Doesn’t it feel like milk alternatives are taking over? With the UK milk replacement industry now being the 2nd largest in Europe and 5th in the world, it is clear that this market is booming and widely used. With 1 in 3 now incorporating milk alternatives, many of us now need help understanding different types of milk substitutes in general and the best replacement for milk in coffee.
Why are milk alternatives so important?

In a more health-focused and environmentally-conscious population, there seem to be plenty of reasons to opt for a vegan milk replacement for coffee and general use. This market is increasingly important, with trends demonstrating how more and more people are switching to or adding milk alternatives to their diets.
Most obviously, people are consuming milk substitutes due to allergies and intolerances. However, other health factors also cause people to use milk alternatives. Evidence has been found to show that for certain health issues, staying away from dairy can improve symptoms and the risk of initial development. Whatever your dietary requirements and taste preferences, the plethora of options from nut and seed milks, coconut, oat, and soy milks, there is truly something for everyone.
Ethically, plant-based milks host an array of benefits. They have lower emissions, less land usage, and don’t involve the mistreatment of livestock that often occurs in dairy production. With environmental and animal welfare movements, vegan-friendly milk options seem to be a sustainable solution.
With coffee being relied on, being a dose of pleasure we all need in our daily routines, we all need to know what a good replacement for milk in coffee is.
The most popular milk alternatives for coffee:
Oat Milk

Taste: Nutty, slightly sweet flavour
Compatibility: Highly compatible – in a coffee, its texture is similar to cow’s milk.
Texture: Creamy
Frothing: Not easiest to froth due to its lower protein content, but the barista oat milk versions are specialised to provide this texture.
Soy Milk

Taste: Subtle nutty taste, sweet, milky, slight tanginess
Compatibility: Best with medium to dark roast coffee beans to maintain the coffee flavour fully.
Texture: Creamy and Silky
Frothing: Great for this process and drinks involving milk foam.
Almond Milk

Taste: Slightly nutty, sweet, less rich, bitter aftertaste
Compatibility: Suited to light roasts of coffee
Texture: Watery
Frothing: Difficult to foam, but specialised barista versions allow you to use this keto milk replacement for coffee even when wanting a coffee drink choice that involves foaming or frothy textures.
This information enables you to pick the right milk alternatives both for your taste profile and the best replacement for cow’s milk in coffee drink varieties. Now, all you need is the best commercial coffee vending machine to provide the best vegan coffees. Here are the top tips on this:
- Fresh milk coffee machines allow you to use pre-made vegan coffee blends
- Powdered milk coffee machines allow you to use lactose-free and non-dairy powdered milk in the canisters for your coffee drink
- Dual milk canister machines allow commercial coffee machines to provide both a dairy option and a milk replacement for coffee
Take a look at our coffee vending machine to delight in a healthy replacement for milk in coffee. Additionally, if you are a health-savvy coffee drinker or someone hoping to be more sustainable in this world, discover our wholesale options to give you full rein to the dream coffee.
You now have a guide and the understanding on how to make the most out of the best milk replacements for every coffee of choice. Which will you use first?