Tradition
The glass of water traditionally served with coffee is meant to cleanse the palate. The face-down coffee spoon on top of the glass is a sign that the glass has been freshly filled up, a remnant of Habsburg etiquette.

The Austrian capital has a coffee culture all of its own
First things first: When a native of the city talks about “Obers” they mean cream. “Schlagobers” is fluffy whipped cream. It is served in a dollop known locally as a “Gupf”. “Schlag”, which also means a punch, is the Viennese word for whipped cream, so if the waiter asks if you want “Kaffee mit Schlag”, you don’t need to worry about getting a black eye. A “Grosser Mokka” (large mocha) is topped with a proper “Gupf” of whipped cream.

1. Pour coffee in a tall glass.
2. Top with whipped cream.
3. Don't forget the glass of water with the face-down coffee spoon on top