National Café au Lait Day is celebrated each year on February 17. The day honors a traditional drink whose name literally means coffee with milk. The purpose of the day is to highlight the specific preparation of strong, dark-roast coffee combined with scalded milk (hot but not foamy), a technique that distinguishes it from the frothy Italian latte.
☕️ 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.
🇪🇺 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 call it in other parts of Europe.
The New Orleans Version
In New Orleans, café au lait is made with strong coffee and chicory, a roasted root that adds a slightly woody, bitter flavor. This drink is strongly associated with Café du Monde, where it is typically served with powdered-sugar-covered beignets.
☕ Coffee-to-Milk Comparison
🇮🇹 Caffè Latte
Milk-dominant. A small amount of espresso with mostly steamed milk and light foam.
🇫🇷 Café au Lait
Balanced 1:1 ratio. Strong brewed coffee mixed equally with hot (not foamy) milk.
🇺🇸 New Orleans Café au Lait
Balanced with depth. Strong coffee with added chicory and scalded milk. Ofter served with powdered-sugar-covered beignets.
☕ National Café au Lait Day Upcoming Dates
National Café au Lait Day is observed every year on February 17. The date remains the same, while the weekday changes.
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | February 17 | Tuesday |
| 2027 | February 17 | Wednesday |
| 2028 | February 17 | Thursday |
| 2029 | February 17 | Saturday |
| 2030 | February 17 | Sunday |
