We Tried Saint Laurent Coffee: Scam or Genuine Barista?

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After being spammed with countless Insta posts of the black cup from the Saint Laurent café, photographed from every angle, on the terrace, in the gardens of Palais Royal, by the Seine, or paired with the Old Money aesthetic, we did it… We went to try the famous caffeinated drink served in the branded cup, which has almost become a museum piece. So, is it a truly good café, or are we just witnessing a visual trend with a bland filter coffee? Here’s a recap of our experience, somewhat mixed, at the Saint Laurent café Rive Droite!

Saint Laurent Café: A Trendy Spot or a Real Good Address?

Speaking of the baguette bag, the must-have accessory for your photos, it’s the black branded Saint Laurent cup in white capitals. With a coffee inside, for that #coffeebreak mood. Although, let’s admit it, if people flock to the Saint Laurent café, it’s primarily for the cup and not its contents. Imagine a cardboard cup with just the recycling logo on it; I’m not so sure the coffee would be as coveted and photographed!

Both understated and effective, the cup’s design has captivated since the café’s opening in 2019, quickly becoming a star on social media. The Old Money aesthetic that has been trending on Instagram lately, following the cottagecore wave, gives new life to the cup, which is perfect for those little luxury touches that enhance the staging of photos in this trend.

You know us well; whenever there’s a spot related to fashion houses to try, we can’t help but pop in. After visits to the Dior tea salon and the Jacquemus flower café, a stop at the Louis Vuitton chocolate and pastry shop, and after drooling over the window of the Prada Café in London, we headed to 8 Rue du 29 Juillet, in the first arrondissement of Paris, to try this brew. And we admit, mainly to leave with the cup from the Saint Laurent café, Rive Droite!

A Latte Please!

Hidden next to the Rive Droite boutique, the Saint Laurent café is far from the grandeur of other places & cafés we’ve tried. Here, it’s a micro shop where only two can fit inside, making its mark on the facade since its opening in 2019. The ambiance is well-chosen, all in black and concrete, with a few red neon lights. We are in an DNA that aligns with the house, which may surprise at first glance, but we find it quite successful.

The sound of the coffee machine blends with a playlist playing in the background, which can later be accessed via a QR code on the cup. A well-thought-out detail, simple yet effective, that helps spread the brand’s universe while staying current. By visiting the café multiple times, you can access different playlists that change from time to time.

When it comes to drinks and sweet touches, we were quite surprised by the prices, and in a positive way! Although the prices are higher than elsewhere, we find a menu displaying similar prices to other trendy spots in the capital, even approaching those of Starbucks. And, let’s just say it’s refreshing not to see a latte nearing €8 and an espresso over €6 as seen at the Prada Café…

The menu here offers lattes, cappuccinos, flat whites, hot chocolate, golden/black/chai lattes, and matcha at €5.50, available hot or cold. Other drinks range from €3.50 to €6.50. Adding plant-based milk, however, is too expensive, costing €1. (A nostalgic thought for London, where many spots don’t charge for plant-based milk, or if they do, it’s just a few cents…).

The Saint Laurent café also offers pastries, for which the prices are high; a croissant is €4, a pain au chocolat is €4.50, and a cookie is €6. These are packaged in branded white bags, just like the paper napkins and sugar packets, which feature the same design as the cup. It’s all in the details!

Our latte was served with perfectly crafted latte art. After putting the lid on and flipping the cup for our iconic photo, there was a little surprise… It wasn’t branded, just plain black. From a Saint Laurent cup, we ended up with a cup without Laurent, and let’s be honest, disappointment was present… We’ll chalk that up to a potential stock issue? Pro tip: check your cup before leaving!

Aside from this hiccup, the Saint Laurent café turned out to be really good. A bit of surprise even danced on our palate, as we didn’t expect something extraordinary, but more of a trendy coffee effect. Ultimately, we discovered a good barista coffee, which is enjoyed with pleasure and made us somewhat forget the cup detail!

All in all, we really enjoyed the experience. The place is nice, the coffees are really good, and the price isn’t excessive. However, it would be nice to have a few spots to sit down and enjoy your coffee.

Currently, for fashion week, the Saint Laurent café is collaborating with WILD & THE MOON and is offering four cold infusions available at the café.

How to Make a Saint Laurent Coffee at Home?

The cup from the Saint Laurent café isn’t the only one making waves on social media. Ralph Lauren’s restaurants and cafés are also very popular for snapping a few pictures. This off-the-rack style, more ingrained in daily life habits, seems to please many clients who enjoy including their favorite fashion houses in their lifestyle.

Understanding this well, the houses are increasingly developing their lifestyle collections, allowing them to expand their reach throughout the day. So, good news, you can make your own Saint Laurent coffee at home! The house has indeed created an exact replica of the cup in which your caffeine dose is served, in a larger and ceramic version. However, at €95, let’s just say you’ll need to drink a lot of coffee to make it worthwhile. It’s up to you to choose an exceptional bean to match this high-fashion piece.

The house has also released a water bottle, in the same aesthetic, perfect to accompany you on all your adventures, sold for €75. And, for a bit more freshness, Léna Situation shared a few months ago in one of her videos the discovery of a Saint Laurent ice cube tray.

With such a character-filled cup, all you have left is to create a 100% Saint Laurent look to enjoy your coffee under the Parisian sun with class.

Photos: Pinterest