Milk substitute for coffee - the best alternatives!

No matter whether it's a latte macchiato, cappuccino or a regular coffee with milk - the hot drink is part of everyday life for many people and serves as a pick-me-up that gets us through the day. However, there are people who cannot tolerate milk properly or are looking for an alternative for other reasons.

Have you lost track of the many options, such as coconut milk, oat milk , almond milk etc. or do you have special requirements for your substitute? In this article we will show you what milk substitute options there are for your morning coffee and what advantages and disadvantages they have in terms of taste, foam and ingredients!

Milk is considered healthy and contains valuable minerals for humans. For example, calcium is important for bones and teeth. The protein it contains also has positive effects. However, these substances can be obtained from alternatives; people do not necessarily need to consume milk in order to be adequately supplied with important nutrients.

There are different reasons why people want to give up milk. Lactose intolerance is one of these reasons. 15 to 20 percent of the German population suffers from this intolerance.

The symptoms are as follows:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea from milk or constipation
• stomach pain
• Stomach cramps
• Flatulence and feeling of fullness

Milk contains the disaccharide lactose or milk sugar . This consists of galactose and glucose. The enzyme lactase is used during processing, which can break down sugar in the small intestine. It is an endogenous enzyme, which means that the enzyme is produced by the body itself and is not absorbed.

Not all people produce enough of the enzyme, which is why lactase deficiency occurs. The result is that the milk cannot be digested properly because many sugars are not broken down due to the lack of lactase. If you are affected by this and want to prevent the symptoms mentioned above, you need a vegan alternative to milk in order to continue to enjoy coffee.

Maybe you simply want to change your diet and are interested in vegan alternatives for ethical or health reasons? Many of the plant-based alternatives contain naturally healthy ingredients and vitamins.

The manufacturing process for vegan alternatives is usually quite straightforward. The special ingredient is sorted out and ground. This is followed by the addition of water and fermentation or filtering.

Depending on the manufacturer , additional ingredients are added. These can be vitamins, sunflower oil or sugar. If you want to avoid certain substances, we recommend that you carefully go through the list of all ingredients. The resulting liquid is then heated strongly so that the milk can be preserved.

Attention: Unfortunately, there is no “ one ” alternative that everyone likes, contains great and healthy ingredients and is suitable for every type of allergy sufferer. The alternatives can sometimes differ greatly in terms of taste and content. Therefore, it only helps to try it out so that you can find the right milk substitute for you.

Whatever your reasons are, you will find what you are looking for in this article because we will introduce you to the best 10 milk substitute alternatives for your coffee!

• First of all, some information about the terminology : Officially, only something that comes from an animal , such as cow's milk or sheep's milk, can be called milk
• Nevertheless, we will also refer to the alternatives, such as plant-based substances, as milk, as these terms have become established

Below we have put together a detailed list of different options for consuming coffee. There is also information about ingredients and possible advantages and disadvantages!

Oats are a type of grain and can be used to make oat milk. To do this, the oats are boiled in water, pureed and filtered. The oats are fermented, which creates a slightly sweet taste . This happens because starch is converted into simple sugars.

Oat milk is particularly popular because it is low in calories and does not contain much fat. It is advisable to pay attention to the manufacturer, as sugar is sometimes added. The milk is also enriched with sunflower oil. The resulting fat content consists mainly of unsaturated fatty acids. In addition, it makes sense to know that the protein content here is very low.

A possible disadvantage is the inherent taste of oat milk, which does not suit everyone's taste. Oat milk can be foamed optimally and is therefore suitable for a cappuccino or a latte macchiato.

Since it is not real milk, but a plant-based alternative, oat milk is free of lactose and cholesterol . Oat milk can also be used for the morning breakfast in the form of muesli and is already one of the most popular alternatives.

From one type of grain to the next - the production of oat milk and spelled milk is similar. However, the sweetness of the taste mentioned above is more intense here than with oat milk or other types of grain.

