Coffee in Spain 101 In Spain, the espresso brewing method is the most popular way to prepare coffee in Spain. This method forces extremely hot, pressurized water through finely ground coffee beans, resulting in a stronger flavor in a smaller amount of coffee. As a result, coffee brewed in this manner is often referred to […]
Coffee
The Must-Visit List of 5 Coffee Shops in London
We all know that when in London, a “cuppa,” or cup of tea, is the beverage of choice to go with. However, for those who are simply not morning people no matter what time of day it is, no amount of “pinkies out” can solve the critical need for a good old cup of Joe. […]
A Paris Chef Shares How to Find the Best Pastries in Town (& Avoid Tourist Traps)
After an afternoon of sightseeing around the butte Montmartre, a nibble or two of French pastry is well-deserved. Rather than settling into an anonymous café on the rue des Abbesses, head west until the street narrows and forks. Tucked away just off the main drag, La Bossue awaits. Known for its generous brunch, cozy vintage atmosphere, […]
How to Enjoy San Sebastian in February
This blog post was originally posted on January 9, 2019 and was updated on January 15, 2020. The weather may be cold, but with so much going on in San Sebastian in February, you’ll hardly notice the chilly temperatures. After all, you’ll be busy getting immersed in authentic cultural events, spending quality time with your special […]
Hidden Paris: La Fontaine de Belleville
In the capital of café culture, good coffee is surprisingly hard to find. But La Fontaine de Belleville stands out thanks to its roaster ties. When you think of best Parisian cafes, what do you picture? Perhaps a corner spot with small round tables and wicker chairs facing the street. Or maybe friends chatting over […]
What to Drink in Paris & When to Blend in with the Locals
From pinot noir to pastis, there’s no shortage of drinks you should try in Paris—you just need to know what the locals are actually ordering! Francophile celebrity Dita Von Teese likes absinthe so much she even cooks her casserole with it. Yet before you have visions of Van Gogh hallucinating wildly and slicing off his […]
The 7 Best Places for Coffee in Paris + Essential Coffee Vocab
In Paris, cafe culture runs deep. Coffee culture, well—as others have reported, it’s still developing. For many years, the only available coffee options in Paris were very average, at best. This is for a number of reasons, among them strict regulations for opening new cafes, France’s history of colonialism, and general lack of innovation in […]
How to Order Coffee in French Like You Know What You’re Doing
It seems like an easy task: ordering a coffee. But as with many things in France, there’s a right and a wrong way. French coffee culture is guided by a number of spoken and unspoken rules. There’s the somewhat confusing nomenclature, unique coffee shop dynamics and a strong tendency toward over-caffeination. As a visitor to […]
The 6 Best Places for Coffee in Rome + Essential Coffee Vocab
Everyone knows the wonders of the world are best explored caffeinated. The good news is, you’re in Rome. The possibly not-as-great news is, you may be suffering at the hands of that beast known as jet lag. Luckily, we have the solution, because you’re in the land of un buon caffè (a good coffee). Below […]
Rome Then & Now: Cafes
When you think of Italy, we bet you think of pizza, pasta and coffee. But let’s focus on the third thing for now. There’s a good reason why Italy is synonymous with charming sidewalk cafes and flavorful coffee—in fact, it would practically be a sin to come here and not indulge in an espresso, cappuccino […]