8 Best Non Dairy Milk For Coffee

Nothing makes coffee tastier, smoother and creamier than milk. And if you love cappuccinos, lattes, mocha, and macchiato or even just like adding a little milk to your black coffee, you need to make sure you get the best quality milk.

In most instances, many coffee lovers will turn to cow's milk thanks to its high nutritional value, and the fact that it makes some fantastic froth. But, because it is not for everyone, it is always great to know some of the best non-dairy milk for coffee options out there.

Non-dairy milk is simply any type of milk that is not derived from cows and in many instances, it is often plant-based. What is making this milk increasingly popular is that it will contain fewer calories which makes it healthier and also gives the coffee a unique taste.

The non-dairy or plant-based milk will also be perfect for lactose intolerant individuals and those with milk allergies or even concerns about drinking contaminated cow milk. And while there are many types of this milk out there, the following 8 are the most popular options.

1. Almond Milk

Nutrition (per cup)

• Calories: 30 to 35
• Fat: 2.5 grams
• Protein: 1 gram
• Carbohydrates: 1 to 2 grams

Almond milk will not only contain fewer calories than dairy milk but it is also one of the lowest-calorie non-dairy milk types which makes it perfect for anyone that is watching their weight or just looking for a way to make their coffee healthier.

This milk is made from grinding whole almonds or from almond butter and water, and it will have a lighter texture than whole milk and a distinctive nutty and slightly sweet flavor. It will be available in sweetened and unsweetened versions, and many brands will also offer a choice of several flavor options.

Besides containing fewer calories and fats, almonds are also a good source of vitamin E which makes it even healthier as this group of antioxidants will help protect the body from free radicals.

But, on the downside, almond milk will not have as many beneficial nutrients as dairy milk such as fiber as it will be mostly water. In many instances, almond milk will contain as little as 2% almonds and the rest will be water. However, some of the best almond milk for coffee can have up to 15% to allow you to get the most of almond's health benefits.

2. Soy Milk

Nutrition (per cup)

• Calories: 80 to 90
• Fat: 4 to 4.5 grams
• Protein: 7 to 9 grams
• Carbohydrates: 4 grams

Soy milk is the first thing that comes to many people's minds when they think of the best milk alternative for coffee, and its popularity mostly stems from its wide availability and the fact that it gives the coffee a nice and unique taste.

This milk is mostly made from either soy protein isolate or from actual soybeans which means you can even make some at home. And when it comes to the flavors, you will get a milder and creamier milk flavor, but this will typically vary from one brand to the other.

Better yet, soy milk will be a closer substitute for dairy milk than most of the other milk types as it contains almost the same amount of protein and around half the fat and carbohydrates. And it is also among the few plant sources of complete proteins.

However, even with the best soy milk for coffee, there will always be some shortcomings with the key one being that this milk has some compounds (isoflavones) that are known to affect the functioning of some hormones in the body.

3. Oat Milk

Nutrition (per cup)

• Calories: 140 to 170
• Fat: 4 to 5 grams
• Protein: 2.5 to 5 grams
• Carbohydrates: 19 to 29 grams

Oat milk is another close substitute to cow's milk, and it is also widely available and inexpensive. However, it does not always have a very desirable texture which should explain why many manufacturers opt to add things like gum and oil to it to improve the texture

This milk will offer a naturally sweet taste, and it will be mild in flavor which means it will not overwhelm your coffee. Also, it is easy to make at home if you do not want to buy it, in its most basic or simplest form, it will only consist of a mixture of oats and water.

What many coffee lovers might not know is that while it contains the same number of calories as milk, it will also have a high fiber content which makes it even better for the body. And it also has beta-glucan, a compound that can be very useful in lowering blood sugar levels.

The most notable shortcoming with oat milk is the high calories, and so if you like adding a lot of milk to your coffee, you will end up taking more calories than you would want when using this milk.

4. Cashew Milk

Nutrition (per cup)

• Calories: 25 to 50
• Fat: 2 to 4 grams
• Protein; 0 to 1 gram
• Carbohydrates: 1 to 2 grams

Cashew milk is richer and creamier than many plant-based milk types, and it will also often give your coffee a sweet but more subtle nutty flavor, and it will work great as a creamer in coffee.

To make cashew milk, you need to mix cashew butter with water or soak the cashew nuts in water before blending them. Regardless of how you make it, cashew milk will contain less than a third of the calories that you get on cow’s milk and hence making it one of the best nut milk for coffee for anyone on a weight loss program.

