un café ön ka-FE
an espresso
In France, if you just ask for “un café”, you get a short espresso — NOT a big mug of coffee. For a longer coffee ask for “un café allongé”. “Un café” is the cheapest drink and is often downed standing at the counter (“au comptoir”).
un crème ön KREM
a coffee with milk
“Un crème” (from “un café crème”) is an espresso with frothed milk — the French take on a cappuccino, drunk mainly in the morning. Note: say “UN crème” (masculine), not “une crème”. “Un noisette” = an espresso with just a dash of milk (hazelnut colour).
un croissant ön krua-SAN
a croissant
The croissant is part of the classic French breakfast, often dunked in coffee. Ask for “un croissant au beurre” (butter, the better one) versus “ordinaire” (margarine). “Un pain au chocolat” is its chocolate-filled cousin — in the south-west it's called “une chocolatine”.
la terrasse la te-RAS
the terrace
The sidewalk terrace is a Parisian institution — the chairs often face the street so you can watch the world go by. Heads up: the same coffee costs more “en terrasse” than “au comptoir” (at the counter). You can linger a long time over a single drink — no one rushes you.
le pourboire lö pur-BUAR
the tip
Service is included by law (“service compris”), so the tip is optional and small. For a coffee, many just leave a few coins on the little saucer with the bill (“la soucoupe”) or round up. You say “Gardez la monnaie” (keep the change) — one euro is already generous for a coffee.
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