Best milk alternatives for coffee

Are you lactose intolerant, vegan, or simply bored with the way your coffee tastes? Interested in trying a few milk alternatives?

You have reached the right place! In this post, we’ll be sharing several of the best milk alternatives for coffee. They are all delicious options that can impart some exciting new flavours to your morning cup of joe. Let’s jump right in.

#1 – Almond Milk

Almond milk is one of the most popular milk alternatives in the UK. Made from ground almonds and water, it is a thin drink with a distinctively nutty flavour (as you might expect).

Most almond milks in the UK market are sugar-free and fortified with additional minerals and vitamins. This improves the health benefits of an already healthy drink. Make sure to check the label of the almond milks you are trying, as additives or flavourings can change it tastes with coffee.

Is Almond Milk Healthy?

Almonds are one of the healthiest nuts you can eat. They are packed full of beneficial vitamins and minerals including iron, zinc, manganese, calcium, as well as Vitamins A, B, and E. So, as you might expect, almond milk is also very healthy.

Almond milk has about 4 times less fat than cow’s milk, fewer calories, no saturated fat, no lactose, and no cholesterol. However, it also has less protein than cow’s milk, which may be an issue if you are a gym junkie looking for more protein in your diet.

What Does Coffee With Almond Milk Taste Like?

Natural unsweetened almond milk is thin and slightly tart. When added to coffee, the almond flavour dramatically increases. This can work really well with certain types of Arabica coffees, particularly if you like a flavoursome brew.

#2 – Soy Milk

Soy milk is made by soaking dry soybeans, before grinding them in water. It creates an off-white to white drink that looks similar to milk. It is one of the most popular milk alternatives because of its delicious taste, affordability, and accessibility.

Is Soy Milk Healthy?

Fortified soy milk is an excellent source of protein, vitamin D, vitamin K, vitamin B2, vitamin B12, potassium, and other nutrients. It is reasonably high in protein (2.4 grams per 100ml) and unsweetened soy milks contain very little sugar. It has fewer calories than cow’s milk, which makes it a particularly good option for people trying to lose weight.

What Does Coffee With Soy Milk Taste Like?

Soy milk has a mild nutty flavour, which can complement coffee well. High-quality soy milks can be quite creamy, which makes them an excellent substitution for milk. Most soy milks can stretch well under heat, so it is possible to use soy milk for both cappuccinos and lattes. However, if a coffee is very hot or acidic, it may cause the soy milk to curdle.

It’s worth noting that the quality of the soy milk you use has a huge impact on the quality of your coffee. An artificially sweetened soy milk with a high water content can have a thin consistency or cloying sweetness which interferes with the taste of coffee. A higher quality organic soy milk with less additives should have a neutral taste that is better with coffee.

#3 – Oat Milk

Oat milk has become one of the most popular milk alternatives for coffee in the past few years. It is made from oats and water, with canola oil sometimes added for emulsification. This blend creates a creamy, full-bodied milk which has a similar texture to cow’s milk.

Is Oat Milk Healthy?

Oats are one of the healthiest foods you can eat. They are high in fibre, protein, B minerals, Iron, Magnesium, calcium and other nutrients. So, as you might expect, oat milk is also very healthy. It is also in fibre, vitamin B12, calcium, vitamin A, vitamin D, riboflavin, phosphorus, potassium, and protein. Oat milk contains no cholesterol, very little sugar, and only a small amount of fat. 

What Does Coffee With Oat Milk Taste Like?

Oat milk is full-bodied and creamy, which gives it a similar mouthfeel to cow’s milk. It is quite neutral in flavour, which allows the flavour of your coffee to shine through. It can stretch and doesn’t separate under heat. It’s easy to see why it has become one of the most popular milk alternatives in recent years.

#4 – Coconut Milk

Coconut milk is the fluid collected from the grated pulp of mature coconuts. It is a delicious milk that is high in fat and natural sugars — the perfect choice for coffee drinkers who want a creamy and indulgent brew.

Is Coconut Milk Healthy?

Although coconut milk contains vitamins B, E, and C, along with calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus, it also contains a lot of fat and calories. A single cup of coconut milk has over 550 calories and 57 grams of fat. To give you a point of reference, a cup of cow’s milk has about 150 calories and 8 grams of fat.

If you are concerned about weight gain or the amount of fat you are consuming in your diet, be careful with how often you use coconut milk.

What Does Coffee With Coconut Milk Taste Like?

Delicious. The high-fat content of coconut milk makes for an incredibly creamy coffee. The fat content also means you can heat coconut milk without it separating, which makes it ideal for lattes and cappuccinos.

As you might expect, the main flavour component added by coconut milk is coconut. This can work well with many coffee varieties. Personally, I enjoy coconut milk with a 100% Arabica coffee as it has a sweet chocolate flavour that blends perfectly with coconut.

#5 – Rice Milk

The most neutral tasting additive on this list, rice milk is made by combining milled brown rice with water and rice syrup. Commercial rice milks often have additives like sugar, vitamin D, and flavours.

Is Rice Milk Healthy?

Rice milk isn’t particularly nutritious. However, most commercial products are fortified to include additional vitamin B12, vitamin D, vitamin C, iron and calcium.

What Does Coffee With Rice Milk Taste Like?

Rice milk is very neutral in flavour. Unfortunately, it is quite thin and doesn’t have the same creamy consistency as cow’s milk. It can’t be foamed, as it doesn’t have enough protein (required to form air bubbles). Despite these drawbacks, it’s still a great choice for anyone looking for a light, low-fat milk alternative which lets the flavour of the coffee bean shine through.

Wrapping Up

As you can see, there are quite a few interesting milk alternatives available. The next time your coffee subscription arrives, why not shake things up a little bit by experimenting with a few milk alternatives.