The Creamiest Non-Dairy Milk
A frothy layer of foamed milk can do wonders for your morning or afternoon cup of coffee. Choosing the best non-dairy milk for frothing can be extremely difficult with the huge variety of alternative milk available in grocery stores and online merchants across the country. However, not all milk froths up similarly.
For this reason, we set out to determine which milks function and which don’t. Here is our frothing “best to worst” list.
Our Favorite Non-Dairy Product
There are several options when it comes to non-dairy milk for frothing. Our favorite non-dairy product is Horizon Organic Shelf-Stable Whole Milk Boxes . It is the best because it is organic and can be a healthy substitute for juice. It has all the required nutrients, including proteins and vitamins C and D.
Does Coconut Milk Froth?
Coconut milk contains a lot of fat, which helps to produce an excellent froth for your coffee cup. Choose a carton of coconut milk rather than a can of coconut milk. If you can’t locate it in a carton, combine some coconut milk from a can with water to create the frothy coconut milk of your dreams!
A List of Non-Dairy Frothing Alternatives
Whole Milk
The best milk for foaming is, without a doubt, whole milk. Few other types of milk can compare to the luscious, creamy foam it produces. Our gold standard for milk frothing, which we’ll be comparing throughout this essay, is whole milk, which has a high-fat content (3.5%) and a low protein level (3.2%).
The brand matters, even with whole milk. This is because each brand uses a different variety of cows, other feeds, and other dairies. Although entire milk foam has a wonderful texture, it disintegrates more quickly than foam made from reduced-fat or skims milk. To obtain the greatest results, serve it right away once it foams.
Everyone may not enjoy whole milk froth. I’ve listed a ton of substitutes below in case you’re lactose intolerant, on a diet, or just don’t like the flavor.
Skim Milk
Although skim milk is still the simplest milk foam for beginners, frothing whole milk is not difficult. Skim milk foam keeps together far longer than full milk foam and produces larger bubbles with little effort.
However, whole milk has a creamier froth than skim milk. Whole milk is still the best option if you want a smooth, thick latte. Skim milk is usually preferable for beverages like espresso macchiatos or even cappuccinos with a lower milk-to-coffee ratio.
Oat Milk
The majority of dairy substitutes are too liquid to foam adequately. Compared to most vegan milk alternatives, oat milk is thicker and creamier. Oat milk foam has a similar texture to full milk froth while having less protein and fat than whole milk.
The drawback of oat milk and most other plant-based milk is that their foam disintegrates quickly. Oat milk has a lot of water even if its mouthfeel isn’t very watery. Your bubbly foam will degrade much more rapidly than whole milk foam since that water doesn’t maintain its structure.
Almond Milk
Almond milk is highly palatable to beverages without added sugars because it retains its sweetness even after foaming. It can also foam at about 130 degrees Fahrenheit (54.4 degrees Celsius), far lower than that required for cow’s milk.
Regarding flavor and foaming, almond milk brands are very different. According to what I’ve discovered, Califia Farms Barista Blend almond milk works best for foaming. The sweetened and unsweetened variants are available, and both are effective for producing a creamy foam.
Soy Milk
Similar to what you would receive from cow’s milk, soy milk has thick, fluffy foam. This makes it a popular non-dairy frothing milk in coffee shops.
However, there are several drawbacks to using soy milk for frothing. It’s not fantastic for latte art, to start. It’s too frothy to pour readily, which explains why. Second, maintain it below 150 degrees Fahrenheit (65.5 degrees Celsius) to prevent curdling. Third, you should avoid excessively acidic coffee since the soy milk froth degrades in the added acid.
I suggest starting with Soy Dream if you want good soy milk for foaming. It is USDA Organic and has a high enough protein level to froth effectively.
Do’s and Don’ts of Non-Dairy Frothing
Avoid pushing the frother wand too far into the cup when frothing; otherwise, the milk won’t get enough air in it. Similarly, air penetration into the milk will result from inadequate wand insertion. The key here is striking the correct balance!
Make sure the milk is brand new and ice-cold using a steam wand. Before frothing your milk with a portable wand, French press, or other types of frother, give it a light heat. Avoid allowing the milk to boil or simmer since it will scald and eliminate any chance of bubbles.
