We Tasted 11 Vegan Coffee Creamers to Find the Absolute Best

If you're interested in some of my other vegan food taste tests, I've also tried:

• The best vegan cheese for grilled cheese

• The best vegan vanilla ice cream

• The best vegan mac and cheese

• The best vegan chocolate chip cookie recipe

• The best vegan cheese for pizza

• The best vegan chicken nuggets

Testing Methods

Every creamer was taste-tested with decaffeinated American coffee prepared in a standard drip coffeemaker. Separately, I also tested each creamer to see how well it would foam. I heated each creamer until it was steamy, then used a milk frother to foam it. I used 1/4 cup of each creamer in all of the foam tests so that the foam volume could be easily compared. I also allowed the foam to sit out for ten minutes to find out how stable the foam is.

I attempted to get an unflavored or vanilla variety wherever possible to keep the competition even (and focused mainly on the texture). However, two creamers were only available to me in flavors (Starbucks and Elmhurst), so those are also included.

Vegan Creamer Similarities and Differences

I included coconut, oat, and almond milk creamers in this test. I didn't include soy milk creamers because they are known to separate in hot coffee. There are two barista milks, and the other nine contenders are creamers. Four of the options are unsweetened, while the other seven were sweetened varieties (ranging from 1-5 grams of sugar per tablespoon).

These creamers came in only two types of packaging: a fully plastic bottle, or a cardboard container with a plastic spout. The sizes ranged from 16 fl. oz. to 32 fl. oz. I've noted these details in the description of each creamer since they might play a factor in deciding which brand to try.

Taste Test Results

Please keep in mind that these results are based on our own personal preferences; your opinion might vary!

1. Winner: Sown Unsweetened Oat Creamer

Despite some of the others having added sugar and flavor, this unsweetened creamer was the unanimous winner in our taste testing group. The Sown had the absolute best texture out of all the creamers we tried, adding a richness that is the most similar to dairy creamers.

Our taste testers appreciated that because it's unsweetened, you can add sugar to taste. However, the texture of the Sown Oat Creamer was so rich that we all enjoyed it without any sugar at all. It also comes in a sweetened variety if you prefer that.

There was no discernable flavor to this creamer when it was mixed in with the coffee. It allows the full flavor of the coffee to come through.

The foam from this creamer was excellent, producing a nice volume of foam with a mostly smooth texture and a few larger bubbles. The foam was pretty stable, losing only about 20% of its volume after 10 minutes.

The Sown creamer is also organic and comes in a cardboard container. However, it does contain canola oil as its second ingredient. So if you're not a fan of canola oil, you might want to try one of the other creamers on this list (such as Elmhurst).

1. Overall rating: 9.5/10

2. Texture: 9.5/10 (best)

3. Flavor: 10/10* (unflavored and neutral)

4. Foam volume: 6.5/10

5. Foam texture: 6.5/10

6. Foam stability: 8/10

7. Price (US): $5.49-5.79**

8. Packaging: cardboard container with plastic spout

9. Package size: 32 fl. oz.

10. Price per fl. oz.: $0.17-0.18** (average)

11. Per 1 tablespoon:

    1. Calories: 20 (average)

    2. Fat: 1 g. (average)

    3. Sodium: 10 mg. (lower than average)

    4. Sugar: 0 g. (lowest)

    5. Potassium: 20 mg.

    6. Calcium: 20 mg.

12. Organic: yes

13. Ingredients: oatmilk, canola oil, calcium carbonate, potassium citrate, gellan gum, baking soda.

2. Runner-up: Elmhurst Caramel Macchiato Oat Creamer

Although no other vegan creamer came close to the texture of Sown, the Elmhurst is a nice option that complements your coffee nicely without overpowering it. It has just a hint of sweetness and a subtle caramel flavor.

This creamer is also a great option for those who want to avoid oils and gums, since it doesn't contain any of those. The Elmhurst is, however, the most expensive option per fluid ounce out of all the creamers we tested.

If foam is important to you, the Elmhurst Oat Creamer is probably not a great option. It did produce some foam, but the texture produced large, soapy bubbles, and so the foam had mostly disintegrated after 10 minutes.

