Navigating the non-dairy section at the grocery store is a tricky task, given the plethora of vegan milk options now available. The flavor of each substitute for milk varies and some of them replicate the taste of dairy milk when added to steaming coffee, while others break down into a thick mixture.
How do plant-based milk substitutes compare nutritionally to cow’s milk?
A lot of vegetarian alternatives don’t have the same nutritional content as cow’s milk, particularly in terms of protein, calcium and vitamin D. When selecting a substitute, be careful to monitor those nutrients. A single cup of cow’s milk gives approximately 9 grams of protein, as well as 30 percent of the daily calcium recommendation and 45 percent of the recommended vitamin D intake. Many plant-based drinks contain little to no protein, which could raise concern depending on other sources of protein consumed.
It all depends on who makes it, but many substitutes for milk tend to have calcium and vitamin D added. This means that you should always shake the carton since the vitamins often get separated and settle at the bottom. Despite this, many vegetable-based milks lack the same amount of nutrients as cow’s milk and some do not contain any added nutritional value. Make sure to check out the packaging and make well-informed decisions.
How do milk alternatives taste?
Not every person has the same preferences for their coffee, and plenty of companies manufacture dairy substitutes and creamer-style products that can mimic cream, as well as barista versions that can be used to create lattes and cappuccinos with a frothy finish.
Almond Milk
The flavor of the almond milk did not blend into the coffee well and it turned into a lumpy substance quickly. Plus, the unsweetened almond milk leaves a bitter aftertaste. However, it did work well with cereal. Vanilla almond creamer worked out impressively, combining smoothly and bringing a level of sweetness that made sugar unnecessary. The vanilla taste evoked the flavoured coffee popular in the 90s, so it might not be to everyone’s liking.
It takes substantially more water to produce almond milk than it does to cultivate rice, oats, and soybeans; four times as much, to be exact. It should be noted that the production of almond milk uses less water than the production of milk from a dairy farm. Moreover, according to the Guardian, the rapidly increasing demand for California almonds is causing harm to bee colonies, due to agribusiness practices that reduce biodiversity and kill off great numbers of honeybees in a short period of time. Almond milk has the least amount of carbon emissions in comparison with soy, oat and rice.
Almond milk has minimal protein content, only providing one gram per cup. If you are not having the milk in coffee, try incorporating it into a smoothie containing other sources of protein like peanut butter or protein powder. It can be said that this food is abundant in vitamins A and E, and it also has a low calorie count.
Cashew Milk
The texture of the milk did not deviate from normal, it had a marked nutty taste that didn’t contain the typical bitterness, and was generally pleasing. The texture was quite thin, thus if you prefer thick coffee, you may not enjoy it very much.
Cashews take less of a toll on the environment than other types of nuts and can help avoid soil degradation. The Guardian stated that this particular crop is one of the few that has largely positive effects on the environment, as opposed to negative ones. Processing cashews can be quite profitable, and a large proportion of them get sent from countries such as Vietnam, Nigeria, and the Ivory Coast to India for processing, thus leading to great amounts of emissions. Taking into account the tremendous effect cashew production has on humanity is even more devastating; manual labor is required to collect and handle the nuts, a process that is both tedious and hazardous.
Cashew milk has a low protein and calorie content. Cashew milk does not contain any cholesterol or saturated fat, meaning it could be a good replacement for cow’s milk to aid in reducing cholesterol levels. It’s also a source of vitamins E and A.
Macadamia Milk
The barista formula macadamia milk from one company was great in terms of the amount of creaminess it had. The combination blended nicely and its innate sweetness imparted a delightful taste to the coffee.
Macadamia nuts prosper in soils that are deep and surface water can flow off freely, necessitating yearly rainfall amounts that range from 152 to 305 cm. The majority of macadamia nuts originate in Australia, though they are mainly cultivated for commercial use in Hawaii. In regions where macadamia nuts are grown, water shortages can be a problem. This could necessitate using irrigation, which would damage the reputation of these areas due to their high water usage.
Macadamia milk contains the most fat out of all the milks listed with 5 grams per cup, but it is mainly made of monounsaturated fat, which is good for your health. It is beneficial to consume this food because it provides vitamins A and E as well as antioxidants. It does not offer any essential proteins or fiber, yet, with an average of 50-80 calories per cup, it sits in the midpoint range concerning calories.
Oat Milk
Taste: Oat milk is a favourite. Oat milk has the perfect amount of richness and creaminess to make wonderful coffees and lattes, plus its “barista” variety can be steamed and used to make lovely latte art. An examination of Regular and Barista oat milk side-by-side shows that investing extra cash in Barista oat milk for use in coffee is worth it, as it has a creamier and thicker consistency. It is a formidable opponent to dairy products for people who find it difficult to give up on their morning habits.
It would seem that oat milk is the most eco-friendly of all the dairy alternatives. Oats do not require much water, leading to lesser carbon dioxide emissions when compared to other options. Growing oat milk takes up more space than either almonds or rice, but it also only needs a sixth of the water needed for almond production.
Among the different dairy substitutes, oat milk stands out for its high fiber content, particularly Beta Glucan. This soluble fiber, which is found in oats, has the potential to reduce cholesterol levels. Oat milk contains approximately 3-4 grams of protein per cup, making it comparable to other sources of the nutrient. The sugar level is slightly raised at 6 grams per cup due to the natural carbohydrates present in oats.
When was oat milk first invented?
Recently, plant-based milks have been gaining a lot of traction due to increased environmental awareness among consumers, particularly from the younger generations.
