Best Milk Alternative for Tea and Coffee

If you're looking for the best milk alternative for tea and coffee, you're in the right place! My guide covers all the best substitutes and even includes a super easy homemade creamer option!

As more people go vegan, lean towards a plant-based diet, or seek dairy free milks due to lactose intolerance the popularity of plant-based milks has skyrocketed! But with so many choices on the market—how do you pick the best alternative?

Whether you're sipping a cup of tea, enjoying a latte, or crafting the perfect espresso drink, the right milk can make all the difference. The good news is that there are plenty of types of milk substitutes to pick from!

Jump to:

• ⭐️ Top Coffee and Tea Milk Alternatives
• Expert Tips
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Final Thoughts
• Best Milk Alternative for Tea and Coffee

⭐️ Top Coffee and Tea Milk Alternatives

When choosing the best milk alternative for coffee or tea it's important to know what you're looking for. Not all plant-based alternatives work the same way and don't have the same consistency as animal products. 

Some plant milks add a hint of sweetness, while others can clash with the bitterness of black tea or the acidity of espresso. Temperature also matters as some alternative milks separate or curdle at a very hot temperature, while others hold up beautifully.

So, which vegan milk alternative is the better option for your morning brew? The key lies in understanding how these non-dairy alternatives behave in hot drinks, their creamy texture, and their nutritional value compared to regular milk. 

Here’s what I found when testing some of the most popular dairy-free milk alternatives to see for myself.

1. Oat Milk – Best Creamy Texture

If you’re looking for a texture that mimics whole cow’s milk, oat milk is one of the best vegan milks you can get.

It has a neutral taste, froths well, and creates that thick, luxurious mouthfeel that coffee drinkers like me love in espresso drinks.

It's probably the best milk alternative for coffee that doesn't curdle.

✅ Best for: Lattes, cappuccinos, and black coffee
🚫 Not great for: Those avoiding grains or who have celiac disease
⭐ Popular options: Oatly Full Fat Oat Milk, Califia Farms Barista Blend Oat Milk

2. Soy Milk – Classic Option

Soya milk has been a longtime staple for those following a vegan diet. It holds up well in hot beverages, like oat milk is one of the best choices for frothing, and has a high protein content (source).

However, depending on the brand, soy milk can have a little bit of a beany flavor. Some versions also contain added sugars. Make sure to check the label if you prefer unsweetened versions.

✅ Best for: Lattes, macchiatos, and strong teas like chai
🚫 Not great for: Light teas like green tea
⭐ Popular options: Silk Organic Unsweetened Soy Milk, Westsoy Organic Unsweetened Soy Milk, Pacific Foods Ultra Soy Original

3. Coconut Milk – Rich and Flavorful

If you want a plant-based milk alternative with a sweet milk taste, coconut milk is a great option. It has a naturally high-fat content, which gives it a rich consistency similar to organic milk.

However, it does have a tropical flavor that you need to take into account. I love using it in green matcha tea lattes! 

✅ Best for: Hot chocolate and creamy lattes
🚫 Not great for: Delicate teas like English Breakfast
⭐ Popular options: So Delicious Organic Coconut Milk, Pacific Foods Barista Series Coconut Milk, Native Forest Unsweetened Organic Coconut Milk

4. Cashew Milk & Hazelnut Milk – Buttery Finish

Nut milks like cashew milk and hazelnut milk add a light, buttery feel to drinks that I personally love. I find the texture to be similar to dairy milk.

When blended into a milk, raw cashews produce a creamy consistency that blends perfectly into coffee drinks. Hazelnut milk is similar but with a mild nuttiness that works well with beverages like hot chocolate and mochas.

✅ Best for: Those who love a hint of nuttiness with creaminess
🚫 Not great for: People with nut allergies
⭐ Popular options: Elmhurst Unsweetened Cashew Milk, Forager Project Organic Cashew Milk, Pacific Foods Hazelnut Milk

5. Almond Milk – Versatile & Mild

One of the most common alternatives, almond milk is widely available and works well in both coffee and tea.

While unsweetened almond milk can be a bit thin for lattes or espresso drinks, many barista-style versions made with organic almonds offer a creamier texture for hot drinks.

You can easily find sweetened almond milk too or even make your own homemade almond milk.

✅ Best for: Tea, light coffee, and those looking for a neutral taste
🚫 Not great for: Frothing or people with nut allergies
⭐ Popular options: Califia Farms Unsweetened Almond Milk, Silk Unsweetened Almond Milk,

6. Rice Milk – Light and Naturally Sweet 

For those of you who prefer a plant milk with a more subtle sweetness, rice milk is a popular choice that is naturally thin and light.

