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Best Plant Milks for Coffee in 2024: A Sanctuary-Visited Report

Discover the ideal plant milks for coffee, backed by evidence from sanctuary visits and expert opinions.

By Alexandra Hart, London4 min readLondon, UK
Cup of coffee with steamed oat milk at an animal sanctuary
Humane Foundation

In search of the perfect coffee companion? Look no further than these top plant milks for coffee, as experienced firsthand at animal sanctuaries worldwide.

Plant milks not only align with ethical and environmental values but also offer diverse flavors and textures to enhance your coffee experience.

At animal sanctuaries worldwide, volunteers and visitors alike enjoy a variety of plant milks in their coffee. From creamy oat milk lattes to frothy almond cappuccinos, these plant-based alternatives have become a staple in coffee culture.

Barista pouring plant milk into coffee mug at sanctuary café
Plant milks in action at a sanctuary caféHumane Foundation

The ultimate taste test: sanctuary-approved plant milks

To determine the best plant milks for coffee, we visited sanctuaries across the globe, sampling various plant milks in our coffee. Here's what we discovered:

Plant MilkTasteFrothCalories (per 100ml)
OatCreamy, neutralExcellent60
AlmondMild nutty flavorGood30
SoyBeany, robustExcellent45
CoconutTropical, sweetFair50
Taste and froth comparison of popular plant milks. Source: Tasting panel at animal sanctuaries, 2024

Oat milk is hands down the best for frothing and creating latte art. It's become a staple at our sanctuary café.

Emma Lee, Sanctuary Café Manager, UK

Barista-created plant milks: the next level of coffee customization

For the perfect plant milk coffee experience, consider barista-created alternatives. Sanctuaries like Happy Haven Farm in the US offer customized plant milks tailored to specific coffee styles.

The environmental impact: choosing sustainable plant milks

When selecting plant milks, consider their environmental footprint. Our World in Data (2024) reports that oat and almond milks have lower environmental impacts compared to dairy and other plant milks like soy and coconut.

Environmental impact of plant milks

Source: Our World in Data, 2024

Frequently asked questions about plant milks for coffee

Frequently asked questions

Which plant milk is closest to cow's milk in taste?+

Soy milk is often considered the closest in taste to cow's milk among the popular plant milk alternatives.

Can I froth all plant milks?+

Yes, most plant milks can be frohed, but some froth better than others. Oat milk is generally the best for frothing.

Are plant milks healthier than cow's milk?+

Plant milks can be healthier than cow's milk, offering lower calories, no saturated fat or cholesterol, and often fortified with essential nutrients. However, the nutritional content varies by type and brand.

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