I don't think it's always naivety that makes one pay more for a coffee in Paris. Sometimes we may think it's worth it for the ambiance and for the view. Sure, we have coffee, tea, and croissants in less expensive cafés than Café de Flore in the Saint Germain area, but our favorite place to have them is the Flore. We like the view of Boulevard Saint Germain des Prés and watching the waiters. We also like the sense of history about the Flore, and we're willing to pay a bit more for it. That said, we love La Carette in Place du Trocadero and appreciate the lower priced coffee and tea :-)

Best, Sandy in Illinois