Cappuccino - Etymology

Etymology

'Cappuccino' comes from the diminutive form of cappuccio, meaning hood or something that covers the head. The coffee beverage has its name from not the hood but the colour of the robes worn by monks and nuns of the capuchin order. The capuchins chose the particular design of their orders' robes both in colour and shape of the hood back in the 16th century, inspired by Francis of Assisi's preserved 13th century vestments. The long and pointed hood was characteristic and soon gave the brothers the nickname 'capuchins' (hood-wearing). It was, however the choice of red-brown as the order's vestment colour that, as early as the 17th century, saw 'capuchin' used also as a term for a specific colour. While Francis of Assisi humbly used uncoloured and un-bleached wool for his robes, the capuchins coloured their vestments to differ from Franciscans, Benedictines, Augustinians and other orders. 'Cappuccino' in its Italian form is not known in writings until the 20th century, the German-language 'kapuziner' is mentioned in the 18th century in Austria, and is described as 'coffee with sugar, egg yolks and cream' in dictionary entries from 1800 onwards. Although it seems the 'kapuziner' may have had whipped cream on top, it seems likely the name comes from the specific colour of the beverage's mix of coffee, cream and eggs.