Oat Milk vs Almond Milk in Coffee

Oat milk froths better, tastes richer, and has a more neutral flavor that works better with espresso. Almond milk is thinner, slightly nuttier, and works better in iced drinks where frothing is not required.

If you are ordering a hot latte or cappuccino and want a non-dairy option, oat milk is almost always the better choice.

Oat milk became the default non-dairy milk in specialty coffee around 2019. It has not looked back.

The reason oat milk took over is simple: it behaves like dairy milk when steamed. It creates microfoam with similar texture to whole milk, which makes it compatible with latte art and proper cappuccino foam. Almond milk splits at high heat, creates large bubbles, and can leave a watery top layer on a latte.

In cities like Los Angeles and New York, oat milk is now so common that specialty shops sometimes run out before closing. It is carried at virtually every specialty shop in Pulled Coffee's database.

"Oat milk replaced almond milk in specialty coffee in about 18 months. Baristas preferred it. Customers preferred it. It was not a close race."

When almond milk is the right choice

Iced coffee drinks. Almond milk does not need to be frothed for an iced latte or cold brew with milk. Its lighter, nuttier flavor complements cold drinks well. Almond milk also has fewer calories than oat milk, which matters to some people. An 8 oz glass of unsweetened almond milk has about 30 to 40 calories. Oat milk has about 90 to 120.

Barista-edition matters

Most specialty shops use barista-edition oat milk (Oatly Barista, Minor Figures, Califia Barista Blend). These are formulated to steam better than retail versions. If you try oat milk at home and it does not froth well, you probably have the retail version. Specialty shops in Chicago and Seattle all use barista-edition products. Shops like Intelligentsia and Stumptown have been using them since before oat milk was widely available.

Related: What is a latte?, Best iced coffee drinks, Every coffee drink explained.