Non-diary milk or plant-based milk has being around for a long time and it is becoming popular by the day. Talks about carbon footprints, earth atmospheric abnormality, animal breeding/rearing conditions are some of the major factors pushing more people to consider cow's milk alternatives.
Aside from that, there exist a number of reasons a person might decide to switch from the regular animal milk to consider plant-based milk alternatives. Allergies, infection from bacteria or other microorganism and just plain dislike are a few other things.
With the growing popularity of plant-based milks, coffee shops and their baristas have began to see more customers demand for milk alternatives being used in their coffee. This trend has caused some to consider embracing other types of milks in the making and brewing of the world's most popular beverage.
On entering the non-dairy milk market you will begin to discover that there exist quite a lot of alternatives to choose from. Each having their perculiarities and nutritional values. On matters of taste and looks, the end results might not be what you expected and you end up disappointed.
But before you move to completely switch over to non-dairy products, it's essential you know what to expect from them. So in this article, I have researched and discovered some of the common animal milk alternatives you can try out for your next coffee time.
I will be talking about where they are gotten from, their major nutritional value in how they compare to animal milk or other types and how they may taste in your coffee.
As You Choose Your Plant-based Milk.
As we continue down this hole, let's talk about a few things to do and points to note as you consider switching from regular milk to plant based milk. If you already have this covered you can move over to the next tab and read about the types of milk alternatives.
But I recommend you spend a little time here and see what it's all about. This is to make sure you have all your bases covered when making the final decision.
1. Know your body system.
When I talk about knowing your body system, it involves knowing and discovering how your body reacts to changes in diet and ingredients. Let's say you have tried out other milk types you should study the feelings and taste you got from those types. It will help in deciding if the change is worth it health wise.
Are you allergic to certain ingredient you should avoid them. Even in plant alternatives, there exist some allergies and effect and these are things you should know of before you move forward. You don't want to harm yourself in the process.
If after trying it out you discover an effect on your body system that you know is strange, you should consider taking a break and seeking out medical attention as early as possible. If everything seems okay even after trying it out, just remember not to overload on it and use in moderation.
2. Bit by bit.
Whenever it comes to trying out new food or ingredients in your diet the first thing you do is to start small. You don't just jump into it and start adding it in volumes. It might not end well.
Bit by bit involves both it's effect on your body, your finance and your beverage. For your body you want to start taking it little by little, if possible you might mix it with normal milk to see how it tastes. Who knows you might discover a new combo in your experiment.
In the aspect of finance, you might try to get a smaller sized products and use it for the testing phase first before you decide to use it at scale. You should work out the taste and mixture before you progress to completely switch over to it.
3. Know what you buy.
Know what you buy is one point you should not miss. You should try as much as possible to read the data on the product package. See the nutritional values, additives and extra information on allergies, storage and potential use.
Reading the pack information helps you know and make important decisions, like what nutrients are lacking and might need backup, factory processing and how organic it is. How to store it for max freshness and durability and a lot of other things you should not miss will be contained there.
A lot of things and additives in it can make it not a fit for your coffee and your health, so you have to know what you are in for before you buy.
4. Make up for lost nutrients.
When you compare plant based milk to normal milk you begin to discover that there exist discrepancies in their nutritional value. Some nutrients are more in the regular milk and are less in the alternative milk. Infact there may be times where there is an outright lack of key nutrients in the products, what you have to do is cover up.
You should consider other means of filling up on essential vitamins, minerals, proteins and the rest. You know classes of food like the protein, calcium etc that help repairs for muscles and bones are required in real proportions. So anywhere you see lack of essential nutrients you must always endeavor to cover up the lack. It's important for your overall health and well-being.
5. Does it foam or mix well.
Aside from all the talks about health and nutrition, we should come down to the aspect of using the milk for your coffee. This particularly stands as the main reason that can make or break the pleasure you derive from your coffee.
Some milk might be creamy enough to add more than take from the pleasure you get. Others may alter the taste of your coffee by a bit and might be negligeable or can completely change how it tastes.
Aside from the taste or how creamy it is, some milk might foam a curd in the coffee and not mix well ruining your efforts. So you will need to identify the types and how they react and work them in smaller portions first before you apply it for your brews.
Types of Non-dairy Milk.
