The rise of dairy alternatives.

Oat, Almond, Soy…. Coconut? We explain some of the most common dairy alternatives for those that want to stray away from traditional dairy milk.

Well first, let’s address the cow in the room - dairy milk. This category considers milk (lactose) from animals - cow, goat, water buffalo, etc. While it may the most common type of milk, did you know that 30-50 million Americans are lactose intolerant?

In the 1980’s dairy alternatives were popularized to help combat this global issue. However, it really only felt like it began to catch mainstream media in the past few years. Here is a list of dairy alternatives you can try out for cutting the bitterness of your coffee:

Oat: is a plant milk derived from whole oat grains by extracting the plant material with water. Oat milk has a creamy texture and mild oatmeal-like flavor, and is manufactured in various flavors, such as sweetened, unsweetened, vanilla, and chocolate. It has quickly become the crowd favorite for it’s closeness in body to dairy milk.

Almond: is made from ground almonds and filtered water. It may also contain starches and thickeners to improve its consistency and shelf life. It’s a plant milk with a watery texture and nutty flavor. It is typically lower in calories than other milks, as long as it’s unsweetened. It does not contain cholesterol or lactose and is low in saturated fat. The best almond milks are only ground almond and filtered water and can be easily found at your local Whole Foods

Soy: is a plant-based nondairy beverage that’s a popular alternative to cow’s milk. It’s made from soybeans, and many brands, such as Silk, fortify their soy milk with vitamins and minerals such as vitamin D and calcium. It may contain thickeners to improve consistency and shelf life. Because it comes from plants, soy milk is naturally free of cholesterol and low in saturated fat. It also contains no lactose.

Coconut: a dairy-free milk substitute, coconut milk is plant-based and vegan friendly. The taste of coconut milk in coffee is refreshing and slightly sweet. You can buy sweetened or unsweetened coconut milk to use in your coffee. However, most people prefer sweetened coconut milk. You will enjoy subtle hints of coconut flavor with creamy undertones and a refreshing finish. Coconut milk has many benefits. Specifically, coconut milk is high in vitamin E, protein, antioxidants, and natural electrolytes. As such, it is refreshing and great for refueling.