Café au Lait vs Latte: What is the Difference?
There are so many amazing coffee drinks that you can order. However, it can sometimes be difficult to know what the difference between them are. One example of this is the café au lait and the latte.
Both are beverages are literally just coffee with milk. Because of this fact, many people think that these drinks are the same thing. However, that is not true.
So, what is the difference between a café au lait and a latte, and which one should you choose. We will get into all of the details below, so you will know which one you should order next time you are in a café.
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What is a Café au Lait?
The Café au Lait means coffee with milk in French. This coffee beverage was created in France and is still a very popular drink there. It is not as common in the United States. It is made with one part brewed coffee and one part steamed milk.
The café au lait typically does not feature foam on top, although some cafes will make it that way. This is a very simple, yet delicious caffeinated beverage that you to order and enjoy.
What is an American Café au Lait?
An American Café au Lait is a twist on the original, that is found in New Orleans. In this version you will find the added ingredient of chicory root. This gives the drink a unique and distinct taste from the original.
It is more bitter than the original. People either love it or hate it. Also, the milk is scalded rather than steamed in this version. The last, and best, reason to order this is because it is usually served with a beignet (the French version of a doughnut).
How to Make a Café au Lait
While there are different versions of this popular drink, the original is a favorite and most commonly found around the world. Here are the steps you need to make it at home.
1. Brew the coffee
2. Warm up the milk
3. Pour the coffee in a cup
4. Add an equal part of milk to the cup
5. Enjoy!
What is a Latte?
The latte, or caffe latte, means coffee milk in Italian. This coffee beverage originated in Italy and quickly become popular around the world. It is extremely popular in America and can be found in pretty much every café or coffee shop you go to.
It is made with a shot of espresso and steamed milk. The latte gets a nice layer of milk foam on top. This coffee has a nice creamy, mellow and sweet taste to it. You will find lattes in all kinds of different flavors.
Two popular seasonal options are the pumpkin spice and peppermint. The vanilla and caramel flavors are popular year-round. A popular feature of the latte has to be the latte art that baristas create. This makes the drink not only delicious, but also fun to get.
How to Make a Latte
Lattes take a little bit more work than a café au lait. You will need an espresso maker and milk frother for it. Here are the steps to make a traditional latte at home.
1. Brew a shot of espresso
2. Steam 5-6 ounces of milk
3. Pour the espresso into a cup
4. Add the steamed milk on top
5. Add the thin layer of milk froth on top
6. Create your latte art (optional)
7. Enjoy!
Café au Lait vs Latte
Both of these beverages are very similar, being made with just coffee and milk. This makes it difficult for people to know the difference between the two.
However, there are some differences between them which make them very different coffee drinks. Let’s take a look at the key features that make the café au lait and latte different from one another.
Type of Coffee
Lattes are made with espresso to create a bold, strong flavor. Café au Lait, on the other hand, is made with brewed coffee. This creates a different base flavor and makes them completely unique coffee beverages.
Amount of Milk
Another key difference is the amount of milk in each drink. A latte has a lot more milk than coffee in it. It is made up of 1/6 espresso, 4/6 steamed milk, and 1/6 milk foam on top. The café au lait has equal parts brewed coffee and steamed milk.
Milk Foam
Lattes are famous for the layer of milk foam on the top. The latte art adds a special touch to them. Café au Lait does not have any milk foam on top.
Serving Size
The serving size is also different between the café au lait and the latte. A café au lait is traditionally 10 to 12 ounces in size. The traditional size of a latte is 8 ounces. However, this has changed over time, especially in the US where you can get lattes in multiple sizes.
Serving Method:
The café au lait is traditionally served in a small, wide-brimmed glass bowl. It is still served this way in France. However, in the US it is very common for it to be served in a small, cappuccino cup. A latte is traditionally serve in a tall glass so that you can see the distinct layers of the drink.
Flavors
It is very common to have several different flavored lattes to choose from in a coffee shop. This allows you to make the drink as sweet and flavorful as you want. Café au Lait’s do not come in different flavors. The only exception is the American version that has chicory root in it and changes the flavor. However, it is still a standard recipe that is not added to and tweaked.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is café au lait the same as a flat white?
No, the café au lait is made with equal parts brewed coffee and steamed milk and does not feature a layer of milk foam. A flat white is an espresso-based beverage that is made with cold milk and a thin layer of milk foam.
Is a latte stronger than regular coffee?
It depends. If you are talking about the flavor, then a latte has a stronger, bolder taste because it is an espresso-based drink. However, if you are talking about the caffeine level then it depends on how it is made.
A traditional latte contains one shot of espresso which is equal to 12 ounces of regular brewed coffee. However, if your latte has two shots of espresso in it then, yes, it contains more caffeine than regular coffee.
Does a café au lait have more caffeine than a latte?
The caffeine level ranges from 40mg to 80mg depending on the size. The caffeine level of a latte is dependent on how many shots of espresso are in it.
If it has one shot of espresso than it contains 77mg of caffeine. If it features two shots in it, then the caffeine level is 154mg. On average, a latte will have more caffeine in it. This is because most coffee shops make it with two shots of espresso.
Can you make an iced café au lait?
Yes, there are quite a few simple recipes that you can follow to make your café au lait into an iced version. It is really simple to do.
Basically, you just put ice in your cup before you pour in the brewed coffee. Then add the warmed milk on top. The end result should be a nice cold beverage for you to enjoy.
Which has more milk in it, a latte or a café au lait?
This is a question that as already been answered above. However, to keep it simple a latte has more milk in it than a café au lait. The ratios of milk to coffee in a latte is 2 to 1, where as the ratio in a café au lait is 1 to 1.
Final Thoughts
As you can see there are many similarities between a café au lait and a latte. However, there are also some key differences that make them two unique coffee drinks. To recap, a café au lait contains equal parts brewed coffee and steamed milk.
On the other hand, a latte contains a shot of espresso, 4-6 ounces of steamed milk, and milk foam on top. It also comes in many different flavors and, many times, features latte art on top. Now that you understand the difference between the two you should be able to confidently know which one you want to order next time you are in a café or coffee shop.
If you like traditional coffee drinks, then you will probably enjoy a café au lait. Plus, it is simple to make at home. If you want a sweeter, creamy coffee drink that comes in many different flavors, then a latte is the way to go.
However, it is a little more difficult to make on your own at home. I personally like the variety, so would rather order a latte. However, both are popular drinks for a reason, so you can’t really go wrong with either one.
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