Café au Lait

Jul 6, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Drinks Drinks beverages Easy

Café au Lait in a ceramic mug on an oak kitchen island

A classic café au lait combines equal parts strong brewed coffee and steamed whole milk for a smooth, milky coffee drink.

Prep 5 min

Cook —

Total 5 min

Servings 1

Diet —

Ingredients

Adjust yield

servings

6.0 fl oz (180.0 ml)strong brewed coffee
6.0 fl oz (180.0 ml)steamed whole milk

Make it at home

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Instructions

Brew the coffee strong and hot.
Steam whole milk to 140–150°F (60–66°C).
Combine equal parts coffee and steamed milk in a cup and serve.

Tips

Use freshly brewed coffee for best flavor. To make it dairy-free, substitute with steamed oat or almond milk.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make café au lait?

Plan on 5 minutes of prep. The recipe makes 1 serving.

Can I make café au lait ahead?

Best fresh. Refrigerate leftovers for up to 2 days and rewarm gently on the stove; don't let it boil.

How do I make café au lait dairy-free?

Use oat or almond milk in place of dairy milk, and dairy-free ice cream, yogurt or whipped topping where the recipe calls for them. Check packaged toppings and sauces for milk.

A classic café au lait combines equal parts strong brewed coffee and steamed whole milk for a smooth, milky coffee drink.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 1 serving this recipe makes.

117 Calories / serving

6.1g Fat

9.5g Carbs

6.1g Protein

9.5g Sugar

Whole recipe (1 serving): ~117 cal · 6g fat · 10g carbs · 6g protein · 10g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.

Per serving · 117 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 22 min·1.3 mi·~2550 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 16 min·0.8 mi·~1600 steps
Moderate cycling 12 min·2.4 mi
Swimming laps 16 min
Jogging 11 min·0.9 mi·~1750 steps
Stair climbing 11 min·~1000 steps
Dancing 19 min
Bodyweight circuit training 12 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 27 min

Rough estimates for one serving, based on standard MET values at about 155 lb. Your own burn depends on body size, effort, and fitness. Shown for context only — food is not something you have to earn.