Cafe au lait, is not a latte, instead it is brewed coffee, preferably dark French roast with chicory, with half scalded, not steamed, milk poured together from two pots.

The Big Easy is famous for their coffee-and-chicory brands of coffee. Some coffee brands that would make a great cup of Cafe au lait, would be Union, French Market or Community.

No time to visit the Big Easy? No problem; here is a recipe that can be easily made at home:

  • 6 rounded tablespoons dark roast New Orleans coffee with chicory (Community, French Market, CDM, Union, etc.)
  • 6 cups water
  • 6 cups milk

Bring the water almost to a boil, to a temperature of 204-208 degrees F. Using a drip-style coffeemaker with filter, pour a small amount of the water over the coffee grounds to dampen them, then wait 30 seconds. Pour more water over the grounds until the upper pot container is full. Allow to drain, then repeat until all the water is used.

Scald, do NOT boil, the milk. Pour coffee into warmed large mugs, then add the milk. For a dramatic flourish, pour them together from their individual serving pots from about 2 feet over the cup, being careful that they stream down at the same rate, and being even more careful not to pour it into the guest’s lap.