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What Plant-Based Milks Are Best for Lattes?

The best alternative milks for perfect foam

As we celebrate Earth Month, it’s the perfect time to take a closer look at plant-based milk alternatives for coffee drinks, which not only offer diverse flavors and textures but also come with a lighter environmental footprint. Plant-based milks like soy, oat, almond, and coconut are eco-friendlier options compared to traditional dairy, requiring less water and land and generating fewer carbon emissions.

For baristas and coffee aficionados, this shift is not just about sustainability; it’s an opportunity to innovate in the art of coffee making. But of course here at Ripples, we’re all about perfect foam. Here’s what we’ve learned from a decade frothing alternative milks.

Best Overall Pick: Soy

We love soy milk for its creamy texture and ease of foaming. It provides a silky smooth microfoam that holds up well, ideal for detailed Ripples prints.

Almond Milk

Frothing almond milk takes some finessing.  Look for a high-quality almond milk with lots of actual almonds which will have the higher protein and fat content that you’ll need to create a nice froth. Also look for barista blends with added emulsifiers.

Oat Milk

Oat milk is a team favorite because of its creamy texture and light, neutral taste. When steaming oat milk it can get hot very quickly and can create an overly foamy texture, so it takes a bit of practice to create a perfect Ripples-ready canvas with oat milk. Just like the almond milk, we recommend choosing a barista blend for a thick, smooth foam for your Ripples print.

Alternative milks have gone from being all the rage to being the status quo, and are becoming an expected staple at coffee shops everywhere.  We’ve barely scratched the surface with this list, and there’s huge variety of alt milk froth and texture by brand, so please consider this a jumping off point as you explore the brands and alternative milk types available in your part of the world.

Happy frothing! By the way, the latte art printing machine enhances these creative milk options with personalized designs.

Rebecca Connors
Rebecca Connors - April 8, 2024