Types of Non-Dairy Milk to Avoid
Coconut Milk
A devotee of coconut milk will explode with rage somewhere. There are a few kinds of coconut milk that you can use for frothing, but the vast majority are awful.
They are watery and too thin, which is a problem with almond milk. The flavor of coconut milk is also extremely noticeable and permeates the coffee. It’s okay if you enjoy that flavor. However, it can overpower the taste of the coffee.
Avoid canned or low-fat coconut milk if you do decide to use it. The only variety of whole-fat coconut milk that even has a chance of creating a properly thick foam is the kind that comes in cartons.
Cashew Milk
Even more terrible than coconut milk is cashew milk –it’s too watery to bother frothing with. You can create a very thin foam, but it will disappear before you can taste it.
Macadamia Milk
As it is becoming the norm, macadamia milk cannot produce foam. Even though Milkadamia performs marginally better than most brands, it still fails to make any appreciable, long-lasting foam.
Rice Milk
Many people enjoy rice milk since it contains less fat. However, this characteristic also makes it difficult to froth. Don’t even bother trying; all you’ll get is the occasional bubble.
Hemp Milk
As you can tell by how watery hemp milk pours, it is not the ideal non-dairy milk for frothing.
Hemp milk is simply too thin to produce any significant foam, like the other products in this group. Even worse, it may curdle if you don’t thoroughly heat it before adding cream to your coffee. That is not a flavor you want to taste, I assure you.
The Science Behind Frothing Milk
When made correctly, milk frothing—which introduces heat and air to create a pillowy and silky texture—gives espresso-based milk drinks, including lattes and cappuccinos, their distinctive texture and sweetness.
You can heat milk on the stovetop or in the microwave, but it won’t have the same appearance, texture, or flavor as steamed and frothed milk. You must apply heat precisely, and air must mix after heating the milk.
You must first comprehend how milk functions to know how to froth milk, plant, or dairy.
In addition to water, which makes up around 85–90% of given milk, proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and minerals are the other four key components of both cow and plant kinds of milk.
We’ll concentrate on proteins and fats here because they affect steaming and frothing most (we’ll briefly discuss minerals when we discuss cleaning). The most significant component of steamed milk is protein. When milk is cold, the protein molecules are tightly wound up; however, after heating and steaming; the protein molecules start to uncoil.
One end of a protein chain is hydrophobic, meaning it doesn’t want to interact with water. In contrast, the other end is hydrophilic (meaning it wants to interact with water). After heating the milk, the hydrophobic ends cling to air molecules. Conversely, the hydrophilic ends attach to water molecules (remember that milk is mostly water). Foam production is in this manner.
Every 8 ounces (226.8 grams) of full-fat cow milk contains roughly 0.3 ounces (8 grams) of protein. However, plant kinds of milk’ protein levels can vary greatly, influencing how well they steam. When steaming milk, fat is still another vital aspect to take into account.
Consider foam emulsification or a combination of substances whose chemical characteristics often keep them apart. Your drink’s texture comes from fat, but too much fat might cause the froth to become unstable.
However, if low fat is present, the foam will be dry and textured rather than velvety and smooth.
The “default” texture for ideal steamed milk, in the opinion of most baristas, is full-fat cow milk.
Use full fat cow milk as a benchmark to gauge how certain plant milk could fare when steamed as it typically contains about 4 percent milk fat (in coffee competitions, some baristas achieve even higher fat content through freeze distilling, a technique popularized and explained here by Ben Put of Monogram Coffee in Canada).
It’s crucial to remember that not all fats are equal. To give their milk a creamier texture, many plant milk will add fat; thus, check the label to find out what kind of fat is an addition to your preferred plant milk. According to Kai Custodio, a barista at Joe Coffee Company in New York,
“The type of oil in the product is significant and will affect steaming performance.” Compared to dairy milk, plant-based milk includes a lot more water. Therefore the texture will be different. The use of additional oils texturizes plant-based milk. You can also texturize plant milk with the help of additives and stabilizers like gellan gum.
