Caffe Misto: What is it and How to Make it at Home

The first time I came to know about Caffe Misto was at Starbucks when the customer in front of me in the queue ordered it. I was so intrigued that I placed a similar order to find out what Misto coffee really is.

So what exactly is Caffe Misto?

Caffe Misto is a Starbucks coffee drink that is made from equal parts of brewed coffee and steamed milk. Caffe Misto is a Starbucks adaptation of Cafe au lait whose origin is France.

Cafe au lait originated in France and goes by different names in different parts of the World such as milchkaffee in Germany and biala kawa in Poland. The preparation of cafe au lait may vary depending on the coffee shop or region.

In France, the drink is prepared using equal parts of espresso and hot milk, and some milk foam may be added. It is served in large mugs so that the drinker can dunk pastries in the coffee.

Jump to Recipe

Caffe Misto (Cafe au Lait) Overview

Caffe Misto involves adding hot milk to bold brewed coffee. At Starbucks, you can order Caffe Misto in a Tall, Venti, or Grande cup.

Like the other Starbucks coffees, you can customize your Misto coffee order by changing the type and quantity of milk, toppings, sugar, and sweeteners.

You can also add espresso shots for a bolder flavor and a higher caffeine content.

Outside Starbucks, Misto coffee has differing preparations. Some people simultaneously add equal parts of brewed coffee and milk into a cup and then add milk foam. Others add more coffee than milk and top the drink with a few scoops of foam.

Adding milk and coffee simultaneously eliminates the need to stir the drink so the foam on the top is not disturbed. If you are adding sugar, you can add it to the coffee before adding the milk. This also prevents milk or creamer from curdling in coffee.

Personally, I see no difference between simultaneously or individually adding milk and coffee. I would suggest that you try both and see which method you like more.

Is Caffe Misto (Cafe au Lait) the Same as a Latte?

There are three key differences between Cafe au lait and a latte:

• The ratio of milk. Misto coffee uses a 1:1 ratio of milk to coffee and sometimes less milk than coffee whereas the amount of milk in a latte is at least twice the amount of coffee
• Amount of coffee. Cafe au lait uses at least a half-cup brewed coffee whereas a latte uses espresso shots only. Therefore, Misto coffee is an excellent choice when you want more coffee in your drink. A latte has a softer coffee taste and is, therefore, a great choice for people who are trying to acquire the taste of coffee. Some people adding espresso shots to the Caffe Misto for a stronger coffee drink
• Caffeine content. Caffe Misto usually has more caffeine than a latte as it uses more coffee

Cafe au Lait in the United States

Adding chicory to coffee is a long-standing tradition in New Orleans, where cafe au lait is also popular.

The roots of chicory are roasted and ground and then mixed with ground coffee. The mixture is brewed and mixed with milk in the “au lait” style.

Chicory coffee has a nutty, woody flavor.

How to Make Cafe Misto at Home

The best coffee for Cafe Misto is brewed coffee which you can make using a drip coffee maker, a French press, or even a simple coffee percolator.

Whether you prefer to call it Caffe Misto or Cafe au lait, it is easy to make at home because you do not need perfect foam as you are not making latte art. You just need a few scoops of foam to add to the drink.

I find that a French press is super handy for this recipe because I use it to brew a bold and flavorful coffee and rinse it out to foam my milk. It’s also portable for brewing coffee outdoors during picnics and camping.

See my detailed guide about frothing milk at home using regular kitchen tools which would be perfect for making cafe au lait at home.

As with any coffee drink, you can sweeten with your choice of sweeteners. You can also use your choice of milk and milk substitutes such as creamer. Some people prefer to top cafe au lait with whipped cream instead of foam.

See our comprehensive guide about foaming creamer.

If you wish to add chicory you can add it at a ratio of 80:20 for coffee to chicory and grind the mixture to a uniform size.

Equipment: A coffee maker, hand whisk, mug, spoon

Misto Coffee Recipe: Extra Information

I like my coffee in a 10 ounces mug so I add five ounces of coffee and five ounces of milk for my Caffe Misto. You can use any amount of coffee and you do not have to use a scale or a measuring cup.

Just use the cup that you are going to drink the coffee from, to get the right amount of milk. If you prefer to add more foam, leave more space in the cup when adding milk and coffee.

You can foam the milk before warming it. Personally, I prefer to warm the full cup of milk and add about half of it to the coffee and foam the rest. It takes about 45 seconds to foam the milk in the French press.

A five ounces cup of brewed coffee has about 60mg of caffeine.

Making Art on Caffe Misto at Home

You can make beautiful art on Caffe Misto using a nutmeg powder, cinnamon, chocolate powder, or any powdered spice that you can add to coffee.

Simply add a generous amount of foam to the coffee and use a salt shaker to sprinkle the powder over a coffee stencil that has the pattern of your choice to make a beautiful pattern on the foam.

A reusable coffee decoration stencil is a handy tool to have at home for your lattes, cappuccinos, Cafe au lait, and blended drinks.

You can surprise an ailing family member or a friend with a simple pattern of their Caffe Misto and you will be amazed how much joy this simple gesture can bring to them.

Recap

Cafe Misto is the Starbucks version of Cafe au lait and is a coffee drink with equal parts of milk and coffee and topped with a little foam. From this recipe, you can see that it is fairly easy to make Misto coffee at home.

What I like about simple recipes is that you can go wild and switch the ingredients to see how you like the new drink. Whether you decide to use dairy milk, heavy cream, or non-dairy alternatives, it’s difficult to get the recipe wrong.

Other than adding chicory, a popular practice in places like New Orleans, you can sprinkle some cacao powder or powdered spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, and cloves.

You can sprinkle powdered spices over a decorating stencil to make art on the foam.

FAQs about Caffe Misto