Tamper! Espresso Bar

Germain Devos opened Tamper in 2014 on rue des Vieux Murs in Vieux Lille, after several years working as a barista in Canada left him convinced that French coffee culture had room to grow. His partner Marie Sophie runs the kitchen and builds the food menu around fresh, seasonal dishes that change through the year. The name comes from the tool baristas use to pack espresso grounds, a small nod to the technical grounding behind the concept.

Beans are sourced from outside roasters chosen for a minimum cupping score of 85 out of 100, then ground and pulled to order rather than roasted in house. Espresso, filter coffee, tea and hot chocolate share the counter with brunch plates, avocado toast and a rotating cake selection, and the narrow dining room fills quickly on weekend mornings.