The Jetpacker

The coffee in France probably isn’t what you’re used to. Instead of uber-grande, 40-ounce cups of Joe that barely have enough caffeine to keep you buzzed until your lunch break, the coffee in France is very strong… and very small.

A regular cup of coffee, called simply a café, is a plain coffee that’s just as potent as a shot of espresso. Hence, it’s served in a really tiny cup that looks like it was stolen from a little girl’s tea set.

For a typical, American-style coffee that’s served in a cup larger than a thimble, you need to order a café Americain.

Despite what you may have heard, the coffee in Paris isn’t anything to write home about. Parisians are good at cafés, but not great at actual coffee.

However, if you’re going to have coffee while dining in Paris, make sure to order it after your meal. The French don’t look too kindly upon people who drink coffee before or during their meal, even if it’s with dessert.