Cafe Au Lait vs Cafe Latte: Differences and How to Make Them at Home

Introduction

Cafe au lait and cafe latte: both are "coffee + milk" but have clear differences. Ever wondered what sets them apart when ordering at a cafe?

This article compares both, shows how to make them at home, and offers tips for enjoying them in HCMC.

Basic differences

Cafe au lait

• Origin: France
• Coffee base: Drip (filter) coffee
• Milk: Heated milk (no steam)
• Ratio: About 1:1
• Taste: Mild, harmonious blend of coffee and milk. Easy to drink.

Cafe latte

• Origin: Italy
• Coffee base: Espresso
• Milk: Steamed milk (with microfoam)
• Ratio: Espresso 1 : Milk 3-4
• Taste: Espresso richness with creamy milk prominence.

Quick comparison

Criteria	Cafe au lait	Cafe latte
Language	French	Italian
Meaning	"Coffee with milk"	"Milk coffee"
Coffee type	Drip coffee	Espresso
Milk	Heated milk	Steamed milk
Ratio	Coffee 1 : Milk 1	Espresso 1 : Milk 3-4
Caffeine	More (drip extracts more)	Less (espresso is small volume)
Flavor	Mild, balanced	Rich, creamy

Making cafe au lait at home

No espresso machine needed, making it easy to prepare at home.

What you need

• Drip coffee (hand drip or drip bag): 120-150ml
• Milk: 120-150ml
• Cup

Steps

1. Brew drip coffee slightly strong. Milk will dilute, so use more grounds (15-18g per cup).
2. Heat the milk. Warm on stove or microwave to 60-70°C. Don't boil or milk flavor changes.
3. Pour coffee and milk simultaneously into the cup. The traditional French way is pouring with both hands. Pouring one after the other works too.
4. Add sugar to taste. Done.

Variations

• Iced cafe au lait: Brew strong, cool, add cold milk and ice. Perfect for HCMC heat.
• Soy cafe au lait: Replace milk with soy milk for a lighter taste.

Making latte-style at home

True latte requires an espresso machine, but you can approximate it at home.

Without an espresso machine

Moka pot: Brew 30-50ml of strong coffee, add frothed hot milk.

Vietnamese phin: Brew strong (more grounds, less water), add frothed hot milk.

Frothing milk without a machine

• Hand milk frother: Battery-powered mini whisk. Available at HCMC supermarkets.
• French press: Add heated milk, pump the plunger to create foam.
• Sealed jar: Add heated milk, seal, shake for 30 seconds.

Compared to cappuccino and mocha

Other coffee-milk drinks for reference:

Drink	Base	Milk	Other
Cafe au lait	Drip coffee	Heated milk	-
Cafe latte	Espresso	Steamed milk	-
Cappuccino	Espresso	Steamed + foamed milk	More foam, less milk
Cafe mocha	Espresso	Steamed milk	Chocolate added

Milk coffee in HCMC

In HCMC, "bac xiu" is a popular drink with lots of milk and little coffee. Similar in concept to cafe au lait but uses condensed milk, a distinctly Vietnamese touch.

Japanese-style cafe au lait, Italian latte, Vietnamese bac xiu. Comparing milk coffees from different cultures is a unique pleasure of living in HCMC.

Milk and coffee on Farmi

Making these at home requires fresh milk and quality coffee beans. The Farmi app delivers milk and coffee to your door in HCMC. Download Farmi and stock up for your home cafe.

Note: This article and some images were created with the assistance of AI (artificial intelligence) and reviewed by the editorial team before publication.