The Best Non-Dairy Milks You Should Be Buying In 2023

Non-dairy milk is now a constant in many fridges. According to Morning Consult, one in three Americans drink non-dairy milk weekly. Closer to 70% of them have tried it. Alternative milk's growing popularity has been driven by several factors. Environmental concerns amid growing climate change threats are one. As The Guardian reports, dairy milk production creates three times more greenhouse gas emissions than plant-based milk. Health concerns associated with dairy are another. When around 36% of American adults are said to be lactose intolerant, you can see why people might need a dairy-free milk option. Some people even prefer the taste of plant-based milk.

Between alternative milk drinkers, there is a lot of division over which type is best. Almond milk, oat milk, and soy milk remain top contenders. But it seems that new forms of plant-based milk are emerging constantly. Now, it's not uncommon to see beverages like cashew milk, pistachio milk, and macadamia milk at the grocery store. With so many types of milk entering the market, it can be hard to choose the right one for you.

If you consider a few key features of your desired non-dairy milk, you'll probably end up satisfied. Taste is one of the most important features, of course. Then, there's the issue of usage. Some people want non-dairy milk that can be used in coffee, others want one that can be used for baking. Health certifications and nutritional information are some other features you should consider.

To pick out the best non-dairy milks of 2023, we took these things to heart. Multiple forms of research were used to do so. Previous press coverage — about different alternative milk types, brands, or products — was one form of research. User reviews, especially concerning the taste and appropriate usage of certain milks, were another. General popularity also influenced our selections. The more people that drank each milk, the more feedback we could look into. This feedback makes it easier to identify common issues or even positive recommendations for products.

In general, there are a few constants about non-dairy milk. For one, most plant-based milk is made from nuts. Almond milk, pistachio milk, cashew milk, and macadamia milk are all nut milks (via MasterClass). This means they won't be well-suited for people with nut allergies (obviously). As far as other possible allergens to consider, there's the issue of gluten in oat milk. Oats themselves are gluten-free, but during production they often come into contact with gluten, making some oat milk brands not suitable for celiac or gluten-sensitive people. However, some oat milk brands, such as Oatly, Califia Farms, and Chobani are gluten-free, according to MeaningfulEats.

Our pick for the best overall non-dairy milk is Califia Farms' Oat Barista Blend. This is a versatile, all-around great oat milk that won't curdle in your coffee. That's why it's called the barista blend. It steams and froths exceptionally well, making it a great addition to lattes, iced coffees, or even hot coffee. The Oat Barista Blend also tastes good, meaning you can add it to smoothies for extra creaminess.

Per Califia Farms, this oat milk is vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, and BPA-free. Also, there aren't as many ingredients used in making this product, compared to other plant-based milk products. According to the nutrition label, water, oats, sunflower oil, some minerals, and sea salt are the only things in it. Each serving also comes with a healthy dose of your daily recommended amount of calcium and potassium.

This product is extremely popular overall. But on Amazon, it has people's attention. There are over 13,000 reviews which come to an average rating of 4.6 out of 5. "This oat milk foams really well and tastes great," said one user. "In terms of taste, creaminess, how frothy it gets, the size, it's all good," wrote another person. "For something so healthy, this stuff is just incredible," complimented another purchaser of Califia Farms' product.

As of May 2023, you can buy a 6-pack of Califia Farms' Oat Barista blend on Amazon for $25.68.

For an affordable plant-based milk product, try Blue Diamond Diary's Unsweetened Original Almondmilk. Per Blue Diamond's website, this product costs less than $4 (at the time of writing) at places like Walmart, Whole Foods, or Amazon Fresh. If you live in certain parts of the country — and also have Amazon Prime — you may be able to get this non-dairy milk for under $2. That's much cheaper than most competitors' prices, in our research.

On Amazon, some users found this almond milk to be on the cheaper side. "Excellent price," wrote one person. "Price is good," said another. But being a low-cost non-dairy milk isn't all that this Almond Breeze beverage has going for it. Per the brand, this product is high in calcium and vitamin E. It even contains more calcium than most dairy products. It's also gluten-free, vegan, and free from artificial flavoring.

