Lactose intolerance, ethical veganism, health concerns, and just the desire to try something new are the reasons why more and more people are replacing their usual cow's milk with plant-based drinks. Now you can drink cappuccino with alternative milk in almost any coffee shop, but, unfortunately, it is not always tasty. We will tell you what to look for when choosing plant-based milk for coffee and how to make a delicious drink with it - at home or in a coffee shop.

Lactose free is harder

The perfect "milk-free cappuccino" is not easy to make. Every component in cow's milk plays a part in creating the drink: the proteins are responsible for the long-lasting and tender crema, the fats create the creamy texture, and the lactose adds sweetness to the drink. With plant-based milk and creamers from beforeyouspeakcoffee.com, everything is easier. Manufacturers go to different tricks for the sake of a stable foam and a balanced taste - and sometimes they do it well. In coffee shops, the following types of plant milk are most often used:

Soybean

This is perhaps the most "classic" of plant-based alternatives. Soy milk can be found in almost every coffee shop and is quite common on supermarket shelves. Its taste is neutral, with a slight hint of legumes. The composition, depending on the manufacturer, may vary - for example, in milk created specifically for making a cappuccino (for example, Alpro Professionals), gellan gum is added as a stabilizer so that it beats better and retains texture. And although a soy milk drink will not taste quite the same as cow milk, it is quite possible to achieve a good foam and a balanced taste with "professional milk".However, soy milk has a significant drawback: it curdles with acidic coffees. To prevent this, you can try adding slightly cooled coffee to cold milk and beat like a raf. In addition, manufacturers do not recommend heating soy milk above 60 degrees, as at a higher temperature it can also curdle.In addition to the classic soy milk, there are also flavored options: banana, vanilla, and chocolate. If you love experimenting with flavors, why not give it a try?

Coconut

Two completely different products are called coconut milk, each of which can be found on store shelves:- Coconut drink, usually based on rice (Bite) or soy (Alpro) milk. The content of coconut in it is small, 3-5%, in texture it resembles low-fat cow's, and it usually whips up well. However, it will be more difficult to prepare a balanced delicious cappuccino than with soy: a bright coconut flavor will pull the balance over. But a latte on coconut will turn out pleasant and tender. As with soy, it's best to choose non-acidic, dense-bodied coffees for this drink so that the coffee flavor doesn't get lost in the milk.- Milk from the pulp of coconut - it is usually sold in cans (for example, Aroy-D). This is a product with a high-fat content, 17-19%. It is used in the preparation of soups, sauces, and desserts, but you can also make coffee drinks with it. For example, add a small amount of coconut milk to soy or rice milk for a creamier texture. Or serve with espresso or americano instead of traditional cream. You can also cook a vegan raff with this milk - however, in this case, it is better to dilute it with other milk to get about 10% fat, otherwise, the drink will be difficult to drink to the end.

Almond

While Alpro and OraSi professional ranges feature almond milk, it is far less popular among baristas than soy and coconut milk. It is difficult to beat it so that it does not exfoliate, the foam turns out to be too airy and quickly settles, and when heated, there is a risk of getting an unpleasant acidity in taste. However, on the basis of almond milk, you can prepare a delicious iced latte - for this, it is enough to pour a portion of espresso into a glass of milk with a couple of ice cubes.

Oatmeal

Oat milk does not require the addition of sugar: in the process of its manufacture, part of the complex carbohydrates of oats is broken down to glucose, and this gives the taste of milk a pleasant sweetish tint. Baristas note that oat milk whips well, the foam is quite suitable for latte art, and thanks to its neutral taste, oat milk goes well with different types of coffee.The absolute favorite among plant milk for coffee is the Swedish brand Oatly. This oat milk is used all over the world, and it really resembles most cow's milk in cappuccino: tender, sweet, with the perfect texture for.