Roast & Ground's top tips for alternative milk options for your workplace coffee machine set up.
Plant-based milks are no longer a nice-to-have in the workplace, they’re an expectation. But with so many options available, which ones actually work best in coffee machines? Read on to discover the best non-dairy choices for taste, texture and froth, plus practical ways to serve them at work.
Now that people can readily choose their favourite plant-based milks at supermarkets and coffee shops, they want non-dairy options available at work, too.
Yet while today’s range of milk alternatives is extensive – everything from split pea to cashew nut and hemp seed – it also can seem overwhelming.
More so when you discover that the plant milk you like to slosh over cereal at home won’t necessarily work well in coffee, or in your bean-to-cup coffee machine.
So which non-dairy milks are best for taste, quality and frothability in the workplace setting?
Choosing the right plant-based milks for your office coffee machine
You might have seen some plant-based milks sporting the label “Barista Version”, which means they’re specifically formulated to perform well in coffee.
In general, that means:
- their fat and protein content will be a little higher than the non-barista alt milks from the same brand
- they tend to contain acidity regulators, thickeners or emulsifiers to prevent the milk splitting when mixed with espresso, and
- these additives will make them taste a little creamier, too.
Which non-dairy milk tastes best with coffee?
This really is a matter of personal preference and in fact flavour is not the only consideration.
Many people enjoy the mild taste and creamy texture of oat milk and, because oats grow readily in the UK, it’s sometimes seen as the most climate-friendly option.
Soya and almond milks have their fans too, especially among people who are looking for a higher protein content, or who need to avoid grain products.
It’s worth surveying your team to see which flavours have the most initial interest but rest assured that with Roast & Ground you can choose from a range of high-quality barista-standard milk alternatives that will froth beautifully and taste delicious.
The best plant-based flat whites, lattes and cappuccinos every time
The secret to making delicious dairy-free coffee drinks isn’t just the products you buy, it’s the way our engineers calibrate your machine to work with the milk to produce perfect results time after time.
Just like our coffee beans, all our non-dairy milks are hand-picked for their compatibility with the bean-to-cup coffee machines we sell. And because the technology behind today’s commercial coffee machines is so sophisticated, liquid milk alternatives are not your only option!
Even expert baristas find it hard to fault the frothy coffees made with our specially selected oat milk powder, allowing more companies to offer a satisfying choice of dairy and plant-based milks in the workplace. Powdered milks have the added benefit of being shelf-stable.
Five easy solutions for serving fresh milk and non-dairy alternatives in your workplace
1. Install multiple machines, with one (or more) dedicated exclusively to plant-based milks
This is the best option for allergy suffers because there is no risk of cross-contamination, assuming the machine is only ever filled with non-dairy alternatives. Any, or any combination, of our Rex-Royal or Jura coffee machines would work here.
2. Choose a machine with a dual fridge
A dual fridge lets you offer two different milks, one dairy and one plant-based alternative. However, important to note: there is a risk of cross-contamination, so this set-up is not suitable for allergy sufferers. The Rex-Royal S500, Rex-Royal S300 and Rex-Royal S2 all offer a dual milk option.
3. Opt for a fresh milk machine that has a steam wand
This allows users to steam the milk of their choice at the point of making. The steam wand can be manual or automatic (so minimal barista skills required). Purging and wiping down the wand between uses is easy to do and keeps the risk of cross contamination very low. Our Rex-Royal bean-to-cup machines are made to order and can come with manual or automatic steam wands.
4. Choose a machine with a canister for powdered oat milk
This is a great solution where demand for non-dairy alternatives is modest. We find most workplaces want the option to serve hot chocolate, so look for a machine with two powder canisters, such as the Rex-Royal S2.
5. Add a fresh milk preparation machine to your set-up
Serving a lot of people throughout the day? Want to offer a wide choice of barista-quality milk options? Rex-Royal’s XM machines are ideal for caterers and large workplaces. They serve up to two milk varieties and, with the option of a PowerSteam wand, as many additional milks as you like. Add-on flavour modules let you expand the menu of milky drinks available too.