Custodio advises carefully reading the label. While the term “plant milk” may suggest milk that is all-natural and free of additives, certain plant milk may contain ingredients that you are unsure about or uncomfortable with. When looking for barista milk, Custodio advises considering the chemicals and preservatives because she prefers using organic ingredients.
Barista-friendly versions of several plant milk beverages result in better-foaming milk and easier latte art pouring. “The Barista series is exclusively for coffee, while other oat milk is suitable for a wider range of uses. The barista series offers a stronger foaming experience for commercial and personal use.
Still, both perform in coffee without separating as other nut milk do, according to Lindsay Selker, Channel Marketing Manager for Chobani.
She distinguishes between their Barista Series Oat Milk and regular oat milk by saying that the former is frequently created with additional oats and has the same semi-sweet flavor as the latter but adds an elegant and silky micro-foam to your lattes.
An Overview of Non-Dairy Frothing Milk
| Name of the Product | Best for Case | Features |
| Horizon Organic Shelf-Stable Whole Milk Boxes | Best overall non-dairy milk for frothing | -It is shelf stable. -It is USDA Certified. -Provides calcium and vitamins A and D. |
| Gossner Whole Shelf Stable Milk | Best protein-rich non-dairy milk for frothing | -It is shelf stable. -It is protein-rich. -Has reduced fat. |
| Silk Shelf-Stable Almond Milk, Unsweetened Vanilla, Dairy-Free, Vegan, Non-GMO Project Verified | Best blend of non-dairy milk for frothing | -It is shelf stable. -Unsweetened. -It is dairy-free. |
| Califia Farms - Oat Milk, Unsweetened Barista Blend| Shelf Stable | Non-Dairy Milk | Creamer | Vegan | Plant Based | Gluten-Free | Non-GMO | Best oat milk for frothing | -It is shelf stable. -Unsweetened. -It is vegan. |
| Milkadamia Macadamia Milk, Unsweetened | Best unsweetened non-dairy milk for frothing | -Unsweetened. -It is shelf stable. -It is gluten-free. |
| Pacific Foods Organic, Coconut Unsweetened Original Plant-Based Beverage, Keto Friendly | Best plant-based non-dairy milk for frothing | -Unsweetened. -It is plant-based. |
| 365 by Whole Foods Market, Coconut Milk Unsweetened Original Organic | Best coconut non-dairy milk for frothing | -Unsweetened. -It is shelf stable. -It is organic. |
| So Delicious Beverage Milk Coconut Vanilla | Best gluten-free non-dairy milk for frothing | -It is plant-based. -It is gluten-free. -It is lactose-free. |
| Soy Dream Enriched Original Organic Soymilk | Best non-GMO non-dairy milk for frothing | -It is organic. -It is kosher certified. -It is non-GMO. |
Your Non-Dairy Milk Shopping Guide
Fat Content
Whenever you buy your non-dairy milk, you need to consider the fat content. Ensure that you buy one that has the appropriate fat content. This depends on how you are going to use the milk. The protein content of any milk type is usually on it.
Protein Type and Content
The best non-dairy milk for frothing should have the right protein type for you. What protein type and content do you prefer?
Availability
When considering purchasing your non-dairy milk for frothing, ensure that you settle for one that you can find easily. Some of them are readily available at your local stores. You can also order your favorite milk in online stores.
Texture
Any milk for frothing that you buy should have a smooth texture. It should be soft and tasty, thus easy to froth.
Taste
Do you mind the taste of the dairy milk you want to buy? Always buy the milk that has the best taste for you.
The Best Non-Dairy Milk for Frothing Reviewed
Horizon Organic Shelf-Stable Whole Milk Boxes : Best Overall Non-Dairy Milk for Frothing
Our Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars
Brand: Horizon Organic
Flavor name: Whole milk, chocolate with DHA, strawberry, vanilla with DHA, plain
Allergen information: Milk
Weight: 0.06 pounds (0.027 kilograms)
Item form: Liquid
Specialty: Shelf-stable
Milk type: Whole milk
Availability: Available
About This Item
With Horizon Organic whole milk boxes, you can enjoy the organic deliciousness of Horizon milk even on the road. These single-serve milk cartons make a great snack or addition to a lunchbox and are a healthy substitute for juice boxes.
