Coffee Break French is a partly free French course for beginner and intermediate learners (A1–B2). A friendly free podcast course explained in English; slow by design.
Checked October 2026 on the official site ·
About Coffee Break French
Coffee Break French, from Coffee Break Languages, is a free podcast that teaches French step by step in English, season by season from beginners to advanced; lessons also go out on YouTube. The Coffee Break Academy app sells full courses with extra materials, priced per course. It suits a beginner who likes to learn while commuting and wants everything explained in English. Much of the early talk is English about French, so add real-speed listening as you progress.
How it compares
| App | Price | Levels | Real-speed French | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee Break French | Free podcast; Academy courses: see site | A1–B2 | No | A friendly free podcast course explained in English; slow by design. |
| Pimsleur | See site; free first lesson | A1–B1 | No | Best for speaking from day one on a commute; thin on vocabulary. |
| News in Slow French | See site; 7-day free trial | A1–C1 | No | Weekly news read slowly with transcripts; structured, but not real speed. |
| Comme une Française | Free videos; courses from 55€/mo | B1–C1 | Yes | Warm, practical lessons on spoken French for textbook-trained learners. |
| French with AmélieRuns this site | Free weekly lesson; Premium $24/mo or $240/yr | B1–C1 | Yes, with a slow version and a transcript | Real-speed dialogues by email and a private podcast. Not an app. Visit |
