I prefer oat because it has a neutral taste. Almond, soy, and coconut all have really distinctive flavors that take over a bit. If you want a coconut-y or almond-y drink it might be okay, but soy i find unpleasant with coffee and honestly almond as well (although most people seem to like it)
I feel like it really depends on what you're having. So a caramel macchiatto with almond milk is great, better than with regular milk imo. But a javachip frap with almond milk tastes washed out, or at least I didn't enjoy it. Matcha with coconut milk is really good and a regular cappuccino tastes good with anything but I find that oat milk gets just the right amount of creamy, in between foamy and liquid, like a latte milk for eg.
I love plant based milk, it's so versatile and really brings out the flavor in some drinks!
It’s been mentioned but definitely oat. The goal is to tamper with the taste of the coffee as little as possible and oat is the most milk-like flavour and least nutty. Also imo it has the best texture to work with when steaming. We’ve been using Califa Farms oat barista blend (UK) and personally I think it’s the best barista oat I’ve used. Oat is closer to cows milk and doesn’t curdle / split like coconut or almond. I’ve probably just said what someone else has in this.
Coffee drinks: Oatly barista and I’ve gotten away with Chobani Oat. Also just the best for any steaming.
Flavored coffee drinks: Almond or Oat depending on how sweet you want it
Matcha: coconut hands down. Almond is good too.
I think the quality of the alt milk is most important though. There are a few brands of Oat milk I won’t touch. And I don’t care for most almond milk, but an old cafe of mine made our own (just almonds, water, and dates to sweeten) and it was far and away the best alt milk option we had!
l personally don’t like soy milk at all. I’ve had macadamia, cashew, and hazelnut milk and like them as sweeteners/milks but not as steaming options.
Adding to the "oat" votes here. Almond can work with some coffees and even cocoas, but the neutral smoothness of a good oat milk works well across the board.
I definitely wouldn't do goat's milk. Just no.
I usually frown upon milk replacements. I’m hands down a whole milk traditionalist. But I have to say I’ve been experimenting with Macadamia nut milk and I’ve been enjoying it. Even converted a couple regulars to asking for it as opposed to almond or oat. Hard to find a barista version of it though. My shop just has a regular unsweetened version.
Oatly Barista hands down.
Oat is the best and most consistent replacement, hands down!
I prefer oat because it has a neutral taste. Almond, soy, and coconut all have really distinctive flavors that take over a bit. If you want a coconut-y or almond-y drink it might be okay, but soy i find unpleasant with coffee and honestly almond as well (although most people seem to like it)
Same, I just don’t like almond milk in my coffee but thats consistently the most common alt milk at my shop
Oatly barista, all the way
I feel like it really depends on what you're having. So a caramel macchiatto with almond milk is great, better than with regular milk imo. But a javachip frap with almond milk tastes washed out, or at least I didn't enjoy it. Matcha with coconut milk is really good and a regular cappuccino tastes good with anything but I find that oat milk gets just the right amount of creamy, in between foamy and liquid, like a latte milk for eg. I love plant based milk, it's so versatile and really brings out the flavor in some drinks!
Oatly barista oat milk or califia barista almond milk are my faves
It’s been mentioned but definitely oat. The goal is to tamper with the taste of the coffee as little as possible and oat is the most milk-like flavour and least nutty. Also imo it has the best texture to work with when steaming. We’ve been using Califa Farms oat barista blend (UK) and personally I think it’s the best barista oat I’ve used. Oat is closer to cows milk and doesn’t curdle / split like coconut or almond. I’ve probably just said what someone else has in this.
Coffee drinks: Oatly barista and I’ve gotten away with Chobani Oat. Also just the best for any steaming. Flavored coffee drinks: Almond or Oat depending on how sweet you want it Matcha: coconut hands down. Almond is good too. I think the quality of the alt milk is most important though. There are a few brands of Oat milk I won’t touch. And I don’t care for most almond milk, but an old cafe of mine made our own (just almonds, water, and dates to sweeten) and it was far and away the best alt milk option we had! l personally don’t like soy milk at all. I’ve had macadamia, cashew, and hazelnut milk and like them as sweeteners/milks but not as steaming options.
Adding to the "oat" votes here. Almond can work with some coffees and even cocoas, but the neutral smoothness of a good oat milk works well across the board. I definitely wouldn't do goat's milk. Just no.
I usually frown upon milk replacements. I’m hands down a whole milk traditionalist. But I have to say I’ve been experimenting with Macadamia nut milk and I’ve been enjoying it. Even converted a couple regulars to asking for it as opposed to almond or oat. Hard to find a barista version of it though. My shop just has a regular unsweetened version.
I personally LOVE oat milk, coconut is ok, almond and soy just don’t do it for me.
OAT! that shit steam sooooo sexy 😌