With so many plant-based milk options out there, you might be wondering which one will compliment your coffee best. Today, I am going to present to you the benefits of plant-based milk alternatives and the unique characteristics of the most popular ones.
But before that, why not think a bit further back? Adding milk to our coffee is something that we have done for centuries, yet it was not always a given. How did it all start? And why is it so important to explore plant-based options these days? Let’s find out!
Coffee and Milk: When Did It All Start?
You have probably not asked yourself that before, right? In a way, it’s actually thanks to the Chinese. For years, the Chinese were adding milk in their tea and when coffee was discovered they started doing the same. The Dutch, who were there in business with the Chinese, brought the tradition to Europe as well.
This was all during the 17th century, when the common way to brew coffee was by using an ibrik. The coffee grounds were boiled in water inside the ibrik and this would result in a bitter, over-extracted coffee. So, because of this flavour, coffee was not a preferred drink in Europe.
That was until the idea of the filter came about during the era of the Viennese Coffeehouses. The coffee grounds would be filtered through a mesh allowing for better and smoother extraction. In order to make the coffee sweeter, baristas of the time would add in milk, honey and even cognac.
Coffee Drinks with Milk
Centuries later, there isn’t one coffee menu that doesn’t include milk-based coffee drinks. Technology has progressed so much that we now have the means to steam milk to the perfect temperature and texture depending on the coffee we are making. What’s more, there is a whole art dedicated to steaming and pouring milk, called latte art.
Right now, there are more than 30 different types of milk-based coffee drinks around the world, hot and cold. Some examples are: latte, cortado, macchiato, flat white, cappuccino, frappé, breve, café au lait, Vietnamese iced coffee etc. There is probably more that we don’t know about.
Plant-Based Milk Alternatives And Their Benefits
As times change, so do trends. One of these trends that has come about the past couple of decades is using plant-based milk alternatives in our coffee. There are a number of reasons why this is happening such as lactose intolerance, lifestyle choices, animal rights ideals and environmental impact.
Regrading the environment, it is undeniable that there are certain benefits from choosing plant-based milk over dairy milk:
Less land and water usage: plant-based milk production doesn’t need as much land and water usage as dairy. In fact, according to a University of Oxford study, dairy milk uses 10 times more land than non-dairy.
Lower amounts of greenhouse gases: according to the same study, a glass of milk can result in three times the gas emissions of any plant-based milk.
There is also the huge argument about the quality of lives of the animals that produce dairy products such as cows. Cows only produce milk when they are pregnant and later when they are helping their baby grow, so that’s a limited amount of time.
Impregnating cows constantly in order to produce milk is a cruel practice that destroys their quality of lives.
Transitioning to Plant-Based Milks
Using plant-based milks instead of dairy ones can have a significantly positive impact for our environment and the lives of the animals that produce dairy. Many businesses have acknowledged this and we now have quite a few options on the market for plant-based milks.
To name a few of them there is coconut milk, almond milk, soy milk, oat milk, cashew milk and more. Each one of them needs different practices to be produced and has its own unique flavour. I’m going to give you details regarding the most popular ones, so you can choose which one suits your coffee best:
Soy Milk
- Made by soaking and grinding soybeans, boil them and take the residue
- Nut free, for those allergic to nuts
- Inexpensive
- Neutral flavour
- Easy to foam than some other plant-based milk products.
Oat Milk
- Made by extracting components of whole oat grains with the use of water
- It does not overpower the flavour of your coffee
- It will make your coffee taste a bit sweeter
- Allows for a nice creamy texture
- It contains less amount of protein than other plant-based milks
- Nut free
Almond Milk
- Almond milk is made the same way as the soy milk
- It can split in the cup while pouring
- It needs to be steamed in lower temperatures
- Very bitter flavour during the first few sips
Coconut Milk
- Made by grating and soaking the coconut flesh in hot water
- Rich and creamy texture
- Overpowers the flavour of coffee, making it taste like coconut
Final Thoughts
As you realise, each plant-based milk alternative has its own characteristics regarding flavour and texture. Finding out which works best for your coffee can be an adventure and sometimes you might not end up with the result you were hoping for. But it is definitely worth taking a chance on them.
They offer many benefits for the environment and animal health, plus many studies are conducted to show their benefits for human health as well. My personal favourite is actually Oatly’s Barista Edition Oat Milk, it compliments my flat whites a great deal. And the funny thing is, it’s actually hard to go back to dairy milk now!
I really recommend trying out a few plant-based milk alternatives and have fun while doing so!
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Disclosure: No compensation or free products were received in exchange for writing this review.
Vasileia Fanarioti
My name is Vasileia and I’m here because i decided to combine my two favourite things: writing and coffee. Don’t ever make me choose between filter and espresso, although I do have a soft spot for flat whites. I love travelling around the world and visiting coffee shops but my biggest goal is to visit a few coffee farms, to see where it all starts. Hopefully soon I’ll take you there through my articles.
