11 Popular Oat Milk Brands, Ranked Worst To Best
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These days, there are so many different milk options for you to choose from. Of course, you can still get your typical dairy milks, but why would you when you could choose from soy milk, almond milk, cashew milk, macadamia milk, and more? However, there is one type of milk that has taken over the dairy-free milk scene, and that's oat milk. It tends to be creamier than other plant-based milks, and its neutral flavor tastes amazing in coffee. In fact, go into just about any coffee shop these days, and they'll almost certainly be offering oat milk.
So, are you ready to experiment with oat milk for yourself? That's a great idea. However, before you pour some in your coffee, you're going to want to make sure you choose the best type of oat milk available. Not all oat milk is created equally, and we're sure that you want the best of the best.
Therefore, we've gone ahead and done the dirty work for you by ranking some of the most well-known oat milk brands out there. We're starting out with our least favorites of the bunch, but we'll quickly work our way to our favorites. So which oat milk you should be drinking in your iced latte every morning? Here's what we think.
11. Pacific Foods
A lot of people love oat milk because of its understated, neutral taste. This makes it a solid replacement for cow's milk — you can't really taste that much of a difference. And because of that, you probably do want an oat milk that is not going to have a strong, distinctive flavor before you even mix it with anything else. That's why we think you're probably not going to like the Pacific Foods Organic Oat. There's one thing you need to know about this brand of oat milk, and that's the fact that it's very, very sweet.
Many oat milks are on the sweeter side, but most of them have a relatively balanced flavor profile. Unfortunately, that's definitely not what you should expect from this oat milk. When you first take a sip, there's a good chance that you're going to be taken aback by just how sweet it is. Keep in mind that this oat milk isn't a coffee sweetener, so that's not really what you're going for here. Even if you like your coffee on the sweeter side, we don't think that this oat milk is a very good choice — check out the other options on this list.
10. Elmhurst
Next up, we have another oat milk that has just a bit too much sugar for our taste. Elmhurst Milked Oats may come in a nice-looking carton, but that doesn't mean it tastes good. This one is also on the sweeter side, but it's definitely not as intense of a flavor as you get with Pacific Foods. The sweetness itself actually isn't that bad if you're looking for an oat milk that you can easily add to your coffee — you probably wouldn't have to use extra sugar.
However, it's not just the sweetness that's throwing us off here; it's also the overall flavor. Unfortunately, Elmhurst Milked Oats is not the creamy, thick oat milk of your dreams. Rather, it's incredibly watery. In fact, it tastes like you're just sipping on water that oatmeal has been soaking in ... probably not what you're going to want to add to your coffee or baking projects.
With so many other oat milks on the market that have a better flavor, we just don't think there's any reason to pick up a bottle of Elmhurst Milked Oats. If you do decide to try it, don't be surprised if you're not blown away by the taste.
9. Oatsome
When you first pick up some Oatsome Organic Oat Milk, you may think you're getting some of the best stuff on the market. However, we found that it's not our favorite, unfortunately. Take a sip, and you'll probably be satisfied right away. However, once you wait for the aftertaste to set in, you're going to see why this oat milk may not be a top choice on our list. The aftertaste is exceptionally bitter — so much so that we had to flip the box around and check for an expiration date just to make sure it was still okay to drink.
While the texture of this oat milk is pretty good, we were disappointed to find out that it doesn't froth up much. This was disappointing to us because the company's website specifically says that this is a frothable oat milk. That's exactly what you're looking for when you're searching for an oat milk that will pair well with your coffee, and we were sorely disappointed with this one. We love the addition of frothy milk to a latte, and that's just not a reality when you choose this oat milk.
Is it the worst of the bunch? No. But is it something you should pick up the next time you're at the grocery store? We're going to say no there too.
8. Silk
If you're looking for a more affordable option, you may want to seek out Silk Oat Yeah. If you've heard of Silk before, it's likely because you've tried their other plant-based milks in the past. Back in the day, they sold soy and almond milk, but now they have other options as well. Unfortunately, their oat milk option just can't hold a candle to what is available from the companies that focus on just that. We do love that you can often find Silk Oat Yeah for cheaper than many other brands out there, and there's a good chance your local grocery store stocks it. But when it comes to taste? We'll have to pass.
The main problem with this oat milk is the fact that it's, well ... so oat-y. The oat flavor in this milk is super strong — it almost tastes like oatmeal all on its own. This may not be too much of a problem if you're just adding some oat milk to a baking project, but when it comes to drinking it on its own or adding it to your coffee, we're sad to report that it just doesn't taste that good.
7. Thrive Market
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more people have turned to online shopping to get their groceries. This trend continues to grow at a time when more people are working from home and struggling to balance their schedules. That's where companies like Thrive Market come in. Thrive Market is an online grocery store that stocks a ton of high-quality products. Instead of having to go all the way to the store, you just get all your groceries delivered to your door. Easy, right?
Well, if you order oat milk from Thrive Market, you're going to get their Organic Oat Beverage. It's basically just the company's version of a generic oat milk, and that's exactly what it tastes like. While it does have a distinctive oat flavor to it, it's not really unpleasant. However, it's not as smooth and creamy as some of our favorite brands. Overall, it's a solid option, but we certainly wouldn't go out of our way to order from Thrive Market just to get this oat milk.
