Hello,
So a few times when I've walk into a small coffee shop, with a more casual, "hipster" vibe than a traditional café, I've walked to the counter and ordered an espresso. But when I pull out my wallet, they say "I'll bring it out to you. You can pay later." Why don't they just let me pay then?
Also, in this same type of super casual coffee shop, would I just walk in and sit down if I also wanted food, or should I still order at the counter then sit?
It’s the same in the UK. It’s not always obvious whether you order and pay at the counter straightaway or wait for waiter service and pay on exit. Follow the lead of others. If in doubt, try to order at the counter and they will soon make it clear that they will come to you. It’s the same for food and drinks.
But part of the puzzle is that sit down service can often be more expensive than the stand up bar.
It's the culture in a traditional or modern cafe: enjoy your coffee before paying. Making it a transaction immediately is not the way it's done; in fact, it's even a bit rude. If you are in a hurry, you can pay when you're served, but usually you just relax and enjoy the coffee before bringing up money. This distinguishes a cafe from a chain like Brioche Dorée or McDonald's. I have no idea what Starbucks is like in Europe but am curious to know.
Also, as Frank said, prices are different if you are standing or at a table. So if you order at the bar, drink at the bar or clarify that you plan to sit down. Paying a bar tariff and then sitting down is a big no-no.
Finally, as Jennifer said, watch the others, or make eye contact with staff and gestures, or just sit down and the server will come to you.
The small coffee shops which specialize in actually good coffee in Paris usually don't have the bar stand up service, but expect you to drink at the table. They bring it to the table and you pay when you leave. In a normal cafe if you order at the bar you pay bar prices and also drink it at the bar; if you want to sit at a table you sit and are served and pay table prices. (sometimes there is a difference between outdoor and indoor seated service prices but not usually except in some very touristy places)
I went to a Starbucks in Montmarte. I was in need of a bathroom and water refill. Ordering a cup of coffee also got me wifi, the bathroom, and plenty of water for about 1.5euro! In any case, I ordered at the counter and then sat down which seemed to be what everyone did. In general, I would frequent a more local place, but it was more about meeting my needs and less about the coffee (which seemed better than Starbucks in the U.S.)
IN a regular Paris cafe you would NEVER order at the bar and then carry it to a table. Starbucks, being built on the fast food self serve model has different norms, but don't try that at a typical cafe.
Jane, I agree, I wouldn't order coffee at the bar in a local Paris coffee shop. I was responding to Bets who had wondered what the practice was at Starbucks in Paris.