Now unto to the main section: the types of non-dairy milks. As earlier stated we will be discussing the types of plant-based milk that can potentially replace the milk you use in your coffee.
Here's a brief table pointing out the perculiarities of each plantbased milk type.
| Type of Milk | Consistency | Nutrition | Aftertaste/ Curd | Latte Art |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.Rice Milk | light and thin | more carb, less protein and fat | none | sub-par results. |
| 2.Oat Milk | thick and creamy | good fibre and more carb | a malty taste/ no | good results. |
| 3.Coconut Milk | creamy and thick | lots of healthy fat and vitamins | based on processing/ no | yes but dissolve quickly. |
| 4.Soy Milk | creamy | good amount of protein and minerals | none/ yes based on temp. and acidity. | Very good. |
| 5.Almond Milk | creamy | source of vit. and min. | Yes/ yes just like soya | average results |
| 6.Hemp Milk | varies based on brand | healthy fats and some protein | based on the taster/ no | good results. |
| 7.Cashew Milk | creamy and tasty | high in protein and other ess. nutrients | natural sweet taste/ no | average results |
| 8.Pea Milk | quality differs | highest in protein and low cal. | No / no | good results. |
| 9.Macadamia Milk | naturally creamy | low protein but highest in fats | macadamia flavor/ no | yes |
1. Rice Milk.
Nutrition.
First off is rice milk. This milk is gotten from the popular rice grain and it is slowly becoming a more popular alternative to cow's milk in coffee. The milk is processed from boiled rice and is often without sweeteners. So the producing companies may often add artificial flavors and sweeteners.
Rice milk is not as thick when compared to animal milk but is foamy and similar in appearance to other milk types like the skim milk. It also has more carbohydrate and less protein than cow's milk and is one of the least similar of plant-based milk to animal milk in terms of nutrients composition.
However, rice milk excels at one thing and that is being a perfect option for most people with food allergies. Allergic to nuts or sensitive to lactose? No problem, you can take rice milk up. And if you are mindful of your sugar/additive level you should make sure it is unsweetened. If you have no such concern, move on.
How does Rice Milk Taste in Coffee.
How good tasting is rice milk in coffee? You ask. Rice milk due to its watery nature might water up your coffee a bit. That might not be a problem for you if you aren't too fixed on coffee looks. If you love your coffee creamy, you should consider other options.
Note that certain rice milk products may contain some additives that make them creamier than normal so you should watch out for that.
Aside from lightening up your coffee, rice milk mixes well with coffee and retain the coffee taste and flavor. It may not form a curd but it lacks the ability to foam well and this might not yield a satisfactory result if you are making certain coffee drinks like the cappuccino and latte.
2. Oat Milk.
Nutrition.
Next on our list is the Oat milk. This milk is made by processing oats, water and vegetable oil together. It is thick and creamy just like normal milk. When you talk of a type of milk that is very similar to good old cow's milk in a lot of aspect, oat milk takes a top unchallenged spot, second to soy milk.
As the thirst for plantbased milk rage on, many people have been taking up oat milk as a worthy replacement. And this has made it popular in a lot of circle.
Oat milk has a good amount of cholesterol-suppressing and heart-healthy fibre, with a few more quantities of proteins. As oat is naturally of the energy giving food's class, it has more carbohydrate or sugar when compared to cow's milk but less fat to put your heart at rest. There are abundance of calcium, potassium and sodium but a major lack of some vitamins. These may be added during production by the manufacturer.
How does Oat milk Taste in Coffee.
Oat milk stands are a viable option for adding to your coffee. It matches your coffee not only due to how creamy or thick it is but it infuses into your coffee a special flavor that you will be hard-pressed to find - the malty flavor.
The oat milk mixes well with coffee and can be used for making most types of specialty coffee drinks. It can be foamed and steamed, meaning you don't have to give up your latte art soon. With oat milk you have little to worry about and can go right ahead with your coffee making.
3. Coconut Milk.
Nutrition.
Who doesn't love coconuts? I love them, like really love them. Coconut milk are something else entirely. It is creamy, thick and loaded with both healthy and saturated fats. It dense nature makes it a good choice but you might want to watch out for the saturated fat content and not take it in excess.
Coconut milk is made from the flesh of matured coconuts and it has some good amount of protein content. However after processing there is a significant reduction in protein quantity but that is covered up with being a source of some very vital vitamins. Vitamins like A, B¹² and other antioxidants that protect the body from free radicals are contained therein.
