How To Make A French Café Crème
Jump to RecipeA French Café Crème is one of the best ways to start your day. A café crème is espresso and warm foamy milk. It takes less than 5 minutes and you will have a wonderfully warm and creamy café crème.
An espresso maker works best but you can also use either a French Press or regular strong coffee. I use my Nespresso Breville machine to make espresso.
A café crème is my favorite in Paris and one of 5 coffee options offered there, which all include espresso. The others are:
- Café– a shot of espresso which is usually bitter and strong.
- Noisette– a shot of espresso with a drop or two of milk or cream. It’s called a Noisette because once the espresso and cream come together it has a Hazelnut color.
- Filtré or Café Américain– An espresso shot with hot water. The French do not drink drip coffee so this is about as American as it gets.
- Allongé– espresso with extra hot water to dilute.
The lovely staff at the hotel we stayed in, Hotel Récamier brought two french café crème up to our room every morning. I looked forward to a Café Crème each day.
What Is A French Café Crème
A café crème is espresso topped off with warm foamed milk. It’s what we would call a café au lait here in the states. Usually, day-old baguettes or croissants are served with a café crème for dipping.
The French do not use actual creme in their coffee and they only use whole milk. You won’t find different milk options there like you do here in the states.
And, the French only drink milky coffee drinks for breakfast and never after lunch or with dessert.
Ingredients
- 1 Nespresso Espresso Pod– I use a nespresso espresso pod with our Nespresso Breville maker
- 3-6 Shots of Espresso-If you are using an espresso maker
- 2-3 Cups Strong Coffee-From a french press or other coffee maker
- 1/2 Cup Whole Milk– whole milk is best for foaming, feel free to foam more milk if you choose
- Coffee Mug
- Optional: Baguette or Croissant for dipping
- Milk Frother
How To Make A Café Crème
- For a Nespresso maker- Use one espresso pod and make the espresso. While the espresso is dripping into the mug, put one sugar cube to dissolve into hot espresso.
- Then froth the milk, use whole milk for best froth.
- Spoon out froth and atop the espresso in the mug. Pour a little froth into the mug and mix.
- For either a French Press or strong coffee, make the coffee as needed and use a milk frother/steamer and follow directions as above.
Café Crème
Equipment
- Nespresso Maker OR
- Espresso Machine OR
- French Press
- Milk Frother/Steamer
Ingredients
- 1 Nespresso Espresso Pod OR I use a Nespresso machine to make mine but if you don't have a Nespresso, you can use any espresso maker or french press.
- 3-6 shots espresso OR
- 2-3 cups strong coffee
- 1 lump sugar cube
- 1/2 cup whole milk
Instructions
- For a Nespresso maker- Use one espresso pod and make the espresso. While the espresso is dripping into the mug, put one sugar cube to dissolve into hot espresso.
- Then froth the milk, use whole milk for best froth.
- Spoon out froth and atop the espresso in the mug. Pour a little froth into the mug and mix.
- For either a French Press or strong coffee, make the coffee as needed and use a milk frother/steamer and follow directions as above.
Traditionally NOT foamed milk. Milk is simply heated on the stovtop to boiling point, then added half’n’half with the strong coffee