Beverages

Serving

Cafe Vienna Mix

Name: Cafe Vienna Mix
Total time: 10 min
Yield: 12 servings
Cuisine: Beverages
Ingredients: 1 cup finely ground coffee; 2 tbsp instant hot cocoa mix; 1 tbsp brown sugar; 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon; whipped cream, for serving

A homemade spiced instant coffee mix that tastes like a creamy Viennese cafe drink.

10 minutes

Serves 12

Drink

5 min prep

8 min cook

Contains common allergens

Dairy

In the app, Listahan checks these against your household automatically.

Good to know

Ready in under 30 minutes

Matched from this dish's own ingredients and timing. Browse more: 30-minute meals

Instructions

5 steps

1
Stir together the ground coffee, hot cocoa mix, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a bowl until evenly blended.
2
Store the dry mix in an airtight container.
3
To brew, use about 2 tablespoons of the mix per 6 ounces of water in a drip coffee maker or French press.
4
Brew as you would regular coffee, letting the cocoa and cinnamon infuse along with the coffee grounds.
5
Pour into a mug, top with whipped cream, and dust with a little extra cinnamon before serving.

Cafe Vienna Mix — plated and served — Serving moment. How Cafe Vienna Mix looks plated and ready to eat — a representative photo, not a step in the recipe.

Listahan Family Score™

70/100

Good fit for most families

Allergen-friendly 90

Kid-friendly 55

Weeknight-easy 86

Budget-friendly 72

Great leftovers 50

Pantry-friendly 38

Score reflects how well this recipe fits a typical busy household. In the app, your Family Score is personalized to your household's allergens, kids, and pantry.

Nutrition

per serving

Calories

0 g

Protein

12 g

Carbs

0 g

Fat

Estimated per serving. Actual values depend on the brands and portions you use.

Listahan cooking guide

Chef notes & practical guide

Technique notes, ingredient swaps, serve-alongside ideas, storage guidance, and equipment for this recipe.

Cultural context

Cafe Vienna mixes recreate a flavored instant coffee style once popular in commercial powdered blends, built on instant coffee cut with nonfat dry milk powder for creaminess and a touch of cinnamon for warmth. Unlike a straight black coffee mix, the dry milk gives this version its rounder, slightly sweet body once it's stirred into hot water.

Listahan note

This version keeps the nonfat dry milk powder in roughly equal proportion to the sugar, since too little dry milk leaves the mix tasting like sweetened black coffee rather than the creamier, rounder flavor a Vienna-style blend is meant to have.

Technique cues

Sift or whisk the nonfat dry milk powder before combining it with the other ingredients, since it can clump on its own and won't distribute evenly through the mix if added straight from the container.
Combine the instant coffee, sugar, dry milk, and cinnamon in a bowl and whisk thoroughly rather than just stirring, so the lighter cinnamon doesn't settle at the top or bottom of the jar.
Store the mix in an airtight container away from humidity, since the dry milk powder is even more prone to clumping and moisture absorption than plain instant coffee.
Use hot water rather than milk to prepare each cup, since the dry milk in the mix is already providing the creaminess a separate splash of milk would otherwise add.

Kitchen flow

Parallel prep: Chill glasses and prep garnish while Cafe Vienna Mix steeps, blends, or infuses, so nothing is rushed once it's ready to pour. This one leans on the instant coffee granules. Budget about 10 minutes for this one. It belongs squarely to the Beverages table. Just 4 ingredients get this one to the table.
Make-ahead: Batch the base of Cafe Vienna Mix (the instant coffee granules) ahead and refrigerate, then finish and garnish individual servings right before pouring. The blend step is what sets the pace here.
Leftover move: Leftover Cafe Vienna Mix keeps refrigerated in a sealed container; give it a stir or shake before pouring again since it may separate. This one leans on the instant coffee granules. Plan around the blend; that's the slow part.
Cleanup rhythm: Rinse the blender or pitcher used for Cafe Vienna Mix immediately — sticky or dairy-based drinks are far easier to clean before they dry. This one leans on the instant coffee granules. Total time on this one runs about 10 minutes. It belongs squarely to the Beverages table. Just 4 ingredients get this one to the table.

Ingredient brief

Role, handling, and swap guidance for each key ingredient.

1/2 cup instant coffee granules

Flavor support

Purpose: cup instant coffee granules supports the balance of Cafe Vienna Mix and should taste integrated.

Handling: Prep before heat is high so the cooking step can move without rushing.

Adaptation: Use the closest fresh equivalent and expect a modest shift in flavor or texture.

2/3 cup sugar

Sweetness and aroma

Purpose: cup sugar adds aroma, sweetness, or warmth without needing extra garnish.

Handling: Measure before heating and break up clumps so the mix distributes evenly.

Adaptation: Use the closest fresh equivalent and expect a modest shift in flavor or texture.

2/3 cup nonfat dry milk powder

Richness and texture

Purpose: cup nonfat dry milk powder rounds the texture and helps the dish feel complete.

Handling: Measure before heating and break up clumps so the mix distributes evenly.

Adaptation: Use unsweetened dairy-free alternatives only where they still provide enough fat and body.

2/3 tsp ground cinnamon

Sweetness and aroma

Purpose: tsp ground cinnamon adds aroma, sweetness, or warmth without needing extra garnish.

Handling: Prep before heat is high so the cooking step can move without rushing.

Adaptation: Use the closest fresh equivalent and expect a modest shift in flavor or texture.

Technique notes

Stir the mix thoroughly into hot water until fully dissolved, since dry milk powder can leave a slightly grainy texture if not mixed in completely.
Taste and adjust the ratio of mix to water to personal preference, since the sweetness and creaminess balance can vary depending on how finely the ingredients were blended.
Keep the jar tightly sealed between uses, since the dry milk component shortens how long the mix stays fresh compared to a plain coffee-and-sugar version.

Ingredient swaps

Dairy-free direction: Swap the nonfat dry milk powder for a full-fat plant milk (oat, coconut, or soy all whip and pour similarly) — the texture shifts slightly but the dish holds together. This one leans on the instant coffee granules.
Lower-sodium direction: Hold back roughly a third of the salt at first; taste once everything else has had time to come together. This one leans on the instant coffee granules.
Weeknight shortcut: Freeze the fruit or add-ins ahead in single-serve bags — a busy-night version is just dump and blend. This one leans on the instant coffee granules.

Serve alongside

Fresh fruit
Cucumber slices
Plain rice crackers
Cold water
Sparkling water

Serving suggestions only — check pairings for your household's allergens.

Storage & reheating

Refrigerate covered for up to 3 days when the drink is brewed, blended, or mixed ahead.
Stir or shake before serving over fresh ice.
Do not freeze unless the recipe is meant to become pops or granita.

Equipment

Pitcher or blender
Measuring cup
Long spoon

Make this household-aware

Listahan Pro checks this recipe against your household's allergens, finds pantry-aware swaps, builds the shopping list, and helps you plan the week around it.

Get the app