The Oat Milk Latte: 3 Ways, At Home

The oat milk latte has taken over as the tastiest vegan version of the classic creamy beverage. Save some money by making your own at home!

Why is Oat Milk so popular?

Oat milk is the barista’s non-dairy choice du jour because its texture and flavor are so similar to that of cow’s milk - creamy, not too sweet, and easy-to-froth.

Oat milk sales in the US rose from $4 million in 2017 to $29 million in 2019 (that’s seven-fold!) (1), joining soy and almond as the top cafe non-dairy choices (22). Plant-based milks of all kinds (almond, pea, coconut, etc.) are booming as the public becomes more conscious about nutrition and environmental sustainability (2).

Oat milk premiered in the US in hipster coffee shops, but it has since become available in grocery stores. It’s now easy to get your oat milk latte fix but with the convenience and cost-savings of your own home kitchen.

Oat Milk Nutrition FAQs

Oat milk is comparable to cow’s milk in taste, but does it match in nutrition? Oat milk does not naturally contain the nutrients for which cow’s milk is “known:" protein, calcium, vitamin A, vitamin D, and vitamin B12. For that reason, most oat milks are fortified to closely match cow’s milk's nutritional profile.

Take a look at three different types:

If you peek at labels A and B above, you can see that the micronutrients (calcium, vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin B12) are nearly identical between the cow's milk (A) and the oat milk (B). The cow's milk contains significantly more protein because this oat milk (B) was only fortified with vitamins/minerals, not with protein.

Take a look at label C to see what oat milk without fortification looks like. You can see just a smidge of vitamins and minerals that naturally occur in the oats, but no micronutrients were added.

If you’re vegan or vegetarian, I recommend seeking a fortified oat milk version (like B) to make sure you’re getting the helpful vitamins and minerals that are typically found in animal products.

How does it nutritionally compare to other dairy-free milks?

Many non-dairy milks are fortified with vitamins and minerals just like oat milk is. To determine this at the grocery store, peek at the ingredients label and you’ll see the micronutrients listed (like “calcium carbonate” or “vitamin A palmitate”) if the product is fortified. A few non-dairy milks - specifically soy and pea - naturally contain more protein than other plant-based milk products.

Does it offer the same health benefits as oatmeal does?

Close, but not quite. Because making oat milk involves straining out the solids from the liquid portion, oat milk has less fiber and less protein than oatmeal does.

• Oat Milk (1 cup): 2-3 g fiber, 2-3 g protein (varies per brand)
• Oatmeal (1 cup): 4 g fiber, 6 g protein

This makes oat milk less satiating (i.e., not ideal to rely upon as a snack or meal). Nonetheless, oat milk does contain more fiber and protein than some other nondairy milks do.

Is it gluten-free?

Pure oats do not contain gluten. However, oats are often grown or processed side-by-side with gluten-containing grains like wheat, barley and rye. Oats can be contaminated with gluten unless they are explicitly listed as gluten-free. If you’re avoiding gluten, make sure your oat milk choice is labeled “gluten-free.” Examples free of gluten include: Oatly, Califia Farms, and Elmhurst.

Now Let’s Get to Cooking: 3 Oat Milk Latte Recipes

The following oat milk lattes require zero special barista equipment (but if you have those, more power to you!). Also, these recipes can be made with any milk or mylk, not just oat.

A rich, dark espresso-based latte with oat milk.

Classic Oat Milk Latte (Sort Of)

Ok coffee aficionados, I know a truly classic latte requires espresso, not coffee. But because we’re avoiding all speciality equipment - including espresso machines - we are improvising by using very strong coffee instead of espresso.

• 12 fl oz Oat Milk
• 2 fl oz Coffee (Strongly brewed, dark, from finely ground beans)

1. Heat milk on the stove in a small saucepan until steaming (~5 minutes over medium heat) or in the microwave (~60 seconds)

2. Pour hot brewed coffee into your desired cup, followed by heated milk

3. Top with foam (see below*)

Golden milk offers a sweet, rich taste combined with the antioxidants of turmeric.

Golden Milk

Golden milk (sometimes called “turmeric milk”) is a mug-full of comfort and antioxidants without any caffeine. Tip: double the recipe and save half for a rainy day, literally.

• 12 fl oz Oat Milk
• 1 tsp Turmeric (ground)
• ½ tsp Cinnamon (ground)
• ¼ tsp Ginger (ground, or fresh (grated))
• ⅛ tsp Black Pepper
• 1 tsp Maple Syrup (or another sweetener like honey, agave, or a few drops stevia)

1. Heat all ingredients on the stove in a small saucepan on medium for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, to allow milk to heat and spices to release their aromas.

2. Decant into a mug and top with foam (see below*)

London fog lattes are perfect when you need an afternoon pick me up.

London Fog

A tea latte offers a small dose of caffeine combined with the calming experience of tea. To switch it up, follow the same recipe but use chai or another flavorful black/green tea instead.

• 1 bag Early Grey tea (or 2 tsp, if using loose leaf)
• ¾ cup Water (boiling)
• ⅓ cup Oat Milk
• 1 tsp Honey (or another mild tasting sweetener, or a few drops stevia)

1. Brew the tea: pour boiling water over the tea leaves and steep for 5-7 minutes (normally steeping this long would make for a bitter cup of tea, but we want our tea extra strong so the flavor comes through in the milk).

2. Heat milk on the stove in a small saucepan until steaming (~5 minutes over medium heat) or in the microwave (~60 seconds)

3. Stir sweetener of choice into milk until dissolved

4. Pour tea into your desired cup, followed by heated milk

5. Top with foam (see below*)

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*...Last But Not Least, What About the Foam?

If you’re a serious at-home latte-maker, it may be worth investing in a high-quality milk frother like this.

If you’re like me - not quite serious, but aspiring to be - an inexpensive device like this still works wonders.

If you’re very new to the latte game and not feeling ready for any equipment, here’s the cheapest option of all:

1. Put about 2 fl oz of heated milk in a sealable container you already own (like a jar that has a top, a Tupperware bowl, or a bottle).
2. Shake vigorously until you’ve got a good foam.

It’s not glamorous, but it works!