Don’t you just love sitting down at a cafe on a rainy day and looking out the window while you sip a latte?
Or meeting up with a friend you haven’t seen in years over coffee?
It is estimated that of all vegans around the world, almost half (42 percent) are millennials. It is safe to say that most millennials either are vegan, or at least know a vegan! Don’t worry, this isn’t another think piece on millennial spending habits. But it’s worth noting that this generation of vegans loves coffee and most millennials spend a significant amount of their income on coffee. However, going out for a coffee with friends is often much more affordable and healthy than going out for a night of drinking.
Latte loving vegans are much better off in 2017 than any other year because dairy free alternatives are at an all time high. Many baristas now supply and know the differences between the most popular kinds of alternative milks.
In this article, we dive into the major differences between the most popular alternative milks used for lattes and show off some seriously beautiful latte art.
Let’s get to it!
Soy Milk
Soy milk is preferred by many baristas largely because of its consistency, which is very similar to cow’s milk. Soy milk has a comparable texture to cow’s milk, which makes it ideal for creating beautiful latte art that will last long enough to snap a beautiful picture for your Instagram feed. Soy milk is often less expensive than other varieties of milk alternatives such as almond milk.
However, soy milk also has some pretty big cons that we can’t help but mention. It often contains large amounts of added sugar, and more people are realizing that they are allergic or have an intolerance to soy.
Almond Milk
Almond milk is a healthier alternative to soy milk. It can make a good latte, but because it has a thinner consistency, it doesn’t steam as well as soy or dairy milk, and any latte art will dissipate more quickly than that made with soy. Many people prefer almond milk because of its taste and also its health benefits.
To keep up with customer demand while maintaining quality standards associated with craft coffee shops, many baristas are now choosing to make their own almond milk. Many coffee shops roast their own coffee and make their own syrups, so this is a natural next step that many customers notice and greatly appreciate!
A blogger and barista at The Perfect Daily Grind says that making his own almond milk produces a latte which is “richer, more flavorful, and steamed much more like cow’s milk than any of the commercial alternative milks” and totally worth the effort.
Oat Milk
Did you know that oat milk is economical, delicious, and nut-free? This is a great option for anybody with serious dietary restrictions and on a budget. These oat milk lattes are beautiful and are a great option for those who love to sip on aesthetically pleasing drinks with friends.
This recipe for DIY oat milk from Oh She Glows is so simple and uses ingredients you are likely to already have at home. For this who live in rural areas without coffee shops and access to the variety of vegan milk alternatives that are found at stores like Whole Foods, this recipe is a keeper!
Vegan Pumpkin Spice Latte (With Coconut Whip Cream!)
Vegans around the world lament the fact that Starbucks’ infamous Pumpkin Spice Latte is not vegan, even when made with vegan milk alternatives. The pumpkin spice flavoured syrup used to make the drink contains condensed milk which is certainly not vegan.
But wait, there’s good news! Peets Coffee, a Californian coffee company which has stores across the country, is now offering a completely vegan version of the popular pumpkin spice latte. It can be made with either soy or almond milk. The best part is that every drink includes vegan coconut whipped cream! Score!
Coconut Milk
This golden milk latte is for all those vegans out there who don’t drink coffee. If you stay away from caffeine or coffee based drinks because of stomach issues, this latte is for you! It is made with a base of coconut milk and adds tumeric, ginger, cinnamon. This latte is delicious and very healthy. The healing properties of the tumeric and ginger will help support digestion, settle your stomach, and improve immunity – a must as the winter cold and flu season approaches! You can make it at home easily with this recipe from Wellness Mama that we have tried and love.
If you do drink coffee, did you know that Starbucks offers coconut milk as a non-dairy alternative? This is a great option for when you’re on the go.
Conclusion
If all it takes is a good latte is start your day off right, or to pick you up if you’re feeling down, it’s worth treating yourself.
Many millennials justify their budget spent on coffee as a social investment. Taking yourself out for date and drinking a latte is also another popular form of self care. If going out for a latte is the push to lift you out of a slump, we think that’s worth paying a five dollar premium.
These beautiful vegan lattes will satisfy your cravings without making you sick the way that lattes made with cow’s milk would. Plant based vegan lattes are becoming more and more popular. Find us on Facebook and tag us with a picture of your favourite vegan latte… bonus points if it has steamed milk art! Let us know if you have any great tips or tricks for making vegan lattes at home.
