Reading a Café Menu, and How to Order

That doesn't mean French cafés are all disappointing. If you want to experience French-style coffee, they're certainly worth a visit. Cafés are plentiful near metro stations and along main streets, and the menu is the same everywhere. Here they are, from cheapest to most expensive.

First is the café, the French version of espresso. It's called French because it uses a bit more water than an Italian espresso, meaning the shot is pulled for longer.

Next is the café allongé, an espresso with hot water added. It's the French Americano, but with much less water than a typical Americano. If you'd like to water it down, just ask for more hot water and they'll bring it right over. Hot water is de l'eau chaude, and don't forget the s'il vous plaît.

A café noisette is an espresso with a tiny splash of milk, served in an espresso cup. If you want a latte, order a café crème. Even so, a café crème has less milk than a typical latte. Can you ask for extra hot milk? No: hot milk is a separate item on the menu that you'd have to buy. A cappuccino differs in that it's topped with milk foam and dusted with chocolate powder. Café crème and cappuccino are mostly morning drinks. The cheapest café runs about €2.50, and the priciest, the café crème and cappuccino, about €5. If you don't drink coffee, there's chocolat chaud (hot chocolate) and thé (tea) in a range of varieties. For a caffeine-free herbal tea, look for infusion on the menu. Hot chocolate, tea and herbal tea are also around €5. Every café carries all of these drinks, and they all taste about the same.

Those prices are for sitting at a table. Sitting down is called sur place. There are cheaper ways, too. Standing at the counter, or comptoir in French, costs less, and you order it by saying sur comptoir. The cheapest option is takeout, called pour emporter. Remember all three: sur place, sur comptoir, pour emporter!

In the morning especially, croissants and pains au chocolat sit in a basket on the counter, and you can buy one with your drink. For something heartier and more leisurely, you can order a breakfast set that includes orange juice, baguette and jam.

In summer, you'll see lots of people in cafés sipping a vivid green drink. It's the nation's favorite summer drink, menthe à l'eau, which literally means "mint water." It's green mint syrup over ice, diluted with still or sparkling water, and well worth trying. Any disappointment over the missing iced Americano will be washed away by how refreshing it is.

If you travel in winter, try the hot wine served in cafés. France gets more rain than snow in winter, so imagine sitting in a café with a warm mulled wine, watching the drizzle fall over Paris outside the window. Romantic, isn't it?