The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Best Vegan Milk For You 

With an abundance of plant-based milk options, there’s never been a better time to switch from dairy milk. But which do you start with? If you’re a new vegan, how do you know which one to pick? And even if you’re a seasoned vegan, dare you step outside your comfort zone? Here’s the trick: different milks work for different people. Use this guide to find the best option for you, and don’t be surprised if you match with more than one. There’s room in the fridge for at least two bottles, right?  

1. You’re an at-home barista
Whether you own a fancy espresso machine or work magic with a milk frother, you know how to make a fantastic vegan latte at home. However, your plant milk of choice could be holding you back. To create that delicate microfoam, opt for oat, soy, or specifically designated “barista blend” almond milks. You also want something that is slightly sweetened, as no-sugar varieties will taste bitter when steamed.  
Try these brands: Califia Farms Barista Blends, Oatly (any variety), Pacific Foods Soy

2. You’re looking for a low-calorie option
The caloric content of plant milks can range from 25-140 calories per eight-ounce serving depending on which product and brand you buy. Oat and pea tend to land on the higher end of this scale, whereas unsweetened varieties of almond and cashew-based milks fall toward the lower end. 
Try these brands: Almond Breeze Unsweetened Original or Vanilla, Silk Unsweetened Cashewmilk, Whole Foods 365 Organic Almondmilk Unsweetened

3. You want to maximize your protein intake
Across the board, cow’s milk has eight grams of protein per eight-ounce serving, but the protein range for plant milks can land anywhere from one gram to eight grams for the same serving size. Soy and pea milk naturally contain eight ounces of plant-based protein, so opt for one of these when blending up your protein shake.  
Try these brands: Ripple (any variety), Silk Soymilk in Original

4. You care about a minimal ingredient list 
We get it—for everyday staples, it’s nice to keep things simple. If you’re looking for a short ingredient list with names you can pronounce, stick to unsweetened and unflavored plant milks. Be sure to avoid labels that say “original” or “fortified.” 
Try these brands: Any variety of Elmhurst 1925, Eden Foods, Malk Organics

5. You need a nutritional powerhouse 
Food is fuel, and you want to optimize your nutrition with every sip. Reaching for a high-protein plant milk such as pea or soy is a great start, but you can go one step further by selecting a product that is fortified. Many plant-based brands now fortify their milks with additional calcium, vitamin D and B vitamins, and omega-3 fatty acids. 
Try these brands: Any variety of Ripple or Oatly, or Califia Farms Original Protein Oat

6. You just want something to pour on your morning cereal
This is simultaneously the easiest and most challenging scenario, because your options are wide open in this case. It really comes down to taste preference here. We’ve found the most pleasure with an unsweetened vanilla almond or cashew milk when diving into our favorite bowl of cereal or granola, but an unsweetened macadamia milk also floats our boat from time to time. 
Try these brands: Silk Unsweetened Cashewmilk, Califia Farms (any unsweetened variety)

7. You’re a sucker for flavored milk 
Every now and then, we crave a tall, ice-cold glass of chocolate milk. This also comes down to taste, as some brands are sweeter than others, but consistency-wise, opt for a creamy base such as oat, soy, cashew, or pea milk. 
Try these brands: Chobani Oat-Based Chocolate Drink or any flavored variety of Oatly, Ripple, and Silk

8. You crave something different every day of the week
If variety sparks joy for you, you’ll love creating your own plant milk. The flavor options are infinite, and the milk-making process is generally easy (leave the soy to the pros). Try your hand at the old-fashioned way (soak, blend, strain, and chill) or invest in a convenient plant milk machine such as the Almond Cow. With a push of a button, you can have a fresh batch of plant milk (yes, it does more than almond milk) in under a minute. No matter which process you choose, you’ll feel triumphant and blissful as you take that first sip of freshly made plant milk.      
Try these recipes: Hazelnut milk, oat milk, almond milk

Tanya Flink is a Digital Editor at VegNews as well as a writer and runner living in Orange County, CA.