Numerous nutrients are in each organic milk box, including 0.3 ounces (8 grams) of protein, vitamin A, and vitamin D. These shelf-stable milk boxes keep the great flavor without refrigeration thanks to their unique design. This was the first company to offer organic milk nationally more than 20 years ago.
First Taste
Taste-wise, soy milk is, well, difficult to explain. Although the word “beany” can have a bad connotation, soy milk has a unique flavor. Due to the absence of added sugar, this soy milk is very distinctive.
However, because of the soy milk’s fat content, which makes it silky and creamy, you immediately think it would be a great substitute for cow milk in recipes.
Taste and Steamed Texture
After steaming, soy milk’s flavor mellows. Although it has a faintly bitter aftertaste, it isn’t unpleasant. This soy milk is the best milk for foam.
Taste With Coffee
Because the milk does not contribute any sweetness, the bitterness of the milk and the coffee is overwhelming. Therefore, this is a fantastic choice for people who don’t want even a slight sense of sweetness in their beverage.
Gossner Whole Shelf Stable Milk : Best Protein-Rich Non-Dairy Milk for Frothing
Our Rating: 4.3 out of 5 Stars
Brand: Gossner
Flavor: Plain
Item form: Liquid
Package weight: 15.06 pounds (7.08 kilograms)
Specialty: Shelf stable
Milk type: Whole milk
Availability: Available
About This Item
Juice boxes can’t compete with Gossner’s locally sourced, naturally made whole milk for a protein-rich nutritional profile designed for both children and adults. Gossner’s Whole Milk, which is shelf stable, is ideal for healthy meals and nourishment on the go. Convenient boxes don’t need refrigeration, making them ideal for travel.
Additionally, its long shelf life, when kept unopened, makes it perfect for use in places with limited access to refrigeration, such as schools and daycare facilities, camping, traveling, and disaster preparedness. Choose from whole, reduced fat, or low Fat.
First Taste
The first taste of this milk is admirable. It is pretty sweet and has a thinner texture than other milk types.
Taste and Steamed Texture
After steaming, the entire milk foam has a nice texture. It disintegrates quicker than foam from other milk types. For the best results, serve it immediately after it foams.
Taste With Coffee
This milk tastes lovely when you take it with coffee.
Silk Shelf-Stable Almond Milk, Unsweetened Vanilla, Dairy-Free, Vegan, Non-GMO Project Verified : Best Blend of Non-Dairy Milk for Frothing
Our Rating: 4.7 out of 5 Stars
Brand: Silk
Diet type: Vegan
Weight: 12 pounds (5.4 kilograms)
Allergen information: Dairy, gluten-free
Specialty: Dairy-free, vegan
Item form: Liquid
Milk type: Almond milk
Availability: Available
About This Item
You no longer have to fear that terrible sweet tooth. With its rich, smooth vanilla flavor and higher calcium content than dairy milk, Silk Vanilla Almond milk will come to your rescue. You can satisfy your sweet tooth smartly with Silk Pure Almond milk.
How can you resist the creamy richness of Silk Vanilla Almond milk at only 25 calories per serving? It tastes great over cereal, with coffee, in favorite recipes, or straight from the carton. It has a light vanilla flavor.
Silk is a proponent of plant-based diets’ health benefits and goodness. These plant-based beverages like soy milk, almond, coconut, cashew, and others are pure, nutritious, and nourishing, just as nature intended.
We know that various dairy substitutes are available to you, including soy milk, almond milk, hemp milk, coconut milk, cashew milk, rice milk, pea milk, goats milk, flax milk, and a plethora of others.
First Taste
Since Califia Farms sweetens its milk, it naturally tastes great cold and on its own. The sweetness isn’t overbearing, and some of the almonds’ earthy flavors are still present.
Taste and Steamed Texture
Although this milk is part of the barista series, it doesn’t steam as much as you would prefer; nevertheless, it only contains 0.07 ounces (2 grams) of protein.
Taste With Coffee
If you want your coffee to stand out, this may not be the drink for you because the sweetness is noticeable. You will notice that coffee tends to intensify the bitterness of almonds. The taste will be alright overall but a little off-balance in cappuccino. This is the best milk alternative for coffee for most people.
