Individuals who follow a vegan lifestyle are not allowed to consume any items derived from animals. That means excluding all animal products such as steak, burgers, chicken, fish, or eggs, and instead opting for vegan options made from ingredients like soy, beans, soy, or vegetables.
They are not able to consume milk or cream either, since those items come from cows. It might not seem that important – until it’s understood that similar to all other people, vegans have the same need for their morning cup of coffee.
The issue is more complicated than one would initially believe since the coffee whiteners that a majority of us choose to use instead of milk or cream are not choices available. Despite being marketed as “non-dairy,” popular creamers such as Coffee-Mate and International Delight are actually not entirely free of dairy products.
Huh?
Yeah, we know, that doesn’t make much sense. But it’s true. Let’s work it out and figure what type of additions could be put into a cup of coffee by vegans.
“Non-Dairy” Doesn’t Mean Dairy-Free
This puzzling complication torments vegans and those with lactose intolerance until they manage to determine which products contain no lactose at all and which contain no dairy ingredients.
Exploring the chemical make-up of milk will help us comprehend the distinction between non-dairy and dairy-free. The three key ingredients in milk are lactose (also called milk sugar), cream (milk fat), and two varieties of milk proteins — casein and whey. Dairy products such as milk can be modified by taking out various components. That’s how 1% milk and lactose-free milk are produced.
Once upon a time, the U.S. The dairy industry exerted pressure on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to differentiate between genuine dairy products, for instance, milk and cream, and similar items which have an insignificant level of milk in them. The FDA formulated a regulation to appease the industry. It was stated that items labelled “non-dairy” could include a maximum of 0.5% of dairy in the form of milk proteins.
The regulation was ultimately reversed, but the Food and Drug Administration still sticks to the overall standards. The agency states that products that are dairy-free may still have casein or another kind of milk protein included in their ingredients. Products that are not made with any dairy ingredients should not have any dairy components. They can’t contain either lactose or milk protein.
A major issue exists with this; moreover, it makes little sense. There are no laws which clarify the distinction, and the Food and Drug Administration cannot commence any action if it has not been regulated. The only option someone has if a producer incorrectly marks their products is to contact the Food and Drug Administration and inquire about a breach of the law which requires accurate labeling.
It can be restated as: Most businesses do not behave in a manner that goes against the spirit of the regulations; the vast majority use non-dairy and dairy-free accurately and state expressions such as “a milk derivative” on their ingredient labels if the casein hasn’t been taken off. It’s up to vegans (as well as people with lactose intolerance or milk protein allergies) to attentively examine the labels on any plant-based or dairy-free products they purchase.
Customers who are on the hunt for vegan coffee creamers can examine our database to find out which ones are the most trustworthy.
Warning: Most Creamers Are Non-Vegan
We mentioned this in the beginning, but it is important enough to say again. Most commercial coffee creamers are not vegan-friendly.
An illustration of this would be that Coffee-Mate’s traditional creamers contain either sodium caseinate or micellar casein, which are derivations of milk, making them not dairy but not lactose-free. Nevertheless, the organization manufactures a range of “Natural Bliss” creamers with oat milk, almond milk, cashew milk or coconut milk as their main component, as opposed to dairy milk. It seems like the ingredients are vegan, however, they have not been given official vegan certification. They don’t come in cool flavors, either.
When it comes to Starbucks creamers, only a handful are suitable for vegans, while the majority of them are not plant-based. Most of the Starbucks creamers have a mixture of both milk and cream, so you don’t need to do any research. The business has revealed three non-dairy flavors: caramel macchiato, hazelnut latte, and pumpkin spice latte, all prepared with a blend of almond and oat milk. It seems that they claim to be vegan, but they don’t have the official designation.
The picture is clearer for International Delight creamers. They all contain sodium caseinate and are not vegan.
It is unnecessary to be specifically devoted to Coffee-Mate Natural Bliss Creamers. A great number of firms are now providing excellent plant-based coffee creamers that are also vegan-compatible.
The Best Vegan Coffee Creamers
The potential disadvantage of these creamers is that they usually don’t come in individual portion sizes like you get in restaurants. Some foods have to be stored in the fridge, some should just be kept in the fridge once opened, and others need to be put into the coffee as a powder. There are only a small number of firms that produce vegan creamers you can bring along with your lunch.
The advantageousness of the brands we have picked is certain: they taste amazing, they are full of beneficial nutrients and also vegan-appropriate.
Califia Farms
This business provides an array of vegan creamers that are dairy-free and produced with plant-based milk and natural components. These items are also gluten-free, don’t contain any GMO, are not made with BPA or carrageenan, and typically include a low-calorie, low-carb, and low-fat content. Califia Farms products are shelf-stable until opened.
This company sells a range of creamers based off almond, oat and hemp milk, plus a “Better Half” variety with a combination of almond milk and coconut cream. Some of the opts are classic vanilla, pecan and caramel, hazelnut, fall-favorite pumpkin spice, and a unique mushroom oat. There are both sweetened and unsweetened options.
nutpods
Nutpods does not provide as many different types of products as Califia Farms does. Very few companies do. The quality of their goods is just as high and everything is certified vegan, non genetically modified and compatible with the ketogenic diet. Many nutpods creamer varieties are composed of almond milk and coconut cream, plus organic elements; there are additionally two varieties made with oat milk. No need to store Califia Farm’s creamers in the refrigerator until they are used.
