While “Paris” and “coffee” seem to go hand in hand, getting a quality cup may not be as easy as it sounds. Ben being a former barista, having a number of friends in business, and with a great number of our clients in the industry (both roasting and serving) - we set out to find some of the best coffee in Paris.
Now, don’t get us wrong - spending the morning sipping an espresso, sitting at a tiny table outside, watching the sidewalk/runway of Paris go by is easily one of the great joys of the city (and life in general), you may find the coffee itself, well, lacking.
With that comes a simple distinction - while the typical cafe almost always serves coffee (espresso-based that is), it is not their focus. The coffeeshop on the other hand - is the destination for high quality, craft coffee. Meticulously sourced beans, perfectly dialed in espresso, often featuring pour-overs - these are the coffee specialists of Paris…
Telescope
First Arrondissement
This lovely little spot is only a few blocks from the Louvre, and despite having the square footage of a post-it note, they offer some delicious espresso. Their tiny menu (quality over quantity for sure) is supplemented by yummy baked goods (I particularly recommend the banana bread).
Cafe Kitsune
First Arrondissement
Located right on the Palais Royale (bonus points for location!) this shop is the coffee-serving arm of French clothing brand Maison Kitsune. Their storefront is located a few doors down, but the coffee shop makes a great destination of it’s own. Grab a coffee, a cookie, ice cream, (or if you’re feeling particularly decadent - an affogato!) and a table on their patio and revel in the Palais Royale.
Matamata
Second Arrondissement
The go-to coffee shop in the Montogueil neighborhood, thanks to great staff and artisan quality coffee. A cozy space split into two levels, the basement making for a nice workspace and the ground floor a warm and inviting cafe setting, complete with quality wood and tropical decor. They also serve a mean lunch - all their goods are made fresh in house.
O Coffeeshop
Fifteenth Arrondissement
A newcomer to the Paris Craft Coffee Scene, O is nestled in the Grenelle neighborhood and happens to have “come up with” their close friends at Boneshaker Donuts. O Coffeeshop offers an array of top-notch coffees, outstanding baked goods and tasty-as-hell lunch options. Their space is clean, filled with light and Austrailian-surf-culture inspired.
The Broken Arm
Third Arrondissement
Located right on the Square du Temple, The Broken Arm is part coffeeshop, part high-end clothing boutique. While the retail half wasn’t quite my vibe (or income bracket!), the coffeeshop delivers tasty coffee and yummy baked goods with huge windows and outside seating facing the park.
Other Notes
Espresso is king in Paris. Rarely will you find a cafe or restaurant serving “drip” coffee as we know it in the states - and if they do - it will be labelled as “Cafe Filtre” or filtered coffee.
If you find espresso too intense, go for an Allonge (a.k.a. An Americano - an espresso plus hot water).
Lastly, while not necessarily a specialty-coffee shop, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Le Rocketship here. More of a design boutique with espresso service, it’s one of my favorite spots in Paris. The shop is full of well curated, amazing art and objects from around the globe, and the owner is one of the warmest people we’ve met in Paris. Head over to Le Rocketship (conveniently across from Buvette) in the Pigalle Neighborhood, revel in the rotating goods available there and hang out at the bar for some well-crafted espresso and conversation.