You can buy Blue Diamond Dairy's Almond Breeze non-dairy milk in the unsweetened original flavor for as low as $7.62 on Amazon.

If you want to treat yourself to a more expensive dairy-free beverage, check out Táche. The non-dairy milk brand specializes in drinks made from pistachios. The rich and slightly sweet flavor of these nuts makes them well-suited for nut milk. However, anyone who's ever tried to purchase a bag of these nuts knows that pistachios are expensive. Now, imagine milk made from pistachios. That's going to be pricey. Per Táche's website, just one container of its milk costs eight dollars.

Despite high prices, you will get an item of quality. The brand's Original Unsweetened Pistachio Milk is vegan, gluten-free, non-GMO verified, and kosher. This product also claims to be better than popular brands such as Oatly and Califia Almond. Táche says its milk is better because it's lower in carbs, calories, and sugar; better when enjoyed alone; made without vegetable oil; has a smaller water footprint; and steams better in espresso drinks.

On Táche's website, customers raved about this non-dairy milk. "Amazing 'milk' taste and rich froth for lattes just like milk," said one person. "I dabble in most non-dairy milks and I have to say that this one is one of my favorites," wrote another buyer. 

You can buy a 6-pack of Táche's Original Unsweetened Pistachio Milk on the brand's website for $54.

Many people buy alternative milks exclusively for use in coffee drinks. If this applies to you, you'll want non-dairy milk that doesn't curdle. For this, we recommend using oat milk, for its reputation of separating less in hot beverages, such as espresso drinks (via Coffee Affection). For a great oat milk to go with your morning coffee, try Chobani Oat Milk. The vanilla flavor is gluten-free, dairy-free, and free from artificial ingredients. Each serving contains some of the recommended daily doses of vitamin D, calcium, potassium, and vitamin A. With the Chobani Oat's vanilla flavor, you get some instant sweetness in your coffee, as well.

According to users, this plant-based milk works well in coffee. "It's perfect for iced coffees due to the taste and because it gives that great visual effect as it mixes with the espresso shots," said one person who purchased the product on Amazon. "This is my go-to creamer for my coffee and tea," wrote another person. On the online retailer, the product has over 1,900 reviews which comes to an average rating of 4.7 out of 5.

At the time of this writing, you can buy Chobani Oatmilk in the vanilla flavor from Target for $4.79.

Cashew milk is another popular nut milk. It's lower in calories than coconut or oat milk. It even has fewer calories than normal dairy milk — which is not always the case with plant-based milks. For outstanding milk of this variety, we recommend Elmhurst's Unsweetened Cashew Milk.

One of the best features of this product is that it only contains two ingredients. In each bottle of cashew milk, there is only water and cashews. To some customers, this makes it much healthier than other plant-based milk. On top of the short ingredients list, there are added benefits to Elmhurst's brand of cashew milk. It's shelf-stable until opened, vegan, dairy-free, and free from artificial ingredients. By drinking just 8 ounces of the stuff, you'll ingest some of your daily recommended dose of calcium, Iron, and potassium.

On Amazon, there are many fans of Elmhurst's cashew milk. The product has been reviewed over 1,200 times, receiving an average rating of 4.5 out of 5. "I've made my own cashew milk. It never came out as creamy as this Elmhurst milk," said one person. "It's expensive, which is a huge downside. However, it's the only brand I can find without fillers and extra garbage added," wrote another shopper.

You can buy a 6-pack of Elmhurst's Unsweetened Cashew Milk on Amazon for $46.35.

Recent product recall aside, we still think Oatly makes great oat milk. The original stuff is not being sold through Oatly's website (at the time of writing) but you can still find it in other places. It's a great product that's beloved for more than just its quirky branding. Oatly is gluten-free, vegan, and kosher. This oat milk is also packed with vitamins and minerals. Each serving contains some of your daily recommended doses of vitamin D, calcium, iron, potassium, vitamin A, and vitamin B12.

On Amazon, this particular oat milk is well-liked. There are over 9,700 reviews, which receive an average score of 4.8 out of 5. It's probably one of the most well-reviewed non-dairy milk products in this roundup. Although people criticize Oatly's nutritional information sometimes (for its high amount of calories per serving) they do appreciate the oat milk's flavor. Drinking this milk by the glass is no problem. "I love this milk even by itself. Can drink the whole thing within 1 or 2 days," verified one review. "Oatly is by far the BEST oat milk out there," said another passionate buyer.

