50 French Coffee Breaks

[Gaynelle Brigges]

One important thing to note is that this is a full restaurant, and proper French restaurant etiquette should be respected (in a nutshell, if you come during regular mealtime, it will be expected that you order a meal), but you can stop by for a coffee or snack between 3 and 6 PM (15h-18h) any day of the week!

Le Ciel de Paris (The Sky of Paris) is named quite appropriately as its located on the 56th floor of the Montparnasse Tower in the 15th arrondissement. While the standalone black skyscraper is considered a Parisian eyesore, the view from the top is absolutely unparalleled. From 8-10:45 AM, you can enjoy a full continental breakfast for 15 euros or just get a coffee and pastry while watching the morning sun flood the City of Light with the Eiffel Tower front and center. You can also grab your coffee (or advance to a cocktail!) in the late afternoon before they begin serving dinner at 7 PM (19h). This is especially fantastic during the fall and winter months, when the sun sets early evening and you get to watch the entire city switch their lights on. Trs lumineux!

In the middle of the Seine River in the shadow of Notre Dame Cathedral lies a small pedestrian bridge that leads you from the western edge of le de la Cit to its smaller sister island, the idyllic le Saint-Louis. Less than half a mile in length and full of old...

These days, Saturday mornings are for writing. But first, coffee. I roll out of bed, turn on the kettle, sleepily spoon out grounds into my french press, and pull out my mug. But not just any mug- Saturday mornings call for my Green Chair mug. What is a Green Chair...

Summer is a beautiful time to visit Paris, France - especially if you can make it earlier in the summer before you hit high tourist season. Sure, Parisian summers are busy with tourists, but local Parisians love summer in this beautiful city too, and most stay out...

If you are visiting Charleston, SC and hoping to visit both the historic downtown and surrounding beaches, the town of Mt. Pleasant could be the best place for you to book a place to stay. Mt. Pleasant is located just across the Cooper River from downtown Charleston...

The Cuthbert House is a historical bed & breakfast nestled between the oak lined streets of downtown Beaufort with picturesque views of the Beaufort River. Prior to this weekend getaway, I'd only taken a day trip from Charleston to explore Beaufort, but staying at...

I recently spent a weekend exploring Beaufort, the second oldest town in South Carolina and just a 1.5 hour drive from my home in Charleston. This charming, historic town is easy to explore on foot or bike and offers a perfect blend of history, culture, and natural...

Nestled between Charleston and Myrtle Beach, Georgetown, SC is a hidden gem on the South Carolina coast. This charming port town is the third oldest SC city, following Charleston and Beaufort, and its well-preserved historic district filled with scenic river views and...

Paris is a city filled with so much rich history and culture, and one of the best ways to experience it is through its museums. While the Louvre is the biggest and one of the most famous museums in the world, Paris has a so many other fantastic museums worth visiting....

The French press, a tool used to brew coffee, has found different applications at two of Denver's most popular restaurants - the Squeaky Bean and Trillium. The advantage of the French press is the quick steeping of flavors into liquid and that, apparently, can go beyond coffee. The Squeaky Bean uses this traditional coffee vessel for clear broths, while Trillium uses it to create bright cocktail flavors.

The Squeaky Bean uses the french press when the chefs want to impart acid or fresh herb flavor into a clear soup. "Adding either of these earlier and the flavors will dull or bitter," chef Max MacKissock says. "Pouring the soup over them at the last second ensures the flavors will be bright and upfront," he adds.

The French press has been used in two dishes at the restaurant. The first was the Pot au Pho, a combination of a traditional pot au feu dish crafted with seasonings typical in a classic Vietnamese pho. In the French press was a lime, thai basil, jalapeno, cilantro, and mint. When these flavors combined with the rich stock, the result is a well-balanced broth. While this dish was a hit, it is no longer on the menu, but, who knows, maybe an encore is possible.

The second utilization is with the kale agnolotti (pictured here), which was inspired by trying to make a vegetarian version of an Italian wedding soup. The broth is a vegetable stock made with leeks, fennel, artichokes, celery, and carrot. The other garnishes are goat ricotta gnudi, roasted baby artichokes, brunoise of celery and carrot. In the press is a lemon, fresno, basil, and rosemary. This dish is currently on the menu at the LoDo restaurant.

Under the guidance of beverage director and cocktail fanatic Parker Ramey, Trillium introduced the French press to cocktails since the beginning of winter this year.

The Ballpark restaurant uses small French presses to infuse the flavors of tea, spices, and berries into a cocktail, a process that happens tableside. A timer is set for optimal steeping- between 5 and 8 minutes depending on the cocktail. When the timer rings, a server filters the cocktail from its infusions and pours the cocktail into glasses. Currently, there are three French-pressed cocktails on the menu. Each of the three cocktails are served for two guests and will remain on the menu until the end of spring.

The French press cocktail program will take a break at the end of April to make room for summer-oriented concepts. "I'm already, however, looking forward to working on next winter's recipes," Parker Ramey confessed.

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