How do you take your coffee?
Ordering coffee in Paris
When I’m in Paris, as most of you long time readers know, my favorite thing to do is sit at a cafe table on the sidewalk of a busy street with a hot cup of coffee and just people watch. I have thousands of photos from these moments where I’ve seen someone with an elegant handbag or an outfit that is so chic I want to remember it. I usually order a cafe au lait in the morning or an espresso if it is after noon. Europeans are very particular about their coffee and what they drink at various times of the day. They do not have a Starbucks mentality - their preference is to sit at a table and enjoy their cup of coffee, you will rarely see anyone with a to go cup in their hand. Drink holders in European cars were non-existent for a long time and when I asked why, I was told that Europeans don’t drink coffee and drive!
A good strong cup of coffee helps inspire me when I am writing...
Here are some common coffee drinks in Paris and their American translations:
Un expresso Espresso (one or two shots of coffee)
Une noisette espresso with a small bit of creme
Café american espresso with hot water - similar to drip coffee
Un allongé espresso that has brewed (or "pulled") a bit longer than regular espresso
Café crème simply coffee with creme
Café au lait is coffee with milk - only consumed at breakfast
Cafe Le Nemours in Paris is one of my favorite places to enjoy coffee
Favorite Cafes in Paris:
Le Nemours
Le Deux Magots
Cafe de Flore
Coffee after dinner at Cafe de Flore
Chelsey’s love for coffee (podcast)
I recently had the pleasure of interviewing NYC illustrator Chelsey Hill who has been drawing fashionable Grace for me since before I even knew myself who she was going to become. Chelsey is a true coffee fanatic - in fact, I would say she is the queen of coffee! Her go to drink is an iced latte. You can hear about Chelsey’s fascination with coffee and our journey together on my Podcast here:
Listen to my Podcast with Chelsey Hill
Whole bean or ground?
Are you someone who purchases their coffee whole bean or ground? Do you enjoy K cups or Nespresso? I like whole bean. I have an incredible Jura coffee machine at home that grinds the beans every time I brew a cup. My Jura is almost ten years old and I am hoping it will last much longer. When I travel, one of the things I miss most about home is my coffee machine.
Not a Jura but this bad boy pulls some serious espresso!
Travel and coffee
When I travel, I try to call ahead to where I am staying and ask about a coffee machine in my room. In Paris at Le Dolkhan’s there is a Nespresso machine in every room and I will bring extra pods because I love my morning coffee. I sit at the chair by the window, and look out at the street below, watching the school children and their parents head to their Lysee. Or the business people hurrying to catch le metro. I will sit for a bit and have a cup or two while I read my news feed before I go down to have my breakfast. It's a good idea to ask ahead about a coffee machine in the room in case you have a favorite flavor and want to bring your own supplies.
How do you like to drink your coffee?