1. Overall rating: 7.5/10

2. Texture: 5.5/10

3. Flavor: 8/10

4. Foam volume: 6/10

5. Foam texture: 3/10

6. Foam stability: 2/10 (worst)

7. Price (US): $5.29**

8. Packaging: cardboard container with plastic spout

9. Package size: 16 fl. oz.

10. Price per fl. oz.: $0.33** (highest)

11. Per 1 tablespoon:

    1. Calories: 15 (lower than average)

    2. Fat: 0.5 g. (lower than average)

    3. Sodium: 0 mg. (lowest)

    4. Sugar: 1 g. (lower than average)

    5. Potassium: 70 mg.

    6. Calcium: 2 mg.

12. Organic: no

13. Ingredients: oatmilk, hemp cream, cane sugar, dipotassium phosphate, natural flavors.

3. Best Sweetened: Starbucks Hazelnut Latte Almondmilk & Oatmilk Creamer

The Starbucks Non-Dairy Creamer is your best bet if you like sweet, flavored coffees. This one was described as tasting "like candy." It will also mask the flavor of the coffee itself a bit. Our taste testers couldn't identify the flavor as hazelnut; guesses included butterscotch and vanilla.

The Starbucks creamer was, however, one of the least creamy creamers we tried. The texture of the coffee didn't change much with the addition of this creamer. So what you're getting with this creamer is mostly flavor. But we all felt that it was on-brand for Starbucks, so if you like their in-store drinks, this creamer should meet your expectations.

The Starbucks creamer was the standout in the group for its foam texture. The foam it produced was silky smooth and would be perfect in a latte or cappuccino. It also produced a good volume of foam, but it did lose about 45% of its foam volume in 10 minutes.

1. Overall rating: 7/10

2. Texture: 3.5/10

3. Flavor: 9/10

4. Foam volume: 9/10

5. Foam texture: 10/10 (best)

6. Foam stability: 6.5/10

7. Price (US): $5.89-6.19**

8. Packaging: plastic bottle

9. Package size: 28 fl. oz.

10. Price per fl. oz.: $0.21-0.22** (higher than average)

11. Per 1 tablespoon:

    1. Calories: 30 (higher than average)

    2. Fat: 1 g. (average)

    3. Sodium: 20 mg. (higher than average)

    4. Sugar: 5 g. (highest/tie)

12. Organic: no

13. Ingredients: almondmilk, oatmilk, sugar, coconut oil, pea protein, potassium citrate, baking soda, natural flavor, gellan gum, guar gum.

4. Silk Sweet & Creamy Almond Creamer

Among the sweetened creamers, the Silk Almond Creamer ranked pretty high on our list because it's exactly as described on the label: sweet and creamy. Even though it has the same amount of sugar as the Silk Oat Creamer, the sweetness in this creamer tasted more subtle to us. One taste tester described it as caramel-like.

It's not the creamiest in the group, but we all agreed that it has a nice texture. And it also allows the flavor of the coffee to come through without overpowering it. Overall, we thought this one would make a good choice.

The Silk Almond Creamer produced the largest amount of foam among all the brands we tested (tied with 365 Almond Creamer). The foam was creamy with some large bubbles, but the texture of the foam was not quite as creamy as the Silk Oat Creamer's foam. The foam's stability was about average, losing about 40% of its volume after 10 minutes.

1. Overall rating: 7/10

2. Texture: 7/10

3. Flavor: 7.5/10

4. Foam volume: 10/10 (best/tie)

5. Foam texture: 7.5/10

6. Foam stability: 6/10

7. Price (US): $4.99-5.79**

8. Packaging: plastic bottle

9. Package size: 32 fl. oz.

10. Price per fl. oz.: $0.16-0.18** (lower than average)

11. Per 1 tablespoon:

    1. Calories: 25 (higher than average)

    2. Fat: 1 g. (average)

    3. Sodium: 20 mg. (higher than average)

    4. Sugar: 4 g. (higher than average)

12. Organic: no

13. Ingredients: almondmilk, cane sugar, sunflower oil, pea protein, potassium citrate, salt, baking soda, sunflower lecithin, natural flavor, gellan gum.

5. Almond Breeze Vanilla Almondmilk Creamer

The Almond Breeze creamer got overall good reviews from our taste testers. It was described as very sweet, but not in an overpowering or artificial way. The sweetness of this one felt more balanced and natural than some of the others.

Our taste testers also detected that this creamer was flavored, but couldn't identify it as vanilla. Guesses included hazelnut, caramel, and cinnamon roll.

If you're looking to foam your coffee creamer, this probably isn't the right creamer for you. There wasn't much foam to speak of, and 60% of the scant foam was lost after 10 minutes. The texture of the foam was also the worst of all the milks and creamers tested.

