horse (one-horse carriage). The drink's name refers to the carriages that were common in Vienna in the 19th century, as it was intended for the drivers.[3] Whipped cream was used to insulate the coffee on cold days, keeping it warm for as long as possible. The Einspänner also found popularity beyond carriage drivers and quickly became a staple of Vienna's coffee houses.[4]
Modern day
In the 2020s, the Viennese Einspänner was cited as a precursor for cream-topped drinks in South Korea's coffee scene, including not just espresso but also iced coffee and matcha lattes. Korean-style coffee shops have also popularized the Einspänner and its derivatives in the United States.[5][6]
