Specialty coffee has been on the rise in Paris in recent years, as more and more coffee lovers seek out unique, high-quality coffee experiences. This growing demand has sparked the emergence of numerous specialty coffee shops throughout the city, each offering its own unique take on the traditional café experience. From small, cozy shops serving up expertly crafted espresso drinks to large, bustling cafés offering a wide variety of specialty coffee drinks and beans, Paris has something to offer for coffee lovers of all stripes. In this article, we will delve into the exciting world of specialty coffee in Paris, by exploring 6 of my favorite cafés.
Specialty Coffee: What’s the Deal?
Specialty coffee has emerged as a new trend in France, and especially in Paris, where all you could get until recently was average espresso or “café crème” in one of the numerous hybrid beverage suppliers around the capital. Some places though were above average, but they offered very traditional European-style coffee. A few years ago, some newcomers got the Parisians acquainted with third-wave coffee. And now, you can finally sip a proper caffeinated drink in Paris if you know where to get it from!
Wait, what are we really talking about when referring to ‘specialty coffee’? And are all the places using a La Marzocco coffee machine worth trying?
In fact, there are standards in the coffee universe, and they’ve been established by the Specialty Coffee Association, aka the SCA. According to various criteria (such as flavors, acidity, or balance), the SCA protocol rates the quality of the coffee beans out of 100 points. If a coffee has a rating of 80/100 or higher, it is considered specialty coffee.
Where to Drink Specialty Coffee in Paris
The beans aren’t the only guarantee of a tasty cup, the roasting process and the preparation are also decisive to magnify the original product. If you are down for café hopping, this article might help you to find your way around Paris’ best coffee places.
I/O Café 🍪🥤🪑🥛
👌 Flat white + rocher coco
🕘 Mon-Fri: 08:30 – 18:00, Sat-Sun: 10:00 – 18:00
📍 16 Rue Dupetit-Thouars, Paris 3
📸 @io.cafe
I/O Café
I/O Café
I/O Café
Don’t be underwhelmed by the size of I/O Café: everything has been thoughtfully curated in this small café, in order to deliver the best experience possible. From the handmade tableware to the delicious pastries from the bakery Sain Boulangerie, the owners have chosen every bit to live up to your standards. I/O Café has a classic coffee menu, but the baristas master every preparation. Take their flat white, for example, it is perfectly balanced and smooth, even in the dairy-free option. If the weather is nice enough, you can sit outside and enjoy the peacefulness of the Carreau du Temple area.
Dreamin’ Man 🍪🥤🪑🥛
👌 Filter + daily special
🕘 Paris 11: Mon-Sat 8:30 – 16:00, Paris 3: Tue-Sat 9:00 – 18:00
📍 Paris 11, Paris 3 (inside The Broken Arm)
📸 @dreaminman_paris
Dreamin’ Man (Rue Amelot)
Dreamin’ Man (Rue Amelot)
Dreamin’ Man (Rue Amelot)
Another great coffee place in the area is Dreamin’ Man. This very cozy café now has two locations in the 11th arrondissement, operating on their own schedule. The team bakes their own pastries every day, with specials each week, and believe me, it is very enjoyable! The atmosphere at Dreamin’ Man is quite special too, especially at their original location, where a lot of regulars like to chat over a cup of coffee. If you want to check The Broken Arm’s collection while sipping your coffee, go to their second location at the shop: it is a bit busier on Saturdays but you can have a take-away and run your errands.
RECTO VERSO 🍪🥤🪑🥛
👌 Café crème + Basque cheesecake
🕘 Wed-Fri: 09:30 – 18:00, Sat-Sun: 10:00 – 18:30
📍 6 Rue Portefoin, Paris 3
📸 @rectoversocafe
RECTO VERSO
RECTO VERSO
RECTO VERSO
RECTO VERSO
RECTO VERSO is one of the newest coffee shops in town, and it sure is the last one that has opened in this list. They have a pretty original menu, featuring not only coffee but also some of their creations, and they bake amazing stuff. What makes this place very particular though is the space: it surely is one of the best on this list, with its authentic timber ceiling and wooden panels. The light is beautiful and the owners have a great taste in picking delicate flowers to lift the mood. Don’t be fooled by the mention of a ‘crème’ on their menu: it’s actually a flat white but the owners don’t like the name. If you stop by, make sure you try their Basque cheesecake, the best I’ve had so far!
Typica 🍪🥤🪑🥛
👌 Latte + cookie
🕘 Mon-Fri: 08:30 – 16:30, Sat-Sun: 09:00 – 17:30
📍 8 Rue des Filles du Calvaire, Paris 3
📸 @typicaparis
Typica
Typica
Typica
If you rely on the size and overall look of a café, you might consider Typica as an outsider. You would be missing out on great coffee though! Unless it’s summer time (they set up an outdoor area when it’s warm enough to sit outside), you could even walk past the front of the shop without noticing. Thankfully, a good old board is here to give you a heads-up. Now, how about the coffee? I’ve never been disappointed once by Typica. I’ve tried many options on their coffee menu and it’s always very tasty and balanced. It’s also a very cool place if you want to discover new brands or beans, as they regularly get coffee from different or new suppliers. They only bake cookies, but there’s a very nice bakery next door so it’s easy to get another snack if you don’t like drinking coffee on an empty stomach – and are not a cookie fan.
Clove Coffee Shop 🍪🥤🪑🥛
👌 Cappucino + cinnamon roll
🕘 Fri-Tue: 09:30 – 17:30
📍 14 Rue Chappe, Paris 18
📸 @clovecoffeeshop
Clove Coffee Shop
Clove Coffee Shop
Clove Coffee Shop
Clove Coffee Shop
One of the perks of Clove coffee shop is definitely its location, just a few blocks away from Montmartre and Sacré-Coeur. The café has opened very recently and displays a nice airy space with great light. Clove also has a classic coffee menu and offers an original dairy-free option that gives a nice and creamy twist to their lactose-free beverages. If you fancy a treat, go for a delicious – and generous, pastry from Leonie Bakery. Coffee is served in nice stoneware cups from Dunp Ceramics, a local pottery. Although coffee is the focus, you can also have tea or hot chocolate at Clove, as the owners have selected high-quality brands for you to try.
Kawa 🥤🪑🥛💻
👌 Filter + treat from Gramme
🕘 Mon-Fri: 09:00 – 11:30 / 12:00 – 17:00, Sat-Sun: 10:00 – 17:30
📍 96 Rue des Archives, Paris 3
📸 @kawa.coffee
Kawa
Kawa
Kawa
Kawa coffee is not just a café, actually, they have been roasters way before the opening of their shop in Le Marais. The two founders, Antoine and Alexis, have decided to focus on the quality of the roasting process in order to produce local specialty coffee. Since the opening of the shop, you can come by for a tasting: the coffee menu offers 4 espressos and 4 filters. The barista will guide you into the tasting experience with precious advice and comments. I particularly liked trying the filter, served in two different cups in order to discover two versions of the same brew. They also organize cupping events – check their Instagram! Kawa coffee doesn’t serve food, but if you want a treat, you can still grab a cookie from Gramme just a few meters away!
Conclusion
Although it might not be your most typical Parisian experience, I personally love sitting at Dreamin’ Man. The owners really bring something special to the experience by baking their own stuff, and the coffee is always perfect. If you are lucky enough to be able to go on a weekday and sit outside in the quiet Amelot street, you’ll probably have a very pleasurable experience. Be careful, you could easily become a regular and spend all your money on coffee!