The Unexpected Connection Between Hummus And Plant-Based Coffee Creamers
The popularity of dairy alternatives in coffee shops has reached a point where even McDonald's has made oat milk available. Sky News says pressure is mounting on big-name chains like Starbucks to drop the surcharges attached to them, too. While coffee shop owners debate making such a change, they could soon have a new dairy alternative in their arsenal to satisfy their customers' desires.
Of course, that isn't to say the existing options are insufficient. Cafe Virtuoso endorses dairy alternatives, such as oat milk, for their creamy textures and sweet flavors. Cup of Caffeine echoes those sentiments, stating that dairy alternatives offer more fiber and protein than dairy milk, on top of providing the frothy element that coffee connoisseurs crave. But it seems the coffee industry is always on the lookout for the next delicious dairy stand-in.
What may surprise you about a new product on the horizon is its connection to another popular food: hummus.
Chickpeas flex their versatility
There are a ton of things you can do with chickpeas, such as making Mashed's lemon hummus recipe. But one company in Israel seeks to prove that another thing you can do with chickpeas is make a sustainably sourced, creamy, and tasty coffee creamer.
According to Israel21c, ChickP is developing a dairy-free creamer "made of protein isolates" from chickpeas. The creamer could build on the company's other products, and ChickP's ambitions include the creamer being just one of more than 20 applications of its chickpea protein (per Israel21c). The chickpea creamer could even deliver more protein than other dairy alternatives, all while maintaining the appearance and performance that baristas demand.
That claim on the protein content checks out, as LiveStrong says chickpeas are among the best plant sources of protein in existence. The Eat Down says milk made from chickpeas has a neutral flavor and is more environmentally sustainable than other alternatives, such as almond milk, because it takes less water to produce. Plus, the Eat Down also points out that chickpeas cost less to acquire than almonds. Whether you have to pay extra for it or not, you might someday be able to get your latte made with chickpea milk at your favorite coffee shop. If you enjoy that with some hummus, people could say you are "gonzo for garbanzo."