Califia Farms - Oat Milk, Unsweetened Barista Blend| Shelf Stable | Non-Dairy Milk | Creamer | Vegan | Plant Based | Gluten-Free | Non-GMO : Best Oat Milk for Frothing
Our Rating: 4.6 out of 5 Stars
Brand: Califia Farms
Flavor name: Oat barista original, almond barista unsweetened, hemp barista original, oat barista original, original almond barista blend, pumpkin spice oat barista
Weight: 12 pounds (5.4 kilograms)
Allergen information: Dairy-free, gluten-free
Specialty: Kosher certified
Item form: Liquid
Milk type: Oatmilk
Availability: Available
About This Item
This well-liked oat milk barista blend steams wonderfully, mixes with coffee perfectly, and tastes great on its own. You can use creamer or milk. It is from whole rolled, gluten-free oats cultivated in North America. It is gluten-free, kosher, nut-free, soy-free, non-GMO Project Verified, and shelf stable.
First Taste
Although this milk has a slightly different texture from conventional milk, it tastes similar. This won’t overpower your taste; it has a gritty, cereal-like character that you will love and still feels mild.
Taste and Steamed Texture
This milk steamed like a dream. Oatly’s barista edition did an excellent job of simulating what I’d expect to find in a coffee shop, even though you may not find it very different from its normal version.
Taste With Coffee
Oat milk mixes nicely with coffee, notwithstanding any marketing to the contrary. The foam holds up well and adds a beautiful, delicate sweetness without overpowering the coffee’s flavor.
Milkadamia Macadamia Milk, Unsweetened : Best Unsweetened Non-Dairy Milk for Frothing
Our Rating: 4.6 out of 5 Stars
Brand: Milkadamia
Flavors: Unsweetened, barista-sweetened, barista-unsweetened, vanilla, veggnog macadamia, white chocolate peppermint macadamia
Weight: 12 pounds (5.4 kilograms)
Allergen information: Gluten-free, dairy-free, lactose-free, soy-free
Specialty: Kosher certified
Item form: Cream
Milk type: Macadamia milk
Availability: Available
About This Item
Each deliciously creamy macadamia milk dish has just 50 calories. Perfect for straight up or in coffee, smoothies, or baking! It is from the USA; operated as naturally as possible, and regeneratively cultivated at Milkadamia’s Jindilli Farm;
First Taste
Despite the absence of sugar in the milk, it is delightfully and shockingly sweet. A person wanting plant milk without sugar to add to their coffee may want to consider macadamia nuts because they have some inherent sweetness.
Taste and Steamed Texture
The lack of protein in this milk was evident because there is hardly any foam left in the milk frother after heating.
Taste With Coffee
Milkadamia has a distinct flavor that makes you feel like you are consuming something special, yet it is not too strong to dominate the coffee. Although you may miss the foam, the milk’s little sweetness and natural texture make up for it splendidly.
Pacific Foods Organic, Coconut Unsweetened Original Plant-Based Beverage, Keto Friendly : Best Plant-Based Non-Dairy Milk for Frothing
Our Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars
Amazon’s Choice in Hemp Milks by Pacific Foods
Brand: Pacific Foods
Flavor: Organic unsweetened coconut – original, organic unsweetened almond – original organic unsweetened almond – vanilla
Weight: 2 pounds (0.9 kilograms)
Allergen information: Tree nuts
Item form: Liquid
Specialty: Original organic
Milk type: Almond milk
Availability: Available
About This Item
This milk is free of soy, grains, and gluten. You can use it as a delectable dairy-free substitute in your favorite recipes. This item is from the United States. It is suitable for Keto.
First Taste
Compared to the other foods tasted, this is unquestionably sweeter. Though creamy and beautiful, some people might find it overly sweet. I’d use this in a sweet dessert in place of milk, but in a salty dish, it might be too much. For those trying to cut back, Pacific does produce oat milk with three grams of reduced sugar.
Taste and Steamed Texture
The foam is lovely and rich but a little thinner than you may prefer. It doesn’t have the same smoothness as milk with more fat because of its low-fat level. The sugars taste similar to milk that has been sitting in a bowl of cereal that has been slightly caramelized.
