Good news for a country that thrives on coffee - it even has a method of roasting beans named after it - drinking up to three cups a day has been linked to decreased risks for stroke and death from cardiovascular disease, according to research presented at the recent European Society of Cardiology Congress in France.
It is also said to help protect against Alzheimer’s disease and may have health benefits for those with type 2 diabetes.
According to history buffs, coffee officially arrived in France in 1669 when the ambassador of the Ottoman Empire brought bags of beans that made what he described as a ‘magical beverage’ to the court of King Louis XIV.
Within two years, the first coffee shop opened in Paris, run by an Armenian who went by the name of Pascal. The rest, as history buffs probably don’t say, is history.
French café culture is also rife with codes and codicils that can fool the unwary and earn them a Paddington Bear-level hard stare from a waiter.
For a start, there’s usually nothing approaching a US-style menu unless you’re in one of the ubiquitous big-city Starbucks. At most cafés you’re basically expected to know what you want when you order.
Then there are the French coffee conventions.
The first of these is about milk - if you simply ask for un café you will be brought black coffee. If you want a milky coffee you will need to specify cafe au lait or cafe crème - these are most commonly drunk in the morning with breakfast, but some people also like a milky coffee in the afternoon (it's not quite like Italy where ordering a cappucino after 11am will cause consternation).
Then there's food - breakfast coffee is usually served with pastries, tartine (bread and jam) or both and it may be served in a bowl rather than a cup. You can use two hands and dip your croissant or pastry in the coffee - if you’re okay with pastry bits in your coffee, then dunk away.
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However coffee is definitely not normally served with food after breakfast time. If you're having lunch or dinner you have your food, then maybe order a coffee (usually an espresso or noisette) after you have finished.
If you're having a coffee on its own either mid-morning or mid-afternoon, you will often get a small biscuit (often the cinnamon-flavoured Speculoos) on the side the saucer.
The other big rule of French coffee drinking is: unless you have somewhere else you need to be, take your time. Sit down, watch the world go by. Once you’re at your table, it’s yours for pretty much as long as you want.
If you are in a bit of a rush and need a quick pick-me-up, head inside your chosen café and stand at the bar - that’s where you’ll find the other drink-n-dashers, and the coffee is sometimes cheaper too. Coffee to go does exist in France but it’s the exception rather than the rule. Coffee time is break time - a chance for a pause.
And finally: know your order. Here’s a few of the orders you could make - and what you'll get if you ask for it.
Un café / café noir / espresso - order any one of these and you’ll get the same thing. An espresso, that short, sharp shot of strong black coffee.
Un noisette - this is an espresso with a splash of hot milk. It’s the colour of hazlenut - hence the name.
Un café au lait - breakfast coffee in a bowl with viennoiserie.
Un café crème - an espresso with foamed milk, like a cappuccino.
Un café allongé - An espresso coffee diluted with extra hot water for those who don’t like the punch of a full espresso hit. If you want milk, you have to ask for it.
Déca - a handy suffix to all of the above if you prefer your coffee decaffeinated. Not, necessarily, available everywhere.
French press - ironically the term French press (a pot of coffee sometimes known as a cafetière) is not well known in France, so requesting one of these is likely to get you a blank stare.
Lait d'amande/ lait d'avoine - almond milk/ oat milk. Although available in most larger supermarkets, these are not standard in French cafés and if you want a coffee with milk other than cow's milk you might be disappointed - if you're in a city head to an American-style coffee shop (or Starbucks) rather than a traditional French café, as they're more likely to offer non-dairy milks.
If you have allergies or cannot drink milk for dietary reasons, it's a good idea to explain that to the server
J'ai une allergie et je ne peux pas boire de lait du tout. Avez-vous du lait d'avoine ? - I have an allergy and cannot drink any milk at all. Do you have oat milk?
Un café aux épices de citrouille - forget it - pumpkin-spiced coffee is not a concept that France traditionally recognises it. If this is what you want, you'll need to head to the nearest Starbucks (of which there are well over 100 in France, including 35 in Paris).
Un thé - a tea. If you're a British tea devotee then it's probably best to just forget about ordering tea in a café as it's highly unlikely to be made how you like it.
If you're coffee-d out, the other option is a tisane, or what would be a called a fruit or herbal tea in the anglophone world. Most cafés have a good selection, but be warned they can be expensive considering you're basically just getting a teabag and some hot water.
And the final rule... Greet your waiter with a bonjour and say s’il vous plaît when you place your order. After all, what price politeness? Don’t forget to say merci, too, when your waiter brings you your chosen coffee.
READ ALSO What does the way you order coffee in French say about you?
The price of everyday rudeness. Seen in a Café in Clécy, Calvados. I wonder if they sell any at € 1.10. pic.twitter.com/dSYmb63SGr
— John Lichfield (@john_lichfield) September 7, 2021
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