In the past, Paris and coffee were not a match made in heaven.
Maybe that was due to preferences for late starts and long lunches.
Or a culture of brasseries focused on beer, wine, aperitifs and digestifs.
Add to this a strong commitment to classic café traditions and it may be easy to see why Paris has been slow to embrace the artisanal coffee scene.
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However, over the last decade the tide is slowly turning.
A new generation of innovative, quality cutting-edge coffee shops are moving in to shake up the scene.
The Best Coffee Shops in Paris
I've put together a guide of some of the city's most talked-about coffee shops in recent times to steer you towards caffeine heaven and away from bitter disappointment.
Think long blacks, velvety flat whites, single-origin espressos and lattes so pretty you'll feel guilty drinking them.
With this list of top-tier coffee spots in Paris, you'll be dodging tourist traps and heading straight to coffee nirvana.
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But first…
What Makes a Great Coffee Shop?
- Quality Coffee - Freshly roasted high-quality beans, expertly brewed with attention to flavour, balance and aroma. Precision equipment and a choice brewing methods can also help a place stand out.
- Passionate Founders and Skilled Baristas - Passionate pros who know their craft make all the difference. From owners who travel the world to source the best beans for cupping sessions to baristas pulling the perfect espresso and demo-ing serious latte art wizardry.
- Layout and Atmosphere - Coffee expert Lani Kingston said it best - "The best-designed coffee shops make you want to stay, sip a little slower and come back again tomorrow". Even if you're just grabbing to go, a coffee shop's look, feel and atmosphere can be make-or-break.
- Attention to Detail - Consistent branding can help a shop feel familiar and reliable. And thoughtful touches like good playlists at the right volume, friendly service, seasonal cakes and snacks and even the design of the cups can be a bonus.
- Community Feel - A spot where locals linger and conversations flow makes a space more than just a caffeine stop.
Thankfully, you'll find a solid selection of cafés that meet these needs in the French capital.
Let's take a look at some of the best coffee shops in Paris.
The Best Coffee Shops in Paris
Kawa Coffee
Best for: High-end coffee in a relaxed setting.
District: Le Marais, 3rd arrondissement.
Address: 96 rue des archives 75003.
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Kawa Coffee's mission is simple - to roast and serve high-quality, responsibly sourced beans that bring out the best in every cup.
Inside, you'll find a cosy, minimalist space, with a strong focus on the coffee itself.
No distractions, no unnecessary frills, just expertly brewed espresso, V60 pour-overs and some of the best flat whites in town.
The baristas here are serious about their craft. You’ll find them always keen to discuss the latest roasting techniques and the origins of their beans.
If you're a coffee connoisseur who can debate tasting notes and brewing methods to your heart's content, this is your go-to coffee spot.
Boot Café
Best for: Effortlessly cool, quality coffee.
District: Le Marais, 3rd arrondissement.
Address: 19 Rue du Pont aux Choux, 75003.
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Blink and you'll miss it - so maybe don't blink.
But seriously, Boot Café is one of the smallest and, to the untrained eye, possibly hardest-to-find coffee shops in Paris.
It doesn't help that the sign above the door reads 'cordonnerie', which roughly translates to 'shoe repair'.
But this is no mistake. This ghost sign is part of a trend in France to leave old signs above doors as a nod to tradition and to make businesses stand out from the crowd. Who knew?
What Boot lacks in size, it makes up for in exceptional coffee. This hole-in-the-wall gem serves up some of the best brews in Paris.
The espresso is rich, the flat whites are silky and the interior looks like it was tailormade to wow Instagram.
With generally only one barista serving at any given time, you might have to wait a spell for your coffee.
But some things are worth waiting for and coffee is at the top of that list.
Substance Café
Best for: Coffee connoisseurs seeking an experience.
District: Montorgueil-Sentier, 2nd arrondissement.
Address: 30 Rue Dussoubs, 75002.
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Avoid Substance Café if you're looking to grab, go and not overthink it.
This is a spot for coffee connoisseurs who want to linger over a masterpiece.
This compact speciality café was founded by well-respected industry professional Joachim Morceau, a certified Q-grader.
Short for 'quality grader', only around 8,000 people have achieved this certification worldwide.
The exam involves over 20 blind taste tests to prove you can evaluate coffee on properties such as aroma, taste intensity and flavour differences.
Drinks at Substance Café are only available in-house at the bar and with a reservation.