But, it has one of the lowest protein content among all non-dairy milk which means it might not be very ideal for those with high protein intake requirements.

Because like most other nut-based milk the pulp is often strained out, this milk will not contain most of the minerals, proteins, fiber, and vitamins found in the nuts.

5. Rice Milk 

Nutrition (per cup)

• Calories: 130 to 140
• Fat: 2 to 3 grams
• Protein: 1 gram
• Carbohydrates: 27 to 40 grams

As the name suggests, rice milk is the type that is made from soaking milled brown or white rice in water, but like with most other non-cow milk types, most manufacturers will often add thickeners to rice milk to improve the texture and overall taste.

If you have allergies, the rice milk is one of your best milk substitutes for coffee as it is the least allergenic of all the non-dairy milk types which means it is less likely to trigger any allergic reactions.

When it comes to the taste, you can expect to get a mild taste, but it is often naturally sweet. However, the additives and thickeners added onto the rice milk will have a huge effect on the actual taste that you get.

But while this milk will contain just about the same calories as dairy milk, it has more than double the carbohydrates, and so if you are checking your weight, it is important to make sure that you use it sparingly.

6. Pea Milk

Nutrition (per cup)

• Calories: 70 to 100
• Fat: 5 grams
• Protein: 8 grams
• Carbohydrates: 6 grams

Pea milk is probably not what comes to mind when you think of the best non-dairy milk for coffee as it sounds quite unusual, but it is the new kid on the block and is slowly gaining more and more fanatics.

This milk is made from yellow peas' protein, and contrary to what many potential users might expect, it will not have a green color. And it will have a surprisingly smooth and neutral taste that will not overwhelm your coffee. Also, this milk will not have any distinctive pea taste, and neither will it leave a bad aftertaste in your cappuccinos and lattes.

Because it has one of the highest protein contents among the non-dairy milk options, it will be perfect for frothing when you want to make foam for your milk-based coffee. Better yet, the foam that you get will have a nice silky texture which many baristas will love as it makes it possible to create some nice latte art.

But while the pea milk will be healthier, its flavor is still not very strong, and so unlike the nut milk, it will not add as much flavor to your coffee.

7. Hemp Milk

Nutrition (per cup)

• Calories: 60 to 80
• Fat: 4.5 to 8 grams
• Protein: 2 to 3 grams
• Carbohydrates: 0 to 1 grams

Marijuana is what many people think of when they come across the term hemp because it is also made from the hemp plant. But what many might not know is that there are many other uses of the hemp plant, and making hemp milk is one of them.

The milk is made from the seeds of the plant, and it has a sweeter, nutty taste. Also, this milk is thinner and tends to have a more watery texture when compared to other plant-based milk types. These properties make it an excellent substitute for skimmed and other lighter milk types.

When compared to dairy milk, hemp milk will have around half the proteins and calories, but just about the same amount of fat. Also, hemp milk contains much fewer carbohydrates than cow's milk and many other plant-based milk types.

Hemp milk is one of the best vegan milk for coffee because it contains a lot of high-quality complete protein which has all the essential amino acids.

There is no major shortcoming with hemp milk expect that just like with any other non-dairy milk type, the taste takes some getting used to.

8. Coconut Milk

Nutrition (per cup)

• Calories: Around 45
• Fat: 4 grams
• Protein: 0 grams
• Carbohydrates: Almost 0

Coconut milk has been in use for cooking different cuisines in different parts of the world from India to Africa for a long time, but over the years, it has also established itself as one of the healthiest alternatives to cow's milk for coffee.

This milk will provide a creamy texture and also has a sweet but more subtle flavor just like the coconut flesh. It also has just a third of the calories you get in dairy milk and hence making it healthier.

Also, coconut milk will have the lowest carbohydrate and protein content among all plant-based milk types, and so it might not be the best pick for anyone that has to take in more proteins. When using coconut milk, you need to do it sparingly as it can easily overwhelm the coffee due to its creamy consistency.

Conclusion

Cow's milk might be the most popular coffee lightener, but it is not the only one. Hence, if you have a problem with dairy milk, you can still enjoy many other non-dairy milk types which besides being healthy also offer some amazing flavors.

From almond milk to pea and rice milk, there are more than enough non-dairy milk options out there, and you will only need to choose what satisfies your taste buds.

One of the surest ways to pick the best non-dairy milk for coffee for you is by trying as many as possible. And you might even end up having several favorite options which are even better as this will allow you to change your coffee's taste and flavor now and then.