Paris Coffee Guide: The Art of Ordering Coffee in Paris

Last Updated on 25th June 2026 by Sophie Nadeau

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There are few experiences more quintessentially Parisian than settling into a café chair, ordering a coffee, and watching the world drift by from a terrace. Cafés have long been at the heart of Parisian social life, serving as places to meet friends, read the newspaper, write, debate politics, or simply observe the passing scene.

Paris coffee is indeed something of an institution and there is nothing more cliché- nor perhaps more enjoyable– than sitting at a café en terrace and sipping on an espresso. Perhaps flicking through a well-thumbed novel, or perusing the local paper, all the while watching the people walk by, going about their daily lives. And, of course, there is an art to ordering coffee in Paris.

More than just a drink…

Many first-time visitors arrive in Paris expecting coffee culture to be similar to what they know from home and instead find that French cafés operate according to traditions that have changed very little over the decades.

For example, if an American tourist walks into a traditional café and simply asks for “a coffee,” they may be surprised to receive a tiny cup containing a strong espresso rather than a large filter coffee. This is just one of the ways in which coffee culture in France might differ than what you find at home…

Types of Coffee you’ll find in France

When it comes to deciding what kind of coffee you’re going to be ordering, then you’ll want to ensure you know what’s on offer!

Usually, when you simply order a coffee, it will be assumed that you just want an espresso, no milk. However, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t other options available to you. You just need to know what to ask for…

Un expresso

If you simply ask for ‘un café s’il vous plaît,’ then you’ll probably be given an espresso. Short and to the point, sipping an espresso in an outdoor café in Paris is one of life’s greatest pleasures.

Prices of expresso vary around the city, depending on the arrondissement, usually ranging from €1, all the way up to €4. As of 2023, cups of coffee can be as high as €6 in some places, but average around €2 – €2.50.

Une Noisette

Although the word ‘noisette’ in French means hazelnut, you are not going to be given some fancy hazelnut concoction. Instead, a noisette is an espresso with a little steamed milk in it.

Ordering ‘un noisette’ and expecting it to contain nuts is definitely a Paris mistake many first time visitors to the city make! The name actually comes from the fact that the colour of milk and coffee resembles the colour of hazelnut.

Un Café Serré

A café serré is an even shorter and stronger espresso. This highly concentrated coffee is popular among those who appreciate robust flavours.

Café Americain

Order the ‘café Americain’ and you can expect to receive the kind of regular filter coffee that you’d expect to find back home. However, it’s worth noting that not every café in Paris will offer an americano, and so instead you can order ‘un allongé’.

Un allongé

If you don’t want something as strong, or as concentrated as an espresso, but still want coffee, then ‘un allongé’ is the choice for you. The allongé typically has double the amount of water as an expresso, with the same amount of coffee.

Café crème

If you’re ordering coffee in Paris, then the Café crème is a tasty French creation made using rich coffee base topped with frothy milk. This coffee is much like you standard latté or a cappuccino, albeit typically in a smaller cup… And is only made French style…

Un Déca

Need caffeine-free coffee? Ask for un déca. Just say “Je prendrai un déca, s’il vous plaît.”

The price difference between sit down and at the bar!

Please note that one of my top Paris travel tips is that there is often a different price for sitting outside/ inside at a café table as opposed to consuming your beverage at the bar/counter itself. In French, the bar is known as the ‘zinc’ and it’s usually cheaper to consume your drink (sometimes up to €1 off) at the bar.

Many traditional cafés display three prices:

• Au comptoir (standing at the counter)
• En salle (seated indoors)
• En terrasse (seated outside)

For example, an espresso may cost:

• €1.50 at the counter
• €2.20 indoors
• €3.00 on the terrace

You should know before you visit Paris…

Before I lived in Paris, I had this notion that I would eat my weight in pastries while sipping on a cute little espresso cup. All the while trying not to get my nose stuck in that little piece of porcelain (ha!). However, when I arrived it became quite clear that most sidewalk cafés don’t serve coffee with pastries.