6. Mooala
If you're looking for something that's a little different and has an added element of flavor, then you may want to check out Mooala Oatmilk. This company makes a ton of different plant-based milks, including harder-to-find options such as banana milk. But their oat milk also sets them apart. That's because they blend their toasted oat milk with coconut cream. This results in a slightly different flavor than what you might be used to with oat milk. But more importantly, it adds a creaminess to the beverage that we absolutely love. We wish that every oat milk was this creamy.
However, if you don't love the taste of coconut, then this may not be the oat milk for you. The coconut flavor is surprisingly strong. And while this milk is amazing when mixed with coffee, we don't think it's quite as good if you drink it on your own.
Overall, though, this is a super creative take on oat milk, so it's definitely worth a try if you want to taste something out of the ordinary. We can't wait to see what Mooala comes out with next!
5. Califia Farms
Califia Farms is another one of those easily recognizable brands. They don't just do oat milk — they have a ton of other products out on the market, like other plant-based milks and even coffee drinks. Their oat milk isn't their very best work, but we still think it's better than the average option, especially if you're drinking it on its own. Califia Farms' oat milk is on the thicker side, meaning you get a creamier finish. The oat flavor is strong in this one, but it's also sweet and fragrant — in this case, we actually like how much you can taste the oats.
However, there is one major drawback when it comes to this oat milk brand. If you use it in your coffee, it's likely to separate. Instead of mixing in well with your coffee, it's going to get all clumpy, which is definitely not what you're going to want first thing in the morning.
You can also pick up their oatmeal creamer, which we think is slightly better in coffee. And don't forget their flavored almond milks either — they're a fun way to switch up your morning routine.
4. Planet Oat
When you just need a standard solid oat milk that's easy to find and won't break the bank, we have just the solution for you: Planet Oat Oatmilk. First of all, you're going to love that this brand has so many different products available. Whether you want to try the original or unsweetened oat milk or you'd rather try the coffee creamers or even the ice creams, we don't think you're going to be disappointed. But the milk is where it really shines. It's cheaper than a lot of the other brands out there, which is definitely a plus. The flavor is fantastic too. It's well-balanced, without too much sweetness or oat flavor.
One reviewer on Amazon posted a comment detailing what she loved about this oat milk: "I've tried a bunch of brands and Planet Oat is probably my favorite, especially considering the lower price point compared to something like Oatly. Perfect for your morning coffee and not too rich that you couldn't use it for breakfast cereal!"
We love when an oat milk is this versatile, so it's definitely one of our top choices. See if you can find it in your store's dairy aisle the next time you go grocery shopping.
3. Chobani
Wait, isn't Chobani a yogurt brand? That may be what you know Chobani for, but the company also makes oat milk as well. And in our opinion, they've knocked it out of the park. Some people compare this brand to Planet Oat — they seem to be pretty similar. One of the best parts of this oat milk is the fact that it's such a good candidate for frothing. If you're trying to make a cappuccino or just want to take an extra step in your coffee-making process in the morning, this oat milk is a good ingredient to have on hand. And as a bonus, it also tastes great when you add it to your coffee, whether you decide to foam it or not.
There are different varieties of oat milk available from the brand, but we think that the plain extra creamy is the best of the best. There's no added sugars or flavors, so you can use it for your coffee or as an addition to pretty much any recipe. And when they say "extra creamy," they seriously mean it. This stuff feels as thick and creamy as whole cow's milk — all without the negative impact on the environment.
There's a good chance that you can find Chobani Oat somewhere near you, so give it a try if you're looking for a new oat milk option.
2. Oatly
Perhaps the most famous oat milk brand of them all is Oatly. The product entered the U.S. market in 2016, and since then, the popularity of oat milk has exploded. We can largely thank Oatly's contribution to this aspect of café culture — would we all be sucking down high volumes of iced oat milk lattes without them? We don't know. But what we do know is that they're still one of the best oat milk brands on the market. Their Barista Edition is a classic, and it really does go perfectly with coffee. Plus, who doesn't want to have Oatly's cute branded cartons in their fridge?
Oatly has the slightest oat milk flavor, but it really adds something to an otherwise average coffee. It's not sweet, per se, but it's not totally flavorless, either. We think it's exceptionally well balanced. If you've never tried oat milk before and are wondering where to start, Oatly is probably your best bet — let's just hope there's not another Oatly shortage!
1. Minor Figures
And our favorite brand of them all? Minor Figures. You may not see this one at your local grocery store, but we promise you that it will be worth going out of your way for — you'll be able to find it from a number of grocery delivery services. The first thing you'll notice when you try this oat milk is the packaging. It's got a quirky illustration on it that makes it even more appealing. The second thing you'll notice is the fact the label says it's for baristas. That means — you guessed it — this stuff is amazing in coffee. If you're looking for the closest dairy-free alternative to whole milk, Minor Figures is what you should be drinking.
It's got a nice, neutral taste to it. While it offers a hint of oat flavor, you're not getting much of it. More than anything, it's smooth and creamy. And even if you don't have a milk frother at home, it will foam up nicely — just give it a good shake. It's also delicious on its own and for use in recipes, but just keep in mind that the smaller carton size means you might have to buy more than one if you're not just using it for your coffee.
Ready to try an oat milk that won't make you miss dairy? Minor Figures is our top choice.