Top tip: Utter the word 'omakase', Japanese for 'I leave it up to you' and the barista will take the reins and choose your drink for you.
Café Kitsuné
Best for: Reliably excellent coffee throughout the city.
Locations: Several, including one in Palais Royal, one in the 2nd arrondissement at Opéra and another in the 3rd at Haut Marais.
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An independent coffee chain associated with Paris fashion house Maison Kitsuné and music label Kitsuné Musique, Café Kitsuné is all about enjoying quality coffee in sharp, modern surrounds.
With several outlets dotted around Paris, including one right around the corner from the Louvre, you're spoilt for choice on location.
However, if you've only got time to visit one, make sure it's the Café Kitsuné at Palais Royal.
Nestled in this former French royal palace, it's a magnet for fashionistas, influencers and people who just love a good cup of java in a beautiful setting.
Add pure Parisian vibes and a dangerously good pastry selection and you've got yourself one of the best coffee shops in Paris.
Bonjour Jacob
Best for: Concept coffee with a side of print.
District: Saint-Germain, 6th arrondissement.
Address: 30 Rue Dauphine, 75006.
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Offering coffee with character, Bonjour Jacob's Saint-Germain branch is a standout in Paris' speciality coffee scene.
Nestled in the chic 6th arrondissement, it not only offers expertly brewed coffee made from ethically sourced, high-quality beans, it’s also a mini library.
The cosy, stylish space blends minimalist design with a warm, welcoming vibe and racks of magazines and books to pore over while you sip on a cold brew.
Skilled baristas craft everything from rich espressos to smooth pour-overs, showcasing the nuanced flavours of their carefully selected roasts.
Known for its laid-back atmosphere and attention to detail, Bonjour Jacob is the perfect spot to savour a thoughtfully prepared cup while soaking up the artistic energy of Saint-Germain.
KB CaféShop
Best for: A focus on taste.
District: South Pigalle (SoPi), 9th arrondissement.
Address: 53 Av. Trudaine, 75009.
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"We are always looking for the best coffees. There is no destination to this journey. The quest for the best coffee has become our job and our way of life," KB CaféShop's website reads.
Okay, I'm sold.
Situated in South Pigalle, or SoPi if you're cool, KB CaféShop is hands down one of the best coffee places in Paris.
This spot takes its brews very seriously, with beans sourced from top-tier roasters and a rotating menu of expertly crafted drinks.
KB CaféShop's mantra is "only taste matters". It selects coffee based on taste and taste alone. No arguments there.
With its floor-to-ceiling windows, rustic wooden tables and outdoor seating, this is an inviting spot to pause and watch Paris go by.
La Fontaine de Belleville
Best for: Old-school simplicity.
District: Canal Saint-Martin, 10th arrondissement.
Address: 31-33 Rue Juliette Dodu, 75010.
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Now for somewhere that blends traditional Parisian café culture with speciality coffee - La Fontaine de Belleville.
If you've ever fantasised about sipping an excellent espresso at a quintessential Parisian bistro, this is the place for you.
In the mornings, it's a great place to sit and have a quiet cup without too many distractions.
But if you leave it too late, you might struggle for a seat, given its popularity for after-lunch lattes.
The coffee is sourced from Belleville Brûlerie, one of the best roasters in Paris. So you know it's guaranteed to be good.
Go for a classic café noisette, grab a seat outside and watch the beauty of Paris unravel around you.
Terres de Café
Best for: Learning about your favourite drink.
District: Saint-Honoré, 1st arrondissement, plus six other locations around Paris.
Address: 150 rue Saint-Honoré.
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Founded by award-winning coffee expert and author Christophe Servell in 2009, Terres de Café is a must-visit for coffee lovers in Paris.
Growing from a single shop to seven and counting in Paris alone, Terres de Cafe is known for its expertly sourced, sustainably grown beans.
Championing speciality coffee with a focus on quality and traceability, the knowledgeable baristas are always happy to take you through the excellent options on offer.
If you want to super-power your coffee knowledge, Terres de Cafe also offers workshops in mastering coffee tasting, latte art and making the perfect espresso.
Stay Caffeinated and Connected
You'll need your maps and mobile handy on your mission to find the best coffee shops in Paris.
The easiest and best way to stay connected is to buy an eSIM for France from Airalo.
Just browse your options here, choose how much data you need and what you want to spend.
Then install your eSIM and voila! You're online.
And, more importantly, ready to share your perfect coffee boasts as you go.
Bon voyage!