Instead, there is sometimes the option of purchasing a croissant to go together with your hot drink. More often than not though, coffee is almost always exclusively drunk on its own, without food. 

If you want to get a pastry, you’ll have to go to a speciality café or visit a patisserie shop. For those with a particularly sweet tooth, a visit to one of the best Paris macaron shops can provide the opportunity to enjoy both a café with a French sweet.

Last but not least, it’s worth noting that coffee can sometimes be more expensive after a certain time. For example, many of the more traditional cafés will have a cheaper price if you’re ordering coffee before 11 AM as opposed to if you’re ordering coffee after this time.

In the same vein, many places won’t allow you to order hot drinks in the evenings, particularly if they also operate as a bar. We found this out when my friend tried to order a coffee at 10 PM and was firmly told that only cold soft drinks or alcoholic beverages were available!

On ‘rude’ French People in Cafés

Even today, there’s this horrible misconception that Parisians are rude and offensive. Before I lived there, people would warn me about ‘those rude French people’ and even went so far as to inform me that it might even make my experience of living in the city of lights that much less enjoyable.

Do you know what’s rude? Overgeneralizations about a whole group of people! After living in the city for a year, I can safely say that the assumption French people will be rude to you if you’re not French is a gross overgeneralization of an entire population. So go into French cafés, be polite and enjoy all the different coffee combinations on offer!

Paris Café Etiquette: A Few Things to Know

• Always greet staff with Bonjour when entering.
• It is perfectly acceptable to linger over one coffee.
• Tipping is appreciated but not obligatory.
• Avoid asking for endless substitutions in traditional cafés.

Can You Get Takeaway Coffee in Paris?

Yes, but it totally depends on where you go. Traditional cafés are designed for lingering rather than rushing. In establishments such as Le Procope or Café de Flore, takeaway service may not even be offered.

However, modern specialty coffee shops have embraced takeaway culture. Examples include:

• KB Coffee Roasters (South Pigalle)
• Boot Café (Le Marais)
• Ten Belles
• Noir Coffee
• Coutume Café

These cafés often serve flat whites, pour-over coffee, cold brew, and plant-based milk options. For even more ideas, check out my guide to the best cafés in Paris.

A Typical Paris Coffee Order: Step by Step

Imagine you’ve just found a sunny terrace in Saint-Germain-des-Prés. The server approaches and if you want to try learning a little basic French, this is probably how the conversation will then go!

Server: Bonjour.

You: Bonjour, un café crème et un croissant, s’il vous plaît.

A few minutes later your order arrives. You spend half an hour reading, people-watching, or simply enjoying the atmosphere. Then, when you’re ready to leave:

“L’addition, s’il vous plaît.”

And just like that, you’ve participated in one of Paris’s oldest daily rituals.

Ordering Coffee in Paris Vocabulary

Even if you don’t speak very much French, it’s still very much valued and appreciated when you make a small effort. If I could give you just one Paris travel tip, it would be to learn a few words before you go.

In order to help you out during your Paris visit, be sure to bring a simple French phrasebook with you like this one.

You should also know before you go that you never have to purchase water in Paris. Tap water is drinkable, and in order to save money in the French capital, all you need to do is ask for a ‘carafe’ of water when placing your drink order. Here’s a little French Café vocabulary to help you when ordering coffee in Paris:

An expresso, please: ‘Un expresso, s’il vous plaît.’

Un café crème, s’il vous plaît: ‘A coffee with milk, please’.

A jug of tap water, please: ‘Un carafe d’eau, s’il vous plaît’

The bill/ check please: ‘L’addition s’il vous plaît.’

Eat in/ Takeaway: Sur Place/ À Emporter

Merci, bonne journée!: ‘Thank you, have a nice day!’

Final thoughts on ordering coffee in Paris

Coffee in Paris is more than a bit of caffeination. Instead, whether you’re sipping an espresso at the counter of a bustling neighbourhood café or lingering over a café crème on a sunlit terrace, understanding a few local customs will make your Paris experience all the richer.

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