The Best Oat Milk To Choose For Rich And Foamy Espresso Drinks

The hunt for a dairy-free milk alternative entails the search for a dreamy, frothy coffee. And while many brands have come up with admirable options, few can achieve the majestic results that whole milk does so effortlessly. One that comes close, however, is Oatly Barista Edition Oatmilk. Of the barista milks Tasting Table tested and ranked, it was the best oat milk to give a rich and foamy drink.

This oat milk doesn't have a sharp tang compared to other non-dairy options such as soy milk. Others claim it resembles traditional milk because the oat flavor is mild and not overpowering. This means your coffee grounds will have a chance to shine with this oat milk as it complements them with sweet notes. Other barista milks like Rise Brewing's barista blend are made with oatmeal but have a bitter aftertaste that is hard to ignore, which makes us appreciate Oatly's even more.

Besides its ability to achieve a velvety foam that sits nicely on top of your espresso drink, this barista oat milk will froth up easily even in your Nespresso barista recipe maker. The foam dissolves effortlessly in coffee and becomes the perfect creamer, leaving your espresso drinks luscious and creamy. This milk's seamless incorporation compared to the separation of Elmhurst's barista oat milk makes it a top pick for making the best espresso. And if you combine it with this Nespresso frother trick for thicker, dreamier foam, you might wind up with your best cup of coffee yet.

To create a rich and foamy espresso, the oat milk used must have just the right amount of fat and protein. The two play exclusive roles: While protein enables the milk to froth up, fat holds the foam up and gives the milk a rich and smooth feel. An imperfect ratio of these two nutrients may explain why other poorly performing oat milks lack at least one of these features. For example, although Elmhurst Oat Barista Edition has the same amount of protein as Oatly's (3 grams), it has much less fat. This saw Elmhurst's oat milk froth up quite effectively in our experiment but lacked the creamy appeal of Oatly's.

Oat milk has many differences from dairy milk, one particular one being that it contains significantly less fat and protein. This means dairy milk has a natural advantage when it comes to frothing. To level up their coffee game, non-dairy milk brands resort to fortifying their blends. Such is the case with Oatly's barista oat milk. In the end, the ability to fortify their oat milk while juggling other factors that also contribute to its final performance (acidity, buffering agents) all while still achieving a pleasant tasting milk is what makes Oatly's worthy to purchase and use in your espresso drinks.