Name: Einspanner Coffee with Whipped Cream
Prep time: 5 min
Ingredients: ½ cup Espresso or very strong coffee; 3-4 heaping tsp Whipped cream ((or to taste))

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This Einspanner Coffee is made of strong coffee (or espresso), topped with a thick layer of whipped cream on the top and enjoyed hot.

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If you’ve been around here for a while, you probably know how much I love coffee and whipped cream. And of course combining the two is a no-brainer. Actually, I’ve been doing it for years.

Often times I would have whipped cream left over from when I made waffles for breakfast. So the next day (usually a Sunday), my husband and I would make coffee and enjoy it with a thick layer of whipped cream on the top. I’ve never actually dreamed that there is an official drink like that out there. What do you know! Great minds think alike and all that…

Seriously, if you’re a coffee person (and even if you’re not), give this Einspanner coffee a try. It’s a real treat!

What is Einspanner Coffee?

The actual way of writing this would be: Einspänner Coffee. This is a coffee specialty from Vienna Austria. The name comes from the German word “chaise” (like a carriage). In the 19th century, the drivers of said carriages would hold a coffee in their hand and drive with the other. The coffee was covered with a thick layer of cream keeping the coffee hot longer and allowing them to enjoy it during a break.

The coffee is always drunk through the whipped cream and is never stirred. According to the Viennese, that is the only way to get the authentic taste of this coffee:)

Ingredients for Einspanner Coffee

Espresso – or really strong coffee. If you don’t have an espresso machine, you can make the coffee stronger by brewing it twice (for example, use a ceramic coffee dripper and run the coffee twice through it).

Whipped cream – I always, always make my own whipped cream. There is nothing better than homemade. But you can use something like Reddi Whip or whipped cream in a can if that’s what you have.

How to Make Einspanner Coffee

If you’re making your own whipped cream, start off by making it first so that it is ready to go for when you brew your coffee. As I mentioned above, I always make my own and totally recommend it. You can have it ready in about 5 minutes. Here are all the details.

Make your espresso or strong coffee.

Top with a thick layer of whipped cream.

Coffee dripping into a cup from a ceramic dripper

Serve hot.

How to Serve Einspanner

Einspanner is served just as soon as it is prepared and just as it is. The coffee is never stirred and is enjoyed through the thick layer of whipped cream.

From some of of my research on this topic, it seems that the whipped cream was not sweet. So that might be the most traditional way to serve. Some pages indicate you can sprinkle powdered sugar for a bit of sweetness. Others say, that a stick of sugar is served along with the coffee in the Viennese Coffeehouses.

I prefer to serve the coffee with sweet whipped cream as it just takes it to the next level. You can adjust this to your tastes.

Recipe Variations

If you want to get off the traditional path of making Einspanner, here are a couple of fun variations:

Sprinkle the coffee with powdered sugar before serving (might be more of a garnish type thing).
Sprinkle the coffee with some shaved chocolate.
Use alcoholic whipped cream instead of normal whipped cream for a different taste profile.

What to Serve with Einspanner

I love to enjoy this coffee as is. However, it would go great with a piece of cake or some cookies.

Recommended Tools

You’ll need something to make the espresso. A Ceramic Coffee Dripper works if you don’t have anything else. I love using ceramic instead plastic so that you don’t have plastic leeching into your drink when you prepare it. Glass would work as well. An Italian Stovetop Espresso Maker pot also works if you don’t have other espresso makers. I have one and love using it for making espresso.

More Coffee Recipes

If you’ve been around this blog for any amount of time, you know coffee is well-loved around here. It’s energizing, refreshing, it’s addicting. Here are my other favorite recipes for coffee. Totally looking forward to summer and iced coffee season in all its forms

Lastly, if you make this Einspanner Coffee, make sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating here! I’d love to hear back from you and will do my best to answer and respond to every comment. And of course, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram if you make this recipe. I’d love to see the photos of the recipes you have made!

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