i am a lover of strong espresso (short black) style coffee, but it has to be well made....not bitter/burnt. where in paris does one go for a really good coffee?

Starbucks.

thanks ...BUT...wasn't thinking along the lines of global chain coffee shops! hoping for something a little more quintisentially french! are you suggesting that this is my best option?

I posted tongue in cheek, and know this is not PC to say, but I've had bad luck with coffee in France. Some of the other folks will leap in soon and tell you its not expensive and where to best do it. I usually had a beer or wine at a cafe while people watching.

Hi

We found some great coffee at Café Malongo at Galleri Lafayette. I think they had a seperate menu just for the espresso You can read a bit more about it in my trip report http://gardkarlsen.com/eat_drink_Paris_France.htm . Here is the general Paris trip report with pictures and links http://gardkarlsen.com/Paris_France.htm

Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures

Never been to Paris but elsewhere in France a "petit cafe" always met the requirements for me. I too am a short set espresso drinker and found it very acceptable.

I also like the "petit cafe" at the bars but I used to have a girl who make coffee in my office and she was making a horrible brew. This was a 100% chickory powder and it's tough to become assumed.

If I was to compare, the Italian coffee was the best. The French and the Spanish were about the same. The British coffee was the pitts. The Swiss, German and Austrian were certainly lower than the French/Spanish coffee. Sweden brewed a fairly good filtered coffee and of course their exprsso was good too.

Blackduff

My favorite place for a really well-made espresso is actually at the Alto coffee cart that they park in front of Galeries Lafayette Gourmet (there's another one inside if you take the escalators up, go through the wine section, and take the escalators there down). I used to work in a café in the States and I can tell you that most places don't make espresso correctly. One thing they usually forget is to press the grounds (everyone has their own preference for how much pressure). Alto does this and their espresso never tastes burnt. It's a bit more expensive than standing at the counter with the old guys at your local café, but it tastes good. I think it's 1.40 for a small and 2 for a "medium" (2 shots).

I have found brasseries or bars with the brand "Richard" to be very good, or "Illy" (Italian). Usually drunk as a noisette (splash of hot milk in an espresso)at the bar with the locals around a Euro1.10.

Reminds me of the pithy observation I read somewhere: "Go to Italy for good coffee and bad croissants or to France for good croissants and bad coffee."

thanks every one...this gives me something to follow up on...i am sure i will get at least one acceptable coffee.

"I think it's 1.40 for a small and 2 for a "medium" (2 shots)."

That's $192 per gallon! And we thought gasoline was high priced. But a gallon of espresso may take you further than a gallon of gas.

If you think that's bad, the prices in the Paris Starbucks are outrageous. I met some friends for a movie and we agreed to meet in front of a Starbucks. I poked my head in to see the prices--the line was out the door, but for just a PLAIN DRIP COFFEE it was over 3 euro. For the smallest one! According to my currency converter that's about $4.38. A grabber!

Staying local is better for prices--but Seamus' "pithy" remembrance is right on, alas.