Switching to a vegan diet but worried about how you will still have those delicious frothy cappuccinos without dairy milk? No problem; you can simply switch to almond milk.
Almond milk also makes the perfect coffee partner if you are lactose intolerant.
Since plant-based, non-dairy milks are low in fats; they comprise the creaminess of the coffee and the ease of frothing. Almond milk is the best among them, as it not only has palatable nutty flavour tones but is also relatively easy to froth.
So today, we will dive into how you can use almond milk to make a perfect coffee cup without lactose, animal cruelty, and excess fat intake. We will also discuss some smart tips and tricks to help you froth it more easily.
Why is Milk so Important in Our Cup of Coffee?
We coffee drinkers are very picky about the final flavour and the appearance of a cup of coffee. Unless you are not a part of the herd (I mean, unless you drink black coffee), you will know that these are essential factors we look for.
Dairy milk is made up of protein molecules. To make our cup of coffee, we use steamed dairy milk. So once you start heating the milk, these molecules melt, trap the air, and stretch the milk to form a foam-like appearance.
Given the huge difference between the composition of dairy and plant-based milk, the performance of each will vary. However, coffee connoisseurs are experimenting with plant-based milk, especially almond milk, and the results are outstanding. Let us understand why.
What Actually Is Almond Milk?
Almond milk is a non-dairy milk product that is the perfect replacement for traditional dairy milk from cows, sheep, or goats. People with lactose intolerance or following a vegan lifestyle have switched to almond and other plant-based milk.
Almond milk is prepared by soaking a few almonds, blending them with water, and then using a cheesecloth or a nut milk bag to filter the mixture. It has a creamy and frothy appearance despite being low in protein.
It tastes a bit nutty and has a slightly bitter aftertaste, and this is why some people prefer a sweetened version or flavoured almond milk in their coffee.
What Are The Various Benefits Of Almond Milk Over Dairy Milk In Coffee?
Non-dairy milks like coconut milk, oat milk, soy milk, cashew milk, and rice milk are rich in nutrients and other healthy substances. However, coffee aficionados prefer almond milk over other regular milk.
Here is a list of some benefits of almond milk:
- Almond milk contains healthy fats, which are useful for the body.
- If you are lactose intolerant, then almond milk is the perfect replacement for dairy milk.
- It has a high nutrition profile and contains more essential nutrients like Magnesium, Calcium, vitamin D, Vitamin E, Potassium, Omega 3s Antioxidants, and Vitamin A.
- You do not need any specialised equipment to make almond milk at home.
- Almond milk is cruelty-free as no dairy animals are tortured to derive it. So, it is the best choice for vegans.
- Many people love the nutty flavour, which is perfect for cold or iced coffee.
- Almond milk is made from pure ingredients.
- It requires less water to be produced. In addition, you are also doing a favour to the animals tortured for dairy milk.
Things You Need To Know Before Using Almond Milk For Coffee
So now you know that almond milk is much better than your regular dairy milk. However, there are several other things you must know before trying out almond milk coffee.
How to Prevent Almond Milk from Curdling?
Almond milk tends to coagulate or curdle if there is extra heat and acidity. So, you might have some trouble making almond coffee milk if your coffee beans are particularly acidic.
Also, if you pour refrigerated almond milk straight into a hot cup of coffee, the sudden temperature change may curdle the milk, spoiling your coffee.
So to avoid such a mishap, we recommend trying a low-acid coffee brand. Another easy way to avoid the accident is to wait a few minutes and let the coffee cool down before adding cold almond milk.
The main difficulty you will have with almond milk coffee is frothing the milk. Don’t worry; we will help you out with it.
How To Froth Almond Milk?
Regular milk easily froths in coffee. But different brands of almond milk froth differently. You must try various brands and determine which works best with your coffee beans.
We suggest you buy barista almond milk, which easily froths with your coffee.
Note: Before frothing, you must heat the milk. So get a saucepan, pour the milk, and heat it to approximately 150° F. Remember that the milk should not boil.
