How to Make Café Au Lait (French Style)
Café Au Lait (French Style) is one of the best cafe drinks to master at home — it's simple, impressive, and cheaper than the cafe version. Here's the exact recipe, the ratio that matters, and the common mistakes to avoid.
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Editorial note: this guide is compiled from published manufacturer guidance, general best practices, and aggregated owner experience — not hands-on testing. Always follow your machine’s official manual.
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Kitchen Scale (0.1g)
Editor’s PickWeighing your coffee keeps every recipe consistent — the cheapest upgrade in home coffee.
- + Consistency
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- − One more step
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A $15 handheld frother turns this recipe from 'good' into 'cafe-level' in seconds.
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Buying advice
1 part strong drip coffee + 1 part scalded milk. Brew strong drip or French press coffee, scald milk on the stove, and pour equal parts together. Pro tip: The French version uses drip coffee (not espresso) and scalded milk — the traditional café breakfast drink.
FAQ
Café au lait vs latte?
Café au lait is drip coffee with milk, roughly equal parts; a latte is espresso with steamed milk. Different base, different ratio.
Do I need to scald the milk?
Traditionally yes — scalded milk is sweeter and thicker. Steamed milk works as a modern substitute.
What coffee works best?
Strong drip or French press — the drink is built on a bold, full-bodied brew.
Ready to start brewing better?
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Kitchen Scale (0.1g)
Weighing your coffee keeps every recipe consistent — the cheapest upgrade in home coffee.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
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