10 x the best coffee in Paris

The days of filthy, watery cappuccinos (with whipped cream, ugh!) in the City of Light are over; by now, the specialty coffee wave has reached Paris too. It was bound to happen, of course – in a city with so much good taste, the coffee was bound to get a hip makeover (and, in this case, an improvement); it just took a while. But now you’ll be in coffee heaven if you need a boost du cafeine!

Merci beaucoup

Because eating and drinking as a tourist in Paris was for a long time a matter of humbly being grateful that the grumpy waiters deemed you worthy enough to throw a plate of brilliant steak frites and a glass of fantastic wine in front of you, we also settled for expensive, weak coffee for far too long. Because, well, that view of the Eiffel Tower…

Café 2.0

Not anymore. Specialty coffee shops have sprung up everywhere, and Parisians no longer turn their noses up at influences from abroad either. Roasting and brewing coffee well has become a serious business, and you can get a fantastic shot of coffee to go in plenty of places, or settle in with one of those old-fashioned, excellent croissants. Here are our 10 picks:

Boot Café

Tiny, this place on Rue du Pont aux Choux is housed in an old shoemaker’s shop (hence the name). You can fit about eight people inside, so most customers dutifully queue outside to take their coffee away. Chemex, drip filter coffee – true lovers of slow coffee (‘café douce’) can get their fix here too. But they also queue for the hot chocolate and razor-sharp espresso shots.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B469wIeo7r9/

Coutume Café

You can sit here, and there’s plenty of room too, and the prices are Parisian-high, but wow, you get a lot for your money. Ethically sourced coffee beans, a beautiful industrial space, and every cup is brewed with love and care.

They have beautiful snacks and dishes too, as well as original creations such as this espresso made with reduced beetroot juice:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BgoBPV2gQHa/

Matamata Coffee Bar

Cheerful, friendly place without any French stuffiness: they even advertise how much they love people and that’s why they make coffee. You can sit upstairs, downstairs at a large table too, and be sure to order one of those egg breakfast rolls!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BraRn9og-_3/

KB Cafe

This lovely, high-ceilinged place from KB Coffee Roasters also has a perfect terrace for when the weather is good. They roast their own specialty coffee, and generally speaking, that means the barista knows what they’re doing too. You’ll find tourists here with a nose for good coffee from around the world, mixed in with local residents in a convivial atmosphere.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BLGbs3uD-aV/

La Fontaine de Belleville

When the coffee roasters at Belleville Brûlerie, who had already been supplying several places in the city with excellent beans, got the chance to take over this neighborhood café on a cozy corner, they didn’t hesitate. They kept the quintessentially Parisian atmosphere intact and mainly replaced the drinks on the menu with top-quality coffees and wines. Enjoy coffee in the morning, brunch on Sundays, and the seamless transition to a jazz café in the evening, with snacks and wine.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BbBsqPsFvdz/

Fragments

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7nt_jon-Am/

Another stylish little spot, in the equally stylish Le Marais district. At Fragments too, you’ll find tourists following the scent of fresh coffee around the world, and locals with perfect flat whites, avo toast and eggs on their tables. Apparently, the cinnamon rolls are every bit as good as the Swedish original, the kanelbullar that are so popular in the Netherlands too.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B6FxT9HHp8w/

Café Méricourt

Bright, beautiful place where you can enjoy an extensive lunch. Lots of Parisians do exactly that, washing down lunch (or breakfast) with the most delicious coffees. You can also get coffee to take away, but do sit down and look out at the street, with a delicious shakshuka in front of you!

https://www.instagram.com/p/B1TEG8LIVqM/

Café Oberkampf

At this sister café of the aforementioned Méricourt, you can also hang out comfortably with a café latte and a few friends, or quietly read a French novella and look very clever while doing so. Here too, they prefer to work with beans from French roasters, and the overall vibe is friendly and familiar. And now you’re part of it too.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B0F2Kd1CGjV/

Loustic

Loustic, opened in 2015 by British owner Channa Galhenage, works with beans from the renowned Caffènation roasters in Antwerp. On his blog on the website, he explains honestly and with great humor how challenging it was to settle among the French, who have a very particular view of coffee (and drinking it). Still, he managed to win a place in the hearts of local residents and, once again, coffee pilgrims from all over the world. You go Channa!

https://www.instagram.com/p/B34Ls2fAAGI/

Ten Belles

Last but not least, one of the first. Pioneers of the Parisian specialty coffee scene, they have been making superb coffee in their little café for years. The neighborhood loves them so much that they invest heavily in mugs, thermos cups and other merchandise, meaning you can spot their instantly recognizable logo everywhere.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BYNkHOIhtsG/

So… next time you’re in Paris, you’ll know where to go for truly delicious coffee. À bientôt au café!

Read also:

• The best wine bars in Paris
• These are the very best baguettes in Paris
• The most beautiful markets in Paris