With many of our customers allergic or sensitive to milk products, today’s baristas are increasingly aware of the need to provide alternatives.
Coffee is easily one of the world’s favourite drinks, with its distinct flavour and aroma that people love. But not everyone shares the love for milky coffee; many may prefer to drink other types of coffee.
Reasons vary; it could be ethical or flavour preferences, the desire to limit fat intake, or health concerns. Many desire to avoid the lactose in dairy products, some are allergic to dairy, and others simply prefer non-dairy because it tastes better.
Coffee shops, cafés and restaurants find non-dairy milk in coffee is becoming increasingly popular.
Alternative milks, such as almond, oat, soy, cashew or even coconut milk, add another dimension to the menu, which can attract new customers looking for alternatives to “standard” drinks.
Rice Milk
Rice milk is made from rice and is a common preference for those who are avoiding the use of dairy products or live a vegan lifestyle. It is also excellent for those who enjoy sweet café beverages but try to avoid refined sugars and artificial sweeteners.
Milk which is rice-based will turn any run-of-the-mill coffee into a sweet, enjoyable morning beverage without compromising your personal dietary preferences. It can be found in almost any grocery store and is a very tasty alternative to a regular dairy milk.
Almond Milk
Almond milk is one of the most popular alternatives to traditional milk today and is used in a variety of ways. As far as its use, it is typically popular among those who not only enjoy an option which is full of flavour but is also free of all the fat found in cow’s milk.
It is a very tasty choice to add to coffee any time, and it is also a great option for those who avoid dairy products in general. You will find this milk to be a frequently requested option when preparing your customer’s beverages.
Soy Milk
Soy milk is most often requested by those who suffer from lactose intolerance, a condition which can cause severe stomach pain, bloating, and gas. Made from soy, this milk form is one of the more commonly requested by customers, but this milk tends to curdle when added to the beverage, though not always.
Why does this occur? Coffee itself contains acid which will cause this effect when it comes into contact with soy. To simplify the issue for clearer understanding, it turns the soy into tofu so to speak. There are a few factors which contribute to this, one being the brand of soy milk being used, but there are a few things you can do which will help the matter. First, always be sure to give your container of soy milk a good shake before each use.
Next, put the milk into the cup before the coffee, and finally, when you do add the coffee do it very slowly. Practicing these steps seem to minimise the curdling effect.
Coconut Milk
Milk from coconut is simply made by soaking shredded coconut in water. It can be purchased already prepared, or it can be easily made fresh on site. This milk is used in a variety of ways in caffeinated beverages, both hot and cold, and is very tasty.
It is a common alternative for the vegan coffee drinker, as well as those suffering from lactose intolerance issues. This milk is versatile, and because of this it can be a fun and tasty alternative to regular milk, as well as the others listed above.
Full Cream Milk
This milk addition is sweet and delicious, and you may be surprised at how often it is requested. The issue with full cream is that while it is wonderfully flavourful, it is high in fat and calorie content. While these facts motivate many to avoid its use, most who prefer it couldn’t really care less.
You will find those who are dieting, lactose intolerant, or vegan will avoid this milk form at all costs, but regardless, it is simply the perfect addition to any café beverage.
Skimmed Milk
Skimmed is nothing more than fat-free cow’s milk and is often requested by those who are dieting or regularly avoid food products which contain fat as a rule. Compared to whole or lower-fat milks, skim is a bit waterier, but does indeed do the trick when it comes to adding it to caffeinated beverages.
It succeeds in cutting back on the bitter flavour which is common to espresso and other coffee forms. You will probably also find that skim is not the most popular of the milk options, but it is commonly requested.
In the case of iced coffee with milk, most people still agree that soy milk is the best vegan choice. Many iced coffee drinkers enjoy a vanilla taste with their beverage, and soy milk is often sold as vanilla-flavoured. Vanilla works especially well with the creaminess of soy milk.
It is important to avoid cross contamination.
To avoid confusion, why not use specifically labelled jugs or removable silicon handles, which are affordable and easy to identify.
As another alternative to all things dairy, why not try flavouring drinks with the delicious Monin Syrups – sooo many flavours!
The Tapside range of commercial Barista coffee machines are recommended with all these new non-dairy products, and you can expect consistently satisfactory results.
