The arrival of summer means that many of our colleagues will be vacationing all over the province, and the world! It may be the time to relax, but as members of the Coffee gang, we're always on the lookout for great coffee discoveries elsewhere in the world— to compare ourselves a little, but also to find hidden gems that we wouldn't have access to at home.
Our Marketing Director Philippe recently visited the South of France, from Provence to Côte D'Azur. What a surprise when he discovered that French coffee culture is so homogeneous! Much more so than ours, and more rigidly integrated into everyday life; an espresso or two at the local brasserie, and that's coffee.
It was very difficult to find places with an academic perspective on everything that makes a coffee exceptional: the choice of roaster, the temperature and texture of the milk, and the employment of a barista who knows his product and his techniques.
But the Barista team is never one to give up! So today, we're bringing you three coffee shops that are sure to win over even the toughest aficionados. For those of you who are planning a trip to the South of France: this article is for you. Good news: our discoveries are all in major centers and easily accessible!
There are plenty of places in Marseille where you can get a very respectable coffee, from cortado to iced latte, but we were looking for the PERFECT coffee. Bravo to Pétrin Couchette, a bakery-coffee shop where you can’t order your drink to-go.This place has a "take your time to breathe and sit down"- ethos. With the huge terrace and the fact that it's always sunny in Marseille, the question doesn't even come up; that's just the way it is. Le Pétrin Couchette also offers exceptional drinks, both hot and cold. The banana and lemon breads are the perfect match for your drink!
If you're a fan of plant-based drinks, you're in for a treat. With its formula featuring only caffeinated beverages made from oats, soy, cashews or almonds, Full Bloom Café offers an exceptional coffee experience. A vegan café, but made to perfection in a plant-filled, pet-friendly atmosphere; that's what this warm and welcoming café has to offer!
Mana espresso, located in Aix-en-Provence's Old Town, is a must-see if you visit the city. The coffees are impeccable and made with a yellow Rocket Espresso machine! It also offers a gourmet vegetarian menu. Be warned, though; the menu is vegetarian— with absolutely no meat — but that doesn't stop it from being completely irresistible. Here, you don’t have to worry about showing up late, staying too long to drink 2 coffees, indulge in one of the excellent dishes on their menu, and why not, a dessert with a glass of wine!
Voilà! If you're visiting the south of France in the next few months, now you know which places to add to your itinerary for an impeccable coffee experience!
One of the questions that coffee experts probably hear the most is:“What’s the difference between Arabica and Robusta?” The two types of coffee plants are at opposite ends of the spectrum, and by blending the two together, we can achieve the best of both worlds.
