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Baked, Brewed, Beautiful

6 Worst Plant-Based Milks To Add To Your Coffee

in Beautiful, Brewed on 09/18/20

Only a handful of non-dairy milks are worth adding to your coffee.  

  • While there are many milk substitutes out there, only a few are worth adding to your coffee.  
  • Soy and rice milk are often highly processed, which is not only bad for the environment but can also negatively impact your health. 
  • Pea milk and peanut milk have a grassy flavor — less than ideal for any coffee beverage. 

Of course drinking coffee black is always the healthiest option, but if you need to add something extra in order to enjoy your morning coffee, non-dairy milks are an excellent health-conscious (and eco-friendly!) option. But not all milks are created equal.

To help you avoid watering down your coffee or choosing a low-nutrient substitute, here are the worst non-dairy milk alternatives for coffee.  

non-dairy milks lined up on a table with coconut shreds, rice grains, and flaxseed

Coconut milk has a distinctive, sweet flavor that can be overbearing in coffee.


Coconut milk has a thick consistency and high fat content. Though both the texture and mouthfeel of coconut milk is very similar to cow’s milk, this milk alternative has a very distinctive flavor profile. You either love it or hate it. It is also slightly sweet, which can drown out the coffee’s original flavors.

In terms of nutrients, coconut milk lacks in protein and is high is fat and simple carbohydrates. It’s also quite challenging to get a good foam with coconut if steaming or frothing is desired.

Rice milk is watery, and adds little in terms of flavor or texture when added to coffee.

Rice milk has won some people over for being free of nuts, dairy, and soy — a win for those with multiple sensitivities. 

 
latte in a garden

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But if you’re not in this camp, rice milk doesn’t offer much in terms of nutritional value, as it is mainly rice starch and water. It’s also very watery in terms of consistency, which won’t do your coffee any good.

Flax milk severely lacks in flavor, and is often filled with additives to make up for it.

Flax milk is one of the newest milk alternatives out there. It is made by mixing Omega-3-rich, cold-pressed flaxseed oil with water. 

Unfortunately, it doesn’t boast much in terms of flavor (or nutrients!).  It’s often sold with added natural flavors to make up for the poor flavor. It may be fine for some cooking or baking, but it’s ultimately just flax oil, water, and a ton of additives. 

Peanut milk tastes surprisingly grassy.

You might imagine that peanut milk would have a similar flavor to other nut milks, however this is far from the case. Besides being surprisingly purple in color, many reviewers and taste testers claim that it actually has a very grass-like flavor with a hint of peanut at the end.

Thanks, but I’ll stick with almond milk thank you very much. 

Pea milk leaves a “bean-like” aftertaste.

Pea milk has recently been gaining popularity, and no, it isn’t green like you might imagine. It’s actually one of the most eco-friendly, plant-based milks out there (more so than almond and soy) since peas use little water and fertilizer. 

However, there is a distinct flavor difference. While it can be compared to other nut-based milks, it does have a somewhat grassy and bean-like flavor that leaves a unique aftertaste — less than ideal for coffee. 

Soy milk is highly processed — not only bad for the environment, but also for your health.

Soy milk may be the closest nutrient equivalent to cow’s milk. It is high in protein, contains all of the essential amino acids, and is often fortified with calcium. However, it is one of the most heavily processed plant-based milks, and generally contains added oils. It also often contains something called carrageenan, which is linked to inflammatory problems. 

Ultimately, if you’re trying to eat and drink clean & healthy, soy milk is not going to be your best option. 

Look for non-dairy milks with more fat — they will foam better & have an overall better mouthfeel.

Essentially, it comes down to this: milks that have more fat will have a creamier texture and richer taste when combined with coffee. 

frothing milk in a server with an electric frother on a wooden background

Think macadamia, cashew milk, or even oat milk to get that right texture, consistency, and taste in your specialty coffee. 

 

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Coffee Recipes By Baked, Brewed, Beautiful

Coffee Recipes By Baked, Brewed, Beautiful
This affogato recipe is not only bursting with complementary sweet, bitter flavors but it only requires 2 ingredients!

