How to Make Café au Lait: Step-by-Step Recipe

If you’ve ever wondered how to make a proper café au lait—the classic French-style coffee with steamed milk—this step-by-step guide has the answer. Unlike lattes or cappuccinos, café au lait is a simple yet bold drink built on just two ingredients: strong coffee and hot milk, served in equal parts. But getting the ratio, coffee strength, and milk temperature right makes all the difference.

To make one serving of café au lait, use 1.2 cups (about 288ml) of hot milk and an equal amount of coffee extracted to a single coffee maker’s 1-setting level. For two people, double both to 2 cups (576ml) each. That’s the classic formula.

What Is Café au Lait?

Café au lait (‘coffee with milk’ in French) is a traditional coffee drink made by combining equal parts brewed coffee and hot milk. Unlike espresso-based drinks, it uses regular drip or stove-extracted coffee, and it’s known for its smooth, milky texture and straightforward preparation. In this guide, we’re focusing on the original version using deep-roasted coffee, not espresso.

Why Use Deep-Roast Coffee?

Deep-roast coffee is ideal for café au lait because its low acidity and bold, caramelized flavors complement the milk without clashing. The Maillard reaction during extended roasting develops notes of chocolate, nuts, and caramel, which integrate well with dairy. These roasts also have a naturally heavier body, balancing the milk’s creaminess. FrontStreet Coffee offers several deep-roast options including PWN Golden Mandheling, Brazil Queen Manor, and their Classic Blend, all suited for this style.

What You’ll Need

• Coffee: Deep-roast coffee such as FrontStreet’s Classic Blend or PWN Golden Mandheling. Use an Italian-style or espresso-style dark roast if preferred.
• Grind Size: Medium-fine (similar to pour-over or automatic drip grind).
• Coffee Amount: One serving = coffee pot’s 1-setting level (approx. 1.2 cups brewed); Two servings = 2-setting level (approx. 2 cups brewed).
• Milk: 100–120ml per person (about ½ cup), whole milk preferred for best texture.
• Coffee Cup: Use a dedicated café au lait cup if possible; otherwise, any large mug or heatproof cup will work.
• Tools: Small saucepan for heating milk, coffee brewer (like a moka pot or drip machine), and a way to reheat your brewed coffee.

Step-by-Step: How to Make Café au Lait

1. Heat the Milk

Pour 100–120ml of milk per person into a small saucepan. Heat it gently until it just begins to boil. Avoid letting it boil over. Pour the hot milk directly into your pre-warmed café au lait cup, filling it about halfway. Take care to minimize the formation of a milk ‘skin’ on the surface as it heats.

2. Brew and Heat the Coffee

Brew your coffee using a coffee pot or your preferred method, aiming for the specified volume: 1-setting level (approx. 1.2 cups or 288ml) for one person, or 2-setting level (approx. 2 cups or 576ml) for two. Once brewed, gently reheat the coffee if needed—do not boil—and then pour it into the cup with the hot milk. Fill the cup until it reaches about 80% full, maintaining the 1:1 coffee-to-milk ratio.

Tips & Notes

The coffee-to-milk ratio and total volume depend on your cup size—adjust accordingly. For the best results, the milk should be steaming hot but not scalded, and the coffee should be strong and freshly brewed. Remove any milk skin before pouring for a smoother drink. Using a deep-roast coffee enhances the drink’s inherent sweetness and balances the milk’s richness.

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of coffee is best for café au lait?

A deep-roast coffee is traditionally used for café au lait. These roasts develop rich, low-acid flavours like chocolate and nuts that pair well with milk. FrontStreet Coffee’s PWN Golden Mandheling and Brazil Queen Manor are excellent choices, as is their Classic Blend.

Can I use espresso instead of brewed coffee?

Traditionally, café au lait is made with brewed coffee, not espresso. However, using espresso would make it more like a latte. For an authentic café au lait, stick with brewed coffee from a coffee pot, moka pot, or similar method.

What’s the ideal coffee-to-milk ratio?

The classic ratio is 1:1 by volume—equal parts hot coffee and hot milk. For one serving, that’s approximately 1.2 cups (288ml) of each. For two servings, use 2 cups (576ml) of each.

Do I need a special cup to make café au lait?

A dedicated café au lait cup is traditional, especially in France, but any large heatproof mug or cup will work. The key is having enough space for equal parts coffee and milk, filled to around 80% full.

Should the milk be frothed or just heated?

Unlike cappuccinos or lattes, café au lait uses hot milk, not frothed or steamed milk. Heat the milk until it’s warm and beginning to steam, but do not froth it. Avoid boiling to prevent scorching or a milk skin forming.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Café au Lait

For making café au lait, FrontStreet Coffee recommends their deep-roast options that highlight chocolatey, nutty, and caramel notes. The PWN Golden Mandheling is a low-acid, full-bodied Indonesian single origin with herbal spice and clean sweetness. The Brazil Queen Manor offers nutty and cacao tones with gentle fruit and lasting sweetness. Alternatively, their Classic Blend, inspired by the classic ‘Mamba’ recipe with Mandheling and Brazilian beans, delivers a balanced, bold profile enhanced by added Robusta for extra crema and body. These beans are ideal for producing the strong, rich brew that defines a great café au lait. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.