I first started drinking coffee with one of my friends in a Baton Rouge coffee house. I had seen my mom and my aunt drink cafe au lait at Morning Call and Cafe Du Monde in the New Orleans French Market many times while I was growing up, but I hadn’t ordered any myself until I was an adult.
Since cafe au lait means coffee with milk, it’s a good choice for beginner coffee drinkers – especially those who live in or around New Orleans. One half hot milk and one half hot coffee plus my addition of a teaspoon or two of sugar and the drink tastes really smooth. Too bad it’s not popular in Colorado where I currently live and have lived these past 5 years.
Even though I started with cafe au lait, I gradually weaned myself off all that milk and sugar. As long as I have a bit of cream and a good brand of beans or grounds these days, I’m happy with a cup or two of coffee several times a week at my own home. Let me tell you a few brands that I have come to love over my coffee drinking years:
Cafe Du Monde was the first brand I remember having, and it set the taste of expectation in my mouth. Since this brand is made with chicory, it has a naturally sweet taste. Add to that sweetness quite a bit of milk and I was hooked on cafe au lait for the longest time in Louisiana. Although one can order this coffee from the Cafe Du Monde website, visiting Cafe Du Monde is limited to several New Orleans and surrounding area locations.
Next was Community Coffee brand from CC’s Coffee House. This brand is produced and sold mostly in Louisiana, although it distributes in several other southern states. My mom was addicted to going to CC’s at least once a week at one point in my life, and since I would go with her I quickly became a fan of this taste as well. Unfortunately there are no CC’s Coffee Houses in Colorado but one can order straight from their website.
While I worked at a La Madeleine in Louisiana years ago, I fell in love with the French roast there since coffee was free to employees. I was the person in charge of grinding the beans and brewing the grounds at La Madeleine, so I got the full experience several times a shift. La Madeleine brand also makes American and decaf. All three are wonderful, but no La Madeleine restaurants around here in Colorado. I’m very thankful that La Madeleine’s website has a product order section.
Of course Starbucks coffee has good flavor also. One of my favorite Starbucks blends is Verona, which comes in decaf as well, which has been what I’ve bought and ordered lately. Starbucks has many coffee houses around where I live in Denver, so I am able to purchase their brand at any convenient time.
Maxwell House is another great-tasting brand, and it is readily available. Most grocery stores and even drug stores sell Maxwell House brand. Despite the fact that it looks so average, it is full of flavor and I highly recommend it, especially the French Roast but also the regular.
Those are my top 5 brands of coffee that I love to drink. Since I once asked for cafe au lait at a Starbucks here in Denver and the server looked at me quite funny, I no longer ask for it in Colorado. When I’m visiting the New Orleans area, though, I make sure to order some.