Here is a list of methods you can follow to froth almond milk.
Method 1: Froth Almond Milk with a Milk Frother
This is the easiest method to froth milk and is used by most coffee shops. You must pour the warm milk into a long neck container, hold it at an angle, and then insert the milk frother. Switch it on and move the frother up and down until the bubbles form (about 15 to 20 seconds).
Once done, tap 2-3 times on the container to break down the large bubbles and then store the frothed milk in the fridge.
Method 2: The Whisk Method
Add the steamed milk to a regular-sized bowl and then use a whisk to froth the milk until foamy bubbles start forming. Once done, pour the mixture into a container and gently shake it to break down the large bubbles.
Coffee with almond milk is creamy and has a nice nutty flavor which is very different from your regular coffee. Now let us check out some popular almond coffee recipes.
Popular Almond Milk Recipes
Recipe 1: Iced Almond Milk Latte
Ingredients Required:
- Espresso
- A handful of almonds or Almond Milk.
- Dates or Maple syrup or sugar
- Vanilla
- Cinnamon for the aroma
- Ice cubes
Preparation:
- Soak a handful of almonds in water overnight, or you can also use almond milk.
- Add the soaked almonds, dates, water, sugar, and vanilla essence to a blender and blend until it’s smooth and frothy.
- Next, separate the pulp using the cheesecloth.
- Pour the blend into a microwave glass container and warm it for 1-2 minutes.
- Next, make two shots of Espresso.
- Pour the blend into glasses or mugs and add the freshly brewed espresso.
- Give a final touch with a pinch of ground cinnamon, cardamom, and ta-da, and your iced almond milk coffee/latte is ready.
Recipe 2: Almond Milk Iced Coffee
Ingredients Required:
- Coffee
- Ice Cubes
- Almond Milk
- Vanilla Syrup
- Cinnamon and Cardamom powder
Preparation
- First, prepare a fresh cup of coffee and let it cool.
- Next, froth about ¼ cup of fresh almond milk by either whisking or shaking it vigorously in a covered glass container.
- Add 4 to 5 ice cubes in a tall Irish coffee glass
- Pour the coffee, add 2 to 3 teaspoons of any flavour syrup, add milk, and serve it cold.
6 Exciting Tips for Delicious Almond Milk Recipes
- Instead of preparing espresso, you can always use filter coffee.
- The better your blender is, the shorter you will need to soak the almonds.
- For a sweet taste, you can use Stevia drops or sugar-free syrups.
- To separate the pulp while preparing almond milk, the first choice is to use a nut milk bag. However, if it is not available, use a cheesecloth.
- If you are not a fan of spices, you can avoid cinnamon.
- You can use a teaspoon of almond butter, 2-3 dates, and some fresh hot coffee for a thicker, higher-fat almond milk latte. Make sure that you blend it properly until it becomes smooth and frothy.
Wrapping Up!
Almond milk is quite low-calorie and is the perfect low-fat milk replacement. It leaves a nutty and bitter aftertaste that some of us coffee drinkers may like in our morning coffee.
If you have any more almond coffee recipes in mind, you can share them with us in the comments section below. Till then, have fun experimenting with this new nutty milk!
FAQs
1. Does almond milk change the flavour of hot coffee?
Almond milk has a bitter aftertaste, which slightly changes the taste of the coffee. You can add maple syrup or a teaspoon of sugar to your almond milk coffee.
2. What are the best companies that sell almond milk?
There are many brands that sell almond milk, some of which are:
- Goodmylk Almond Milk: Best choice of regular almond milk.
- New Barn Organics Unsweetened Almond Milk: For unsweetened varieties
- Califia Farms Almond Milk, Original Barista Blend: Best for Coffee
3. What are some popular non-dairy milk options apart from almond milk?
The best non dairy milk products are:
- Coconut milk
- Oat milk
- Cashew milk
- Rice milk
- Soy milk