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Links from video: 
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- Pour Over Tutorial: https://bakedbrewedbeautiful.com/what-is-pour-over-coffee/ 

The blog post that coincides with this video is: https://bakedbrewedbeautiful.com/affogato

Best Affogato Recipe

Ingredients:
2 shots of espresso
½ cup vanilla bean ice cream
Salted brownies for garnish (optional)
Chocolate shavings (optional)

Instructions: 
1. Scoop vanilla bean ice cream into a 4 ounce glass and place in freezer while you prepare the espresso.

2. Pull the espresso shots. Immediately, pull glasses of ice cream out and pour the espresso over the ice cream.

3. Sprinkle with chocolate shavings and salted brownie crumbs. Garnish the glass's rim with a one-inch square of salted brownies.

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Credits:
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Videography: Cheyenne Elwell on a D5200 24.1 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera
Recipe: A Cheyenne Elwell original
Affogato Recipe (Espresso & Ice Cream)
YouTube Video UCkqfhp5eJcNaQEW1iaKcWXg_7ijP8EVjEDg
Learn to pair coffee with food following these 5 coffee and food pairing best practices. Examples included in the video!

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New videos every Thursday.

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Credits:
Music: Baked, Brewed, Beautiful Theme Song written & produced by Christopher Elwell (piano & drums) & Cheyenne Elwell (violin) 
Videography: Cheyenne Elwell on a D5200 24.1 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera
Coffee and Food Pairing: 5 Best Practices & 5 Best Combinations
YouTube Video UCkqfhp5eJcNaQEW1iaKcWXg_mhp8dZoxZd0
Iced Oat Milk Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe 

* Make a delicious non-dairy version of the famous fall pumpkin spice latte.
* Barista blend oat milk will allow you to create a slightly healthier version (but equally delicious) of this Starbucks classic.
* You can also enjoy this drink warm by following the modified recipe below

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Blog Post for the Iced Oat Milk Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe: https://bakedbrewedbeautiful.com/oat-milk-pumpkin-spice-latte/

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Iced Oat Milk Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe

Pumpkin spice mixture:
½ cup oat milk (barista blend if possible)
⅓ cup brown sugar (white is okay too)
2 tsp pumpkin puree
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice 
1 tsp vanilla extract
Latte
2 shots of espresso
1 cup oat milk 
1 tbsp pumpkin spice mixture
½ cup whipped cream (optional)
2 ice cubes (if enjoying cold)

Pumpkin spice mixture:
1. In a small sauce pan, add oat milk, sugar, pumpkin puree, and pumpkin pie spice. Bring to medium heat and whisk ingredients together until sugar is dissolved. Do not let it boil.
2. Once the mixture starts to steam and the sugar is completely dissolved, remove the pan from heat and stir in the vanilla. Strain through a fine mesh filter into a glass jar for easy storage.
Latte:
3. Pull your espresso shots, and pour inside your desired coffee mug. Add the strained pumpkin spice mixture to the espresso and stir well.
4. If enjoying warm (skip to next step if enjoying iced), steam your milk using a steam wand, milk frother, or mason jar (see post above to make foam without a frother) until foamy. Pour velvety milk on top of the espresso mixture.
5. For iced pumpkin spice lattes, add 2 to 3 ice cubes or cold brew coffee cubes to your mixture.
6. Top with whipped cream, if desired, and dust with pumpkin pie spice. Enjoy!

New videos every Thursday. 

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Credits:
Music: Baked, Brewed, Beautiful Theme Song written & produced by Christopher Elwell (piano & drums) & Cheyenne Elwell (violin) 
Videography: Cheyenne Elwell on a D5200 24.1 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera
Recipe: A Cheyenne Elwell original
Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte With Oat Milk Recipe
YouTube Video UCkqfhp5eJcNaQEW1iaKcWXg_UXMXFdkbeKc
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I'm Cheyenne — Seattle-based coffee lover & writer. On this blog, you'll find brewing tips & tutorials, coffee & food pairing recipes, and FREE COFFEE GUIDES for your favorite brew method.
Happy Brewing!

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