7 Creamy Dairy-Free Milk Alternatives at Coffee Shops

Due to the vastness of the vegan milk market, it’s becoming more common to find an array of choices in coffee shops. No longer limited to soy or nuts, both chain and independently owned cafes typically carry a range of dairy-free options from several brands, giving some competition to the once-dominant California Farms and Oatly. From classic soy to emerging pistachio, here’s what you need to know about non-dairy milk options for your next coffee run. But first, here’s a little more context on the growing plant-based milk market.

Vegan milk is growing in popularity

The non-dairy milk market in the US is currently the strongest segment of plant-based foods in terms of sales. Valued at $2.5 billion in 2020, plant-based milk accounts for 35 percent of all plant-based food sales and 15 percent of total milk sales (including animal milk). It has clearly gained an audience beyond vegetarians, and this popularity has extended beyond grocery stores and into coffee shops.

Consumers want the option to enjoy non-dairy milk not only at home, but when they order their daily latte or cappuccino. The category has exploded with options and new brands over the past decade, not only growing in size but also improving products. Now, vegan milk is just as creamy, versatile and nutritious as cow’s milk. And it’s not only good for our taste buds, it’s also good for the planet. Dairy cows are a large part of animal agriculture, which contributes significantly to a large number of environmental problems, including deforestation, water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

Plant-based milk is now so popular, research suggests that a third of Americans drink it weekly. But what are they choosing for? Here are some dairy-free options for your next coffee shop latte craving.

7 Non-Dairy Milk Alternatives at Coffee Shops

The Forager Project

1 i am milk

Although once the only option, soy is being phased out of many coffee shops to make way for the new milk. Soy has also lost favor with many consumers due to the lingering backlash of some misinformation surrounding this innocent vegetarian drink (more on the latter here – and no, soy does not give men “man breasts”).

We’re personally disappointed with the pullback of soy as a dairy alternative because the original has merit in coffee and espresso drinks. Soy milk not only offers a parallel nutrition label to cow’s milk (hello, eight grams of complete protein!), but it also froths extremely well. In the hands of a decent barista and a functioning espresso machine, soy milk can be transformed into tiny, velvety bubbles of microfoam that create a “first sip sensation,” as Starbucks puts it. The coffee behemoth introduced soy milk to its menu in 1997, and while it still charges extra for this non-dairy drink, we’re relieved that the company has kept soy as an option.

In terms of flavor, barista-grade soy milk (such as Pacific Barista Series Soy or Starbucks Sweetened) is neutral and happy to take a backseat to highlighting espresso flavors. Soy milk is strong enough to stand up to heat. While other milks can taste curdled or literally burnt, soy stands out. Let’s give soy another chance and bring it back to the coffee shop.

California farm

2 nuts

Almond milk was one of the first non-dairy milks to dethrone soy. Gaining popularity in the mid-2010s—perhaps as a result of the growing success of California Farms’ almond milk among retailers—almond milk is either added to soy or dispensed directly from coffee shops.

Califia Farms claims that its Barista Blend Almondmilk—designed specifically for baristas—was the top plant milk choice in more than 600 leading coffee shops in 2016. The brand has drawn quotes from coffee consumers and career baristas—the kind that win the latte industry competition. Almond milk raves about its superior foamability and versatility.

The marketing stunt worked, and almond milk is still going strong as a non-dairy milk alternative on countless coffee shop menus. We’ve found that almond milk, even a barista blend, doesn’t foam like soy. It takes an experienced barista and a very expensive espresso machine to get decent results with microfoam. Drinks without too much foam – such as a flat white, macchiato or cortado – work better with almond milk than a latte or cappuccino. Iced drinks also work well with almond milk, as there is no foam in it.

As for the flavor, we found that almond milk tastes a bit burnt if the barista doesn’t keep the steam temperature in check. An espresso should be ready to drink as soon as your name is called – if you want to get really technical, milk should never be steamed above 145 degrees. Unfortunately, not all cafes are this specific, so it’s reasonably possible that your almond milk will taste flat white. To compensate for this, choose a flavored drink paired with almond milk. An almond milk matcha latte will easily mask any off-flavors caused by barista error.

