The Most Underrated Non-Dairy Milk For Your Coffee

Milky coffees like cappuccinos, lattes, and flat whites are only as good as the milk used to make the brews. Milk is made of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, but it's the protein that plays the most important role when it comes to steaming milk for coffee. The proteins inside the milk react with the heat of a steam wand to give milk the texture which makes flat whites silky and cappuccinos foamy.

The milk's protein is made of two components: casein which texturizes milk and whey which changes the milk's flavor. Different types of milk have different levels of casein and whey proteins, which impact the milk's flavor and texture. It ultimately influences how good a cup of coffee turns out. The higher the milk's protein and fat levels, the better it will steam and froth. 

While some non-dairy alternatives disappoint in the way they foam (or the lack of foam thereof), non-dairy milks have an advantage that dairy-based milks don't. They add a subtle nutty flavor to coffees without overpowering the drink. Almond milk brings nuttiness albeit with a bitter aftertaste, coconut milk can make tropical coffees, and oat milk's sweetness has the approval of even baristas. In the world of almond, soy, cashew, and oat milks, however, one non-dairy milk is often overlooked. Reddit thinks that it's high time coffee drinkers start brewing their joe with macadamia milk because it's a win-win in both its flavor and texture.

Made from macadamia nuts soaked in water, macadamia milk has a rich, smooth, and creamy consistency which some Redditors think blends well with coffee and makes excellent non-dairy cappuccinos and lattes. Although the majority on Reddit still vouch for Oatly as the best non-dairy milk for all coffees, most agree that macadamia milk is a very close second. As one user admits, "I've had macadamia nut milk in a latte at a local shop and it was good...I think my favorite is still oat milk, but macadamia is a very close second!"

It's not just Reddit that finds macadamia milk underrated and a good second to oat milk. Serious Eats put 11 non-dairy milks to test for espresso-based coffees and found that Milkadamia's macadamia milk had a "cereal milk" and "vanilla extract-like" flavor which was on par with Oatly's oat milk. Overall, Milkadamia's macadamia milk was among the top three non-dairy milk to brew coffees with.

Taste testers at Food & Wine too found Milkadamia's macadamia milk to be an excellent non-dairy option for coffee. Its smooth and thick texture makes creamy coffees, and the macadamia nuts give the non-dairy milk a natural sweetness. In fact, it may be hard to believe that Milkadamia's unsweetened options have zero added sugars considering how sweet the milk tastes. This makes the brand an excellent option for those who prefer their non-dairy milk sweeter but without added sugar.