The 20 Best Non-Dairy and Vegan Coffee Creamers

One of the hardest things about going plant-based – more than steak or eggs – was half and half in my coffee. I tried not to care but couldn’t stop craving my creamy cup of morning java, because plant-based milk was just not cutting it. So, I began my quest for suitable the best dairy-free creamer.

Non-dairy creamers are the fastest-growing segment of the plant-based market, after milk, expected to top $6 Billion in sales in the next five years. It appears that more vegan coffee creamers crop up every month.

Note that traditional Coffee-Mate (a Nestlé product) is lactose-free and on the company's website they say it is "non-dairy" but some of their products are not completely free of animal products since they contain sodium caseinate, which is a protein derived from cow's milk. So skip the regular Coffee-Mate and try the non-dairy natural Bliss sister brand, since it doesn't contain the caseinate that we could see. There are many great choices to choose from, so we decided to taste-test the most popular non-dairy creamers, plus a few outliers that sounded interesting.

In this taste test, we sampled Califia Farms Almond Creamer, Silk Almond Creamer Vanilla, Natural Bliss Coconut Milk Creamer/Sweet Cream, So Delicious Organic Creamer, Coconut Milk, Natural Bliss Oat Milk Creamer, Vanilla Natural Flavor, Silk Oat Yeah Oat Milk Creamer, Silk Original Dairy-Free Original Soy Creamer, and Trader Joe's Coconut Creamer. While this taste is totally subjective based on personal taste, and whether you prefer half and a half or full cream taste and consistency in your coffee, it will hopefully help guide you as you search for your favorite option.

The main objective for these taste tests was to find a non-dairy creamer that would replace half and half, which I heat in my electric milk frother to give me that creamy coffee treats I so depended on every morning. Unfortunately, most of the better non-dairy creamers I tasted have added cane sugar (except the So Delicious organic creamer) and added oils (coconut, palm, or sunflower). Ensure that you check the ingredients and use them sparingly!

For all the Beet Meters, check out the best vegan products.

Overall Winner:

1. Nutpods Creamer Unsweetened Original

Nutpods is the closest you'll get to the real thing! Tasters immediately gave this dairy-free creamer a 5 out of 5. The texture is smooth and mixes with coffee instantly. Unlike soy creamers, this almond and coconut-based creamer doesn't separate once you are done stirring. Nut Pods is the most comparable to half and half in the whole list of creamers!

2. So Delicious Organic Coconut Milk Creamer

So Delicious has been marketing dairy-free frozen desserts, yogurt alternatives, and smooth plant-based beverages for over 30 years. Besides the coconut milk, they also have “Original” and “Snickerdoodle.” “Caramel” and “Creamy Vanilla” flavors. I only sampled the coconut milk flavor. This is the only one in this taste test with 0 grams of added sugar. It has a very rich coconut taste and froths up nicely in coffee-like milk. It’s not as thick as some of the others but is a good alternative to ultra-sweet creamers if you want to be careful about your sugar intake. The coconut flavor is powerful but not overwhelming.

3. Minor Figures Barista Oat M*lk

Minor Figures is an up-and-coming oat milk company that makes a coffee creamer that froths up just like the real thing. This Barista style non-dairy creamer gets its natural sweetness from the oats and will not overwhelm your coffee with an overly sweet flavor. The only downside is that it contains 22 grams of carbs and 114 calories, so think of it as a treat or even a snack replacement.

4. CoffeeMate Natural Bliss Vanilla Oat Milk Creamer

Natural Bliss Oat Milk Creamer, Vanilla Natural Flavor, with 4 grams of added sugar is similar to Coffee Mate’s Coconut creamer but without the coconut flavor. It’s super-rich and creamy with a hint of oat flavor but not bitter at all. My new favorite! This is the best one I’ve found for frothing and taste especially if you miss the consistency and flavor of half and half. It’s like the real thing as it’s creamy, fluffy, and not grainy. Remember to shake it up before putting in your frother. Use a little and be happy with your non-dairy latte!

5. Califia Unsweetened Almond Milk Creamer

Califia Farms Almond Creamer is made with real almonds and coconut cream to give a rich, full-flavored texture and has 2 grams of added sugar. The consistency is so thick it’s more like a heavy cream rather than a creamer substitute. Regardless, it froths up well and is very creamy. The almond taste is noticeable but the creamer isn’t bitter or grainy. You don’t need to use a lot of it; a little goes a long way!

6. Original Oat-Ly Oat Milk Barista Edition

The Original Oat-Ly Oat Milk Barista Edition contains 4 grams of sugar but its full-flavored taste makes it a rich choice. It doesn’t market itself as a creamer but it does advertise as the choice for the barista community. It’s slightly less frothy than real milk when mixed but the flavor is pleasant, not bitter, and I would choose it again.

