New Orleans-style coffee
New Orleans-style coffee, often called café au lait, is a rich and bold coffee beverage made by combining strong brewed coffee, typically made with roasted chicory, with hot scalded milk. It is a staple of the city's iconic breakfast scene, famously served alongside beignets at legendary spots like Café Du Monde. The use of chicory root adds a distinctive, slightly woody and chocolatey depth that sets it apart from other coffee preparations.
🍽️ Nutrition at a glance
This beverage is primarily a source of carbohydrates from the lactose in milk and a small amount of fat. It provides calcium and potassium, with a typical serving containing roughly 120-150 calories, depending on the milk-to-coffee ratio and type of milk used.
Nutrition breakdown
| Calories | 130 kcal |
| Protein | 6 g |
| Carbs | 15 g |
| Fat | 5 g |
| Fiber | 0.5 g |
| Sugar | 14 g |
| Sodium | 95 mg |
| Calcium | 200 mg |
| Potassium | 350 mg |
| Vitamin D | 2.5 mcg |
| Riboflavin (B2) | 0.3 mg |
| Phosphorus | 150 mg |
| Magnesium | 25 mg |
Per 1 cup (240 g) · estimated, varies by recipe
💡 What's interesting
The tradition of using chicory in coffee originated during the Civil War as a cost-saving measure when coffee was scarce, and it has since become a defining cultural flavor of New Orleans. Nutritionally, chicory root is a good source of prebiotic fiber, which can support gut health.
