How to Order Coffee in France

Un café/café express or café noir
This is an espresso, plain and simple. No milk, no water added—just espresso. In many coffee shops these days, it’s already listed as "espresso" on the menu.

Café au lait
Like Italians, the French typically enjoy coffee with milk at breakfast or, at the latest, before lunch. But heaven forbid you order it after a meal! These days, coffee is usually served in reasonably sized cups, though some traditional places might still serve it in bowls—a custom I find strange yet endearing.

Café crème
Similar to a cappuccino, with a layer of foam. While this remains the traditional way to order it, many speciality coffee shops now call it a "cappuccino."

Noisette
An espresso with a touch of milk foam or warm milk. The name "noisette" means hazelnut—not because the drink tastes like hazelnuts or contains them (though coffee with milk sometimes brings out hazelnut notes), but because of its hazelnut-like colour when mixed with milk.

Café allongé
An espresso diluted with hot water.