How does Coconut Milk Taste in Coffee.
Coconut milk really foams and froth well. It pairs well with coffee and does not compromise is terms of texture. In some products the coconut flavor may be much which can overpower some of the coffee's. If that is not what you want you can opt for brands with reduced flavor and work with it.
Coconut milk can be used just as normal milk and used for whatever you use your coffee milk for. However you should have it in mind that the foam or froth of your milk may quickly dissolve as it's not as dense. Since it may loss the foaming in a short while, so you might as well want to enjoy the flavor as quickly as you can.
4. Soy Milk.
Nutrition.
Being a plant based milk, this milk is also one of the closest to normal milk and it has existed in various forms for quite a long time(the famous Chinese tofu). It is made from soya beans meaning it contains a good percentage of protein. A bit more than many others on this list at approximately 7g per cup. Aside from protein it also has a lot of beneficial fat content leaving out saturated fats. There are both mono-unsaturated and poly-unsaturated fats present in this milk.
Fat aside there are loads of minerals here. Talk about sodium, potassium and calcium, soy milk has it all. And there is almost zero cholesterol content.
Aside from all the health benefits, it also has the financial advantage of being affordable and easy to comeby. Adding to that, using it as a replacement is not a new thing as it has become very popular all around and a real alternative to cow milk.
How does Soy Milk Taste in Coffee.
Soy milk when used in coffee can fit in quite well with your coffee drink. You can froth or foam it just like normal milk and it responds very well. It can be used to make any form of coffee you desire. It mixes well with coffee and won't really pass off any aftertaste like what your regular coconut milk would.
But mind you there are a few precaution to take to heart when you are making use of soy milk. Due to the acidity and temperature of the coffee, it might form a curd . So you must be careful when making use of it, you want to process to move smoothly and give a desirable result.
5. Almond Milk.
Nutrition.
Another plant milk we will talk about is the almond milk gotten from the almond nuts. This nutty milk is low on calories so you don't have anything to worry about in that regard. As it is gotten from a nut, almond milk has some essential vitamins like vitamins A and E in good qualities which are good for your health.
Almond is low in protein content leaving more to be desired in that regard but high in calcium and sodium. Some of it might leave a certain kind of aftertaste that may not be pleasant to you and can interfere with the taste of your beloved coffee. But since these products come in either sweetened or unsweetened form, you can work around the aftertaste and include almond in your coffee.
How does Almond Milk Taste in Coffee.
In mixing with coffee, almond is very similar to soy milk. It foams and froths well so you can make your lattes and cappuccinos with it. But mind you it may end up looking creamy at the top but light underneath.
The ability to mix well depends on a lot of conditions your coffee fulfills. Temperature, type of brew and processes the coffee underwent can cause the milk not to pair well with the coffee. This milk can form curds in your drink, making the overall experience less enjoyable and a waste of time. So you have to try it out first before you settle.
Almond milk due to its numerous flavors and aftertaste can also add a special depth to your coffee. The aftertaste may alter the taste of the coffee itself and in the longrun affect how you enjoy your drink. So as I have said before, experimentation is the key to finding the perfect pair for yourself.
6. Hemp Milk.
Nutrition.
Have no milk at home and you have some hemp seed? Get some water and blend it with the hemp. Strain the end product and you have some hemp milk for the day.
Hemp milk is one pretty popular non-dairy milk that has quite a profile to start with. It has the really popular Omega-3 fatty acids that are essential for healthy heart and brain function. It has a little bit of protein at a quite manageable figure of 3g per cup making it quite better than some on this list. Carbohydrate content pegs at approximately 2g per cup.
Aside from the major nutrients, you can get a good dose of iron. Even more than the quantity available from an equal amount of animal milk. Not to leave out the mineral: magnesium, which we all need for our bones, muscles and nerves.
And mind you hemp milk is perfectly safe for consumption. You won't be going crazy or having any hallucinations soon. Trust me.
How does Hemp Milk Taste in Coffee.
With this milk you really want to do some tasting and stick to a particular brand so you can get consistency in results. In matters of flavor some may give you a slightly bitter aftertaste and other flavors you may get are of the nutty type.
