Café au lait (New Orleans Style)
Unsplash

Café au lait (New Orleans Style)

United States of America
New Orleans, United States of America

Café au Lait is a traditional New Orleans coffee that blends dark-roasted coffee and roasted chicory with steamed milk. The drink is a key part of New Orleans coffee culture and is presented as a very local and traditional drink in many cafés across the state of Louisiana. It is often enjoyed alongside beignets, especially at iconic spots like Café du Monde in the French Quarter, New Orleans.

 

Contents

 

Origin and History of New Orleans-style Café au Lait

Café au lait in New Orleans style has French origins, but the adaptation is completely from New Orleans. The French introduced coffee made from chicory in the 19th century, during times of coffee shortages. The French found that chicory is a perfect substitute for coffee because it adds body and flavor to the brew. This practice became popular in New Orleans during the American Civil War, when Union blockades were disrupting the imports of all goods including coffee. New Orleanians began mixing coffee with roasted chicory root for its similar flavor and cost-effectiveness, creating the basis for modern New Orleans Café au Lait.

 

Coffee Beans, Flavors, and Caffeine in New Orleans-style Café au Lait

The coffee beans used in New Orleans-style Café au Lait are typically dark-roasted, sometimes with a smoky and caramelized flavor. The addition of chicory to the coffee enhances the profile, lending a nutty and slightly bitter taste that balances the rich taste of the coffee. This combination is often brewed stronger than regular coffee to ensure its robust character shines through when mixed with steamed milk.

Chicory itself contains no caffeine, so it's the coffee used in Café au Lait that contributes to the caffeine content. Depending on the coffee-to-milk ratio, a typical serving of New Orleans-style Café au Lait contains 60 milligrams of caffeine, slightly less than a standard cup of black coffee or espresso. This makes it a milder yet satisfying choice for coffee lovers.

 

Ingredients

  1. 1 cup dark-roast coffee brew that contains chicory
  2. 1 cup steamed milk
  3. Optional: Sweeteners like sugar or honey

 

How to Make Café au Lait

  1. Brew the coffee: Use a strong chicory coffee blend, and prepare it in a drip pot or French press.
  2. Steam the milk: Heat milk on the stove or use a frother until its steamed.
  3. Combine: Pour equal parts of coffee and steamed milk into a big mug.
  4. Optional: Sweeten with sugar or honey.

 

Variations

  • Iced Café au Lait: Brew coffee and chill in the frigde before you add cold milk and ice.
  • Spiced Café au Lait: Add a dash of cinnamon or nutmeg to the coffee.
  • Alcoholic Version: Add a shot of coffee liqueur or whiskey.

 

Café au Lait in New Orleans Culture

Today, the New Orleans style Café au Lait is a prime example of American coffee culture. Often paired with powdered-sugar-covered beignets, it’s a staple of breakfast and late-night gatherings. Iconic venues like Café du Monde and Morning Call serve it as part of the city's culinary identity.

 

Fun Facts and Trivia

  • Historic Roots: The use of chicory in coffee dates back to 19th-century France and gained traction in New Orleans during the Civil War.
  • Signature Blend: Café du Monde sources its chicory coffee blend from Leroux, France.
  • Global Appeal: While New Orleans-style Café au Lait is iconic, variations of milk coffee exist worldwide, such as the Spanish Café con Leche.