7. Silk Almond Creamer

Silk’s almond-based creamer is creamier than most almond milk and provides the perfect texture for your coffee with absolutely no aftertaste. It adds just the right amount of sugar if you like your coffee modestly sweet without an overbearing amount of sweetness. The low-calorie option contains no protein but is a great choice if you like the taste of 2 percent milk in your coffee

8. Almond Breeze Almondmilk Creamer Vanilla

If you worry that almond milk is thin, AlmondBreeze has made a thicker version for their creamer. This creamer replicates the exact texture of traditional 2 percent milk. The vanilla creamer is modestly sweet so when you use it your coffee won’t need any additional sugar. This creamer offers a smooth taste and no aftertaste. It’s low in calories and carbs but also contains no protein.

9. Milkadamia Unsweetened Vanilla Macadamia Creamer

This macadamia nut-based creamer has a hint of the nut flavor enhanced by vanilla, which makes it richer in flavor than most. Still, it is on the thin side so you need to use more of it in your coffee to get the full effect. Regardless, it remains a good choice for anyone looking for a low-calorie option.

10. Silk Oat Yeah Oat Milk Creamer

Silk Oat Yeah Oat Milk Creamer, the Vanilla One has 4 grams of added sugar and is also at the top of my list. While it’s sweet, it’s also incredibly rich which means you can use less of it in your coffee. It was thick and creamy when frothed and it adds a fluffy cap to your coffee as lattes make with real cream. Note that pea protein is an added ingredient in this creamer as well. This can rival the real thing but choose this one only if you like a strong vanilla aftertaste!

11. Silk Vanilla Oat Milk Creamer

Silk’s Vanilla Oat Milk Creamer will satisfy any sweet tooth. This non-dairy substitute perfectly matches the texture and taste of traditional creamers. The vanilla flavoring and added sugar bring out a momentary aftertaste that sweet drink lovers will like. Still, with just 25 calories, Silk Vanilla Oat Milk Creamer is a great choice when looking for a rich, dessert-like coffee experience.

12. Forager Organic Dairy-Free Half & Half

Forager is cashew milk and coconut cream-based that mixes for a unique and flavorful taste. The consistency was on the thinner side, and if you're a heavy cream or half-and-half devotee this is probably not the creamer for you, although those who like a lighter flavor will enjoy it.

13. Sproud Unsweetened Pea-Based Milk

Sproud’s pea-protein non-dairy creamer is low in calories and carbs, and high in protein, with 4 grams a serving, making it one of the healthier choices. As for texture, this creamer is on the thinner side and would work well for someone who likes skim milk in their coffee, since it’s not as thick as others we taste-tested. Taste-wise, we detected a mild aftertaste when sipped alone, but in coffee, it was not noticeable. So this is the most nutritious choice.

14. Coffee-Mate Natural Bliss^® Unsweetened Plant-Based Half-and-Half

This Natural Bliss Coconut Milk Creamer/Sweet Cream is the best one I’ve found for both frothing and taste, especially if you miss the consistency and flavor of half-and-half. It’s creamy and has a hint of coconut, but no overwhelming coconut flavor. Note: it is made with pea protein, unlike the other ones, which is probably why it’s thicker. Always check ingredients if you have food allergies because unexpected ingredients such as peas can be hiding in the product, and you would never know by the taste.

15. Malk Organics Unsweetened Almond Malk

The thickest consistency of the bunch, resembling a heavy cream rather than half and half. Malk has only 5 ingredients, making it super clean and healthy! The almond flavor might be overpowering to those who like less flavor in their creamer. Add the Maple Pecan flavor to your coffee for an even sweeter taste.

16. Chobani Sweet & Creamy Oat Milk Creamer

Chobani’s new oat milk creamer is thick and creamy but also sweet, so if you don’t like sugar in your coffee this may not be the choice for you. Its aftertaste reminded us of cereal marshmallows, so choose this creamer if you love your coffee sweet. Still, with 20 calories and 0.5 grams of fat per serving, it is still pretty healthy.

17. Trader Joe's Coconut Creamer

This creamer is rich, round and doesn't taste too overtly of coconut. You only need a splash to achieve a nice, creamy effect in your coffee, and there's no watered-down consistency, so if you swear by heavy cream or half & half, give this Trader Joe's option a try! At only $1.69 per carton, this product is a steal.

18. Silk Vanilla Almond Creamer

The Silk Almond Creamer Vanilla boasts that it’s “America’s #1 Almond Creamer. But with 4 grams added sugar you may want to use it sparingly. It did taste sweet and was nice and thick, so someone who likes rich creamers will love it. The vanilla aftertaste was pretty strong. And it's a little too syrupy sweet for my taste.

19.Elmhurst Oat Milk Unsweetened Creamer

Elmhurst’s oat creamer is on the thinner side so if you like a creamier consistency this would not be the choice for you. We did detect a slight aftertaste of oats and was slightly sweet. The biggest positive is that it is extremely low in calories and carbs, but it also has zero protein. This creamer is for you if you like skim milk in your coffee.

20. Silk Dairy-Free Original Soy Creamer

Silk Original Dairy-Free Original Soy Creamer has only 1 gram of added sugar, but sadly it does not froth up well when I heated it due to a thinner, more watery consistency. It didn't combine well with coffee, no matter how much was added. Because of the underwhelming flavor, this was my least favorite.