Community-Building
‘There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about.’
Margaret J. Wheatley
Kind Coffee Paris
A Community Built on Kindness
Kind Coffee Paris is a community-building project I started to bring people together through shared values and a desire to connect slowly and authentically.
It began with my own need. When I moved to Paris, I struggled to find spaces that worked for me: English-speaking, alcohol-free, and centred around conversation, in a relaxed daytime setting rather than late at night. More than that, I longed for spaces built on values that mattered to me: kindness, openness, inclusivity, and curiosity.
So I created one.
What started as a small gathering around a café table quickly became one of the most popular meetups in Paris, a calm, welcoming space for thoughtful people who want to connect without pressure or pretence.
Each month, we meet for our signature roundtable conversations, where people can talk freely, listen deeply, and reflect together using optional prompt cards as conversation starters.
Over time, Kind Coffee has grown into a warm, supportive community that stays connected through a WhatsApp community, informal outings, and real friendships that continue well beyond the café.
Today, members meet not only for Kind Coffee gatherings but also to visit museums, share meals, and catch up one-to-one. It’s a community that keeps growing, proof that connection built on shared values doesn’t need to be loud to be lasting.
‘Kind Coffee is proof that moving abroad in your 30s can still lead to great friendships and meaningful connections.’
Claudia
‘Tim is an amazing host, very dedicated to what he does — especially talented at bringing warmth and lightness into events.’
Marie
‘I was surprised to find an atmosphere so favourable to open, respectful, and kind discussions, with such wonderful people.’
Antoine
Kind Coffee isn’t just a social gathering. It’s proof that genuine connection can be built intentionally.
It shows that when the right conditions are in place — shared values, safety, and environment — people open up naturally. They listen more closely, show more care, and begin to feel a sense of belonging.
Kind Coffee has become a counterpoint to the anonymity of big city life, a demonstration of what’s possible when we design spaces where everyone can show up as they are. No networking. No performance. Just presence, honesty, and community.
Through this project, I’ve learned that connection doesn’t happen by accident. It’s something that can be designed, nurtured, and made sustainable.
That’s what inspired me to take what worked in Kind Coffee and apply it to a broader context: helping teams, groups, and organisations bring human connection back into everyday life.
Want to find out what community you could be building?
I design bespoke community-building programmes for private and public organisations that want to foster belonging, trust, and authenticity.