Cofftea & Shop lies off the beaten tourist circuit on rue Berthollet in the 5th arrondissement. I entered the other day to taste the espresso served there.
At the left side of the room is a serving counter where one can find a selection of beverages and pastries as well as hot dishes for lunch. Customers order at the counter, pay, and then sit at a table to wait for the food and beverages to be prepared.
Overall, the shop is a pleasant place in which to relax. The staff is friendly. The main room has butcher-block style tables with a big family-style table in the middle. A long wooden wall bench stands against the wall to the right, where there are individual tables. Tall, wide windows admit ample natural light, but there is also spot lighting on the ceiling. Framed abstract art decorates the walls. There is a cozy little tea room in the back. The day that I entered, the music of Jimmy Reed was playing over the sound system.
The espresso served that day was Honduras – San Andrés Lempira. It is supplied by Ivan Alfaro, a coffee roaster located in the 14th arrondissement. I looked up his name on the Internet and found that he has been in the coffee business since 1986. Caffea & Shop is one of the four enterprises listed on his website where his coffee can be purchased.
The espresso that I was served was aromatic with a honey-like sweetness. I purchased a 250-gram bag of roasted beans to take home to brew with my 9Barista stove-top espresso maker. Information printed on the bag indicates that the coffee expresses hazelnut, cacao, and honey notes. The espresso that my machine produced was full-bodied and naturally sweet.
Cafftea & Shop
8 rue Berthollet
75005 Paris
