National Café au Lait Day is celebrated annually on February 17, honoring the classic coffee drink that combines coffee and hot milk. It’s a perfect day to appreciate and enjoy this comforting beverage in both its traditional French or unique American variations.
National Café au Lait Day is one of many coffee-themed national days. Check out our special list where we’ve gathered all 25 coffee holidays, including coffee weeks and months.
What is Café au Lait?
Café au lait might sound fancy, but it literally translates to “coffee with milk” from French, and that’s exactly what it is.
Café au Lait The European Way
Café au lait in Europe is typically made with coffee brewed using a drip machine or a French press. The coffee makes up half of the cup, and the other half is filled with hot milk to keep the drink warm. This is a typical café au lait (in French), caffè latte (in Italian), or simply coffee with milk as you would find in Europe.
Café au Lait the American Way
There is an American version of café au lait that originated in New Orleans. What makes this version unique is the addition of chicory, a plant with a very woody taste, giving the drink a distinct flavor. Chicory was originally used during the Civil War when coffee was scarce, and it became a traditional ingredient in New Orleans-style coffee. In this version, the milk isn’t steamed but scalded or heated up to the boiling point.
Beignets: The Perfect Pairing
New Orleans Café au Lait is often served with a sweet treat called a beignet, a French-style donut that is deep-fried and generously dusted with powdered sugar. The combination of the slightly bitter, woody coffee with the sweetness of beignets creates a delightful balance of flavors.
Cultural Significance
Café au lait with chicory has become a cultural staple in New Orleans, often enjoyed at famous local cafés like Café du Monde. It’s a popular beverage at breakfast and throughout the day, reflecting the city’s rich French heritage and coffee culture.
Key Differences:
- Caffè Latte: Made with a 1:3 to 1:5 ratio of espresso to steamed milk, with a little foam on top.
- Café au Lait: Made with a 1:1 ratio of strong coffee (drip or French press) to hot or scalded milk.
- New Orleans Café au Lait: Made with a 1:1 ratio of strong coffee with chicory to scalded milk.
Hashtags for National Café au Lait Day
#NationalCaféauLaitDay #CaféauLait #CoffeeWithMilk #CoffeeLovers #CoffeeTime #CoffeeCulture #February17 #CoffeeDay
When Is National Café au Lait Day?
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Monday, February 17 |
| 2026 | Tuesday, February 17 |
| 2027 | Wednesday, February 17 |
| 2028 | Thursday, February 17 |
| 2029 | Saturday, February 17 |
| 2030 | Sunday, February 17 |
Before You Go:
We have many more national days lists for you to explore.
- Food-related national days: complete list of national food days, pasta & noodles days, vegan & vegetarian daysays, ice-cream days, pizza days, coffee days, chocolate days, wine days, alcohol & drinking days.
- Non-food national days: National Days Calendars 2024-2025 (check out the printable calendars in my Etsy shop), National Days for Teachers, and a wide array of special lists such as cat days, dog days, animal days, book days, music days, family & relationships days, national days for women, stationery days and even Harry Potter days.
- Country-specific national days: Australian national days, more coming soon.
