The Stray Blog

La hausse du prix du café – faut-il s’inquiéter ?
La hausse du prix du café – faut-il s’inquiéter ?
Depuis quelque temps, on entend beaucoup parler de l’état de la production mondiale de café et de la forte hausse des prix. Mais à quel point la situation est-elle préoccupante... Lire plus...
Cusco – notre café du mois
Cusco – notre café du mois
Le café que nous allons mettre à l’honneur aujourd’hui provient d’Acconcharcas, dans la province péruvienne de Cusco. Accrochez-vous, c’est une histoire qui nous fait remonter à l’époque des Incas ! Lire plus...
Le café qui a traversé le monde … à la voile !
Le café qui a traversé le monde … à la voile !
Achetez local. C’est toujours un bon conseil, non ? Non seulement il permet de soutenir la communauté locale, mais il contribue également à réduire les temps et les coûts de... Lire plus...
Comment réussir (ou détruire !) un bon café
Comment réussir (ou détruire !) un bon café
Lors de nos formations pour les nouveaux baristas, nous commençons souvent par une petite expérience. Nous préparons un double expresso sur notre Marzocco, mais au lieu de tout verser dans... Lire plus...
The Stray Bean - artisan torréfacteur à Versailles !
The Stray Bean - artisan torréfacteur à Versailles !
Torréfié dans les environs de Paris et servi dans notre coffee shop à Versailles, chacun de nos cafés a sa propre histoire dont une partie est la nôtre aussi. Lire plus...
Thanks for the joke, Jamie
It was a quiet moment at the coffee shop. There was a group of four, sitting at the corner table, chatting, having a good time while waiting for their coffees. Lire plus...
Faking it
First impressions. They’re so powerful. In seconds we think we know whether we’re going to like or dislike someone we see for the first time. Or somewhere. Lire plus...
One less rule
We used to have a rule. It seemed like a good idea at the time. Lire plus...
From one cup to another
Before The Stray Bean, there was La Bonneterie de Saint Louis. If you don’t know what a “Bonneterie” is, you’re in good company. I think about half the French people I’ve ever mentioned that word to don’t know either. I only knew because this one was in my local area and I used to pass by it regularly, though I’d never actually been through the doors. Not until I started looking for a place to set up a coffee shop and a real estate agent took me in. The occupant,... Lire plus...
Our very expensive marketing strategy
I’ve just completed an in-depth study into The Stray Bean’s marketing strategy. The main finding is this : the amount we’ve spent on advertising since 2017 is precisely 90,13€ per year. Including social media. Lire plus...
Not the office
Soon after coming to France, well before The Stray Bean saw the light of day, I found myself working for a company in their offices just on the edge of Paris. Nice work environment. Comfortable, air-conditioned, carpeted, clean, modern, fully-equipped offices with lifts that worked, ergonomic chairs and a cantine that served up decent three-course hot meals for lunch every day. Nothing to complain about at all. Was there? Lire plus...
To be or not to be … a coffee purist
If you come here for a great coffee and you ask us about it, we’ll be delighted to talk. But there are plenty of other reasons to come too, and we’ll be just as delighted. And if you start telling us about your passion instead of the other way around, maybe we’ll be the ones doing the learning. Lire plus...
Chris, the Marzocco and a coffee
Why are we here?
They didn’t knock, they didn’t ask permission, they just walked in off the street, right through the door as if it was their own home! Lire plus...