Cafe Au Lait - 1989Design

What’s better than a steaming, creamy cup of latte? here’s how to make it at home… the french way.

what’s better than a steaming, creamy cup of latte? This French method of serving coffee is smooth and satisfying, with the perfect ratio of rich milk and bitter coffee. it’s the perfect sophisticated touch for a cozy brunch or to accompany a croissant or muffin. This method is simple to do at home and even easier to achieve than the perfect latte.

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what is latte?

café au lait (“coffee with milk” in French) is a coffee drink made from strong coffee and hot or steamed milk. The drink originated in France and uses equal parts of coffee and milk. it is similar to a traditional Italian latte, but uses strong coffee instead of espresso. The drink is popularly served in New Orleans with scalded milk instead of steamed milk. Here’s what you’ll need to make a great cup of latte:

strong coffee
whole milk

The proportion of coffee with milk is usually equal parts of coffee and milk. in contrast, a latte is 2 parts milk to 1 part coffee. we prefer the 1 to 1 ratio, which we find easier to drink and not as rich. so we always choose latte instead of a latte!

best coffee for lattes

what is the best coffee for a latte? strong coffee. coffee en fancia is much stronger than coffee americano. the moka pot (also known as a bialetti) is the best bet for coffee strength you can get in the country. we like to use mocha pot here because it is closest to the flavor we remember from our trips to paris.

of course, you can use your preferred coffee method and make a strong coffee. either way, we recommend using dark roasted beans here. here are the best coffee methods for this drink:

moka pot: go to moka pot coffee to learn how to make coffee with a bialetti coffee maker
french press: go to french press cafe
pour: go pour coffee
aeropress: go to aeropress coffee

use whole milk for the best flavor

what is the best milk for lattes? whole milk. It is the ideal richness to pair with bitter coffee. it also gets the best foam when steamed. if you prefer, you can use 2% and it still tastes good.

Want to make a vegan latte? oat milk is your best bet. This dairy-free milk froths better than any other type of vegan milk. It is not the same as cow’s milk, but it is a good option.

steam or froth the milk

Another advantage of a latte over a latte, other than it tastes better? it’s easier to do. Steaming milk for a latte is a bit finicky – it requires the right microfoam texture to make a perfect latte (especially if you’re making latte art). latte is a slightly freer form, and you only need frothy milk! here are our best methods:

froth the milk with a handheld frother, French press, or whisk. The frother is a great investment if you frequently froth milk (you can even use it to make cold froths). see how to froth milk.
Steam the milk using an espresso machine. Follow the instructions to stretch the milk to 20-25% height. see how to steam milk.

ways to serve lattes

If you’re making a latte for brunch, you’ll want to vary the method a bit. a moka pot makes 2 cups at a time, so you may want to make a few pots ahead of time and store them in a thermos. a large chemex can make up to 4 cups. then make a large batch of milk froth (the frothing tool is better for a large batch, but it works).

It’s also nice to sprinkle with a pinch of cinnamon! Here are some great brunch items to mix and match:

fresh croissants
blueberry or vegan scones
muffins like chocolate banana or apple streusel

and that’s it! let us know how you like this recipe and what coffee method you use to make it.

more coffee drinks

Make the best coffee drinks at home! here are some of the best drinks to try:

Spanish latte is similar, but sweetened!
have an espresso drink such as an americano, macchiato, cappuccino, flat white, mocha, iced latte, or iced vanilla latte
try a ristretto, breve or lungo
make a tasty cold coffee or a cold beer with a French press