Moving from that, hemp milk mixes and foams well. Although it is not as creamy as other type of milk and might give a not-so creamy consistency, hemp milk work well for lattes and can mimic cow's milk in that aspect. You should proceed with caution as unpleasant characteristic smells from some of this milk brands can potentially destroy your love for plant-based milk,and you don't want that.
7. Cashew Milk.
Nutrition.
Another of my favorite nut. I ate quite a lot of cashews in the last 3 months and I still have some mix feelings about those months.
Cashew milk is another non-dairy milk that also look similar to dairy milk in a lot of instances and can fit in for dairy. Cashew milk is both creamy and tasty particularly the home made type. It is high in protein(homemade) and saturated fats and is a vitamin rich milk stocked with essential vitamins and minerals that offer lots of health benefits.
However if you love to test this option you must be prepared as a stellar result is based on two factors. Either you buy it and it might come at a premium price or you endeavor to make yours, which I think is a better choice. The nutrition data of the homemade cashew milk far excels that of the store bought milk. For me I always like doing these things myself as it is far better. If I have the time anyway.
How does Cashew Milk Taste in Coffee.
Most boxes under this category are ticked. Cashew milk is creamy and a good replacement for dairy milk. Even standing on the same level with others and offering some very perculiar properties that other milk types lack.
Cashew milk mixes well with coffee and foams well too. You don't have to worry about curd and stuff, it just flows and merge together. In matters of flavor, the coffee drink is embellished with cashew's natural sweet taste and the much appreciated creamy feel. Opinions defer on the later aspect of creaminess in consistency so you should try and see what work's best for you especially if you find the other attributes to your liking.
8. Pea Milk.
Nutrients.
Made from the protein of yellow split peas, pea milk takes the top sit for milk with highest protein content. No other type comes close. It also contain a good amount of healthy fats, a nice portion of important minerals like potassium and iron and some valuable quantities of vitamin A and D. In all this pea milk is low in calories.
Pea milk tastes more like milk and less like peas, so you can consider it if you are looking for good tasting alternatives. Being equally as good as other milks on this list, it is growing in popularity. So you can join the ride by making your next coffee with an added pea milk. However, check the label to be sure your are right on track.
How does Pea Milk Taste in Coffee.
Pea milk is not just a worthy alternative, it excels in foaming and frothing. With it you can try your hand on some latte arts and not worry. They are a solid partner for your specialty coffee.
Since it tastes like milk, it neutral taste allows the coffee's flavor to shine. But with this milk getting a good quality product is essential so you can benefit from not just the texture and nutrients but the taste of this combo that a lot of people love.
9. Macadamia Milk.
Nutrients.
Another plant milk I want to talk about is the macadamia milk. This milk is gotten from the macadamia nuts blended with water to products a milk which is naturally sweet and tasty. This milk lacks protein and fibre and also counts low on calories and carbohydrates.
For fats, this milk has the highest fat percentage of all milk on this list but it is loaded with more healthy fat than with unhealthy one hence, it is good for your body and health. Aside from fats, this milk also has its fair share of vitamins and other beneficial nutrients you might not want to miss.
How does Macadamia Milk Taste in Coffee.
Macadamia milk though not as popular as others on this list, no doubt stand as a nice replacement in your coffee. The milk is naturally creamy and sweet and the taste along with the flavor is superb to say the least.
Mixing with your coffee is no problem. You can foam and froth it for your specialty drinks or for your cute latte designs. The choice is all yours.
Conclusion.
Whatever reason you have for wanting to try out your coffee with plant-based milk, reading and understanding this article will take you a step closer to your endpoint. And if it requires you going through all the types of milk for you to find the perfect choice, please do. It will help you in the long run.
Thanks for reading.
Resources:
1. Photos Credit - Unsplash https://www.unsplash.com
2. Health Benefits of Milks-https://www.forbes.com/sites/nomanazish/2019/04/29/dairy-vs-non-dairy-whats-best-for-you/?sh=2761299958d9
3. Best Non-dairy Milk for Your Coffee-https://www.lincolnandyork.com/blog/what-is-the-best-non-dairy-milk-for-coffee
4. Alternative Milk for Coffee-https://www.webstaurantstore.com/blog/2428/milk-alternatives-for-coffee.html
5. Tested types of Vegan Milk-https://www.chatelaine.com/food/vegan-milks-coffee-canada/