This page contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Café au lait is a simple French-style coffee drink made with brewed coffee and warm milk. Because the drink does not require espresso, you can make it with many standard coffee makers at home.
What Is Café au Lait and How Is It Made?
Café au lait means “coffee with milk.” It is traditionally prepared by combining freshly brewed coffee with warm or steamed milk in roughly equal amounts.
Basic Café au Lait Recipe:
- Brew a cup of medium-to-dark roast coffee.
- Warm the milk without bringing it to a boil.
- Pour the coffee into a cup.
- Add approximately the same amount of warm milk.
- Stir gently and serve immediately.
Unlike a latte, café au lait is usually made with regular brewed coffee rather than espresso. This gives the drink a stronger coffee character and makes a drip coffee maker, French press, or similar brewer a practical choice.
7 Best Coffee Makers for Café au Lait
The seven models below cover different brewing styles, capacities, and features, making it easier to find an option for everyday café au lait at home.
OXO Brew 9-Cup Coffee Maker
The OXO Brew 9-Cup Coffee Maker is a practical choice for making café au lait when you want consistent brewed coffee without complicated settings.
Key Features:
- 9-cup brewing capacity
- Programmable brewing
- Thermal carafe
- Rainmaker showerhead for even water distribution
- Brew-pause function
- Easy-to-use control system
The thermal carafe is especially useful for café au lait because you can brew the coffee first and add warm milk to each serving separately.
Technivorm Moccamaster KBGV Select
The Technivorm Moccamaster KBGV Select is a premium drip coffee maker designed for consistent, high-quality brewing. It is a good match for café au lait because it produces flavorful coffee without relying on espresso pressure.
Key Features:
- 10-cup brewing capacity
- Selectable half- or full-carafe brewing
- Copper boiling element
- Automatic temperature control
- Glass carafe
- Manual-adjust brew-basket selector
For café au lait, a medium or medium-dark roast brewed slightly stronger can provide a good balance against the milk.
Breville Precision Brewer
The Breville Precision Brewer is designed for coffee drinkers who want greater control over their brewing process. Instead of simply producing standard drip coffee, it offers multiple brewing options and adjustable settings.
Key Features:
- Multiple brewing modes
- Adjustable brewing temperature
- Customizable brew strength
- Large brewing capacity
- Thermal carafe option
- Supports different coffee brewing styles
A darker roast can be brewed more gently, while a medium roast can be adjusted to produce a fuller cup that remains noticeable after milk is added.
Fellow Aiden Precision Coffee Maker
The Fellow Aiden Precision Coffee Maker is a modern option for coffee enthusiasts who enjoy dialing in their brewing recipe. It combines programmable controls with a design focused on precise extraction.
Key Features:
- Precision brewing controls
- Programmable brew profiles
- Adjustable temperature
- Customizable brewing recipes
- Designed for different roast styles
- Large-batch brewing capability
You can use a stronger recipe for darker milk-based drinks or a more balanced profile when working with lighter and medium roasts.
OXO Brew 8-Cup Coffee Maker
The OXO Brew 8-Cup Coffee Maker is a compact alternative to larger brewers and is well suited to everyday café au lait. Its capacity is large enough for several servings while remaining practical for smaller households.
Key Features:
- 8-cup capacity
- Thermal carafe
- Single-serve brewing option
- Brew-pause function
- Stainless steel construction
- Simple control design
You can prepare a larger batch when serving several people or make a single cup when you only want café au lait for yourself.
Ninja DualBrew Pro
The Ninja DualBrew Pro is a versatile coffee maker for households that want more than one way to prepare coffee. It can brew both grounds and compatible single-serve pods, making it convenient when different people prefer different drinks.
Key Features:
- Grounds and pod brewing
- Multiple cup sizes
- Large water reservoir
- Specialty coffee setting
- Programmable brewing
- Built-in milk frother
Although traditional café au lait does not require a thick layer of foam, lightly heated or textured milk can create a smoother and more modern version of the drink.
Braun BrewSense
The Braun BrewSense is a straightforward drip coffee maker for people who want reliable brewed coffee without a large number of complicated controls.
Key Features:
- Drip brewing system
- Programmable timer
- Brew-strength selection
- Large water reservoir
- Glass carafe
- Anti-drip system
If you are making café au lait, brewing the coffee slightly stronger can help preserve its flavor after an equal portion of warm milk is added.
What Type of Coffee Maker Is Best for Café au Lait?
There is no single coffee maker required for café au lait. The best type depends mainly on how you like your coffee.
| Coffee Maker Type | Coffee Character | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Drip | Balanced and clean | Everyday café au lait |
| French Press | Rich and full-bodied | Stronger flavor |
| Specialty Drip | Adjustable | Experimenting with recipes |
| Grind & Brew | Fresh and aromatic | Freshly ground beans |
Drip coffee makers are probably the easiest option for everyday use. They produce consistent coffee and make enough volume for multiple servings.
French presses are better if you prefer a heavier body and stronger coffee flavor. Either method can work well as long as the coffee is flavorful enough to balance the milk.
What Coffee Works Best for Café au Lait?
Medium and medium-dark roasts are particularly versatile for café au lait. They generally provide enough flavor to remain noticeable after milk is added.
Dark roast can also work if you prefer a bolder, more intense drink, while light roast may taste brighter and more delicate.
Good Coffee Choices
- Medium roast: Balanced and smooth
- Medium-dark roast: Richer flavor and excellent with milk
- Dark roast: Bold and intense
- Arabica beans: Smooth and aromatic
- Freshly ground coffee: Stronger aroma and fresher flavor
For a classic-style café au lait, a medium-dark roast with chocolate, caramel, nutty, or slightly roasted notes is an easy place to start.
How Much Coffee and Milk Do You Need?
A simple starting point is a 1:1 ratio of brewed coffee to warm milk. You can then adjust the amount of milk according to your taste.
| Brewed Coffee | Warm Milk | Total Drink |
|---|---|---|
| 4 oz | 4 oz | 8 oz |
| 6 oz | 6 oz | 12 oz |
| 8 oz | 8 oz | 16 oz |
If you want a stronger café au lait, use more coffee and less milk, such as a 2:1 ratio. For a smoother and creamier drink, increase the milk.
The most important factor is the coffee itself: brew it slightly stronger than you would drink it black if you plan to add an equal amount of milk.