Barista milk and milk substitutes for your latte art
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Time to read 6 min
Anyone who has ever tried frothing milk in their own kitchen knows how unsatisfactory the end result can be. When instead of a creamy, fine-pored head of foam, only a sad blob with huge air bubbles ends up in the cup. Barista skills? None.
Whether your milk foam is successful or not depends on your technique - and also on the milk you use. Today we're clarifying what makes barista milk actually barista milk and what delicious milk alternatives are on the market.
First of all, let’s get to the basics.
Contents
What is the difference between Barista milk and “normal” milk?
From the outside, barista milk looks like regular milk. However, barista milk contains more protein and has a different fat content than regular milk.
The special barista milk often contains 3% fat and 4% protein. The high protein content ensures that the small air molecules are trapped and your milk foam is stable. The increased fat content ensures the creaminess and a shiny surface on your cappuccino. Barista milk often tastes a bit creamier and heavier because it also contains more calories due to the fat content.
This consistency makes the foam much more suitable for latte art.
In fact, cow's milk actually contains more fat compared to milk alternatives, even in the non-barista edition. More and more coffee lovers are choosing the plant-based alternative for environmental reasons or due to intolerances. If you're in the mood for creamy latte art but would like to avoid cow's milk, there are also delicious milk alternatives.
Not in the mood for cow's milk? Delicious milk substitute that tastes good and foams.
Today there are numerous delicious alternatives to traditional cow's milk. The most popular milk substitute is oat milk. You can often find it in the supermarket as an oat drink - because legally, manufacturers are not allowed to call plant-based milk milk. This title probably belongs solely to the cow and could be misleading for consumers. Of course, you could accidentally tip the scouring milk into your coffee cup, for example.
No matter what you call it, it also tastes great with coffee. It's worth trying out a bit here, because some oat drinks harmonize better with coffee than others and of course there are also special barista editions. We would like to introduce you to a very special one today!
The start-up Blue Farm has just brought a new barista milk onto the market. The world's first barista milk in powder form not only tastes great with any coffee bean, but also has a long shelf life and is compactly packaged.
Whether on a road trip without a fridge or traveling light, the powder form comes with lots of advantages! We at 60beans have tested them for you.
The taste test:
The milk alternative contains no additional added sugar. And you can taste it too. The Barista Oat Base tastes very pleasantly neutral and is not too sweet. The naturally neutral taste harmonizes well with many different coffee beans!
Unfortunately, some oat drinks have more sugar added afterwards. Blue Farm leaves the oats as they are. Because oats naturally contain sugar. The Barista Oat Base contains no added sugar and no vegetable oils or preservatives.
Still, we wouldn't be 60beans if we didn't have coffee bean favorites. In our opinion, the Barista Oat Base works particularly well with fruity and lively espresso beans ! This means that you can also choose a lighter roasted bean!
The foaming test:
The Barista Oat Base, with its naturally high fat and protein content, was specially designed for milk frothing and conjures up fine-pored foam crowns. Of course we wanted to test that.
Can it really create fine milk foam in the coffee cup?
It's really super easy to mix and foam (drum roll) with just two ingredients (powder and water)! Yay. We found it quite impressive how a powder becomes fine-pored milk foam.
How do you prepare the Barista Oat Base?
You simply mix 10 g of the Oat Base with 100 ml of water, shake vigorously and you're done. Now you can froth your barista milk without any problems.
By the way: mixing works a little better with warm water. However, if you use a milk frother with a heat function, it is better to mix the barista alternative with cold water.
Milk foam for you at home!
Would you like delicious milk foam and latte art on your morning cappuccino? In addition to the tastiest coffee beans, the right barista milk, you also need good equipment!
But don't worry, you don't have to buy a portafilter machine that costs thousands of euros.
We bring you coffee like your favorite coffee shop to your home. From us you can buy milk makers that will conjure up the milk foam you deserve. And that for little money.
Because why without milk foam when you can also use it?
We have a selection of milk makers that ensure your milk is frothed and at just the right temperature. So that you can enjoy your cappuccino in no time.
60beans Latte Art Insider Tip Set
The Flowtip milk jug from Subminimal heats your plants or cow's milk quickly and easily on the stove. With the Coyooco thermometer you can make sure that the milk does not get hotter than 65°C. And lastly: the nanofoamer creates the finest milk foam directly in your jug. Here you can choose the version with the rechargeable battery, which not only offers you convenience but also two speed levels when frothing!
Whether it's a delicious cappuccino or an iced latte with a foam crown, this small device conjures up fine-pored milk foam in café quality in no time! Handy and small – the Nanofoamer V2 doesn’t cause any space problems in the kitchenette.
The Nanofoamer is a patented foaming system that transports milk through a small turbine and a fine-mesh sieve to conjure up fine-pored milk foam in café quality, even without a portafilter machine. Here you can also choose your favorite milk alternative. This must be warmed up separately beforehand.
Perfect in combination with espresso from the stovetop pot or with coffee from the French press.
Have fun foaming!
FAQ Barista milk and milk substitutes
What makes barista milk different than “normal” milk?
Barista milk differs from regular milk in its higher protein content (4%) and fat content (3%). The high protein content ensures a stable foam consistency, while the increased fat content ensures creaminess and a shiny surface on the cappuccino.
What advantages does barista milk have for milk foam and latte art?
Due to its special protein and fat content, barista milk is ideal for frothing, as it produces fine-pored milk foam with a stable structure. This makes it easier to create attractive latte art patterns.
Why milk alternatives?
Some people choose plant-based milk alternatives for environmental reasons or due to intolerance to cow's milk.
Which plant-based milk alternatives are suitable for use in coffee and latte art?
The most popular milk alternative for coffee is oat milk, also known as “oat drink”. Oat milk pairs well with coffee, and there are also special barista editions on the market.
What's special about Blue Farm's new powdered barista milk?
Blue Farm's Barista Oat Base is the world's first powdered barista milk. It contains no added sugar, vegetable oils or preservatives and has a neutral taste that harmonizes well with different coffee beans.
How do you prepare the Barista Oat Base?
To prepare the Barista Oat Base, simply mix 10 g of the powder with 100 ml of water, shake vigorously and create an ideal base for milk foam.
Which milk makers are recommended for the perfect milk foam?
Subminimal offers various milk makers that conjure up fine-pored milk foam in café quality. These include the Subminimal Nanofoamer V2, the Subminimal Nanofoamer Lithium and the 6obeans Latte Art Insider Tip Set, which contains everything you need for milk preparation and latte art.
Can you also use plant-based milk alternatives with the milk makers?
Yes, Subminimal's milk makers can also be used with plant-based milk alternatives, as long as they are warmed up separately beforehand.
Are there any tips for combining barista milk or milk alternatives with certain coffee beans?
The Barista Oat Base harmonizes particularly well with fruity and lively espresso beans. It's worth trying out different coffee beans to find the perfect combination for your individual taste.
