Oat milk in coffee - what is it better in and how to use it
Oat milk is the most popular plant milk for coffee because it foams well and rarely splits in the acidity of espresso. It tastes naturally mild and slightly sweet, so it does not mask the coffee, and barista versions contain added fats and stabilisers to keep the foam stable. Compared with cow's milk it has less protein and more carbohydrate, but of all the common milks it carries the lowest environmental footprint.
WHAT IS OAT MILK
Oat milk is a combination of oatmeal and water. This balanced, slightly sweet and mild milk alternative replaces classic cow's milk in the café environment and is an ideal option for vegans and lactose-intolerant people. But how is oat milk made?
The production of commercial oat milk involves harvesting and transporting the oats to a production plant, where they are then stored in large sterile silos. The oats are mixed with water and then ground and blended to form a thick slurry. Enzymes are added to it to help speed up the breakdown of carbohydrates in the oats, which helps to naturally sweeten the product.
The mixture is then strained to remove any hard fibre, resulting in a smooth and thick liquid that is essentially oat milk already. The oat milk can then be flavoured or enriched with various vitamins and minerals to increase its nutritional value. Finally, the oat milk is pasteurised, which gives it a longer shelf life.
IS OAT MILK HEALTHY?
Oat milkis accessible to many people who cannot drink other types of milk. This is because it does not contain most allergens such aslactose, soy and nuts. It is usually fortified with vitamins and minerals and also contains a lot of soluble fiber that can benefit the digestive system.
Compared to almond milk, oat milk generally has a thicker texture and milder taste, but may contain significantly more sugars and calories. Soy milk has a similar creamy texture to oat milk and benefits from much higher levels of protein, almost as much as cow's milk.
THE POPULARITY OF PLANT MILK IN COFFEE
Believe it or not, oat milk has been sold commercially for over 20 years. Pacific Foods began selling its oat milk in the U.S. in 1996, and Oatly began making oat drinks in the 1990s in Sweden. So why has it taken so long for oat milk to become a trend in the world?
The last few decades have seen changes in consumer behaviour. There are a growing number of lactose intolerant people, vegans and those who deliberately avoid dairy products for ethical reasons, for example. In the UK, for example, the number of vegans has increased from 150,000 to 540,000 in the last decade.
Oatly, for example, only supplied 10 cafes in the United States in 2017. However, the popularity of alternative milks has risen and seen a rapid shift forward, and so in 2019, Oatly supplied its milk to 3,500 cafes in the US. And the number of cafes offering a plant-based milk option continues to rise.
OAT MILK AND ITS IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT
The increased popularity of oat milk isn't just because of its taste. The entire process of making oat milk from start to finish has very little impact on the environment. There are a number of factors to consider when assessing the environmental impact of food and drink production.
The first is the use of land, what the food needs to grow and how much space it requires. This is because land is used not only for agriculture but also for forestry. Another factor is the water consumption in the production of the product and how much water the crop needs during its growth. The release ofCO2, a greenhouse gas that warms the Earth's atmosphere, is also measured.
OAT MILK VS COW'S MILK
Cow's milk requiresten times the landcompared to oat milk and has the greatest environmental impact than any other plant milk alternative.
A 200 ml glass of oat milk requires about 0.8 square metres of land and 5 litres of water to produce and emits just under 0.3 kg ofCO2. Producing a 200 ml glass of cow's milk involves just over 0.6 kg of carbon emissions, requires more than 3.9 square km of land and about 120 litres of water.
WHAT TO PUT IN YOUR COFFEE INSTEAD OF MILK FROM COWS?
Oat milk production is more environmentally friendly than almond milk production. Although growing almonds requires slightly less land and releases 0.17 kg ofCO2 into the air, it still requires an astonishing 74 litres of water to produce one glass of almond milk. Soya milk has a similar environmental impact to oat milk. Although it produces 0.03 kg moreCO2 than oats, it needs about half the water and requires only slightly less land to grow the crop.
Oat milk as the most environmentally friendly coffee milk
A glass of soya or oat milk will have the least environmental impact. However, it is oat milk that appeals for its sweetness and does not interfere significantly with the taste of coffee, such as almond milk. That's why oat milk wins the comparison!
USING OAT MILK IN COFFEE
Adding oat milk to coffee will significantly affect the final taste of the coffee. Oat milk can balance and bring sweetness to coffee. Because of its similarity to regular cow's milk (compared to other plant-based milk alternatives), oat milk works well not only in coffee, but also with dairy beverages at the coffee shop. You can create chai lattes, matcha lattes and hot chocolate with it well.
PLANT MILK FOR CAFES = OAT MILK BARISTA
So the trick to whipping up plant milk is to froth the milk well and quickly. Choosing the right plant milk will make your job easier at the coffee machine. There are oat milks that are specially formulated for coffee shop use - usually listed on cartons as the Barista range. They can be worked with in the same way as cow's milk, and latte art with oat milk is also comparable.
HOW TO WHISK OAT MILK
The process of whisking milk into coffee is similar in principle to that of cow's milk for the plant-based alternative:
Hold the milk nozzle at the same angle as when whipping cow's milk, that is, at a 45-degree angle.
Keep the final temperature of the oat milk between 55 and 65 °C, but take extra care as oat milk heats up faster than regular cow's milk.
When whisking, add more air to the oat milk than to the cow's milk. This will stabilise the foam better and help create a smoother texture. It then retains its shape much better.
Frequently asked questions
Is oat milk good in coffee?
It is the plant milk that behaves most like dairy: it foams, holds latte art reasonably well and its natural sweetness suits espresso. If you want the closest match to cow's milk in texture, oat is the safest choice.
What are the benefits of oat milk in coffee?
It suits lactose intolerance and plant-based diets, contains fibre and is usually fortified with calcium and vitamin B12. It also has the lowest water and land use of the common milks. The trade-off is more sugar and less protein than dairy.
Why does oat milk curdle in coffee?
Usually because the coffee is very acidic or very hot. Pour the milk slowly, avoid adding it ice cold to a fresh espresso, and use a barista version, which is formulated to resist splitting.
How do you froth oat milk properly?
Start with cold barista oat milk, keep the steam wand just under the surface for two or three seconds to introduce air, then submerge it and create a whirlpool. Stop at 60 to 65 °C; beyond that the flavour turns flat and the foam collapses.
How many calories does oat milk have?
Around 45 to 60 kcal per 100 ml, similar to semi-skimmed milk. The difference is in the composition: more carbohydrate, less protein and, in barista versions, slightly more fat.
