Paris Café Festival in the Marais from April 12 to 14, 2025

The Carreau du Temple becomes the Mecca of coffee with the Paris Café Festival . For three days, it will be the place to celebrate a beverage that, over the centuries, has established itself as a cultural and economic pillar. Let's enjoy espressos, macchiatos, americanos, dirty chais, cappuccinos, flat whites, as well as tea, pastries, juices, and cocktails.

Between specialty coffee tastings, workshops for amateur and professional baristas, and discoveries of the latest innovations, this rendez-vous is a tribute to brown gold, which has become the second most traded commodity in the world after oil.

Coffee, which originated in the Ethiopian mountains in the 9th century, has come a long way. In 1900, it was the world's third most traded commodity after cereals and sugar. Today, it's everywhere: in our kitchens since the arrival of Nespresso machines in the 1990s, and in our cities where coffee shops are proliferating at a dizzying pace. Paris, for example, sees 15 new establishments opening every month , or nearly 180 per year , with an impressive concentration in the Marais district.

It was in this very neighborhood that it all began. In 2001, La Caféothèque opened its doors, initiating Paris's transformation into the capital of specialty coffee. This was followed by establishments like Terres de Café , where each coffee is sourced directly from the producing countries, and Boot Café , a mini-temple nestled in a former shoe repair shop.

These places have redefined our relationship with coffee: wine tastings, artisanal roasting and latte art, and above all, they are a counter to the Starbucks model.

The American brand that modernized coffee roasting and distribution standards, drawing inspiration from Italian bars. Since 1987, Starbucks has been offering its customers a social experience with its welcoming stores, which have become a "third place" between home and work.

Starbucks has led the way, with many customers falling in love with the coffee shop concept, imported from the United States and English-speaking countries. People come here for the photogenic aesthetic of the products and the wide variety of coffee drinks, which cost three times more than Parisian cafés.

The 2020 lockdown marked a turning point. Deprived of their urban rituals, Parisians flocked to freshly roasted beans and espresso machines. Upon reopening, a new wave of coffee shops swept aside the bubble tea trend to establish coffee as a true art of living.

The coffee world is now divided into several spheres. Giants like % Arabica offer their customers only the highest-quality coffee. Launched in 2014 in Kyoto by a visionary Japanese coffee enthusiast, this brand is breaking records with 203 coffee shops worldwide.

Or, among others, Noir , the up-and-coming French brand with its 20 locations scattered throughout the capital and soon in London, but also Café Kitsuné, Dreamin'Man, White, The Coffee…

Not to mention coffee shops, which are becoming hybrid spaces that combine another activity—bookstore, florist, or art gallery—with their caffeine offerings. Is this a way to forge a closer connection with their community?

Regardless, these brands, almost all independent, share a sought-after aesthetic and a desire to replicate their model in the provinces or abroad. The most ambitious have set up shop in the Marais since their inception. Proof that the 3rd and 4th arrondissements remain the places to be to establish your reputation.

At the Paris Café Festival , this vibrant atmosphere comes alive with highlights like the Roasters' Village, where artisans and major brands offer exceptional coffees and equipment for sale. Join the Coffee Trail , a fun and interactive experience with workshops, masterclasses, and tastings. Hone your skills at the Home Barista Workshop or the sessions offered by L'École du Café . Don't miss the new addition: La Symphonie du Café , featuring vinyl music and cocktails at the Nitro Espresso Martini Bar.

From April 12 to 14