Rude Health’s barista almond milk is both quite sweet and acidic in cold brew. There’s no almond flavour and the consistency resembles that of semi-skimmed milk added to cold brew. Barista Blend delivers a great tasting product which is made using almonds, completely free from dairy, lactose, casein, soy and gluten. Distribution and availability: Not just because it’s summer, but iced coffee is just as important a test as hot drinks. Instead of testing the milks in iced lattes or iced filters, I decided to conduct the review in cold brew. Califia Farms is primarily known for its almond milk range, but its oat milk has become increasingly popular as well. This mixes really well with the coffee and it doesn’t separate at all, making it a texturally brilliant drink.

However, just like the previous taste test, the oat milk’s distinct characteristics quietly dominate the coffee. But this is very creamy in mouthfeel, more so than any of the other milks in this test. 4/5 Oaty Bruce This is quite hard to find. Alpro is one of the most accessible brands on the market, but the barista milks can’t be found in local supermarket stores. While it’s available in a few local off-licences for a much higher price or at online retailers, Tesco superstores are where you’re most likely to find the barista coconut milk. Minor Figures turned out to be amongst the best plant-based milk for cold brew coffee too. There’s a fruity acidity to this, not as loud as Good Hemp’s, but it’s still rather unexpected and very welcome.

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These tests were filmed for four-and-a-half minutes to determine how well the milk foams up, how long the froth takes to settle, how it mixes with the coffee and whether it splits. Almond Breeze Barista Alt-milk is enjoying a wave of popularity it has never known before. In the UK, The Vegan Society predicts the value of dairy alternatives will double by 2025. Plant-based milk grew thrice as much as traditional dairy in the US last year, penetrating two in five households. This tastes very interesting. It’s fruity and citrusy, with very prominent notes of grapefruit zest. Initially, it’s very acidic, but it gets better as you drink it. The flavour feels slightly artificial and overly oaty, and there are vivid notes of pea protein. Combined, these take over the coffee’s flavour.

I used equal parts cold brew concentrate and milk for each test to determine the milk’s influence on flavour and texture. Almond Breeze Barista Unlike Oatly, Oaty Bruce is, well, pretty oaty when it comes to cold brew. This was quite surprising as it isn’t cloyingly acidic to the point that it would taste sour. There’s not a lot of almond flavour, which is due to the fact that there are more oats than almonds in this milk. This isn’t a watery drink, which is a plus, but the flavour is just a little too loud and funky to actually make the coffee shine. 2.5/5 Sproud BaristaBut the thing this milk does really well is blunt out any bitterness in the cold brew, whilst making for a completely homogenous drink. 4.5/5 Oatly Barista Going with the theme, Provamel is the oatiest of them all. And when added to cold brew, it makes for a super acidic drink. You don’t taste the pea protein at all, though, which is a relief. Creamy Perfection : Our Barista Blend Unsweetened Almond Milk ensures a velvety texture that froths and steams like dairy milk, adding a delightful richness to your coffee creations. This is incredible. It’s not watery at all, it acts like regular dairy would and it doesn’t overpower the coffee. The natural sweetness of the oats shines through with this. Apart from some minute traces of bitterness, this is a fabulous pairing with cold brew. 4.5/5 Rude Health Barista Almond