How to Order a Coffee in France
Mark K October 26th, 2007
I’m back at my favorite cafe in Limoux again today. “Un creme?” the barman asks as I walk in the door. “Oui, merci,” I respond as I head to my booth. After two days, I’m a regular!
As far as I can tell, this is the procedure for ordering a coffee:
1. Enter the cafe, being sure to greet whoever is working at the bar. It’s considered rude not to do so. “Bon jour!” for acquaintances, “Salud” for close friends.
2. Order your drink and have a seat at the bar or a table. I learned that a “grand creme” was the thing that I wanted – probably the closest thing to a latte or cappuccino. I’ve been told that the French generally only drink cafe au lait or of cafe creme in the morning and I noticed that many of my fellow customers were ordering a small, espresso-like coffee, without cream.
3. Help yourself to a newspaper from the rack to read and return when you’re finished.
4. They’ll bring your check along with the coffee.
5. Pay up on your way out. Don’t forget to say, “Merci, au revoir” on your way out or, if you want to be hip, “Ciao!”
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