How To Make Cafe Du Monde Coffee

Have you ever visited New Orleans, returned home, and remembered those delicious beignets dipped in coffee? Today I'm not talking beignets, unfortunately; but I am going to tell you how you can make your own cafe au lait at home.

For those of you who have followed me a while, you may know a thing or two about my love affair with coffee. As a CEO and mom to three kids, I honestly wouldn't survive without it! Really, I can't.

When I moved to Louisiana in 2000, the love affair began. Unlike the coffee I had previously enjoyed in California, the one served in New Orleans has a rich, bold flavor, which is from the added chicory. Tourists come from all over the world just to have a café au lait and hot beignets at Café du Monde. And let me tell you, it is totally worth it!

working cup of coffee - cafe au lait recipe

But unfortunately, I can't go to Café du Monde every day (although I wish I could), so I began making my own café au lait's at home! They are a lot easier to make than you would expect. If you think a cafe au lait is a fancy drink enjoyed on occasion; you are quite mistaken. Most of us drink a cafe au lait nearly every day at home.

Also after further looking into chicory, I found out it has a lot of health benefits. It actually prevents against liver damage and is said to prevent colon cancer as well. It has an anti-inflammatory component. So my morning coffee… has health benefits people. I'll drink a second mug just for that!

cafe au lait recèpe in a starbucks I was here Muf

Speaking of mugs… See the one I'm holding in the photo? It's one of those Starbucks mugs from their "I was Here" collection. They sell them in each city. It's the only thing I collect. So… if you are reading this, and you live somewhere other than where I live, email me! I'd love to have a mug of where you are!

To top my need for good coffee, I also work from home. Working from home does have its perks…even if it took some getting used to. Some of you may think working from home means working in your PJ's, which I occasionally do if they are cute and comfy. Some weekends, when I am working on a deadline I might not get out of my pjs all day. If you were wearing cute pjs like the ones I'm wearing from P.J.Salvage, you would stay in them all day long too!

Okay back to the coffee now. Making your own café au lait's is really easy, but first you have to start with the right blend. As a teenager, I worked at a coffee roasting company in California. In March every year, we would sell a "Mardi Gras Blend". We would mix a French Roast with ground chicory for the clients. The ratio however was the most important part. If you start with a great blend, you can make awesome café au laits!

Coffee & Chicory Blend & Cafe au Lait Recipe

how to make a new orleans cafe au lait

Yield: 1 cup 1x

¾ cup ground French Roast coffee beans
¼ cup ground chicory

In a medium sized bowl mix the ground coffee and ground chicory.
Store in a sealed container.

To Brew:

Measure 1 tablespoon chicory coffee blend to 1 cup water (a little less next time if it's too strong).

Cafe Au Lait:

Heat ½ cup whole milk.
Pour heated milk into a mug and pour equal amounts of brewed coffee and chicory.

Notes

This new orleans blend is stronger than traditional french roast coffee. If 1 tablespoon per cup of liquid is too strong, reduce the ratio. Brewed coffee and chicory will be stronger and darker than traditional coffee. You shouldn't be able to see through it as you pour it.
Alternatively, you can use a New Orleans Coffee Blend that already has chicory in it.

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