To drink café crème as is typically enjoyed according to French tradition, focus on the timing and pairing: it's a morning beverage often accompanied by a pastry.
Understanding Café Crème
A café crème, also known as une crème, is essentially coffee combined with steamed cream. This combination creates a smoother, richer texture than coffee with milk.
When and How to Enjoy Café Crème
Based on traditional habits, the key to enjoying a café crème involves both when and with what you consume it.
- Timing: It is generally ordered in the morning. This makes it a popular choice for breakfast or a morning coffee break.
- Pairing: A café crème is very often taken with a croissant. This classic pairing forms the quintessential French breakfast or petit-déjeuner.
- Benefits: The addition of cream serves a practical purpose. It helps neutralize the pH or acidity level of coffee, which can make it a bit easier on an empty stomach compared to black coffee.
Therefore, the traditional way to drink café crème involves making it a part of your morning routine, ideally alongside a delicious croissant. While you can certainly enjoy it at other times, its common usage suggests it's best suited as a gentle start to the day.
