If you love coffee, there is a possibility you have come across these two common drinks. And if not, we are certain you will soon taste them. Most people who are not baristas assume these two beverages are the same, but they are not.
We have created this piece to help you understand the differences between them. So, here is your chance to discover what makes these drinks distinct.
Regional variations
In the U.S., lattes are sweeter than in Europe. Coffee chains like Starbucks have been known to add flavored syrups to lattes. It is even more common to see people in the States order a hazelnut or vanilla than a plain latte.
The café au lait served in New Orleans is noticeably different than the café au lait served in Europe. It is made with chicory, is very robust and intensely flavored, and is served with sugary beignets to offset its bitterness.
Keep in mind that the terms “café au lait” and “café latte” are interchangeably used in much of Europe. So, you might want to be precise while traveling.
Café latte
Café latte, or simply latte, has its roots in Italy. Later it was adopted in the U.S and Europe. It is normally made using one or two espresso shots, topped up with steamed milk, and finished with a layer of foamy milk. This layer allows baristas to add their touch with beautiful artwork or drawings across the foam.
Note that for a barista to create a striking piece of latte art, he must first be able to produce an espresso with good quality crema. He then needs to foam the milk to create a thick microfoam on your latte.
As he adds milk to the espresso, the white foam rises to the top of the glass, meeting the crema as it does so. As he moves the milk pitcher, a pattern is formed on the top of the brew.
There are two ways to create latte art: the etching method and the free pouring technique.
Etched latte art
We won’t encourage you to practice this method. It is a poor way of creating an easy piece of latte art. In fact, the art created through this method doesn’t last compared to one produced using the free pouring method. Pros prefer and perfect the free pouring technique.
You can use a stick to etch your image on the top of the brew, which is good if you are an artist. However, the normal method used in coffee shop chains is to pour vast quantities of chocolate powder through a metal stencil onto the top of the drink. This scruffy attempt to mimic true latte art is commonly used to top cappuccinos, as the foam layer is usually thicker.
Free pouring
As mentioned above, free pouring is the pro way of doing it. To pour, the glass must be slightly tilted or kept level. Once you start to pour, the tilt of the glass will cause the milk to surface on one side.
You then move the pitcher from side-to-side, finishing with a swift strike through the pattern you have created. Often, you will end up with a floral or feather design of latte art. You can also create an apple shape or a heart shape for variety.
How to make one at home
To prepare a latte at home, you will need the following:
- 1 oz/30 ml of milk foam
- 3 oz/88 ml of espresso
- 6 oz/88 ml of steamed milk
Here are two ways to go about it:
- Start by making express, adding the foamed milk, and finally, the steamed milk.
- Alternatively, add foam and steamed milk first and then the espresso. Doing this will help color latte art very differently.
Café au lait
Café au lait, first created in France, literally means “coffee with milk” in French, also known as caffe misto, but i beg to differ. It is created using coffee with steamed milk and is made of one part steamed milk and one-part coffee.
It doesn’t have foam on top though it is common to find some coffee houses adding some. Besides, most coffee enthusiasts prefer using a French Press brewed coffee to create the coffee base for this drink.
Although the origins of café au lait (popularly known as Café Misto by Starbucks) are unknown, it is thought that the term originated in France during the 17th century. In the letters of Marie de Rabutin-Chantal, the marquise de Sevigne, the drink is mentioned.
Note that café au lait shouldn’t be confused with “white coffee,” which is brewed coffee made using cold milk or with powdered whitener added.
American café au lait
As aforementioned, a common variant of café au lait is served at coffee houses in New Orleans, where it is made using coffee, chicory root, and scalded milk. The resulting brew normally has a distinctive, bitter, and strong flavor. It is served with sweet, powdered sugar-coated beignets to offset the chicory’s bitter flavor.
Traditionally, café au lait was served in a small bowl. However, this serving method causes the brew to cool down fast—it for the reason why some coffee houses use a smaller cappuccino cup instead.
Café Au Lait in US Vs. Europe
As mentioned earlier, the terms “caffé latte” and “caffé au lait” are used a lot interchangeably in Europe. So, there is little or no difference between the two. You might also find café au lait by different names depending on which part of Europe you are in. For example, in Spain, it is known as “afé con leche” while in Germany as milchkaffee.”
Besides, in some countries, these two terms are used to indicate how it is served. Suppose served the Italian way (cafe latte) or French way (cafe au lait).
Café au lait is always served in a white bowl or cup that might use espresso or dark coffee. Latte, on the other hand, is served in a kitchen glass and made by using an espresso machine.
How to make one at home
It is easy to prepare this drink at home if you have a small coffee pot, filter machine, or French press. You need equal parts hot milk and brewed coffee. The total is up to you as long as the ratio is about 1: 1 coffee to milk.
Brewing:
- Brew your coffee as you normally do
- Heat the milk separately. Stop heating it before it reaches the boiling point.
- Once the coffee is made, pour it into your cup, add milk, and mix
- You can add sugar if you wish
Note that adding a bit of milk foam is OK, and lightly frothing your milk altogether is another way of making cafe au lait, but remember it will occupy more space in the cup because the bubbles will expand it.
Café au lait vs. latte: Highlighting the differences
So what really makes these two drinks distinct? Here are the common differences:
- Café au lait is made with strong coffee (filter coffee). This coffee can also be brewed using a French Press if you want to be extra snazzy. Latte uses bold espresso. A latte made with any other kind of coffee is not a latte.
- Latte has much more milk than café au lait. The amount of steamed milk used in a latte is at least double the amount of espresso, plus a thin layer of milk is added. Too much milk in lattes drowns out the much of coffee taste, but you can always order your latte with a double shot of espresso. When it comes to café au lait, the amount of milk to add is not normally set, but as long as it is 1:1 coffee to hot milk, you are good.
- The milk used must be steamed for a latte, and the milk foam or froth is mandatory. When it comes to café au lait, milk is not steamed, and there is no foam. It is heated to almost its boiling point when heating stops.
- Lattes may be made with a wide range of flavors. Café au laits are typically served straight; however, the American version adds chicory.
- There is an art to lattes. Café au lait is more freestyle. No café au lait art and no milk foam. It can be anything you want it to be. For example, some people will add a few drops and still call it café au lait.
- Serving sizes differ wildly for cafe au lait. For lattes, there is a certain serving size, usually around 10 oz/300 ml total, that comfortably accommodates steamed milk, espresso, and foam. But you can get a smaller one if you request your barista to make it smaller.
Is cafe au lait the same as a flat white?
While café au lait means coffee with milk, it should not be confused with a flat white coffee made from cold milk. Café au lait is made with steamed milk and lacks a layer of foam on the top.
Is a latte stronger than regular coffee?
Latte is made using espresso, which is brewed distinctively compared to the regular coffee. The unique brewing process of the espresso is what makes it much stronger than regular coffee and hence distinct.
In conclusion
Now that you understand the difference between these two drinks, it is your chance now to impress your misguided friends and family members with your superior knowledge.
Get crazy with coffee!
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