A traditional Café au Lait is a simple yet elegant French coffee drink, perfect for a comforting morning or a relaxing afternoon. Unlike a latte, which uses espresso, a true Café au Lait is made with strong brewed coffee and hot milk, typically served in a wide bowl or mug.

Yields: 1 serving

Prep time: 2 minutes

Brew/Heat time: 5-10 minutes

Ingredients & Equipment:

Strongly Brewed Coffee: 4-6 ounces (120-180 ml). Traditionally, French press coffee is common, but a strong drip coffee or Moka pot coffee will also work well. Choose a medium to dark roast for a classic flavor.

Whole Milk: 4-6 ounces (120-180 ml). While whole milk provides the traditional richness, you can substitute with 2% milk or a non-dairy alternative, though the texture and taste will vary.

Coffee maker (French press, drip machine, Moka pot)

Small saucepan or microwave for heating milk (or a steam wand if you have one, though for traditional Café au Lait, simply heated/scalded milk is common rather than heavily frothed milk)

Large, wide-brimmed mug or bowl

Instructions:

Brew the Coffee: Prepare your coffee using your preferred method, making it slightly stronger than you might for regular drinking. Aim for about 4-6 ounces of brewed coffee.

Heat the Milk: Saucepan Method (Traditional): Pour the milk into a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally to prevent a skin from forming and to avoid scorching. Heat until the milk is hot and steamy, just before it begins to simmer (scalded). Small bubbles will start to form around the edges. Do not boil. Microwave Method: Pour the milk into a microwave-safe mug or pitcher. Heat for 45-60 seconds, or until hot and steamy. The exact time will depend on your microwave's power. Steam Wand Method (Optional): If you have an espresso machine with a steam wand, you can steam the milk until it's hot and has a thin layer of microfoam. Avoid creating thick, stiff foam as you would for a cappuccino.

Combine and Serve: This is the signature step. Simultaneously pour the hot brewed coffee and the hot milk into your wide mug or bowl from generally the same height. The goal is to have them combine naturally. The traditional ratio is 1:1, but you can adjust this to your preference.

Enjoy Immediately: Café au Lait is best enjoyed right away. It is typically served without sugar, but feel free to add some if you prefer.

Tips for an Authentic Café au Lait:

The Right Mug: Serving it in a wide, bowl-like mug is traditional and enhances the experience, allowing you to enjoy the aroma. These are sometimes called "bols."

Simultaneous Pour: While not strictly necessary for the taste, the simultaneous pour is a classic part of the presentation.

Coffee Strength: Don't shy away from a robust coffee. The milk will mellow it, so a stronger brew stands up better.

Milk Temperature: Ensure the milk is hot enough to match the coffee's temperature for a pleasantly warm drink.

Enjoy your traditional Café au Lait!