You can buy Oatly's Original Oat Milk on Foxtrot for $6.49.

By this time, everyone has already heard the warning that almond milk is bad for the environment (via Science Focus). It's been criticized for using too much water, harming bees, and being linked to pesticide issues. However, if you're the type of person who believes individual choices have little impact on the overall course of climate change — as many tend to think these days, according to PBS — then you should try almond milk. For a great non-dairy milk made from almonds, we recommend Califia Farms' Unsweetened Almondmilk.

People love this product. "It's the only almond milk I like," wrote one buyer on Amazon. Individuals loved the combination of low calories and quality taste. "This almond milk is absolutely delicious! Smooth and rich-tasting ... but low in calories and so good for you!" wrote another person. Overall, the product has a high average rating of 4.6 out of 5 on the virtual marketplace.

According to Califia Farms, there are 0 grams of sugar and only 35 calories in each serving. That's much lower than some competitors' non-dairy milks. Also, it's vegan, soy-free, BPA-free, and kosher. Almond milk has a reputation for separating in hot coffee (via Roasty Coffee). Luckily, this product usually curdles less than its fellow almond-based milks. Customers confirmed this in reviews of Califia Farms' Unsweetened Almondmilk. "There's not as much separation as there are in some other brands," said one person.

As of May 2023, you can buy a 6-pack of Califia Farms' Unsweetened Almondmilk on Amazon for $21.48.

Coconut milk is nothing new in the world of non-dairy milks. As Smithsonian explains, it's been a part of Indian, Southeast Asian, and African cuisines for centuries. As far as applications for those types of cooking, we would stick to canned coconut milk products. But if you're someone who just wants to add a splash of coconut flavor to your daily coffee or tea, we recommend the Organic Unsweetened Vanilla Coconut Milk from the company So Delicious.

This vanilla coconut milk has fewer reviews than its non-vanilla counterpart. But it has more positive ones than other So Delicious products. "I love this coconut milk so much, it is my absolute favorite," said one person on the website of So Delicious. "This is by far the best-tasting coconut milk! It is smooth and sweet and refreshing," wrote another user. If you like sweetness and coconut flavor, you can take their word for it. It's also USDA-certified organic and dairy-free.

You can buy a 12-pack of So Delicious' Organic Unsweetened Vanilla Coconut Milk on Amazon for $59.90.

You may recognize macadamia nuts for their smooth, extremely round appearance and light color. These nuts are beloved for their health benefits. Per Medical News Today, macadamia nuts contain high servings of protein, fiber, and other vitamins or minerals. People may be drawn to macadamia nut milk for having these health-boosting benefits. In other cases, they may have a sensitivity to milk made from other nuts, such as almonds or cashews. If any of this applies to you, we recommend trying milkadamia's Unsweetened Macadamia Milk.

According to the company, milkadamia is dedicated to promoting regenerative agriculture, producing goods completely free of dairy, and avoiding the use of palm oil. Its unsweetened product has an attractively short ingredients list, on top of that. The top two ingredients for milkadamia's Unsweetened Macadamia Milk are filtered water and raw unroasted macadamia nuts. It also utilized pea protein, an up-and-coming ingredient in the world of non-dairy milks. To top it all off, gluten-free and vegan people can all enjoy this nut milk beverage.

On Amazon, this popular product has an average rating of 4.6 out of 5. This is the result of over 4,000 ratings. Many health-minded buyers appreciated that this macadamia nut milk was low in carbohydrates and sugar. "This is delicious alone, in coffee, in a latte, on cereal, really anyway you can think to drink it," wrote one person.

You can buy a milkadamia's unsweetened Macadamia Milk at Target for $3.69.

Flaxseeds' power to improve health is seldom understated. As WebMD explains, eating the seeds is could help prevent diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. That's because flaxseeds are high in omega-3 essential fatty acids and fiber. Due to its superfood status, we're not surprised that people are now making non-dairy milk from it. One of the best plant-based milk companies that uses flax seeds is Good Karma. We recommend Good Karma's Flax Milk in the vanilla flavor.

