Today’s Spotlight is on Cafe’ Au Lait.

Café au lait is coffee with hot milk added. It differs from white coffee, which is coffee with cold milk or other whiteners added.

Café au lait is a French drink that translates to “coffee with milk”.  It’s made with half brewed coffee and half warmed milk.  The coffee base is usually made with a French press or a drip, and the milk must always be steamed.  The typical ratio is one part coffee to one part steamed milk, with no froth or foam on top.

Café au lait is similar to a latte, but it’s made with strong brewed coffee, typically using double the amount of coffee, and less milk compared to a latte. Lattes, on the other hand, use a bold shot of espresso and a higher milk-to-espresso ratio, making them mellow in flavor.

Café au lait is different from white coffee, which is coffee with cold milk or other whiteners added.

Café au lait is almost exclusively served in the comfort of one’s home with breakfast. The typical French breakfast being a tartine with jam and/or butter.

Café au lait is similar to café con leche in Spain, and similar drinks in other European countries. In Europe it is either espresso or dark coffee based, and steamed milk is used.

 

History

The history of café au lait dates back to the 17th century. The drink’s popularity can be traced back to France in the early 1700s, where it was initially enjoyed as a breakfast beverage.

Here are some more details about the history of café au lait:

• Origins – The phrase “café au lait” literally translates to “coffee with milk”.
• References – References to the drink can be found in the letters of Marie de Rabutin-Chantal, the Marquise de Sévigné in the early to mid-17th century.
• Breakfast – It was a staple in the traditional French breakfast, often enjoyed alongside croissants or baguettes.
• American Civil War – During the American Civil War, coffee was so scarce that it was frequently mixed with chicory so it would last longer.
• New Orleans – In New Orleans, café au lait is traditionally drunk while eating beignets dusted with powdered sugar, which offsets the bitterness of the chicory.

 

Here are some more fun facts about café au lait:

• In Europe, café au lait comes from the same tradition as café con leche in Spain.
• In Poland, it’s called “kawa biała” which means “white coffee”.
• In Germany, it’s called “Milchkaffee” which means “milk coffee”.
• In The Netherlands, it’s called “koffie verkeerd” which means “incorrect coffee”.
• In France, café au lait is traditionally served in a mug without ears or a soup mug.
• The reason for serving it in a bowl is so you can dip your croissant or baguette in the coffee.
• A café au lait typically contains around 90 mg of caffeine per serving.
• The caffeine content may vary depending on the type of brewed coffee used.

 

 

Consumption

The café au lait market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of % during the forecasted period. This is due to the increasing popularity of coffee culture and the rising demand for specialty and gourmet coffee beverages.

The general amount of milk added to a cup of café au lait is 8 to 20 ounces. The latte is milkier than the café au lait because it’s made with two distinct and thicker layers of steamed and foamed milk.

 

Celebrating Cafe’ Au Lait

National Café au Lait Day is celebrated on February 17th. This day is dedicated to celebrating the warm and delicious beverage called café au lait, which has been around for centuries. Let us know in the comments who makes your favorite Cafe’ Au Lait.