France has wonderful tourism resources-sidewalk cafes, food styles to discuss, a myriad of wine producing regions, area cheese from unpasteurised milks and historic sites to please any eye.

But rarely will I find a cup of French coffee deemed pleasant. There is a solid failure because of what I think is a no barista culture-anyone brews but few skills exist from the green bean upwards. The fancy espresso machines are everywhere.  Read more →