Since spelled milk contains less calcium and proteins compared to conventional cow's milk, these are often added by the manufacturer. When it comes to other vitamins and nutrients, spelled milk is similar to regular cow's milk.

An advantage compared to oat milk is the less intense aftertaste . This one is more subtle. If you find the taste of oat milk too intense, spelled milk could be a suitable alternative, as the taste is softer and less noticeable.

People with allergies should be careful here, as spelled milk is not free of gluten . This alternative cannot be found in every supermarket. Just like oat milk, spelled milk can be foamed excellently.

A very popular milk substitute alternative is soy milk, which is made from soybeans . One of the reasons for its popularity is its high protein content, making it a suitable source of protein. Compared to cow's milk, it contains fewer fats and carbohydrates. However, there is also less calcium and vitamin B2 than in cow's milk, which can be a disadvantage.

The taste can be described as sweet and unremarkable. There is no unpleasant taste of its own, which is why even people with sensitive tastes see soy milk as a suitable alternative.

Depending on the manufacturer, the disadvantages include possible pollutants . The beans may contain some chlorate or nickel. Here it is advisable to find out about possible brands in advance and to choose organic products.

Soy milk is also ideal for frothing milk. In addition, soy milk has a high lecithin content , which can be beneficial in baking.

This milk is not made from grains and does not come from animals, but is produced by processing nuts . During production, the almonds are first ground, roasted and then mixed with water.

The resulting liquid can develop its aroma by letting it steep for a few hours. Many manufacturers add a little sunflower oil and often sugar to increase the sweetness of the almond milk. If you don't want to consume sugar, pay attention to the manufacturer and the ingredients.

The fat content of almond milk is comparable to reduced-fat cow's milk. The almond flavor is light, not overpowering and goes well with coffee. Almond milk also offers a pleasant alternative for mueslis.

Frothing also works easily with this milk substitute. By the way, the foam becomes particularly creamy if you use almond milk.

Coconut milk is the only milk substitute alternative so far that can officially be called milk . It consists of coconut extract that is diluted with water.

By the way, coconut water and coconut drink are not the same thing : coconut drink refers to a mixture of coconut milk and coconut pulp. Coconut water, on the other hand, consists of the juice present in the coconut.

The fat content of coconut milk makes it an ideal substitute for cream . There are also sufficient proteins, which makes coconut milk healthy. It offers a good option for people looking for a way to consume saturated fat, which contains the healthier HDL cholesterol .

What may be surprising is that the flavor is not nearly as intense as is often expected. Coconut milk naturally tastes slightly sweet and can be used in the preparation of some dishes and as an ingredient in drinks, including coffee. It is popular, for example, in Asian cuisine.

However, if you are looking for an alternative that makes milk foam easy, coconut milk is less suitable. The foam collapses relatively quickly , which is why you should use another option if you have such a problem.

If you want to replace milk , rice milk, for example, is also suitable. First, whole grain rice is ground and then cooked. Then the pressing and fermentation follow. To make the rice milk, water and oil are added. This is how the milk substitute product rice milk is produced.

Good to know: A particular advantage of rice milk is that it is free of gluten and generally low in allergens. If you suffer from an allergy to nuts or soy or are affected by lactose intolerance or celiac disease , this substitute is ideal.

The taste of rice milk is reminiscent of the typical aroma of rice pudding and is therefore popular as an alternative to cow's milk. This flavor is subtle and therefore suitable for people who are looking for a less flavorful option.

Rice milk is rather low in nutrients , which is beneficial for allergy sufferers. The protein content is also not particularly high. This means you should use less rice milk if you want to froth milk.

Rice almond milk is also popular. Rice milk and almond milk are simply combined to get a delicate, nutty taste. This alternative goes particularly well with cappuccino, for example.

As the name suggests, hazelnut milk is made from nuts. The hazelnut flavor is typical and is particularly popular with people who like the taste of nuts . This goes well with coffee, which gets a nutty note when used.

