Oat milk latte – what is it and how to make it
We all agree that coffee-making is a form of art. The coffee universe has gone a long way from cooking raw beans. Now you sometimes need a dictionary to decipher what exactly is inside your cup of joe. Also, with the evolution of coffee, new trends start to appear.
Cow’s milk isn’t the only option like it was for the last few centuries. People put nitrogen, cinnamon, a shot of whiskey in their glass, and all the barriers fell. Everything is allowed.
We like the new trends, especially when it comes to plant-based creamers. Our new favorite lactose-free and vegan coffee is oat milk latte.
What is an oat milk latte?
Oat milk latte is the best of both worlds. A strong shot of espresso combined with steamed oat milk transforms into a milky concoction, perfect for all non-dairy fans.
Oat milk latte is popular among millennials and people who are lactose intolerant. One of the best things about oat milk latte is its unlimited potential.
You can combine endless additions, sweeteners, or coffee spices to get the perfect mix of flavors.
Is oat milk good for lattes?
Oat milk is the new big thing in the latte world, together with the Hojicha latte. Unlike some other plant-based creamers, oat milk is perfect for frothing.
Also, its creamy texture makes the perfect contrast to the strong espresso taste. With natural oat milk sweet taste, you will need no sweeteners inside your oat milk latte.
How healthy is oat milk?
We like to compare things. So, we compared the health benefits and nutritional values of oat milk vs the alternatives. Of course, all the beverages are unsweetened. And also, depending on the type and the producer, all the data may vary by 5%, give or take.
Protein count
Oat milk has around 3 grams of protein per cup. It puts it in the middle of the chart. Cow’s, pea, and soy milk have 7-8 grams per cup. On the bottom are almond, rice, and coconut milk, with 1 gram of protein per cup.
If you are switching from cow’s milk to oat milk, make sure you have an additional source of protein in your diet.
Carbohydrates count
With 16 grams of carbohydrates per cup, oat milk is pretty sweet. In comparison, cow’s milk has around 12 grams per cup. As for the soy milk, it has a nasty variation, depending on the type, so soy milk can have anywhere between 5 and 15 grams of carbs per cup.
Oat milk latte or smoothie is a great pre-workout drink. Just make sure you don’t over-enjoy it.
Calorie count
There is no drastic difference when it comes to the calorie count. But, to calm your mind:
- A cup of almond milk has around 40 calories
- Flax milk – 25-60 calories
- Coconut milk – 45 calories
- Soy and pea milk – 70 calories
- Oat milk – 120 calories
Fiber count
It’s unusual to search for a source of fiber in milk, but who are we to judge? Oat milk has 2x more fibers than all the alternatives. That sounds fascinating until we tell you it’s 2 grams per cup.
And all the other milk types, including cow’s milk, have one gram per cup. FYI, the recommended fiber intake for grownups is at least 25 grams. So, if your only source of fiber is milk, it’s easier to drink 12.5 cups of oat milk than 25 cups of hemp or cow’s milk.
Vitamins
There is no winner in this section. All the milk products, including the cow’s milk, are enriched with additional vitamins. And oat milk is no exception. Usually, oat milk is fortified with calcium, riboflavin, vitamin D, and vitamin B12.
Ingredients to make an oat milk latte
- Espresso OR brewed coffee – if you are wanting to make a latte it is best to use espresso or a really strong brewed coffee. You will need to adjust the strength based on personal preference.
- Oat milk – Barista blend or the full fat Oatly oat milk. This gives the lattes an even creamier texture, and easy crema on top (the dark froth on top). These oatmilks also work great as a creamer replacement.
- Sweetener of choice – if you like a sweeter latte, you can add sugar, honey, syrups, or the sweetener you prefer most.
How to make an oat milk latte?
Step one: brew your cup of coffee using the method you prefer. The best choice would be espresso, but you will be fine with a stronger drip coffee or a cold brew.
Step two: If you have an espresso machine, use a steam wand. Heat the milk and make a nice froth. Oat milk also works beautifully in stand-alone frothers. The alternative solution is heating the milk in a microwave or a stovetop. Then, use your faithful frother or wand whisk to make a rich microfoam.
Step three: Pour the coffee into your favorite oat milk latte cup. Then, slowly pour the milk, and finish with a thick layer of froth. Enjoy!
Oat milk lattes go great with a lot of different spices, you can experiment and find your new favorite mix. Our favorite choices are:
- cinnamon
- vanilla
- maple syrup
- pumpkin pie spice
- ginger
- cocoa powder
- chocolate shreds
My current favorite is a “not so basic latte”: vanilla and cinnamon with a stronger coffee brew. Delicious.
You can also use this recipe to make a refreshing oat milk ice coffee. Make a latte, add some ice cubes inside, grab a straw, and enjoy the beach sunset.
My Favorite Oat Milk
I have tried a number of brands of oat milk and I always come back to this brand: Oatly Oat Milk
My second choice would be this brand. I also like that they are shelf stable and I can order extra and keep them in the cupboard or pantry.
How to make oat milk at home?
Making homemade oat milk is always a great alternative to store-bought products. Whether you are trying to save money or you are just worried about the ingredients in commercial oat milk, it doesn’t matter. The process is quick, simple and all it takes is five minutes of your time. Prepare:
- one cup of rolled or steel-cut oats
- three cups of clean, filtered water
- your favorite sweetener (optional)
- Take your favorite blender and pour oats and water inside. Optionally you can add a bit of sweetener. The choice is yours, from regular sugar to stevia drops, maple syrup, vanilla, or pitted dates.
