Café au lait

What is Café au lait?

Café au lait is a drink made by mixing coffee with hot milk. In France, it is a common breakfast beverage, usually served in a large bowl without a handle. The drink has a creamy appearance and combines the deep flavor of coffee with the smoothness of warmed milk. Unlike white coffee, which uses cold milk, café au lait is always made with hot milk. The result is a mild, comforting drink that is less strong than espresso-based coffees.

Where does Café au lait come from?

Café au lait comes from France, where it has long been a staple of the morning meal. Its name means 'coffee with milk' in French. The tradition of serving it in a bowl is typical in French homes and cafes. In the United States, the drink took on new forms, especially in New Orleans, where chicory was added to coffee during times of scarcity. This adaptation came about during the American Civil War, when coffee was hard to find and chicory root was used to stretch supplies.

How is Café au lait made?

To prepare café au lait, hot milk is mixed with brewed coffee. In France, any strong coffee can be used, and the milk is heated but not frothed. In American coffeehouses, the drink is often made with drip or French press coffee and steamed milk. In New Orleans, the coffee is blended with roasted chicory root and mixed with scalded milk, which is milk heated just below boiling. The proportions of coffee to milk can vary, but the drink is always a blend of the two.

How and when is Café au lait eaten?

In France, café au lait is most often enjoyed at breakfast, sometimes alongside bread or pastries. It is typically served in a large bowl, allowing for dipping. In New Orleans, it is a popular choice at coffee stands and is traditionally paired with beignets, a type of fried dough covered in powdered sugar. The sweetness of the beignets balances the bitterness of the chicory coffee. In American cafes, it is usually served in a cup rather than a bowl.

Kinds of Café au lait

The French version uses only coffee and hot milk. In the United States, café au lait is made with drip or French press coffee and steamed milk, and is sometimes called 'Caffe Misto' in coffee chains. The New Orleans style stands out for its use of chicory in the coffee and scalded milk instead of steamed milk. Each version keeps the basic idea of combining coffee and milk but changes the details to suit local tastes.

What Café au lait means

Café au lait is closely tied to French breakfast traditions and is a symbol of everyday life in France. In New Orleans, it has become a local specialty, especially when served with beignets at famous coffee stands. The use of chicory in the New Orleans version reflects the region's history and French heritage. The drink is also found in Canada, brought by Acadians who carried French customs with them.

Questions people ask about Café au lait

Good reading and sources

• The History of the Chicory Coffee Mix That New Orleans Made Its OwnSmithsonian Magazine, Article

• Café au lait on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• Wikidata recordOpen data