As an avid coffee drinker, tea indluger and plant-based milk connoisseur, I have tried a fair amount of non-dairy milk alternatives. Here is a list of my favourites and least favourites, with an in-depth description of each one, to encourage you to try a new one or just to enjoy reading about.
Oat Milk
Overall: 9/10
A classic, a fridge staple whether you are a vegan, a total carnivore, just lactose intolerant or anything in between. It's creamy but not too thick, flavoursome but not overwhelming and in general tastes very similar to cow’s milk. Fan favourite brands include: Oatly (obvs), Rude Health (a safe choice with a fun bottle), Alpro (sadder bottle but still pretty good) and Minor Figures (Pinteresty but pricey). Unpopular opinion: Barista version oat milk is slightly too thick for a latte, I prefer a slightly runnier pour. Bonus points for being allergy inclusive.
Almond Milk
Overall: 7.5/10
Another family-friendly option, but definitely not allergen-friendly. Usually texture is superb (occasionally on the more watery side) but the reason I am deducting points lies in the flavour department. See personally, I don't want sweet milk in my tea or coffee. Even if I am drinking a beverage without milk, I still don't put any sugar in it (just a no-sugar kind of person). Even so, if I wanted a sweet beverage, I would add sugar or sweetener to my brew. However, a large proportion of almond milks are naturally sweetened, meaning when I order a coffee with almond milk, I am unpleasantly surprised with this unsettling imbalance of flavours that my tastebuds were simply not ready for. So, sweetened almond milk- not my cup of tea (excuse the pun). But unsweetened almond milk- I'm a full supporter. Fan fave brands: Alpro (similar to their oatmilk, a solid option), Califia (love the bottle shape, bit pricey, HATE their vanilla flavoured milk, sorry not sorry), Rude Health (agreeable. Nothing more to say).
Soya Milk
Overall: 8/10
Yes it’s nut allergen-friendly, yes apparently it tastes just like milk from a cow’s boob, but for some reason I still can't bring myself to like soya milk. I don't know what it is about it, but if I go into a coffee shop and the only plant-based milk they have is soya, I am drinking a black coffee end of story. But, soya milk has been around for a long time so I respect you if you have been drinking it since before nut milks became trendy. That is dedication. Fan favourite brands include: I don't really know because I don't really drink soya milk but according to people who do: Alpro is good, as is the Tesco brand one.
Also serious note: there are a lot of rumours that link drinking soya milk to breast cancer- I looked this up on a proper medical website and it is completely false. Soya milk and breast cancer are completely unrelated.
Macadamia Nut Milk
Overall 5/10
Maybe you are like me who actually has no idea what a macadamia nut tastes like but has tried its milk format. It is very OK. If anything, quite watery, flavourless and gives the vibe like it has put in no effort into your coffee. Respectfully, macadamia is all flare and fancy names but no real substance. Also- because macadamia nuts are hard to grow and require very specific temperatures, macadamia nut milk is considerably more expensive than any other milk. Not much else to say except it's not worth it. If you do want to try it and are willing to pay £4 for a bottle- “Milkadamia” is the most common brand. My advice: don’t.
Coconut Milk
Overall Rating: 8.5/10
I quite love a coconut milk (to clarify the one in a bottle not a can). It's very creamy, not too thick, subtle but with a pleasant flavour and overall a solid choice. Not my first choice, but a solid one nonetheless. Unpopular opinion (or not): Pret’s Coconut-rice milk is my favourite of their plant-based options. Only thing- coconut milk is not always available in vast quantities in supermarkets. The brands that sell it are limited and they are on the rarer side of milk brands. Upon further research, I discovered that coconuts are not grown anywhere near the UK (shocking). This is because of the tropical environment they require e.g. Indonesia and the Philippines. That is why coconut milk is not the cheapest milk option, nor is it in large supply in British supermarkets. Even so, my favourite brands are Vita Coco, Alpro and Koko.
Mylk Milk
Overall Rating: 9.5/10
Okay so more of a brand recommendation instead of a particular ingredient, but Mylk is by far my favourite plant-based milk option. This is because of what it is made from (get ready for it): Coconuts, brown rice, cashews, oat and hemp. All in one. Unsweetened, just how I like it. The perfect texture and level of runniness. Just incredible. I am yet to understand the branding strategy behind its name, but bonus points for having skimmed, semi-skimmed and whole milk options. EXTRA bonus points for having a chocolate milk option!!! The mother brand of Mylk is ‘Rebel Kitchen’, fyi, and I couldn't recommend it more. Except to people with nut allergies- Sorry :(
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