Despite this, certain kinds of plant-based milk have existed for centuries. Soy milk originated in 14th-century China and began to be manufactured for sale in various parts of the world, such as Europe, Asia, the US, and Australia, in the late 1910s.
Plant milks have been around for some time, but oat milk is relatively recent. This beverage has been around since the beginning of the 1990s, when it was created by Swedish food scientist Rickard Öste. He made it while conducting research related to not being able to digest lactose and producing food in an environmentally friendly way. Öste and his brother Bjorn established Oatly, and it was the initial recognizable business to make and sell oat milk.
Throughout the years, Oatly’s sales were not very good mainly due to minimal advertising and branding. In 2012, the company contracted the present CEO Toni Petersson, who has initiated an environmental friendly program throughout the past ten years, mainly targeting to millennials.
In 2017, Oatly distributed free trial amounts of its barista-suited oat milk to coffee shops in the US and UK as part of its promoting efforts.
The neutral flavor, creamy texture, and microfoam quality of the product enticed many baristas, resulting in an increase of demand which occasionally caused a shortage of the item in stores.
Over time, more companies have started to create their own barista-preferred oat milk – for example Alpro, Minor Figures, Califia Farms, Pacific Foods, Elmhurst, and Chobani – leading to huge sales of oat milk.
How big is the market for oat milk?
The market for oat milk has witnessed a massive surge in activity in comparison to other plant milks that have seen a considerable rise in sales in recent times. In the United States only, the retail sale of oat milk rose greater than fifty percent in 2022, amounting to approximately five hundred twenty-seven million dollars – showing its immense appeal to patrons.
Pedro Lisboa is the leader of coffee collaborations at Nude, a São Paulo, Brazil-based oat milk firm.
He noted that the oat milk industry is experiencing a rapid expansion in the United States and across Western Europe. In Germany, oat milk has a majority share of the plant milk market, accounting for 60% of sales.
He continues to say that even though plant-based milks only constitute a small proportion of the total milk industry in Brazil, oat milk holds a major portion of this small market.
There are numerous explanations for the rapid increase in oat milk consumption. Consumers are now more conscious than ever regarding their health, as well as their contribution to the environment.
Pedro claims that producing oat milk leads to fewer greenhouse gases than other plants. Though raising oats takes up more land than producing almond milk, it demands less water.
He continues to explain that land and water is used significantly more when producing cow’s milk.
Jacek Walterowicz is one of the creators of (Un)Ordinary, a British oat milk firm.
People recognize the positive impact on the environment that comes with using oat milk since it is one of the most eco-friendly dairy replacements when the components are obtained and manufactured in the same area.
He makes clear that (Un)Ordinary obtains its oats from the U.K., thus lowering the firm’s carbon emission levels.
Given the increasing awareness of sustainability practices and the large populace of vegans, oat milk has been adopted more frequently. Research from the vegan supermarket chain Veganz reports that in 2020, 2.6 million people declared themselves vegan – an increase of 100 percent from 2016.
Sales in some countries are increasing due to a greater prevalence of lactose intolerance. This has been particularly benefitting the sale of oat milk. Studies have found that nearly all East Asians face difficulty in digesting lactose, making plant-based milk products more appealing in the area.
It is forecasted that the oat milk segment in the Asia-Pacific region will expand by 14.7 percent annually up until 2026, although soy milk continues to be the preference of many in the area.
It has been argued by a lot of folks that oat milk is tastier and more satisfying to eat than other plant milks – and this idea has had a great influence on the market growing so rapidly.
Daisy Swiers is in charge of the UK operations for Califia Farms, a California-based business that produces plant-based milks.
She states that a lot of people enjoy oat milk due to its bland taste and texture similar to cow’s milk. This consistent feel is attractive to those who are looking to switch to non-dairy milk products.
Why is oat milk so popular in specialty coffee?
Oat milk has seen an increase in sales in various food and beverage areas, especially in the category of specialty coffee.
According to Pedro, the specialty coffee industry has seen an impressive surge over the past 15 years. Within the specialty coffee world, baristas utilize milks that make the intricate essence of the coffee really stand out.
He mentions that when cooked, oat milk has a sweetness which is like the taste of cow’s milk.
Jacek concurs, expressing that oat milk goes well with the flavors of coffee without overpowering them.
He states that steaming the liquid works effectively and produces a microfoam with a luxurious texture.
Oat milk has lower amounts of proteins and fats than milk from cows, which is necessary for making a quality microfoam. To compensate for this, many barista-formulated oat milks include plant-based gellan gum. This creates a connection with calcium molecules that thickens and stablizes the microfoam, thus allowing baristas to create beautiful latte art.
Some specialty coffee businesses, like Blue Bottle and Onyx Coffee Lab, have such a preference for oat milk that they automatically use it in their drinks. In recent times, there have been Barista Championship participants utilizing oat milk in their performances, which goes against the unofficial policy of not doing so.
The Specialty Coffee Association not long ago revised its regulations and directives concerning a selection of the 2023 Globe Coffee Competitions , among them the World Barista Championship. Amid these amendments, a variety of plant-based milk products are now allowed in the milk beverage category, representing an increasing knowledge and approval of plant milk products, like oat milk, for example.
The growth of the plant-based ready-to-drink (RTD) coffee market has also helped to drive the popularity of oat milk. Now more than ever, there is a widening range of oat-based RTD coffee drinks, such as lattes, cold brews, and nitro lattes.