Copains opened in Upper Street on February 16 serving coeliac-friendly sweet treats.
The brand already has branches across the French capital and when it opened its first Covent Garden store in November there were queues around the block.
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But some have hit out at the price of their goods complaining an eclair costs £11.90, a chocolate babka £12.50, and a plain croissant almost £5.
An Instagram post from BiteTwiceFoodReviews described two items costing £21.50 as “disappointing.”
“That is the driest pastry. That is literally the equivalent of getting a load of sand and taking a bite into it. £11 for a pastry is this nuts?” said one reviewer.
“For the cost I expected it to grab me by the hips and dance the tango. It’s the most disappointing pastry I’ve had all year.”
While his companion said the cinnamon bun was “unpleasant” and like “packing foam” but admitted “I guess we’re not the demographic, there has to be pastries for people who are gluten free.”
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Reviews were also mixed among Coeliac groups.
Posting on the account CoeliacSanctuary one wrote of their recent £35 spend at the bakery: “Thought I’d rate my Copains items I bought. I gave the croissants 5 out of 10, 5.5 for the pain au chocs, both just not flaky enough and not much taste. The baguettes 6 out of 10 nice texture but very salty. And the madeleines 7 out of 10, a tad dry very nice.
“Stuff looks nice but when down to taste I don’t think its good enough for the price.”
Responding to the post one said: “I’ve seen so many super positive posts about Copains. I paid £39 for a slice of cake, some kind of a pastry thing, a cookie and a slice of babka.
“I don’t rate any of them. The cookie was the nicest thing and it was far from the best gf cookie I’ve had. I’m glad I tried it but sad I wasted my money!! 💰 I won’t be going back.”
Another said: “I feel bad because they’re an allergy friendly business, but their croissants were not great. Completely wrong texture. Although their patisserie and cinnamon buns were great.”
But there have also been positive reviews.
Over on the UK Coeliac Hub one said Copains’ filled baguette “almost made me cry it was so like normal ones”.
“Chocolate bread was amazing too.”
Another wrote: “I queued outside. Bought a hazelnut Paris breast choux and a cinnamon roll. Extortionate prices for quite average products, but it is nice to have choices.”
One fan, who paid £64 for five, items wrote: “The hazelnut and coffee eclair was divine and my first eclair in 21 years…
“I have just eaten a citrus meringue tart which had great pastry and tangy flavour. I have a pistachio pastry for later…I would definitely return!”
But a fellow coeliac replied: “Sorry is that a typo, £64 for 5 items?!”
Copains was founded by friends Giovanni and Baptiste who have a background in luxury retail and “are passionate about enjoyable and healthy food”.
A spokesperson for Copains said: “At Copains, our aim is to offer a gourmet and inclusive artisan bakery and patisserie, where everyone can treat themselves.
“All our creations are naturally gluten-free, made using alternative flours to wheat flour, and we also offer a wide range of vegan and lactose-free options.
“Our goal is simple: to offer products that are as generous and delicious as those found in a traditional bakery, while remaining accessible to people with intolerances or specific dietary choices.
“However, working with gluten-free ingredients requires specific raw materials and production techniques.
“Alternative flours, for example, are often more expensive and require significant research and expertise to achieve the right textures and balance of flavours.
“The quality of our ingredients and our artisanal craftsmanship remain at the heart of our daily approach.
“As for London, there is indeed a price difference compared to our Parisian shops, which is largely due to the higher cost of raw materials and operating costs in the London market.
“We nevertheless strive to remain mindful of these issues and have recently reviewed some of our prices to find the best possible balance between quality, high standards and affordability.
“Our priority remains to offer a Copains experience that stays true to our vision: high-quality products, made with care, in a welcoming setting where everyone can come and enjoy a delicious meal.
“We are, of course, always attentive to our customers’ feedback and continue to adapt our offering to best meet their expectations.”
