Origins of Cappuccino: A Saintly Friar and a Battle Against the Turks

Many Americans love cappuccino, but few people know where the name comes from. Cappuccinos are named for a holy Capuchin priest who was chaplain to an army fighting Ottoman Turks to defend Christian Europe.

Bl. Mark (or Marco) of Aviano is a saint celebrated by Catholics on August 13, and the name cappuccino comes from the name of the religious order Mark joined, the Capuchins.

When Vienna was liberated, the Turks left lots of coffee behind them. Since the coffee was bitter, Mark the Capuchin told the European soldiers to mix in milk and honey. And cappuccino was born!