Copycat Cafe™

Copycat Cafe teaches French and Spanish the way you learned your first language — by copying. Not conjugation drills. Not grammar rules.

[Copycat Cafe™ @copycatcafeapp]

French Together is now Copycat Cafe.

Same method. Same 1k+ learners

New name that finally describes what we teach: copy native speakers until it sticks.

Spanish, Italian, and a mobile app are next.

Brand by @ToolboxOfDesign

If you are tired of Duolingo, give us a try!

[Nur Baysal @emerald_springs]

@BenjaminHouy and I just launched Copycat Cafe on Product Hunt today!

Since we are competing against lots of bigger companies, your support would mean so much for us.

Please take a look and support us in any way you want to. (Link in reply)

Thanks so much!

[Indie Lessons @indielessons]

Want to make it easier for people to write about your product? Create a good media page.

Just finished the @copycatcafeapp write up and the media page made it easier. Graphics, story angles, founder background. It's something that is overlooked so often with indie hacking

https://t.co/sNXhmNzw2c

[Nur Baysal @emerald_springs]

We just launched the copycat cafe affiliate program

you earn 30% recurring commission on every purchase that comes through your link, not just the first one but every single purchase as long as they stay subscribed.

60-day cookie window, which means if someone clicks your link today but doesn't buy until two months later, you still get credit.

but here's what I'm most excited about: every affiliate gets a free strategy call with me if you want one.

we'll look at what's worked for you in the past, what hasn't, and brainstorm campaign ideas that fit your audience.

if you've promoted language products before and they didn't convert, we'll figure out why.

if this is your first time, I'll walk you through how to talk about copycat cafe in a way that actually drives sales.

I'm not trying to approve 1,000 affiliates and hope a few perform. I want to work with people who care about helping their audience learn french (and soon other languages!).

if you're a french teacher, language blogger, travel creator, or anyone whose audience is learning languages, I'd love to meet you.

Link in comments

[Benjamin Houy @BenjaminHouy]

A month ago, I shut down Lorelight. Today, @emerald_springs and I are rebranding French Together to Copycat Café.

Two very different decisions. Same lesson underneath them both.

With Lorelight, I spent 7 months building a tool for a problem that didn't need solving. GEO tracking sounded cutting-edge, but when I looked at the data, brands winning in AI search were just doing the fundamentals well. There was no secret hack.

With French Together, I spent 12 years doing the opposite—solving a real problem with a method that actually works. Watch native speakers. Copy what they say. Practice until it sticks.

Thousands of people learned French with me using this "copycat" approach. And here's what I realized: the method was always bigger than the product.

"French Together" was a ceiling. "Copycat Café" is the platform.

What I built:
- Taught myself Ruby on Rails during COVID when my SEO traffic tanked
- Turned an ebook with a 15% refund rate into a web app people actually use
- Hit $10k MRR by focusing on one thing: helping people speak French, not pass tests

What's next:
- Spanish and Italian (same method, new languages)
- Mobile app (finally)
- Same 15-minute daily lessons that compound

The lesson: Kill the products that solve fake problems. Double down on the ones that solve real ones. That's my strategy going into 2025.

Massive credit to @ToolboxOfDesign for bringing @copycatcafeapp to life—the logo, mascot, icons, and the warm palette that makes the brand feel like a cozy café instead of a homework app.

[Copycat Cafe™ @copycatcafeapp]

On June 24, 2022, the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, limiting many women’s access to a safe, legal abortion. However you took the news, as a French student, you may be wondering about French abortion laws.

Here’s what you need to know!
https://t.co/WW98rxZxNK

[Copycat Cafe™ @copycatcafeapp]

Almost 10k has been donated by amazing French Together readers so far!

[Copycat Cafe™ @copycatcafeapp]

Today's lesson was supposed to be about rentrer, a verb that, among other things, means to go home. Unfortunately, going home is not an option for many Ukrainians today.

Which is why I have decided to send a free copy of the FT course to anyone who donates to help Ukraine. 1/3

[Copycat Cafe™ @copycatcafeapp]

Then, send your proof of payment to [email protected] and I will send you a free copy of the French Together course.

[Copycat Cafe™ @copycatcafeapp]

Today's lesson was supposed to be about rentrer, a verb that, among other things, means to go home. Unfortunately, going home is not an option for many Ukrainians today.

Which is why I have decided to send a free copy of the FT course to anyone who donates to help Ukraine. 1/3

[Copycat Cafe™ @copycatcafeapp]

Donate at least 25 USD to one of the charities listed on this page 2/3

https://t.co/zfSQoHudYG

[Copycat Cafe™ @copycatcafeapp]

There are lots of ways of saying "France" in French, including:

- La France (France)
- la République (The French Republic)
- L’Hexagone (The Hexagon)

Do you know other?

#learnfrench

https://t.co/0JyjCxjNWk

[Copycat Cafe™ @copycatcafeapp]

Voilà is a word you’ve probably heard at least a few times before.

But maybe you’re wondering what it means exactly, and how to use it in French.

Looking for an explanation of all things voilà? Here it is!

https://t.co/fiO94XGzaY #learnfrench

[Copycat Cafe™ @copycatcafeapp]

"Je ne sais quoi" is a common phrase both in French and in English.

But what does it mean exactly?

Let's find out!

https://t.co/ZoP51SW1q4

[Copycat Cafe™ @copycatcafeapp]

How would you go about wishing somebody good luck in French?

Bonne chance? Bon courage?

There are several ways to do so, and we thought we'd cover them along with some very peculiar French superstitions that you may find interesting!

https://t.co/1c9L59Kay8 #LearnFrench #FLE

[Copycat Cafe™ @copycatcafeapp]

There is so much more to France than the City of Lights, and clearly, there is no shortage of wonderful places to visit!

If you're planning a trip, how about checking out some of the many lesser-known sites France has to offer?

https://t.co/a8raq9OaYA #LearnFrench #visitfrance

[Copycat Cafe™ @copycatcafeapp]

Seriously, who doesn’t love cartoons?

Alysa has come up with a list of "classics" for you to discover or rediscover, as they can be a great way to improve your French!

Did we miss one that would be a great addition to this list? 

https://t.co/AX4p2HxpE3 #LearnFrench #FLE

[Copycat Cafe™ @copycatcafeapp]

In the French language, "Quoi" – "what", literally, is quite a complex and versatile word that one should properly learn to use in order to speak basic French.

Check out our posts about the many facets of "Quoi"!

https://t.co/mXJJFb7Evx #LearnFrench #FLE

[Copycat Cafe™ @copycatcafeapp]

If there is one song in the world that is universally recognized almost instantly to its tune, it's the Happy Birthday song!

Speaking of which, do you know how to wish someone a happy birthday in French?

Let's find out!

https://t.co/Eh3N0RRYXS #LearnFrench #FLE

[Copycat Cafe™ @copycatcafeapp]

What is the first thing that pops in your mind when you read the words "French breakfast"?

If you're thinking coffee & croissants, then you might be onto something...

Let's review together what a typical French breakfast looks like!

https://t.co/Wy3pSp0WvM #LearnFrench #FLE

[Copycat Cafe™ @copycatcafeapp]

Throughout your learning experience, you will likely come across some hard to understand French accents, but familiarizing yourself with some may prove very helpful down the line!

Are there any accents that you find hard to understand?

https://t.co/hiDvnktbI2 #LearnFrench #FLE