Bonjour!
Un café, s'il vous plaît
uhn ka-FAY, seel voo PLAY
An espresso, please
Un café crème
uhn ka-FAY KREM
Coffee with steamed milk (like a latte)
Un noisette
uhn nwah-ZET
Espresso with a dash of milk
L'addition, s'il vous plaît
lad-ee-see-OHN, seel voo PLAY
The bill, please
A single espresso. The default order in France. Short, strong, and served in a small cup.
Espresso with steamed milk — France's version of a latte. Acceptable at any time of day, unlike in Italy.
Espresso with a small dash of milk or foam. Named after 'hazelnut' because of the resulting color.
An extended espresso with hot water. The French Americano.
Filter/drip coffee. Becoming more common at specialty cafes but still less typical at traditional brasseries.
Not coffee, but French hot chocolate is legendarily good — thick, rich, and often made with real melted chocolate.
Always greet with 'Bonjour' when entering any cafe. Not greeting is considered very rude.
Terrace (outdoor) seating is prized and often costs the same as inside. People-watching is the whole point.
Coffee at the bar (le comptoir) is cheaper than at a table — sometimes half the price.
Lunch service is sacred. Many cafes won't serve just coffee between 12-2pm; you'll need to order food too.
Parisian cafe culture is about sitting, observing, and existing. Nobody will rush you to leave.
The specialty coffee revolution has arrived — look for third-wave cafes in Le Marais, Pigalle, and Canal Saint-Martin.
Not required — service is included in the price (service compris). Leaving small change (€0.50-1) is a nice gesture.
€2.00-3.00 for an espresso, €4.00-5.50 at a specialty cafe or terrace
Did you know? The French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre wrote most of 'Being and Nothingness' at Café de Flore in Saint-Germain. Parisian cafes have been intellectual workspaces for centuries.