In terms of content, hazelnut milk is characterized by the fact that it is low in carbohydrates . It impresses with E vitamins, B vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids and can therefore be beneficial to health. The level of protein content is convincing.

Here too, manufacturers may add sugar to make the taste sweeter. If you want to avoid this, you should check the ingredients in advance.

While hazelnut milk impresses with its taste and content, it is less suitable for making foam. This breaks down very quickly and is not a good alternative to a cappuccino, but can be used well in a regular coffee.

Hemp milk offers a rather unusual alternative. This trend was imported from America. The hemp seeds can be used to make particularly creamy milk . When producing the milk, the hemp seeds are ground and then water is added.

Hemp milk is also convincing in terms of content: it is rich in healthy fatty acids . It also contains vitamins and minerals, such as amino acids. It offers a real alternative for allergy sufferers : hemp milk contains neither lactose, cholesterol or gluten. There is also no soy or milk protein.

It does n't have a particularly strong taste and can therefore also be used as a milk substitute for coffee . When used in a cappuccino, the taste disappears and is covered by the taste of coffee.

The color is reminiscent of ordinary cow's milk. If you want to make your own foam , hemp milk works well. The foam remains temporarily solid and can be used for cappuccino and other coffee drinks.

However, it should be mentioned that hemp milk is not yet widely used in this country. This means that there may be problems if you look for it, as it is not yet available in many supermarkets.

Our next candidate is also not yet widely used: lupine milk. The lupine, also known as the wolf bean, is reminiscent of a pea and is a legume . Lupins are ground and pressed during the manufacturing process, from which the lupine milk or lupine drink is created.

The high protein content is particularly positive, making the drink also suitable for vegans. It also contains valuable substances such as iron, magnesium, potassium and calcium. Allergy sufferers also see lupine milk as an interesting option, as it does not contain gluten, soy, milk protein or lactose.

One downside is that it 's difficult to access , as you're unlikely to find lupine milk at your local grocery store. Due to its positive properties, it is quite possible that lupine milk can become established in the long term.

Don't worry, pea milk is not a strange-looking, viscous, green liquid. Pea milk consists mainly of pea protein and water. Sugar and sunflower oil are often added.

Pea milk also impresses with its high protein content. The calcium content is also impressive. In addition, it often contains omega-3 fatty acids , vitamin D and vitamin A.

In appearance, pea milk is reminiscent of ordinary cow's milk. The consistency is rather creamy . The taste is partly reminiscent of soy milk, but can seem nuttier. Milk substitutes like these can seem a little bitter and slightly sour.

Let's move on to another grain alternative, millet milk. The types of grain mentioned so far look comparatively similar to cow's milk. Millet milk differs significantly in appearance and has a strong yellowish appearance.

In summary, there are numerous alternatives that you can use to reduce or stop consuming regular cow's milk. They all come with different advantages and disadvantages, such as the content of certain nutrients, the ability to foam or a special taste.

Of course, the taste can also vary greatly. While the majority of alternatives look very similar to cow's milk, the flavors are different. If you prefer more nutty notes, you could try almond or hazelnut milk. The nut alternatives often have an advantage in terms of their ingredients and contain valuable minerals.

The grain alternatives mentioned often have a special taste of their own. Since everyone's tastes differ, there's only one thing that helps: try it out !

If you have a grain allergy , you could find out more about rice milk, hemp milk or lupine milk. Such alternatives often do not contain lactose, cholesterol or gluten. However, it can be harder to find such special varieties as they are unlikely to be available at your local grocery store.

Are you a coffee lover and value beautiful milk foam and a special latte art? For example, you can use almond milk and spelled milk. Hazelnut milk, coconut milk and rice milk, on the other hand, are less suitable here.

No matter what reasons you are looking for an alternative to cow's milk - you can choose from a whole range of options and will surely find a suitable addition to your morning coffee.

Would you like to make plant milk yourself ? At Greenforce we offer a selection of milk alternatives with which you can easily make your own organic oat drink , for a healthy milk substitute for your coffee!