This milk is made from pea protein, as well as flax seeds. According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, pea protein is a powerful protein supplement often used by vegans and vegetarians because it is free from animal byproducts. In Good Karma's vanilla Flax Milk, there are 8 grams of protein provided by peas. As for other nutritional benefits, this product has 1,200 milligrams of Omega-3s in each serving.

This product is less popular than other non-dairy milks. But it still has its fan base. Since it's made without dairy, nuts, soy, or gluten, Good Karma's flax milk is fitting for people with allergies. On Amazon, allergen-conscious shoppers raved about this milk. "Love this milk alternative! I have an allergy/sensitivity to almonds and coconut, and issues with animal dairy. I came across this in a local store and love it," wrote one individual.

You can buy a 6-pack of Good Karma's Vanilla Flax Milk +Protein on Amazon for $30.

According to Medical News Today, hemp seeds are a plant food used to supplement your diet with an additional source of fiber, protein, vitamins, and minerals. When you buy hemp milks, they're usually made from hemp seeds. Pacific Foods' Unsweetened Original Hemp Milk is no exception. This particular product (that's made from hemp seeds) is even keto-friendly.

Health fans on Amazon love this Pacific Foods milk for its nutritional profile. They shared their opinions on why hemp is superior to other plant supplements. "Hemp protein is a complete one-stop shop. It contains ALL the amino acids to sustain our lives. Very bio-available as well," wrote one user. Others thought hemp was superior to all other plant-based milk bases. "This is the only brand and type that foams up great for my espresso," shared another Amazon buyer.

Per Pacific Foods, this hemp milk drink is nutty, creamy, and smooth. It's suitable for dairy-free, soy-free, or vegan people. The brand even recommends using its Unsweetened Original Hemp Milk for recipes like broccoli potato soup, strawberry pancakes, or tahini-hemp dressing.

As of May 2023, you can buy a 12-pack of Pacific Food's Unsweetened Original Hemp Milk on Amazon for $45.60.

The commercialized world of plant-based milk itself hasn't existed for so long. That's why it's impressive that during the 1980s — which isn't so long ago, if you think about it — soy milk was already being sold in boxed, commercial forms. This type of milk has had plenty of time to go out of style, but some people still swear by it. For a classically delicious soy milk product, we recommend Silk's Unsweetened Organic Soymilk.

According to the company, this Silk product comes with no added sugar, 7 grams of protein per serving, some of your daily recommended dose of calcium, and a NON-GMO project verification. It's also vegan and dairy free. Of course, it's not soy-free, so people with soy allergies should steer clear. That means if eating miso soup, edamame, tofu, or tempeh causes you intestinal discomfort, you shouldn't be drinking soy milk.

Online shoppers can buy packages of this Silk soy milk on Amazon in aseptic cartons, which means the packaging is sterilized to hold shelf-stable products (via Waste360). This item has over 3,000 ratings on the virtual retailer, which come to an average rating of 4.7 out of 5. People appreciate the ability to stock up on this non-perishable product. "Having this shelf-stable version of my favorite soy milk gets me through the times when the fresh stuff is unavailable," wrote one reviewer.

You can buy a 6-pack of Silk's Organic Unsweet Soymilk on Amazon for $15.79.

Since the 1920s, rice milk has been produced in its commercial form in the United States (via Vegan Food and Living). It remains a good choice today for gluten-free people, but it's not something that you'll find in many coffee shops. That's because the consistency of rice milk doesn't work well in hot coffee drinks. But if you're going to buy rice milk, go with Rice Dream. The company has been producing rice milk for years. We recommend Rice Dream's Enriched Original Rice Drink.

It's plant-based, organic, grain-free, and dairy-free. Rice Dream recommends adding it to things like cereal. But you could also use this non-dairy milk in baking recipes such as cupcakes, pancakes, or banana cream pie. This particular plant-based milk has over 2,000 ratings on Amazon which receive an average score of 4.7 out of 5. Shoppers say it's affordable, useful for baking, has a long shelf-life, and is great for people with allergies.

At the time of this writing, you can buy a 6-pack of Rice Dream's Organic Rice Drink on Amazon for $25.