Oat milk is a great alternative to cow’s milk. It’s made by blending oats with water and then straining the mixture. The result? A creamy and slightly sweet beverage that’s dairy-free.
There are so many different brands and types of oat milk out there – sweetened, unsweetened, fortified and flavored. With so many options, you’re bound to find one that works for you.
I’ll be sharing my favorite oat milk picks with you below!
How to choose the best oat milk
It’s all about reading your labels! Here’s what to look for:
Stabilizers and emulsifiers
Oat milk may contain various additives depending on the brand and product. Common additives include stabilizers (such as guar gum) to prevent separation and emulsifiers (like gellan gum) to create a smooth texture. These additives are generally considered safe for consumption, but some people may prefer to avoid certain additives.
Added nutrients
While homemade oat milk is great, it doesn’t have the added vitamins and minerals that some fortified brands do. Fortified oat milk is especially important for those who follow a vegan or vegetarian diet, as they will benefit from added calcium and B and D vitamins.
Oils
Some oat milk brands add oil, such as sunflower, rapeseed, or other vegetable oils. Adding a bit of oil gives oat milk a smoother texture and creamy consistency that makes it more like regular milk. Not all oat milks include oils, but most “barista” or “full fat” kinds for foaming or steaming do.
Added sugar
Some oat milks can contain a lot of added sugar. It’s best to avoid sweetened or flavored varieties such as chocolate or vanilla oat milk, as these likely contain more sugar and salt than unsweetened varieties.
Allergens
If you have any allergies or sensitivities, double-check the label for potential allergens like gluten, nuts, or soy. Some oat milk brands might process their stuff in facilities that handle those allergens, so keep an eye out.
How we selected
I use oat milk daily in my morning coffee or matcha latte, so I’ve tried a LOT of different brands.
When choosing the best oat milk, I look at their ingredients, quality, taste, nutritional value, convenience, and price.
- Ingredients: The fewer additives, the better. I looked for ones that are mainly made of oats and water, without a lot of added sugar or artificial stuff. Some brands might throw in a pinch of salt to enhance the flavor.
- Consumer feedback: In addition to my own experience, I considered reviews from other consumers on taste, consistency, and overall satisfaction.
- Nutrition: The best options have minimal sugar and salt. Added vitamins and minerals are a plus!
- Track record: I like to stick with brands that have a solid reputation. It’s comforting to know that they’ve been around for a while and have built a loyal following.
- Price: Oat milk prices can vary quite a bit. I keep an eye out for brands that offer good value for the quality they deliver.
Top 6 oat flour brands
Overall Rank | Brand (click link to buy) | Best for |
1 | California Farms Barista Blend Oat Milk | Overall |
2 | Planet Oat Oatmilk | Simple ingredients |
3 | Oatly Full Fat Oat Milk | Taste |
4 | Silk Oat Milk | Budget |
5 | 365 by Whole Foods Market Original Oatmilk | Value |
6 | Chobani Oat Milk Plain Barista Edition | Coffee |
#1 Best Overall: California Farms Barista Blend Oat Milk
With minimal ingredients and a creamy, delicious taste that foams beautifully, California Farms Barista Blend Oat Milk is my top pick. It’s specifically formulated for making lattes, so it froths up like a dream, giving you that creamy goodness you crave in your coffee.
Ingredients: Oatmilk (Water, Oats), Sunflower Oil, Minerals (Dipotassium Phosphate, Calcium Carbonate, Tricalcium Phosphate), Sea Salt.
#2 Best Simple Ingredients: Planet Oat Oatmilk
Planet Oat is a new oat milk brand that stands out for its simple ingredients – only 5 of them! It’s a more natural and oil-free oat milk, free from artificial preservatives, colors, flavors, and dairy, peanuts, soy, and gluten.
Ingredients: Oatmilk (filtered water, oats), calcium carbonate, dipotassium phosphate (stabilizer), sea salt and gellan gum.
#3 Best Taste: Oatly Full Fat Oat Milk
Oatly has been around since the beginning and they know how to make oat milk that tastes insanely good. It’s creamy, it’s delicious, and it’s perfect for lattes, cappuccinos, baking, or just dunking your cookies in. It also has DHA algal oil, which gives you some vegetarian omega 3’s.
Ingredients: Oatmilk (water, oats), low erucic acid rapeseed oil. Contains 2% or less of: dipotassium phosphate, calcium carbonate, tricalcium phosphate, sea salt, dicalcium phosphate, DHA algal oil, sodium ascorbate (antioxidant), tocopherols (antioxidant), riboflavin, vitamin A, vitamin D2, vitamin B12.
#4 Best Budget Option: Silk Oat Milk
Silk is the OG of oat milk brands and they’ve been delivering quality on a budget for ages. It’s affordable, packed with vitamins A, D, and B, but yeah, it does have a few extra additives. Still, it’s a solid choice that won’t empty your wallet.
Ingredients: Oatmilk (Filtered Water, Oat Concentrate), Contains 2% or Less of: Sunflower Oil, Vitamin and Mineral Blend (Calcium Carbonate, Vitamin A Palmitate, Vitamin D2, Riboflavin [B2], Vitamin B12), Dipotassium Phosphate, Sea Salt, Gellan Gum, Locust Bean Gum, Ascorbic Acid (to Protect Freshness), Natural Flavor. MAY CONTAIN: Tree Nuts, Soy.
#5: Best Value: 365 by Whole Foods Market Original Oatmilk
This Whole Foods Oatmilk is the perfect combo of quality and affordability. It has a great price and still tastes pretty darn good. Plus, you can snag it conveniently at any Whole Foods store or Amazon. The only downside is that it’s not gluten-free.
Ingredients: Oatmilk (Filtered Water, Oats), Contains 2% Or Less Of The Following: Sunflower Seed Oil, Tricalcium Phosphate, Potassium Phosphate, Calcium Carbonate, Sea Salt, Gellan Gum, Vitamin A Palmitate, Ergocalciferol (Vitamin D2), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12). MAY CONTAIN: wheat.
#6 Best for Coffee: Chobani Oat Milk Plain Barista Edition
Chobani Oat Milk Plain Barista Edition is the coffee lover’s dream. It tastes absolutely amazing in lattes and other coffee drinks. The only downside is it’s got a bit more sugar than the others, so watch out if you’re counting your sweet stuff. But dang, it’s worth it for that perfect cup of joe!
Ingredients: Organic oat blend (water, organic whole grain oats), rapeseed oil, contains 2% or less of: sea salt, calcium carbonate, gellan gum, tricalcium phosphate, dipotassium phosphate.
Comparing oat milk brands nutrition facts
Here’s the nutrition facts for each type of milk, taken directly from their labels:
Per 1 cup (240mL) | Calories | Fat (g) | Sodium (mg) | Carbohydrates (g) | Sugar (g) | Added sugar (g) | Protein (g) |
California Farms Oat Barista Blend Oat Milk | 130 | 7 | 110 | 14 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
Planet Oat OatMilk | 100 | 1.5 | 120 | 19 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
Oatly Full Fat Oat Milk | 160 | 9 | 100 | 15 | 7 | 7 | 3 |
Silk Oat Milk | 120 | 5 | 100 | 18 | 7 | 7 | 1 |
365 by Whole Foods Market Original Oatmilk | 120 | 5 | 140 | 16 | 7 | 7 | 3 |
Chobani Oat Milk Plain Barista Edition | 150 | 8 | 105 | 18 | 10 | 10 | 2 |
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