Four varieties that do not need added sugar are sweet crème, French vanilla, caramel, and cookie butter. There are eight flavors (in addition to the sweetened varieties) that are not sweet, among them are hazelnut, cinnamon swirl, and a plant-based toasted marshmallow.
Sown Unsweetened Oat Creamer
Despite the fact that some other creamers had added sugar and flavor, this unsweetened creamer won the approval of all in our taste-testing group. The Sown had the finest consistancy when compared to the other creamers we tested, embodying a richness that is closest to regular dairy creamers.
The testers liked that it was not sweetened, enabling them to adjust the sugar level to their preference. Although the Sown Oat Creamer had a very thick consistency, we all savored it without adding any sugar. If you would rather have it sweetened, there is an alternative.
This creamer did not impart any flavor when added to the coffee. It facilitates the optimal taste of the coffee to be experienced.
This creamer produced superb foam, which was quite voluminous with a mostly uniform consistency and several larger bubbles. The foam retained a good amount of its volume, only decreasing by 20% after a period of 10 minutes.
The Sown creamer is organic and comes in a cardboard box. Although it may not be the primary ingredient, there is still a generous amount of canola oil in the mix. If you don’t like canola oil, you should consider switching to one of the other creamers offered, such as Elmhurst.
Elmhurst Caramel Macchiato Oat Creamer
Although Sown is still the creamer of choice for vegans due to its texture, Elmhurst is a good alternative that does not overwhelm the flavor of your coffee. There is a faint sweetness and a slight caramel taste present.
This is an ideal choice for those who prefer not to consume oils and gums, as it does not contain either. The Elmhurst was the most costly of the creamers we looked into on a per fluid ounce basis.
If foam is a large consideration for you, then the Elmhurst Oat Creamer may not be the best choice. The foam that it made did not last long, as large bubbles with a sudsy feel formed and these dissipated in only 10 minutes.
Starbucks Hazelnut Latte Almondmilk & Oatmilk Creamer
If you’re looking for a sweet, flavored coffee, the Starbucks Non-Dairy Creamer is a great option. This particular variety was said to have a flavor similar to candy. Additionally, it will slightly cover up the taste of the coffee. The people who tried our product were unable to determine the taste as hazelnut; they guessed it could be either butterscotch or vanilla.
The Starbucks creamer was among the least smooth and velvety compared to the other creamers we sampled. The consistency of the coffee remained relatively the same after the creamer was added. Basically, this creamer is all about the taste. Even though it was a little different, all of us agreed that the creamer was consistent with what Starbucks usually offers. So, if you usually enjoy the drinks they serve in their stores, then you should be pleased with this creamer too.
The Starbucks creamer was the star of the pack due to its airy foam consistency. The foam created was velvety and could be the ideal addition to any latte or cappuccino. It generated a sufficient amount of foam, though roughly 45% dissipated within ten minutes.
Silk Sweet & Creamy Almond Creamer
The Silk Almond Creamer ended up ranking quite well in our review of flavored creamers due to its accurate portrayal of being sweet and creamy as stated on the packaging. Although it contains the same amount of sugar, we found the sweetness in this creamer to be more subtle. One taste tester described it as caramel-like.
Although it wasn’t the smoothest of the bunch, we all agreed that it had a pleasant consistency. It also provides a way for the taste of the coffee to be tasted without being too intense. In conclusion, we believed this selection would be a good option.
The Silk Almond Creamer created the most foam compared to any of the other brands that were examined (the 365 Almond Creamer was tied with it). The foam had a creamy consistency punctuated by larger bubbles, but it didn’t match the same richness as the Silk Oat Creamer’s foam. The steadiness of the foam was around normal, decreasing by about 40% in size after 10 minutes.
Almond Breeze Vanilla Almondmilk Creamer
Our taste testers generally felt positively about the Almond Breeze creamer. It was characterized as having a mild sweetness that was not overly intense or manufactured. This one had a good mixture of sweetness and it seemed more genuine than the other options.
The people who tasted the creamer noted that there was an unspecified flavor, however they were unable to identify it as vanilla. Guesses included hazelnut, caramel, and cinnamon roll.
This creamer would not be suitable if you are seeking to make a frothy coffee. There was not a lot of foam present, and once 10 minutes had passed, 60% of the limited foam had disappeared. The feel of the foam was the most unpleasant of all the milks and creamers that were evaluated.
365 Organic Vanilla Almond Creamer
The opinion of our testers concerning the 365 Almond Creamer fluctuated between good and just okay. Despite being quite sugary, there is a blend of other flavors which evens out the sweetness. The testers could perceive the flavoring and one of them correctly guessed it as vanilla, however, in their opinion it had an unnatural vanilla taste.
The consistency of the 365 creamers is extremely dense and weighty. The creamer and coffee settled at the base of our cups, creating a distinctively layered look that you can see in our taste test video. If you’re using a mobile device scroll down the page and if you’re on a laptop then check the top right corner of the page. We needed to use a spoon to incorporate this creamer, which wasn’t necessary for any of the others. One of the individuals trying out the creamer said that they may be inclined to pick another one if it requires an extra action. Once the creamer was stirred in, the consistency was pleasing.
The froth produced by the 365 creamers was one of the highest-rated in our assessments. The amount of liquid it held was equivalent to Silk Almond Creamer, and the foam it created was noticeably smoother than Starbucks Creamer. This foam had the highest degree of equilibrium, losing only 7% of its size following 10 minutes.