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Café Au Lait is a simple French coffee drink made with equal parts strong coffee and steamed milk. Its name means “coffee with milk,” and the balanced combination makes it an easy choice for breakfast or a relaxed coffee break. You only need two ingredients, and you can prepare it with coffee brewed using your preferred method.
The drink is commonly pronounced “ka-fā-ō-lā.” It is traditionally served without the thick layer of foam associated with a latte, though you can add a little foam if you enjoy it.
Café Au Lait Ingredients
This recipe makes one serving. The equal-parts ratio is easy to scale up: use the same amount of coffee and milk for each cup.
- Strong coffee: Brew it using your preferred method.
- Steamed milk: Heat the milk until hot, then steam or froth it if you like.
How to Make Café Au Lait
- Brew a cup of strong coffee.
- While the coffee brews, heat the milk. Use an espresso machine’s steaming wand, a milk frother, or a small pot on the stovetop.
- Pour hot coffee into a mug until it is about half full.
- Add an equal amount of steamed milk. Hold back the foam for a more traditional finish, or add some to suit your preference.
- Stir gently. If desired, sweeten with sugar or another sweetener.
For the simplest way to get the proportions right, fill half the mug with coffee and top it up with an equal amount of milk.
Tips for a Balanced Cup
- Choose a strong brew: A bold cup helps the coffee flavor come through once the milk is added. Chemex, French press, and AeroPress are all possible brewing methods.
- Heat the milk gently: Warm it in a small pot or use a frother. Avoid letting it boil, which can affect its texture and taste.
- Use the milk you prefer: Whole or 2% milk are common choices, but oat milk and other alternatives can also be used.
- Sweeten to taste: Sugar, simple syrup, or agave can be stirred in. Start with a small amount and adjust after tasting.
- Keep the ratio equal: Using one part coffee to one part milk gives the drink its familiar balance.
What to Serve with Café Au Lait
This coffee pairs well with breakfast pastries and lightly sweet baked goods. Try it with shortbread, butter cookies, espresso cookies, éclair cake, banana bread, or zucchini bread. For an easy serving idea, offer small cookies alongside the mug so the coffee remains the focus.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Café Au Lait different from a latte?
Café Au Lait uses brewed coffee and steamed milk, typically in equal parts. A latte is made with espresso, steamed milk, and usually a layer of milk foam. The coffee base and proportions give the two drinks different flavors and textures.
Which drink has a stronger coffee flavor?
Café Au Lait is often perceived as having a stronger coffee flavor because it is made with equal parts strong brewed coffee and milk. A latte generally contains more milk in relation to its espresso. The actual taste also depends on how strong the coffee is brewed.
Recipe: Café Au Lait
A classic French coffee drink made with strong coffee and steamed milk.
Yield: 1 serving
Prep time: 5 minutes
Total time: 5 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 part strong coffee
- 1 part steamed milk
Instructions
- Brew strong coffee using your preferred method.
- Heat the milk with a steaming wand, milk frother, or in a small pot on the stovetop.
- Fill a mug halfway with hot coffee.
- Pour in an equal amount of steamed milk and stir gently. Sweeten if desired.
Recipe Notes
Whole or 2% milk is commonly used, but you can substitute a milk alternative such as oat milk. Add foam only if you prefer it; a traditional Café Au Lait is served without the thick foam typical of a latte.
Enjoy a Simple French Coffee
With just two ingredients and a five-minute preparation time, Café Au Lait is easy to make at home. Use equal parts strong coffee and steamed milk, then adjust the sweetness or milk choice to your taste. Serve it with a pastry or a few cookies for a satisfying coffee break.
