Buying ground coffee in France
 

At home I drink dark-roasted premium coffee, and I buy the beans or ground coffee from a specialty store (Second Cup, which is similar to Starbucks). I have had no luck in finding coffee that I like in French grocery stores--expresso isn't bad, but houses we've rented have French press coffee makers, and the two don't go together (nasty explosions and muddy coffee) . So should I be looking for coffee in an epicerie? Or is there a supermarket brand that is full and rich and dark?

On our last trip we brought a couple of pounds with us, but this time we're going for three weeks, and we're sharing with another couple for two of those weeks. I can't see schlepping 5 pounds of coffee.

My absolute favourite supermarket-bought coffee in France is Malongo Commerce Equitable (Fair trade) coffee, which comes in a white can. It's aromatic and rich, and I support the idea of buying fair-trade coffee. They sell it in Monoprix stores.

Another option is to head to a "torrefacteur" to buy fresh-ground coffee. That way you'll be able to smell the beans and perhaps even taste the coffee before buying. And you can build up your own blend. I don't know where you'll be in France, but if in paris you'll find a torrefacteur in the foodhall of Galleries Lafayette and at the Grande Epicerie de Paris.

Thank you so much! The fair trade coffee sounds like it might fit the bill--and I can always find a Monoprix. I'll keep my eyes out for a torrefacteur. I imagine that a reasonably sized town like Apt or Cavaillon should have one.

Cluny,

There is at least one shop with torrefacteur in Cavaillon. I can't remember the address, but it's on one of the main shopping streets.

My guests enjoy the Lavazza "matin" ground coffee, which I purchase in Intermarche or Leclerc.

Just a postcript to my previous message: the Malongo coffee is labelled "Arabica issu de la culture des petits producteurs" (Malongo produces various brands of coffee, not all free-trade)

Thank you both. I'll try them all.

The food hall at Galleries Lafayette has great coffee, beans, grounds and otherwise.

OTOH, for a recommendation AGAINT a vendor, we bought some coffee at Fauchon (an upscale grocery store with an excellent reputation) and it was stale, stale, stale. Maybe other people have had good luck with Fauchon coffee, but we won't buy it again.