French Coffee and Culture

French coffee has its own reputation. Whilst not as infamous as Italian coffee, drinking coffee in France is still very much an important part of the daily routine. French coffee is a culture in its own right, and as such there are certain etiquettes and traditions that should be followed.

From its beginnings in Paris to the common coffee drinking etiquette in present day France, there’s much to discover about the French coffee culture. Keep reading to find out all you need to know and satisfy the coffee connoisseur in you.

French coffee roast

French roast is a regional coffee roasting style. In the 19th century, dark roast coffee was exceptionally popular. French coffee was one of the darkest roasts, and still remains so. For French coffee, the coffee beans do not need to be from any specific place, as it’s all in the process of roasting.

French roast coffee is intense, smoky and bold in flavour. During the roasting process, the internal temperature of the coffee beans reaches a very high temperature of 240 degrees Celsius. As the colour of the coffee beans begins to darken, more coffee oils appear on the surface. That is why French roast coffee beans are a darker brown and covered with oil.

During the roasting process, French roast coffee beans reach a "second crack". This means the beans make two cracking noises: one from the release of steam and the other when the cell walls of the beans break down and release oils. In most roasts, coffee beans only crack once. The darker the roast, the less caffeine content there is too.

Typically, milky French coffees are consumed only in the morning, usually with breakfast – such as a tartine or croissant – and served in a larger, bowl cup. Espresso is not commonly consumed alongside food and instead is drunk after a meal, or on its own in the afternoon.

Now you know all there is about French coffee and the culture, discover all about Spanish coffee.