Ordering in restaurants was always one of the most difficult things I had to do in French in my early days of traveling overseas. I was often served something other than what I had expected. Learning a lot of menu items can be challenging; however, understanding coffee in France is especially complicated. This little guide will help you navigate the coffee menu and sound like a real Frenchman!
Coffee with milk is only served at breakfast
The first thing you will need to know is that coffee with milk of any kind is only usually served at breakfast time. Therefore, if you want to look and sound French, reserve all milky coffee drinks to morning-time. These AM drinks include the following:
Café au lait, also sometimes called un café crème or simply un crème: These are made from espresso with hot milk with a little bit of foam, usually served in a large cup or bowl. There is (to my knowledge) no “drip coffee” in France. Therefore, the distinction of “cafe latte” with espresso vs “cafe au lait” using drip coffee in the US just doesn’t exist in France.
Cappuccino is espresso served with foamed milk.
Un café noisette, or simply une noisette, is espresso with a dash of milk or a spoonful of foam, served in a small cup, something similar to what we might see called a macchiato in the US.
Café Liégois is not really an AM drink but rather a dessert, but since it is a coffee made with a milk product I will include it here. This is really a coffee ice cream sundae. You will not be able to order this as a “take out” (à porter) item.
Espresso is served from afternoon and after
As for the rest of the day, what the French order for coffee comes in a demi-tasse cup and is some variation of espresso, a small, strong black coffee. All of the following are words and expressions to order a simple “coffee,” which is basically a single espresso: un café, un petit café, un café simple, un café noir, un café express, un express. If you wish for a double, then you can order un grand café.
Here are some variations on this involving more or less water or some milk foam.
Un café americain: This is served in a larger cup and is similar to an “americano”. This is a 1:2 ratio where hot water is added to one or more shots of espresso.
Un café allongé: This is an espresso in which more water is run through the machine, a “long pull” espresso shot.
Un café serré: This is stronger than a regular espresso, basically the opposite of the above, it is stopped early to have half the water as a regular shot. Also called a “ristretto” in some cafes in America.
Un café déca- This is a decaffeinated coffee.
Keep in mind, that there are different prices for cafes from the bar to the tables inside to the tables outside. They go from cheaper to more expensive depending on where you sit, at the bar being the cheapest.
Prefer tea?
Le thé is always considered involving leaves: green, black, white or bleu (basically, oolong). If you want non-caffeinated herbal teas, you’ll need to order une tisane or une infusion which are herbal “teas”, usually from herbs, barks, flowers or fruits.
While we’re discussing drinks, water can be complicated, too! What you ask for may not be what you expect. If you just want tap water (l’eau du robinet) for the table, you should probably ask for a glass (un verre d’eau) or une carafe d’eau, which will be a pitcher of still water and this is free of cost. If you order une bouteille d’eau, you will get a bottle opened at the table, which you will have to purchase. A bottle of water may just be mineral water, not necessarily sparkling. If you prefer sparkling water, ask for l’eau gazeuse, or l’eau petillante, instead of still water (plate).
I hope this helps! Let me know in the comments if I left something out or if you have a special question about how to order something. In addition, let me know your thoughts and if you would like to feel more confident ordering coffee or drinks in French, whether for a date, a business meeting, or a networking situation. I would be happy to meet you for a few minutes to help you create the best possible experience in French. Leave me a message below or send me a personal message.
