Cameron M.
Yelp
One thing I find comical about life in Paris, as an American, is that people love to talk to me about how bad American coffee is. (Don't even get my started on American beer misperceptions...) I am also almost certain that half of the people who make the comment have never been to the States and just use it as an icebreaker. ("Hi nice to meet you, I understand your country makes terrible coffee...")
In any case, I have no problem admitting that Dunkin' Donuts coffee is awful and that most "typical" (i.e. crappy) diners serve stale muddy water that may or may not contain some traces of burnt coffee....
However, coffee in Paris is not that great. Ok, they often grind the grains in front of you when you order in a bar or if you get your coffee from an automatic machine, you can hear grinding noises inside that make you think your coffee will be "fresh". This, in most cases, is a marketing ploy and a deception. Most cafes get their coffee from a mass-distributor like "Cafes Richard" (if you are lucky) or a crappier one. This means it is produced in gross and that there is likely little attention to the roasting of the coffee grains, their origin, the "fairness" of the trade involved, and most importantly the taste. Just because the coffee is not watery, does not mean it is good....Sorry Parisians.
The Italians make the best coffee. BUT...Good American coffee bars make great coffee and are EASIER to come across that their French cousins.
I was home visiting family in the US and enjoying a GREAT coffee in Washington, DC. There I made the comment that it is nearly impossible to find an authentic cappuccino in Paris (the drink most places call a cappuccino is not one - they put chocolate powder on it). In any case, I was swiftly advised to go to La Caféothèque.
This place is awesome and they roast their own coffee. It used to be really small so if you were there when they were roasting it could get a little smokey. However, they expanded recently and have a lot of space to hang out, study, etc. and there are two bars to order drinks and one to order coffee beans (whole or ground to your specifications).
One cool fact that I learned is the owner apparently negotiates directly with small producers to get his stock and thus the trade is more fair than "fair trade" because he cuts out the middle man and pays the farmers more than is considered "fair". It would appear that smaller producers like the ones they go to often cannot afford to get certified.
Anyways, long story short, they make a great cappuccino (or however you like your Joe for that matter: espresso, drip, iced, how ever you want!). I buy my coffee there regularly and the cool thing is that you can try the coffee you want before you purchase. They have an extensive menu and they can help you arrive at a coffee that is right for you. I have other sources for good coffee in the city but this place is my #1.