RAUWOLF Mariahilferstraße | Kaffeerösterei & Café — Restaurant in Vienna

Café Rauwolf at Gerngross - A Mixed Coffee Experience

Located in the Gerngross department store on Mariahilferstraße, Rauwolf positions itself as a trendy roasting house and brewbar that serves self-roasted coffee specialties. The café mentions flat white specifically among their coffee specialties and has built a reputation around quality coffee preparation.

However, their interpretation of the flat white raises some questions about adherence to traditional preparation methods. According to Rauwolf's own guidelines, a flat white should consist of ⅓ coffee (double espresso) and ⅔ finely textured microfoam, served in a larger cup to distinguish it from cappuccino. The drinks in question appear to have quite elaborate latte art and substantial foam layers that seem more characteristic of cappuccinos than the minimalist approach typically associated with flat whites.

Rauwolf acknowledges that they serve their flat white "in a large cup to create a clear distinction from cappuccino," which suggests they are aware of the need to differentiate between the drinks. Yet the visual presentation suggests a more traditional milk-heavy approach rather than the "finely textured microfoam" that should characterize a proper flat white.

The café operates in a "trendy, cozy atmosphere" within the department store setting and has received 93 Falstaff points, with recognition as attracting "not only shoppers but also caffeine junkies." The quality of their coffee beans and roasting appears to be solid, sourcing from small farms with sustainable, natural cultivation practices.

While the coffee quality and overall café experience may be satisfactory, customers specifically seeking an authentic flat white experience might find the interpretation here leans more toward a dressed-up cappuccino. For those less concerned with coffee purist definitions, the drinks appear well-crafted and visually appealing. The ambiance and service seem to meet the standards expected from a modern Vienna coffee shop, making it a reasonable choice for a shopping break, even if the flat white doesn't quite match traditional...

I don’t understand what happened to this place today, 28.05.2024. I wanted to have black tea and avocado veggie wrap. The waiter took my order and brought me black tea and affogato coffee 😡 When I pointed to his mistake, he said that avocado wrap and other food was not available, since they close in half an hour. But I know that this place is open till 19.00 and it was 17.55 when I came. So I told this to the waiter and was going to leave since I really wanted to eat. After seeing my wanting to leave the waiter made me an avocado wrap 😶 This is really wrong attitude to customers. I have not seen this waiter before. Previously I had only good experience in this cafe, but I now don’t want to come back. I had my avocado wrap eventually, but my mood was spoiled. P.S. And the cherry on top of the cake - I wrote this review in 2024 and put the overall rating of 3 stars, but it would not publish. Today I have changed the rating to 4 stars and it got published immediately. This is an unethical practice from this cafe to prohibit reviews...

So, they waiter was not kind at all, we said we need two minutes to check the menu and he was ensisting for us to decide what to drink... But anyway the coffee was good and but sweets were just bad... Brownie that wasn't a brownie and a tasteless apple tart... Dirty he never cleaned our table we were staying with glasses and plates from previous customers.. Just one guy serving although the cafeteria was full... Terrible service, tasteless sweets, good coffee and place. They even ask you to rate them 5 stars with a photo and you get a 5 euro...