The Paris Baguette ATM Machine

We went to experience the baguette ATM machine ourselves last week. It’s located just around the corner from the Communist Party Headquarters at  Place Colonel Fabien. There’s just one in Paris right now but the creator, French baker Jean-Louis Hecht,  has big plans to take the traditional baguette into modern times. As to be expected, there has been some controversy over this idea since the baguette is such a culinary mainstay.

But the experience was great, beginning from the quest to find it to getting our baguette. It’s located in a bakery storefront and there was a man already there, supporting the reports that the machine would turn a profit within a year.

There is a computer screen to give you nerdy scientific data, including things like the temperature of the ready baguette, temperature of breads still frozen, how much time until your toasty baguette emerges and the stock remaining. It’s not that dissimilar to the frozen baguettes you can buy at the grocery store in France.

Prices are 1 euro and of course, the Baguette ATM is open 24 hours a day.

Of course you’re wondering how it tasted. It wasn’t the best baguette we’ve ever had but it was decent. And if you’ve ever spent time with the French, they NEED their bread…and now you can be sure you’ve got something to bring to your next dinner party if the patisseries are closed.

A short video to see the inner workings of the machine: