Brewing Excellence: The Art of Coffee in Germany

Are you curious about the coffee culture in Deutschland? Check out this post for everything you need to know about the art of coffee in Germany!

Although Germany is known for its artisanal beer and picturesque castles, its coffee also plays a major role in its culture as well. Germany, in fact, is one of the top importers of coffee and it’s on the top 25 list of the countries that consume the most coffee in the world.

Their love of coffee however didn’t just spring out of nowhere. Germany’s coffee has a rich history that involves World War II (WWII) and the invention of the coffee filter.

So, if you want to learn more about how coffee came about in Germany, keep reading! This post alone highlights the history of coffee in Germany and what Germany’s coffee culture is like today.

The History of Coffee in Germany

In 1679, the first coffeehouse in Germany opened in Hamburg. During this time, coffeehouses in Germany were a place where men and women would go to meet friends, sit down, and chat. This happened so often in Germany that the German word Kaffeeklatsch was used to describe the activity. The word means ‘coffee and gossip’ with Kaffee being translated as ‘coffee’ and Klatsch being translated as ‘gossip’ or ‘chit chat’.

There was even a moment in time in Germany where coffee was illegal. This was because its popularity was affecting the beer industry so beer sales fell dramatically. The King of Prussia, Friedrich II of Hohenzollern wasn’t pleased with this so he monopolized all the coffee roasters and ruled the possession and consumption of coffee as illegal. This law, however, only stayed in place until he died which was in 1786.

Coffee even became a rare luxury during WWII because it was impossible to find. In fact, it was so impossible that people started to make the beverage out of acorns, chicory, and grains.

The coffee filter was also invented in Germany by Melitta Bentz, a German woman, who did it so that people could avoid coffee dregs at the bottom of their cups. She experimented with the coffee filter until she made the perfect one and in 1908 she patented the filter for the cafetière and produced it with her husband.

Germany’s Coffee Culture Today

Today, coffee in Germany is still being consumed regularly and it’s not impossible to find. The beverage is typically served with cake as a German tradition with Germans calling this Kaffee und Kuchen in their native tongue. This tradition usually happens in the late afternoon, on holidays, or Sundays.

Different German Coffee Types

When it comes to coffee in Germany, Germans have special coffee types that they like to make. Here are a few of the coffee types you can expect to see in coffee shops around Germany:

Pharisäer Kaffee

The Pharisäer Kaffee is a coffee type in Germany that’s a long coffee with a shot of rum, topped with whipped cream, and dusted with cocoa. Its name originates from an ancient legend that tells the story of Gustav Beyer, who was a strict Protestant from the Northern Frisia region.

Gustav would regularly chastise anyone in his congregation for how much they drank. So, one day, while his congregation was drinking German coffee with a shot of rum at a village festival, Gustav was served the non-alcoholic version. When he realized he was being tricked by his congregation, he yelled “Ihr Pharisäer!” which translates to “You Pharisees” in English. This is in reference to the hypocrisy of the Pharisees in the Bible. Hence, why this coffee type is called the Pharisäer Kaffee.

Eiskaffee

Eiskaffee is a coffee type in Germany that’s a long coffee with vanilla ice cream topped with whipped cream and dusted with cocoa powder. This coffee type is mostly enjoyed on a boiling summer day and it’s perfect for those who have a sweet tooth.

Café Crème

Café Crème is a coffee type in Germany that’s a long coffee made with a specific espresso machine and a dual filter holder. So, if you order a coffee in Germany by saying Einen kaffee, bitte, this is what you’ll get. The result in the end is similar to an Americano in taste and appearance.

Coffee in Germany FAQs

All in all, to end this post, I thought it would be important to also answer some frequently asked questions people might have about coffee in Germany!

via GIPHY

Is coffee popular in Germany?

Yes, coffee is very popular in Germany. The average German consumes about 167 liters of coffee within a year, making coffee the most consumed hot beverage in the country. Also, as stated previously, Germany is one of the top 25 coffee-consuming countries in the world.

What kind of coffee do they drink in Germany?

Most Germans tend to drink German-style black coffee because it’s strong, bitter, and roasted dark. Some would even say it’s more intense than American coffee.

How do you order a coffee in German?

To order a coffee a German there are a few things you need to remember before you address the barista:

• Greet the barista by saying Guten Morgen or Guten Tag
• Remember to use Sie instead of du when addressing cafe staff

Here are some phrases you can say to order your coffee in German:

• Einen Kaffee, bitte (one coffee, please)
• Einen Kaffee zum Mitnehmen, bitte (one coffee to go, please)
• Kaffee mit Milch (coffee with milk)
• Einen großen cappuccino (a large cappucino)
• Einen kleinen cappuccino (a small cappucino)

What is the German coffee tradition?

The German coffee tradition Kaffee und Kuchen is an important landmark of German coffee culture. This tradition involves Germans enjoying coffee and cake in the afternoon with family or friends. Usually, conversation is being shared while this is happening so it’s another way for Germans to connect with the people around them.

What is coffee German style?

German-style coffee usually refers to three traditional methods: Pharisäer Kaffee, Cafè Crème, and Eiskaffee.

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Overall, I hope you enjoyed this post on the art of coffee in Germany! Please let me know in the comments below what your experience was like trying coffee in Germany for the first time. I would love to hear from you! 🙂

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