. . . where the name "Blümchen-Kaffee" (flowery coffee) comes from and that Leipzig has a centuries-old coffee tradition?

The inhabitants of the Free State are not jokingly called the "Coffee Saxons" for nothing! The invigorating hot drink has always played an important role in Saxony, and especially in Leipzig, where the first German "coffee house ordinance" was passed. It is for this reason that people used to be outraged and still are today by coffee that is too weak or made from substitute coffee. This is known as "Blümchen-Kaffee" or the Saxon term "Plempe". To put it more precisely, the coffee is so weak that you can see the little flowers painted on the bottom of the cup through the drink. The term "Schwerter-Kaffee" (sword coffee) was also common, because you can see the crossed blue swords on the bottom of the original Meissen porcelain cups.

You can still find many cafes today that keep Leipzig's coffee house culture alive – and would not dream of serving "Blümchen-Kaffee".