6+ Best Milk Substitutes for a Latte (Plus a Recipe)

A latte is a coffee drink that originated from Italy and is short for “caffè latte,” which means “milk coffee.” It’s made with espresso and steamed milk.

A typical latte recipe consists of one or two shots of espresso, a significant amount of steamed whole milk (approximately 5 to 6 times the amount of coffee), and a small amount of milk froth on top. The main flavor of a latte should still be coffee, but it is significantly milder and creamier due to the amount of milk.

The proportion of espresso, steamed milk, and milk froth can vary based on personal preference or coffee shop style, but generally, the ratio is approximately 1:5:1.

Lattes are often served in a tall glass or mug, and many baristas create beautiful “latte art” on top of the drink by carefully pouring the frothed milk into the espresso in such a way that creates a pattern or design.

It’s worth noting that a latte is different from a cappuccino, another popular coffee drink. A cappuccino typically has equal parts of espresso, steamed milk, and milk froth, making it stronger in coffee flavor and less milky compared to a latte.

Whether you’re lactose intolerant, vegan, or just trying to cut back on dairy, there are a number of plant-based alternatives that you can use for making lattes.

Here are some of the best options of plant-based milks that will satisfy the pickiest of coffee drinkers.

Oat milk is becoming increasingly popular as an alternative milk, especially in coffee shops. It has a creamy texture that’s closer to low-fat cow’s milk than many other alternatives, and it froths very well, which makes it excellent for lattes.

Plus, its natural sweetness can enhance the flavor of your latte.

See the end of this post for my Oat Milk Latte recipe!

Coconut milk is rich and creamy with a distinct flavor.

It froths fairly well for lattes, but the strong coconut flavor can dominate the taste of your coffee, so it’s best for those who enjoy that flavor. Coconut milk is the best option if you want a very creamy latte, but it doesn’t have much protein.

You can use either full-fat or light canned coconut milk for your latte, but the full-fat version will provide the richest flavor. Look for it in the baking section of most grocery stores.

Soy milk is another common choice and it’s good for frothing because of its high protein content. It has a slightly thicker texture and a mild flavor that works well in lattes.

Ideally, you would use organic soy milk for your lattes. Don’t use it if you have a soy sensitivity. Otherwise, it might be the best milk alternative and perhaps the best choice for a latte.

You can use either vanilla soy milk or plain soy milk to replace regular milk.

Cashew milk is another option that is creamy and froths reasonably well. It has a sweet, subtle flavor and can make a rich, velvety latte.

This is one of the great plant-based milk alternatives that has a neutral taste and slightly nutty flavor. You can make your own homemade cashew milk.

Coconut oil is a common ingredient in dairy-free latte recipes because it helps to create a frothy texture in the non-dairy milk. This is particularly important when making a latte, as the frothiness adds a nice visual appeal and texture to the drink.

Additionally, the small amount of coconut oil in the recipe adds a subtle coconut flavor that can complement the coffee and other ingredients.

However, the coconut oil can be optional, and the recipe can still work without it if you prefer to omit it.