There’s something so hearty about a cup of strong coffee enhanced with milk.
While we understand (and love) what an Iced Americano brings to the table, it’s hard not to miss the smoothness of a rich latte or mocha.
Whether you are vegan, lactose intolerant or choose not to consume dairy milk, there’s no reason that you can’t enjoy a good milk coffee. So we’ve picked out some milk alternatives for you that’d go great with coffee.
Oat Milk
One of the best things about oat milk (in addition to its role in a cup of coffee) is the handful of health benefits it comes with. It doesn’t have a lot of saturated fat, is high in protein and fibre.
Made with oats and water, this alternative has found a place in the hearts of many coffee drinkers.
Much like coconut milk, it too has a dense texture that gives it the feel of dairy milk and is the perfect component for making drinks like a latte. There is a certain wheaty flavour to oat milk, but usually, it doesn’t take away from the aroma and flavour of the coffee itself.
Soy Milk
One of the most common non-dairy alternatives, soy milk is made of soybean. As such, it is a rich source of plant-based protein.
Its low-fat & cholesterol-free qualities also make it a preferred choice amongst many people who choose not to consume dairy products and even those who are looking for healthier options of milk.
Having understood its composition, let’s look at what soy milk is like in coffee. In terms of taste, there’s almost no discernible difference when soy milk is added to coffee. Many brands even produce soy milk that has a neutral taste.
If you want to balance the lack of sweetness in soy milk, all you’d need to do is add a sweetener of your choice.
The only thing to take note of is that soy milk tends to curdle when mixed with coffee, creating grainy flakes in the beverage. This can be resolved by slowly pouring and stirring the coffee decoction into a mug of warm soy milk.
Almond Milk
While there’s no rule against using almond milk for coffee, most coffee drinkers don’t prefer doing so because of several factors. Firstly, owing to its nutty flavour, almond milk adds more intensity to the bitterness of coffee. If you don’t mind that, by all means, go for it.
Secondly, just like several other non-dairy kinds of milk, almond milk tends to curdle when mixed with coffee. It has a watery consistency that gives your coffee a diluted mouthfeel.
And lastly, it doesn’t have as much protein. That said, if you are looking for some vitamin boost, you may want to try out almond milk.
Coconut Milk
As a non-dairy alternative to milk, coconut milk comes quite close to the texture of the latter in terms of its thickness and creamy feel. Although a good source of vitamins, coconut milk tends to have a high saturated fat quotient. So you might want to be careful in how often you consume it.
Unlike what you’d think, coconut milk only has a subtle coconut taste, which can usually be overshadowed by the use of certain coffee roasts or even sweeteners. Moreover, some brands offer coconut milk with a neutral taste, in case you are not looking to experiment with your coffee flavours.
With these many varieties to try, you’ll surely find one that suits your palate. You can even make a fun taste-testing activity of it along with your family or friends.
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