- Blend the mixture until its texture is smooth. Usually, it takes around 60 seconds.
- Strain the mixture into a bowl. While straining, firmly press the mixture, to make sure all the milk is extracted.
- Your new, healthy oat milk is ready to drink. Also, you can refrigerate it (or freeze it) and use it for later.
What are the pros and cons of oat milk?
Pros
- Anemia prevention – oat milk is rich in iron, unlike most plant-based types of milk. It will definitely improve your blood count, especially if you are vegetarian or vegan.
- Bone structure – store-bought oat milk is enriched with vitamin D and calcium. Calcium is essential for the health of your bones, and vitamin D helps absorb it.
- Cholesterol-lowering – oat milk contains much more fiber than dairy alternatives. Besides improving your digestion, this amount of fiber will substantially lower your cholesterol.
Cons
- Sugar, preservatives, and chemicals – As with every store-bought creamer, commercial oat milk can be full of sugar and harmful chemicals. Fight that by making your own homemade oat milk!
- Price – usually, it costs double more than the cow’s milk.
- Not gluten-free – most of the oat milk brands contain gluten. Look for gluten-free certified oat milk.
Oat milk VS dairy milk
Times are changing, my friend. For centuries, dairy milk was the one and only choice for your coffee. Now, the new time emerges. With influencers and Instagram stars promoting veganism and vegetarianism, the number of people that use dairy products falls every year. Oat milk is the new challenger in the world of creamers. So, let’s compare these two kinds of milk and see who will win!
Environmental impact
This criteria measures how much land and water you need to produce the glass (7 oz) of these products. Also, it measures the amount of CO2 that was released in the process. Of course, a lower score is better.
- One glass of oat milk requires cca 0.8 square meters of land and cca 5 liters of water. The production process emits under 0.3 kg of CO2
- One glass of dairy milk needs over 1.5 square miles of land (!) and cca 120 liters of water. Also, it produces double the CO2, 0.6 kg.
Also, bear in mind that some farms keep the cows in inhumane conditions. The animals don’t even see the daylight and are fed with industrial food, full of hormones. Please, always check the source of your milk, and support the little farmers.
Texture
Oat milk has the same texture as cow’s milk and interacts with coffee in the same way. As for the oat milk latte art, there are special barista edition oat kinds of milk with more fat. Oat milk can be steamed to the same temperature as the cow’s milk and will provide you with the same delicious layer of foam.
Temperature
Oat milk heats up much faster than dairy milk. So bear that in mind when making your oat milk lattes, cappuccinos, and macchiatos. Also, unlike cow’s milk, oat milk needs some cooling time (30 seconds) to achieve that thick texture.
Why does oat milk cost more than dairy milk?
It’s just oat and water, right? So why it’s so damn expensive? This is a perfect example of supply and demand. With every government in the world giving stimulus to dairy farms, you can’t run out of cow’s milk. It’s easy to produce, easy to store, and always available.
Industrial oat milk needed for your oat milk latte isn’t just grains and water. Oat milk needs stabilizers, taste enhancers, and quite a few other ingredients to make it shelf-stable. Meaning, the production of oat milk is much more complicated.
The other problem is the lack of suppliers. When the oat milk craze started, Oatly was the only large supplier, among with few other companies. They simply couldn’t produce as much oat milk as people were demanding. And what happens when a lot of people want something? The price goes up.
Now that the first craze is finished, the prices of oat milk calmed, too. Oatly and the other companies managed to increase their oat milk production, and the other companies grabbed the opportunity. In the future, the price of the oat milk will decrease, and you won’t have to pay $1 more for a splash of oat milk.
But it’s just milk, right? Wrong. The market size of the Dairy Farms industry in the USA, measured by revenue, is $39.2bn in 2020. Everyone wants a piece of that 40 billion dollar cake.
Oat milk latte FAQ
Does Starbucks have oat milk latte?
There is a reason why Starbucks is the USA’s largest coffee shop chain. The company follows trends, and there is nothing trendier in the coffee universe than the oat milk latte.
So, at the start of 2020, Starbucks included Oatmilk Honey Latte to its menus. Although oat milk options were previously available in the European Starbucks shops and certain Reserve Roastery shops, this time, oat milk latte goes worldwide!
What’s healthier, oat milk or almond milk?
Both oat milk and almond milk have a natural sweetness, so no sugar is actually needed. As for the calorie count, a cup of almond milk usually has 40 calories, while oat milk can have up to 120 calories. Oat milk also contains more fiber and protein than the almond alternative.
Conclusion: both kinds of milk are equally healthy. Your personal preferences, diet plans, and eating habits will determine which choice is healthier for you. If you are on a Paleo or Keto diet, choose almond milk. If you need to improve your blood count, use oat milk. Or just combine both of them in your diet.
Why is oat milk so high in sugar?
Your homemade oat milk has as much sugar as you put in. However, it has a high percentage of natural carbohydrates. A lot of store-bought brands are filled with sugar, as it adds a sweet addictive taste. And nobody wants extra sugar in its diet. If you are buying your oat milk from the supermarket, be sure always to check the amount of sugar added. If possible, always opt for healthier alternatives.
The final splash
When the oat milk craze started, nobody believed it will last this long. Milking cereals? Ridiculous. But history showed change is the only constant. Plant-based milk is just the future of the milk (and coffee) industry.
Especially when it’s healthier both for us and our planet. Be brave, be open to changes. And try the oat milk ice cream next summer. People swear it’s better than the dairy one.
