Moving to France taught us many things — including one very important lesson: French coffee culture is not the same as American coffee culture.
When we first arrived, we bought a popular pod espresso machine, thinking we were all set. What we got instead was small watered-down coffee — and a daily struggle for anyone who prefers a big American-style mug.
So we went on a mission to find a better option.
If you’re moving to France — or anywhere in Europe — and you love large cups of coffee, this comparison may save you time, money, and morning disappointment.
Tell us in the comments: Are you team espresso, or team big mug?
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27 Comments
Maybe the Chemex pour over with grounds? That is only a little more work. Or maybe the Italian coffee maker (Bialetti Moka) you set on the stove/burner? I think you could make the size and strength you want with those.
Quality over quantity, my friend! ☕️ In France, we treat coffee like a fine ritual, not a gas station refill. Your heart and your sleep cycle will thank you for giving up those giant buckets of caffeine. Welcome to the 'espresso life', where we prefer a small kick in the teeth over a liter of brown water! 🇫🇷😉
I travel with my thermal stainless steel cafetière, it makes great coffee, eco friendly, doesn't require electricity and it's easy to find great coffee beans or ground coffee in any country. It might seem ridiculous traveling with a coffee maker but I love my coffee too and this means I can make just the coffee I enjoy anywhere in the world
Thanks for upgrading your coffee experience for your visitors. 😂😂 Glad your mornings will be happier now!
At my home in Paris I simply use a French press and the most roasted ground coffee I can find at Carrefour. At my place in Southwest France I have a Nespresso Original machine like yours and do double shots of Starbucks Cafe Verona from Monoprix. I don't have a grinder and unfortunately Starbucks is not selling ground beans anymore (at least I can't find them in Paris), but if I were not trying to cut back on my caffeine intake I would grind really dark roasted beans and use the press. The pods are theoretically recyclable but something I would love to move away from. -Daniel (Paris)
I enjoyed this, as I am very particular about coffee, I have a Nespresso, they are great for espresso, but for that regular morning "big coffee"
I totally recommend that you forget machines. My favorite is the Aeropress, originally invented by a Stanford University physicist ( I believe he also invented the frisbee). Very easy to use, grind fresh beans, boil the water, place the Aeropress on top of the preheated (always preheat) coffee mug, put the filter in add the coffee and hot water, and then you slowly press down the plunger. Better flavor extraction than paper drip coffee. It was my go-to coffee at work, just needed an electric kettle, and you can easily find those in France. Avoid any coffee pot that is aluminum, you can research why online, so I would not do the Moka. Aeropress is not really much work and the flavor result is really worth it. French press (Bodum) also good but if find a bit gritty, as there is only a metal filter screen so need to use a coarse grind but hey, it is called a French press so must work there.
Amazon france has a regular american coffee machine for 40 euros
It's still so surprising that you haven't found just a regular drip coffee machine, like our standard American ones. We found one no problem and we live in a much smaller city.
You should try a Clever Dripper – just need to buy an electric kettle and then you will have a 400ml mug of perfect coffee
Thank you so much for this video bc I’m moving to the South of France in December and I’m learning so much from you. ❤
Nespresso virtuoso
I live in Texas, and I use the Bialetti 9 Cup Moka Stovetop Espresso Maker to make a big cup of coffee every morning using ground coffee. You're so close to Italy, you can get one easily. If the Italians knew how I was using it, they would crucify me 🙂
I vote for getting rid of the pods ! You can do it 🙂 it will give you a lot more control and you can figure out a better way. (Belgian living in the US, coffee is weirdly cultural indeed, I was used to Senseo coffee when I moved here almost 20 years ago (also hard to replicate). I mostly use a combo of French press and then manually filter, and just got a small espresso machine to experiment with (and add a little water to the espresso, so short Americano), which is fun!
You can't generally buy "Cafe filtre manuel" or le pour-over in bars or restaurants. But for home preparation, Melitta coffee cones and filters are readily available as well as suitable pre-ground coffees.
Wow!!! Lack of ~real American coffee~ that is almost enough to cause one to pack up and leave😳. This tells me that you guys are doing great in France🙂.
My wife and I also love large cups of coffee. Before we moved to Nice, we bought a 1L French press from Amazon. Stainless steel and insulated, so each morning I heat the water, put the coffee in the pot, and in 4 mins we have 16oz each. Also, Cafe Indian in the Old Town has a great selection of coffee beans/gounds for home use
Annoying Americans.
Todd, when will your custom coffee blend be available in Intermarché? ☕
I do remember seeing some actual drop coffee machines in an Auchan in the Loire Valley. But the Nespresso is EVERYWHERE!
Maybe You can get used to your new way of life in Europe? and live as WE live here…. quit your US habits and just live as WE are living, or get back home…. be thankfull there is not ICE over here…. US immigrants….. (just an aggressive comment to let you know what an immigrant could experienced actually in USA…. no offense, just a reminder)
I travel with a silicone pour over filter cone and a reusable metal filter. Hate to be without my coffee.
In northern Europe most people drink coffee in larger cups. Often made in a coffee (French) press or the drip method.. With a coffee press, the grains steep in the water for a longer period of time and it extracts more flavor (and caffeine) even though it's less concentrated.
Good information as we are moving to Nice soon….also we would love to see a video on how you decorated your apartment😊
Do a pour-over. Makes the BEST American coffee. Wherever I travel I take my collapsible funnel filter holder for #2 cone filters and either bring my ground coffee with me or buy some wherever I am. We were in Paris for a month in September and I made it every morning and my husband did the same. We make it the same way at home too. It's the best!
I have a Bodum French press but I rarely use it. Instead, for the budget-minded among us, I find that a very simple Melitta plastic single cup pour over coffee maker works very well.. I also have one made by Filtropa but I'm not sure if those are available anymore. If you want to make two cups, buy two of them. I've seen them on Amazon for less than $9. All you need are the paper filters but there are some that have a reusable steel mesh filter.
Use French press
Have you tried the Nespresso Vertuo machine? One pod makes an 8oz coffee that is rich and full flavored.
You both look so much more rested and healthy then when you just arrived!