Plant based milk alternatives are fantastic if you have a dairy intolerance, are vegan or just want to switch away from dairy for environmental, ethical or health reasons. Luckily, most plant based milks are packed full of calcium and other natural minerals and vitamins which usually only naturally occur in animal products. This gives you all the health benefits of cow’s milk without having to use the cow!
With popularity soaring in recent years, you may not be surprised to know that one in three Britons now drink plant-based milk instead of dairy. Supermarket shelves have been flooded with heaps of alt-milk brands and it can often be hard to sift through all the noise and pick out the good stuff! Luckily, we’ve had a lot of experience using and tasting what’s on the market today and have compiled a list of the best bunch of alt-milks to get stuck into.
Here are our top 5 picks for plant based milk alternatives out there today:
5. Happy Happy Soy Boy
Happy Happy Soy Boy is a fairly new alternative milk that has been making a name for itself for all the right reasons. Made using only quality non-GMO soybeans, it really stands out from other soy based drinks that have been around for far longer! It also contains small amounts of brown sugar and sea salt, which tastes great when paired with coffee, porridge or cereal.
4. Rude Health Almond
We really love the subtle nutty taste of Rude Health’s almond milk. It’s silky smooth and subtly sweet, which makes this a perfect choice for smoothies and milkshakes. The nutty flavour makes it a very versatile drink which also lends well to cooking and baking. Also, if you’re looking for a more health conscious choice, almond milk contains a considerable amount of less calories than other milk alternatives.
3. Moma Oat
A good all-rounder with a balanced taste that works great in cereal and milky drinks. We’re a big fan of Moma Oat here at Social Espresso, their HQ is actually just down the road, so perhaps we’re a bit biased! Their unsweetened oat drinks are made using wholegrain oats and are jam packed with fibres like beta-glucan, which help to keep your heart nice and healthy. What more could you want!
2. Oatly
If you’re not new to the world of alt-milk I’m sure you’re well acquainted with Oatly’s award winning oat drink by now. Oatly is a favourite among trendy specialty coffee shops and also great for use in baking and cooking. It’s texture and ability to create great microfoam when making coffee really make this a stand out choice for any coffee lover.
1. Minor Figures Oat
Created for professional baristas, by professional baristas, Minor Figure’s Oat M*lk is the champion of this list for good reason! Not only does it taste delicious, with a slightly less intense oat flavour than competitors, it perfectly nails the creamy milk textures we all love in a great coffee. With the creators of Minor Figures coming from a specialty coffee background, you can rest assured it pairs wonderfully with your favourite coffee brand. Minor Figures is also a carbon neutral company, which helps make your brew better for the planet. Lovely. You’ll be pleased to know that we use Minor Figures for our specialty coffee services we provide at events. Want to know more? Check out what we do here.