Taste With Coffee
This is the best plant-based milk for coffee. Coffee and sweetness are timeless combinations. Although this oat milk makes the coffee taste even better.
365 by Whole Foods Market, Coconut Milk Unsweetened Original Organic : Best Coconut Non-Dairy Milk for Frothing
Our Rating: 4.6 out of 5 Stars
Brand: 365 by Whole Foods Market
Flavor: Coconut
Allergen information: Tree nuts
Item form: Liquid
Weight: 2 pounds (0.9 kilograms)
Specialty: Original organic
Milk type: Coconut milk
Availability: Available
About This Item
Despite being unavailable for purchase on the Pacific website, the majority of the company’s products are selling in all significant grocers and big-box retailers.
First Taste
With this milk, you are sure of sweetness. Some people find it too sweet, although it is creamy. It is not good for you if you prefer reduced sugar.
Taste and Steamed Texture
The foam for this milk is rich as you may expect. The sugars taste right and thus very delicious. This is the best creamiest milk alternative.
Taste With Coffee
This milk tastes amazing when you combine it with coffee.
So Delicious Beverage Milk Coconut Vanilla : Best Gluten-Free Non-Dairy Milk for Frothing
Our Rating: 4.3 out of 5 Stars
Brand: So Delicious
Flavor: Coconut, Vanilla
Weight: 0.32 ounces (9.1 grams)
Specialty: Shelf stable
Item form: Creamy
Milk type: Coconut milk
Availability: Available
About This Item
This coconut milk is delicious on its own, drizzled over cereal, and used in your favorite recipes instead of dairy milk. It is a plant-based beverage certified free of dairy, lactose, soy, and gluten and is also free of trans fats, hydrogenated oils, and artificial flavors or colors. In any recipe, substitute dairy milk in a one-to-one ratio.
Available in aseptic packaging for practical, non-refrigerated storage, although you can’t order this through the Pacific website, most of its products are selling at the country’s largest supermarkets and big-box retailers.
First Taste
You should choose this milk for its sweetness. However, if you like milk with little sugar, this option is not the best for you. It is sweet and delicious.
Taste and Steamed Texture
After steaming, it foams very well, and the taste and texture are admirable.
Taste With Coffee
The combination of coffee and this sweet milk gives coffee a better taste.
Soy Dream Enriched Original Organic Soymilk : Best Non-GMO Non-Dairy Milk for Frothing
Our Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Brand: Dream Blends
Flavor: Original
Weight: 0.23 pounds (0.1 kilograms)
Allergen information: Soy
Specialty: Kosher certified
Milk type: Soy milk
Availability: Available
About This Item
This item contains organic soybeans. It is ready to consume. Calcium and the vitamins B12, D, and E are excellent sources. The non-GMO project verifies it. After opening, it remains fresh in the refrigerator for 7 to 10 days.
It is from evaporated cane juice and entire organic soybeans. The ideal dairy-free beverage to replace milk in terms of health. It is rich in vitamins A, D, E, and B12 and contains the same amount of calcium as milk. There are no artificial additives or preservatives. They are organic, non-GMO, and kosher products with USDA certification.
First Taste
Soy milk has a unique flavor. Due to the absence of added sugar, this soy milk was very distinctive. However, because of the soy milk’s fat content, which makes it silky and creamy, you immediately think it would be a great substitute for cow milk in recipes.
Taste and Steamed Texture
They call it the original for a reason. Even though the soy milk foams a lot, it is not as even as you would like. The foam performs admirably.
Taste With Coffee
The milk does not contribute any sweetness; the bitterness of the milk and the coffee is overwhelming. Therefore, this is a fantastic choice for people who don’t want even a slight sense of sweetness in their beverage.
Parting Thoughts
Most popular espresso beverages contain milk, so developing your milk frothing abilities is necessary to become a home barista. Choosing the frothy milk, you’ll keep on hand is the first step. Read our article and find out Does Coffee Cause Bloating?
Your new coffee spot is off to a wonderful start with tasty espresso beans and milk. After that, you may choose the kind of coffee maker to utilize and likely pick up a reliable coffee grinder. We recommend the Horizon Organic Shelf-Stable Whole Milk Boxes as the best non-dairy milk for frothing.
