Good Coffee and Cafes in Paris

So France is world famous for its cheeses, pastries, wine, baguettes, crepes, it's food markets are out of this world, and Michelin starred restaurants are here in abundance. As for their coffee.....? *crickets*

Italy, with all its delicious espressos, is just next door. The Spanish have a café bombón -coffee with condensed milk- so they're doing fine. But somehow the masters of exquisite cuisine dropped the ball on a decent coffee.

It's not that you can't get coffee here, almost all bistros and restaurants have it on the menu. Café (espresso), Americano or Allongé (long black) are very popular. A noisette is also common, a little espresso with a hazelnut sized dollop of milk on top. You can get a cappuccino, but probably not to the standard you're expecting.

HOWEVER. Just as London has seen an explosion of fantastic coffee shops over the last decade, Paris is too. Slowly but surely, little places are popping up, some selling just coffee and maybe some biscuits, while others serve great breakfasts and brunch.

My coffee guru is in the form of this website- Good Coffee In Paris. Check out this page for address' and opening hours, reviews, and a Good Coffee Map!

Some of my personal favourites are:

KB CaféShop - Formally called Kooka Boora, this coffee shop was very close to my hostel the first time I visited Paris. It serves cakes, cookies, sandwiches, salads, juices, has WiFi and plenty of seating. Perfect for a leisurely lunch, or to do some last minute trip booking if you're travelling! Website here.

Le Peloton - A brand new coffee shop in the Marais, selling just coffee and a small selection of cakes. Owned by a Kiwi and an American, the coffee was delicious and the location is fab. Website here.

Eggs & Co - A breakfast and brunch spot just off Boulevard Saint-Germain, selling excellent coffee and, surprise, eggs! If you're going on the weekend, book or get there very early! I recently had one of the best omelettes of my life there, and the weekend brunch menu is coffee/tea, orange juice, eggs done your way, fruit salad AND pancakes. Insane. Website here.

Thank You, My Deer - Just around the corner from me, the tiny TYMD sells excellent coffee, and has a few tables and chairs for breakfast or a sandwich. It's also completely gluten free(!), has a cabinet full of cakes, and sells loaves of gluten free bread to take homes. I am often there. Website here.

KB CaféShop knows how to pour

Side note- for those who prefer plant milks, I do not have good news for you. Soy milk is not nearly as popular here as in London or Australia, and only a handful of places have anything other than cows milk. I know that KB CaféShop does oat milk (lait d'avoine), but for soy you'll have to venture into a chain store- Starbucks, Pret â Manger or Costa coffee. Or avoid them like the plague and get an Americano!