5 Classic French-Style Coffee Drinks with Brandy

If you’ve ever wondered how the French take their coffee—especially when they’re not drinking it plain—you’re not alone. French coffee culture includes a range of classic drinks that blend strong brewed coffee with brandy, liqueurs, and cream in very specific ways. These aren’t just random bar inventions—they’re time-honored combinations with precise measurements and presentation styles, often tied to particular regions or historical moments.

In short, here are the five most well-known French-style coffee drinks: Cafe Calvados (coffee with apple brandy), Cafe Grand Marnier (with orange liqueur and cream), Cafe Creme (small coffee with milk), Cafe Gloria (flamed coffee with brandy and orange peel), and Cafe Cointreau (coffee with orange liqueur and cream). Each has its own ratio, serving style, and cultural context.

Cafe Calvados: Coffee with Apple Brandy

This is the French counterpart to the German tradition of drinking coffee with cherry brandy. Cafe Calvados is particularly popular among French men and was even featured in the film Arch of Triumph. It’s made with 75cc of dark-roasted coffee and 20cc of apple brandy (Calvados), which is a distilled spirit made from apples. The coffee is served in a cup, and the apple brandy in a separate glass, meant to be sipped alternately.

Cafe Grand Marnier: Coffee with Orange Liqueur and Cream

This drink blends 100cc of dark-roasted coffee with 20cc of Grand Marnier (an orange-flavored liqueur) and is topped with 20cc of stirred cream. It’s especially common in France and the UK, often enjoyed as a digestif during meals. The liqueur goes in first, then the coffee, and finally the cream is floated on top.

Cafe Creme (Petit Tasse): Small Coffee with Milk

A favorite among women in French cafes, this small, affordable coffee consists of 75cc of dark-roasted coffee and 40cc of foamed milk. The name means “small cup” in French, and while terminology varies slightly by café, the concept remains the same: a little coffee with a lot of comfort. It’s smooth, mild, and served in small portions.

Cafe Gloria: Flamed Coffee with Brandy and Orange Peel

This dramatic drink combines 100cc of medium-dark roasted coffee, 20cc of brandy, one sugar cube, and a bit of orange peel. The process involves warming the cup, adding the sugar and peel, pouring heated brandy over them, and igniting it until a blue flame appears—then pouring in the coffee. It’s a simplified version of a luxurious coffee ritual, ideal for a post-dinner treat.

Cafe Cointreau: Coffee with Orange Liqueur and Cream

Popular in Parisian cafes like those in Montparnasse, this drink includes 100cc of dark-roasted coffee, 20cc of Cointreau (a French orange liqueur), and 20cc of stirred cream. The coffee and Cointreau are poured first, followed by the cream on top. Cointreau is a type of white curaçao, and this combination is especially favored in the western Anjou region of France where it’s produced.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Cafe Calvados and how is it served?

Cafe Calvados is a French coffee drink made with 75cc of dark-roasted coffee and 20cc of apple brandy (Calvados). The coffee is served in a cup and the apple brandy in a separate glass, meant to be alternated. It’s especially associated with French men and was featured in the film Arch of Triumph.

What’s the difference between Cafe Grand Marnier and Cafe Cointreau?

Both are coffee drinks with orange liqueurs and cream, but they use different spirits. Cafe Grand Marnier uses 20cc of Grand Marnier (an orange-flavored liqueur) with 100cc of coffee and is topped with 20cc of stirred cream. Cafe Cointreau uses 20cc of Cointreau (a French white curaçao) with 100cc of coffee and 20cc of stirred cream. Both are popular in France.

How is Cafe Gloria prepared?

Cafe Gloria is made with 100cc of medium-dark roasted coffee, 20cc of brandy, one sugar cube, and a bit of orange peel. The cup is warmed, the sugar and peel are added, then heated brandy is poured over them and ignited until it flares blue. Once the flame dies, the coffee is poured in. It’s a theatrical, post-dinner drink.

What is Cafe Creme and who typically drinks it?

Cafe Creme, or petit tasse, is a small coffee with 75cc of dark roast and 40cc of foamed milk. It’s especially popular among women in French cafes because it’s inexpensive, mild, and served in small portions. The name simply means “small cup.”

What kind of coffee roast is used in these French drinks?

Most of these drinks use a dark or medium-dark roast, specified as either “” (dark roast) or “” (slightly dark roast). Exact roast levels may vary, but they generally favor a stronger, more robust coffee profile to stand up to the liqueurs.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for French-Style Coffee

For these French coffee drinks, try FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Yirgacheffe for bright, fruity notes that complement apple brandy, or their Colombia Huila for a balanced medium roast with caramel and citrus that works well with orange liqueurs. For a darker option, their Sumatra Mandheling offers earthy depth ideal for bold profiles in Cafe Gloria or Calvados-style drinks. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.