Ask any Australian who has travelled to Paris about the coffee and you’re likely to be met with a passionate roll of the eyes. But don’t lose hope, because it turns out things are changing.
The city once known for an average cup of Joe is leaving bitter brews behind.
Sitting at a vibrant sidewalk cafe with a coffee in hand is up there with selfies in front of the Eiffel tower, navigating the metro, seeing the Sacre Coeur and wearing Breton stripes; it’s a quintessentially French experience, and you should probably do it.
While cafe culture is abundant, appreciation of good coffee has been in short supply, that is, until now. The days of crappy coffee are on the way out as a new generation of coffee connoisseurs launch cafes and roasteries all over the city. And hey, many of these establishments have strong links to Australia. Paris, you’re welcome.
Here are the best places for coffee in Paris so you can get that caffeine fix with your dignity intact.
Ten Belles
10 Rue de la Grange aux Belles, 75010 Paris, France
Ten Belles is just a hop and skip away from the achingly hip district of Canal St Martin. This quaint little cafe founded by cult Parisian barista Thomas Lehoux is serious about espresso and filter.
If you have a sweet tooth you’re in luck, because a selection of delights that will have your inner fat kid screaming with joy are baked on site.
Coutume Cafe
Photo Credit: Ever Places
47 rue de Babylone 75007, Paris, France
Opened by friends two friends, a Frenchman an Australian from Canberra, Coutume has garnered a loyal following of caffeine savants, not only in France, but also internationally, in places as far flung as Tokyo. I guess you could say the place is now a bit of an institution.
The space and its features are reminiscent of a laboratory, and with the menu resembling a periodic table, the water being served in conical flasks, and specialist coffee contraptions displayed and up for sale, this isn’t too far from the truth.
Coutume have the science of coffee down pat, and apparently the brunch is a must as well.
Hexagone cafe
Photo Credit: Paris Bouge
121 Rue du Château, 75014 Paris, France
The owners of Hexagone have made an effort to distinguish their cafe from other Parisian coffee shops by pulling away from Anglo-Saxon influences and lacing what they do with a ‘Frenchie’ touch.
While France is still catching up to the specialty coffee movement, garnering influence from countries who arrived to the party a little earlier, it’s natural for English speaking tourists and expats to flock to cafes that sell the type of coffee they’re used to. But if you want a decent coffee without a backdrop of English tête-à-tête, then Hexagone is your best bet.
KB CaféShop
Photo Credit: Paris Coffee Show
53 avenue Trudaine, 75009 Paris, France
KB CaféShop was launched after owner Nicolas Piégay returned to France in 2007 after a stint as a barista in Sydney.
The well-known cafe occupies a light-filled structure close to Montmartre. As a result of its location and popularity, it is regularly packed with coffee snobs, and map wielding people wearing backpacks. But don’t let this deter you, as the café lattes and cold drips are on point.
Other notable mentions: Fragments, Telescope, Matamata