Télescope Cafe © Lindsey Tramuta
In the city that’s known for having a sidewalk café on nearly every corner, you would think that this place had mastered the art of making coffee by now. But, an espresso machine does not a barista make. And even to call this new generation of coffee makers in Paris ‘baristas’ is an understatement. Coffee artists, gurus, revolutionaries might be more correct.
To put an end to the atrocious ‘sock juice’ being brewed throughout Paris is a group of men coming from all walks of life, all corners of the world, with one common thread- a passion for coffee. Their goal isn’t just to be able to call themselves cool, bike-riding, skinny-jean-wearing, tattoo-bearing baristas. They’re a real group of men, who have devoted their lives to learning the trade, the art, of making (good) coffee.
Head into the newest Parisian café to join the coffee revolution in Paris, Télescope Café, and you’ll start to understand. With its minimalistic décor, a menu consisting solely of various basic forms of espresso and filtered coffee, the men behind Télescope have one goal- to bring good coffee to the people. You won’t find any vanilla chai, skim milk, or fancy raw juices here; just good beans, freshly ground and roasted, brewed in the finest machines, and filtered to an exact science.
The way Nicolas Clerc, co-owner of Télescope, explained it to me is this- at any one of the corner cafés in Paris you might get an espresso that costs €2 ($3.50) that was made from beans that had been sitting in the grinder for months, or from grinds that hadn’t been rinsed from the last espresso. Theses cafés goals are to pound out as many little cups of espresso as possible to make a profit.
If you come to Télescope on a lucky day, you may even get to witness a coffee cupping, or tasting, between owners David Flynn and Nicolas Clerc. And, if it isn’t too busy, these two might even give you a crash course in tasting coffee. They’ll tell you the qualities to look for, and eloquently explain the way the flavors evolve in a filtered coffee over time. No sidewalk café could do that for you.
At Télescope, and other cafés around Paris, like Coutume Café, Le BAL, and Kooka Boora, you’ll get a freshly roasted, ground, and brewed cup of coffee every time. In fact, the guy who made your coffee could probably even tell you exactly from where and when your beans came to them.
Nicolas Clerc, or ‘Nico’ to the coffee gang, got his start in photography- not coffee. And when I say photography, I’m talking photography. After taking pictures for the likes of Chanel, Balmain, Hermès, and more, Nicolas decided he wanted to move onto something new. After touring the US, tasting coffee from some of the best baristas in the world, he then studied the bean and the craft, and put the plans in place to open his own café in Paris. In his signature denim shirt and glasses, Nicolas holds down the fort at Télescope six days per week- except for when he’s over at Coutume Café roasting beans or tasting a new brew.
David Flynn, an ex-pat who took the American coffee scene by storm during his time at the now-closed Murky Coffee in D.C., moved to Paris and worked at Le BAL Café in the 18th arrondissement, the place credited for having started the revolution in Paris. All the while, David worked on planning to open his own café and founded the “Frog Fight” throw downs with fellow Paris coffee guru, Thomas Lehoux.
Thomas was originally from the Paris cocktail crew- mixologists, if you will. But, after hanging out in cafés during his time living in Australia, Thomas became enthralled with the café culture, and decided to master another beverage- coffee. Today, he’s training for the Brewer’s Cup, happening this weekend in Paris, sponsored by the Frog Fight group, Fricote Magazine, Télescope, and others. The winner of this weekend’s Brewer’s Cup will be crowned French “Brewmaster” and will go on to compete in Vienna in June for the European title.
(Spoiler Alert- look out for Thomas’ own café opening sometime this year on the legendary Canal St. Martin)
Today, Nicolas, David, and Thomas are three of the most recognizable, and influential men in the new Paris coffee culture.
Télescope Cafe
5 rue Villedo 75001
Paris, France
mon.-fri. 8h30 – 18h30
sat. 9h30 – 18h30
Girl Meets Whirl 
Nicely written. I was in Paris about a week ago hunting for coffee culture and started at Le Bal, where I met Anselme, who then told me about the rest. Talked with Nico at Telescope and a visiting barista from Stumptown. David and others were doing a filter coffee event to introduce people to quality coffee and methods, and it was very cool.
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed visiting some great cafés while in Paris!
[…] are better write-ups about their vast experience and knowledge of coffee, like this one, but for me, good coffee is only part of what makes Télescope one of my favorite places. I like […]
May I make a suggestion?
Now that you’ve profiled three of the men contributing to a redefinition of Parisan coffee, perhaps you’d like to turn your attention to three women who are every bit as recognisable and influential? At times your piece, perhaps unconsciously, implied that being a specialist barista in Paris was strictly a man’s job.
I’d imagine that Gloria Montenegro de Chirouze, who founded La Caféothèque in 2005 (long before Le Bal Café opened its doors, by the way), would have something to say about that, as would Peta Glaister, of Le Bal and Frog Fight, and the fiercely fabulous Talor Browne of Coutume. Why not ask them?
May I make a suggestion?
Now that you\’ve profiled three of the men contributing to a redefinition of Parisan coffee, perhaps you\’d like to turn your attention to three women who are every bit as recognisable and influential? At times your piece, perhaps unconsciously, implied that being a specialist barista in Paris was strictly a man\’s job.
I\’d imagine that Gloria Montenegro de Chirouze, who founded La Caféothèque in 2005 (long before Le Bal Café opened its doors, by the way), would have something to say about that, as would Peta Glaister, of Le Bal and Frog Fight, and the fiercely fabulous Talor Browne of Coutume. Why not ask them?
Hey- I really appreciate your comment. I did not intend to have this article come across as one-sided. In fact, it was originally written for lookbooks.com (where I am a contributor) for their Men’s Month, which is why I focused on three important men in the Paris coffee scene. I am familiar with the women you mentioned, and just as impressed with the mark they have made on the scene as I am with that of the men. Peta is no longer with Le Bal, and the Frog Fights are taking a hiatus (if my sources are correct), but she is still one of my favorite ladies in the Paris coffee world! Also, Gloria is definitely the lady accredited with bringing the coffee movement to Paris with Caféotheque. Each of the men I interviewed thanked her or mentioned her in some way for what they have been able to do now. Hope this clears up why I focused on the three men, and of course, I would never forget the ladies!
Thanks for the clarification!