Otley

3 Barley milk

While almond milk hasn’t gone away, oat milk has certainly done its best to outdo its predecessor. This non-dairy option was largely unheard of in the United States until Oatly came along in 2018. The Swedish brand slowly launched its revolutionary product in 2017 in the very capable hands of New York City’s most elite and consistent baristas. Coffee shop regulars were hooked, and by 2018, they could find Oatly in US grocery stores. The brand continued its expansion into coffee shops, eventually landing in major chains such as Starbucks and Peet’s Coffee in 2020. Starbucks’ debut was so celebrated, the chain experienced months of oat milk shortages after relentless and immediate customer demand.

Oatley is still a major player in the coffee scene, but it’s not the only one. An Australian brand called Minor Figures has begun to discreetly venture into independent and third-wave cafes. Long-standing plant milk brands like Pacific and Calif. Farms have also created oat products to keep up with the oat milk craze.

Soy works so well in espresso drinks for the same reason people love oat milk. It is thick and creamy, lathers easily and does not carry an unpleasant aftertaste. Note: Oat milk is lower in protein than soy milk but provides nearly twice the calories for the same eight-ounce serving.

California farm

4 coconut

Coconut milk was not as popular as soy, oat or almond milk, but it refused to disappear. Starbucks still carries this old-school option, as do independent stores.

As for foam, coconut milk isn’t the easiest to work with. On the thinner side of this milk, microfoam essentially creates a futile effort. As one would expect, coconut milk has a slight coconut flavor that isn’t completely masked by the espresso. It works in fruity applications like Starbucks’ refreshers and pink/purple/green drinks, and is a passable alternative to iced drinks that don’t involve foam. Coffee lovers, beware: If you use coconut milk as a creamer, you run the risk of coffee curdling.

Milkadmia

5 macadamia

Like oat milk, macadamia milk is a really prominent player in the category. Aptly named Milkadamia, this vegan dairy company is laser-focused on macadamias. The Latte Da product was developed for espresso and foaming applications, and while not as common as oat or almond, macadamia milk is beginning to overtake soy in availability.

Macadamia milk’s foaming ability matches that of almond milk—they’re not great, but a good barista and a $5,000 machine can produce a passable enough microfoam. The option harbors a very distinct taste. It’s not quite macadamia, but it’s slightly sweet and very present when paired with just espresso. Again, this taste can be masked by ordering a flavored drink like a sweetened macadamia milk mocha.

Elmhurst 1925

6 Pistachio

Brand new to the coffee shop scene, pistachio milk may be the next non-dairy trend. Food industry leaders were introduced to the novel product at the Natural Products Expo West trade show in March 2022, and the overall consensus was unexpected. Elmhurst 1925 set up a retro coffee bar fitted with an expert barista who made pistachio milk cortados and petit lattes on demand. The microfoam was on point and the flavor was unique but comfortable and totally pleasant. Elmhurst is currently shopping her pistachio milk at the coffee shop. Keep an eye out for these non-dairy milk alternatives in your local stores in the coming months.

Miracle Milk

7 Hybrid milk

Not aligned with any one milk, these non-dairy milks were created just for coffee shops. They claim to have a blend of botanicals that deliver an extra velvety espresso drink that springs, feels and tastes like full-fat dairy milk. These new options are mainly made of coconut cream, oil, water and some type of protein isolate such as pea or sunflower. The high-fat content allows them to produce quality foam, but at the expense of consuming processed ingredients. Three hybrid non-dairy milk brands are entering independent stores, and some retailers include Miracle Milk, Rebel Kitchen and Sproud. Taste varies between brands, but flavored drinks are best for masking any aftertaste. Because of their superior frothing ability, choose a hot drink with a hybrid milk – that’s what they do best.