What Is Café au Lait? How It Differs From a Latte (and the New Orleans Version)
Café au lait ("coffee with milk") is a French breakfast drink of strong brewed coffee mixed with hot milk, usually in roughly equal parts and traditionally served in a wide bowl. Unlike a caffè latte, it's made with brewed coffee — drip, French press or similar — not espresso, and the milk is heated rather than steamed into microfoam.
What it is
A simple, comforting mix of strong brewed coffee and hot milk. In French homes it's often drunk from a wide bowl at breakfast, perfect for dipping a tartine or croissant. In cafés you'll usually get it in a large cup.
Café au lait vs latte
| Café au lait | Caffè latte | |
|---|---|---|
| Coffee | Brewed (drip, French press) | Espresso |
| Milk | Heated, little or no foam | Steamed, silky microfoam |
| Ratio | ~1:1 coffee to milk | ~1:4–1:6 espresso to milk |
| Equipment | Any coffee maker + saucepan | Espresso machine (or substitute) |
| Taste | Gentle, milky, smooth | Creamier, sweeter-tasting milk |
See also latte vs cappuccino vs flat white.
Where it comes from
Café au lait is a long-standing French home tradition, and similar drinks exist across Europe — café con leche in Spain, Milchkaffee in Germany. In New Orleans, café au lait is famously made with coffee blended with roasted chicory root and served alongside beignets.
How to make café au lait
| Ingredient | 1 large cup or bowl |
|---|---|
| Strong brewed coffee (about 1:13–1:15) | 150 ml |
| Whole milk | 150 ml |
- Brew strong coffee — French press is ideal (see French press ratio); use about 10 g of coffee per 150 ml (5.1 oz).
- Heat the milk in a saucepan until steaming but not boiling (about 60–65°C / 140–149°F). Whisk briefly for a light froth if you like.
- Pour the coffee and milk into the bowl at the same time from two jugs — the traditional way — or pour coffee first, then milk.
- Sweeten if you like.
The New Orleans version
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Coffee-and-chicory blend | Brew strong, as above |
| Scalded milk | Equal amount |
Chicory adds a woody, slightly bitter, chocolatey note and body. Chicory-blended coffee is sold pre-mixed; you can also add roasted chicory root to your own coffee (start with about 1 part chicory to 4 parts coffee).
Tips
- Use strong coffee: equal milk dilutes it a lot, so weak coffee tastes flat.
- Medium-dark roasts taste best with lots of milk — see light vs dark roast.
- Don't boil the milk — it tastes cooked and forms a skin.
Similar drinks
- Latte, cappuccino and flat white — espresso-based milk drinks
- Yuanyang — Hong Kong's coffee mixed with milk tea
- Red eye coffee — brewed coffee boosted with espresso
Frequently asked questions
Is café au lait the same as a latte?
No. Café au lait uses brewed coffee and hot milk; a latte uses espresso and steamed milk.
What is the ratio for café au lait?
About 1:1 coffee to milk.
Why is café au lait served in a bowl?
It's a French home breakfast tradition — the wide bowl is handy for dipping bread or pastries.
Love coffee drinks? Get one new recipe a week
Subscribe and get our free printable Brew Cheat Sheet — every ratio, grind and temperature on one page. Then one practical brewing tip a week. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We write step-by-step guides for everyday home brewers: moka pots, French presses, AeroPress, pour over and cold brew. Every guide is checked against manufacturer instructions and widely accepted brewing guidance, and updated when we learn something better. How we write our guides.