However, it doesn’t froth well and lacks the richness of other vegan milk options. I'd say it's the best alternative milk for tea.

✅ Best for: Tea drinkers who like a mild, sweet taste
🚫 Not great for: Lattes or frothy drinks
⭐ Popular options: Rice Dream Original Organic Rice Milk, Pacific Foods Organic Rice Milk, 365 by Whole Foods Market Rice Milk

7. Hemp Milk – Nutrient Dense

If you're looking for a milk substitute that’s both creamy and nutrient-dense, hemp milk is worth considering. Made from hemp seeds, it has a slightly earthy taste and a thinner consistency, similar to almond milk.

However, it stands out because it’s rich in fatty acids, including omega-3s, and contains more protein than many of the other choices (source).

✅ Best for: Tea, light coffee, and those looking for a nutrient-dense alternative
🚫 Not great for: Those who prefer a naturally sweet or thicker milk
⭐ Popular options: Pacific Foods Hemp Milk, Tempt Unsweetened Hemp Milk, Living Harvest Hemp Milk

8. Pea Milk – High Protein

One of the newer plant-based options on the market, pea milk is a high-protein milk alternative made from pea protein. It’s creamy, neutral, and great in most drinks.

✅ Best for: Perfect milk alternative for high-protein health benefits
🚫 Not great for: Those who prefer a more natural taste
⭐ Popular options: Ripple Unsweetened Original Pea Milk, Bolthouse Farms Plant Protein Milk, Sproud Unsweetened Pea Milk

9. Homemade Vegan Creamer – DIY Alternative

Store-bought alternatives are convenient, but they can sometimes be too thin or contain added sugars, flavoring, or tricalcium phosphate to enhance taste and texture.

I started making my own plant-based milk recipes to control the sweetness and creamy texture and omit all the unnecessary additives.

For me, this is the best milk alternative for tea and coffee in terms of taste, texture, and cost.

✅ Best for: Lattes, cappuccinos, and creamy tea blends
🚫 Not great for: People looking for a ready-to-use option
⭐ Popular option: Vegan Almond Milk Creamer Recipe

Expert Tips

✔️ Consider the Drink You’re Making
Different plant-based alternatives work better in different drinks. When choosing the best option you need to consider the result you want.

✔️ Sweetened vs Unsweetened Versions
Many plant milks contain added sugars, which can change the flavor of your coffee or tea. For complete control over the sweetness, use unsweetened options and then add cane sugar to taste.

✔️ Choose Barista Blends for Coffee
If you love coffee shop espresso beverages or lattes, I suggest using a barista edition of your favorite milk alternative. Sold in most local stores, these versions are designed to hold up to high temperatures like dairy milk.

✔️ Steam or Heat Gradually
Hot temperature can cause some vegan milks to curdle. I try to heat them slowly and add it to the drink after it's cooled slightly to prevent separation.

✔️ Use a Frother
If you love a good free latte or cappuccino, invest in a milk frother. Oat milk and soy milk create the best foam, but using a frother with pea protein-rich plant milks like pea milk can also work well.

✔️ Shake or Stir Before Using
Many nondairy milks naturally separate, especially nut milks and coconut milk. I always give them a good shake before adding it to my drink for the smoothest consistency.

✔️ Be Aware of Natural Additives
Some plant-based milks contain tricalcium phosphate, vegetable oil or sunflower oil, sea salt, or natural flavor to improve texture. While these aren’t necessarily bad, they can affect the overall taste and consistency, so check labels if you prefer a cleaner ingredient list.

✔️ Consider Nutritional Benefits
Some plant-based milk alternatives are fortified with vitamin D and calcium carbonate, making them closer to dairy products in terms of nutrients. Also, check for added vitamin B and protein.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

The best milk alternative for tea and coffee comes down to what works best for you!

For most coffee drinkers, oat milk and soy milk tend to be the top choices for their frothing ability to create milk foam and neutral taste. On the other hand, for tea you might prefer rice milk for its mild sweetness or hazelnut milk.

For me, my homemade vegan creamer is my go-to option. I can control the ingredients, and I drink so much coffee it's more budget-friendly than buying store-bought options or going to coffee shops all the time.

No matter which milk alternative you choose, they all work well. So I encourage you to experiment and let me know your favorite in the comments.

❤️ One Last Thing! If you find this guide for the best milk alternative for tea and coffee helpful please leave a review and rating! Doing so helps other readers and me too! Your feedback makes a difference.