SUNDAY COFFEE: OAT MILK LATTE

I'm not dairy free in spite of the fact that I struggle to digest it. I just can't give up ice cream, cheese, and of course my decadent cafe au lait. I think this is kind of a "love hurts" situation. That being said I go through bouts where I like to take a break from dairy in my coffee. I also have friends who are dairy free, and up until now I have never found a good replacement for milk in lattes and cappuccinos. I've tried almond, soy, coconut, and potato milk and none of them could replicate the texture when frothed and heated. When I saw Oat Milk available in fancy schmancy coffee shops I had to try it for myself.

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Oat Milk is not a new product, in fact the brand that I bought has been around since __. It has however upped it's marketing in the US and is now found not just in coffee shops but in local grocery stores as well.
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On a whim I saw it available at the Whole Foods near my house and thought it would be a worthwhile experiment. You all know how picky I am with my coffee! I will only use whole milk since I can't get reduced fat milks to froth to the same thickness, so it had a lot to live up to.
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The Pros:
It simulated whole milk the closest of any non dairy "milk" that I've tried. I was shocked at how thick and smooth it became in my milk frother. When added to my coffee, in terms of texture, I couldn't tell the difference.
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If you can't have milk or are vegan, this is a fantastic option for cappuccinos and lattes and I can understand why baristas are using it. 
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I also tried it added to my coffee without frothing it, and again it really had the feel of milk. I was very impressed.
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The Cons:
This isn't necessarily a Con, but I could taste the "oats." The first day I used it my coffee had a bit of an "oatmeal" flavor to it. Now I will say having used it for two weeks, I've gotten used to the taste and I no longer taste it as much, but it is something that I think you have to get used to.

​I decided to embrace it and make an "Oatmeal Latte" (recipe below) that had the flavors of my favorite hot cereal. Again though, after two weeks I'm not tasting it the way I did before.
 
Coffee aside the milk was delicious in cereal and my husband enjoyed a glass of it just as it was. I also used it in a Strawberry-Banana Smoothie and it was delicious! 
 
I will say if you're trying to cut calories, this isn't the way. The Oatmilk had just as many calories as my whole milk, and less vitamins and nutrients.
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Would I buy this again? Yes, especially if I know I'm having guests that don't do dairy. If you are just trying to cut calories or rely on cow's milk for nutrients, this isn't going to be for you. However, it's nice to change things up once in a while. It definitely lived up to the hype in terms of replicating cow's milk in coffee. If you're dairy free, this is your alternative product. It's especially great for people who can't process soy, or who may have a nut allergy but are dairy free.

Oatmeal Latte:
 
2 Shots Espresso 
3 Pumps Monin Tiramisu Syrup
Oat Milk Frothed
Caramel Drizzle ​