1. Overall rating: 6.5/10

2. Texture: 6/10

3. Flavor: 7/10

4. Foam volume: 2/10

5. Foam texture: 1.5/10 (worst)

6. Foam stability: 4/10

7. Price (US): $4.49-4.79**

8. Packaging: plastic bottle

9. Package size: 32 fl. oz.

10. Price per fl. oz.: $0.14-0.15** (lowest/tie)

11. Per 1 tablespoon:

    1. Calories: 25 (higher than average)

    2. Fat: 1 g. (average)

    3. Sodium: 20 mg. (higher than average)

    4. Sugar: 4 g. (higher than average)

    5. Potassium: 30 mg.

12. Organic: no

13. Ingredients: almondmilk, cane sugar, almond oil, sunflower oil, sunflower lecithin, natural flavors, dipotassium phosphate, pea protein, baking soda, sea salt, vitamin C, gellan gum.

6. Silk Oat Creamer, The Sweet Oat Latte One

While this creamer has a thicker consistency than the Almond Breeze, it did come in a bit lower based on the overall taste. It's very sweet, and it's creamy as well. However, our taste testers felt it was a bit "meh." Despite not being a standout from the crowd, the Silk Oat Creamer is still a good option.

The Silk Oat Creamer produced a very nice foam, and a large volume of it. However, the foam was not very stable and it lost 52% of its volume after 10 minutes.

1. Overall rating: 6.5/10

2. Texture: 7.5/10

3. Flavor: 6/10

4. Foam volume: 9/10

5. Foam texture: 8.5/10

6. Foam stability: 5/10

7. Price (US): $4.99-5.79**

8. Packaging: cardboard container with plastic spout

9. Package size: 32 fl. oz.

10. Price per fl. oz.: $0.16-0.18** (lower than average)

11. Per 1 tablespoon:

    1. Calories: 25 (higher than average)

    2. Fat: 1 g. (average)

    3. Sodium: 20 mg. (higher than average)

    4. Sugar: 4 g. (higher than average)

12. Organic: no

13. Ingredients: oatmilk, cane sugar, sunflower oil, pea protein, potassium citrate, baking soda, natural flavor, gellan gum.

7. 365 Organic Vanilla Almond Creamer

This creamer received mixed reviews from our taste testers, ranging from "just okay" to "good." Although it's quite sweet, the 365 Almond Creamer has its sweetness balanced by other flavors. Our taste testers could tell that it was flavored, and one correctly identified it as vanilla, although she described it as an artificial vanilla taste.

The texture of the 365 creamer is very thick and heavy. It went straight to the bottom of our cups, leaving interesting-looking layers of creamer and coffee (see our taste-test video to see this in action; if you're on a phone, it will be towards the bottom of the page; on a compuer it will be on the top right side of the page). We had to get a spoon to mix this one in, which was not required for any of the other creamers. One of our taste-testers said that this extra step alone might make her choose a different creamer. However, once it was mixed in, the texture of the creamer was nice.

The foam from the 365 creamer was one of the best in our tests. It tied for most volume (with Silk Almond Creamer), and the texture of the foam was very nice, second only to the Starbucks Creamer. This was also the most stable foam in the group, losing only 7% of its volume after 10 minutes.

1. Overall rating: 6/10

2. Texture: 6.5/10

3. Flavor: 5.5/10

4. Foam volume: 10/10 (best/tie)

5. Foam texture: 9/10

6. Foam stability: 9.5/10 (best)

7. Price (US): $2.79**

8. Packaging: plastic bottle

9. Package size: 16 fl. oz.

10. Price per fl. oz.: $0.17** (lower than average)

11. Per 1 tablespoon:

    1. Calories: 35 (highest)

    2. Fat: 1 g. (average)

    3. Sodium: 15 mg. (average)

    4. Sugar: 5 g. (highest/tie)

12. Organic: yes

13. Ingredients: almond blend, cane sugar, coconut oil, palm oil, natural flavor, pea protein, sea salt, sodium bicarbonate, gellan gum, guar gum.

8. Oatly Original Oatmilk, Barista Edition

The Oatly Barista Edition took all of us by surprise when it completely underwhelmed us. All three taste-testers enjoy the original Oatly milk, including our omnivore taste tester. But the Barista Edition was described as "meh" and "blah." As an unflavored milk, it didn't add any flavor to the coffee (as expected). But it also didn't do much to the texture. It's not very thick or rich.

While the Barista Edition is not a terrible option, we all felt that the regular Oatly Oatmilk would be a better choice, especially at half the price.

As a barista milk, we expected this one to foam quite well, and it did foam better than the Califia Barista Blend. However the texture of the foam produced was not very smooth, with lots of large, soap-like bubbles. And after 10 minutes, the Oatly had lost about 2/3 of its foam.

It is possible that this milk might perform better in an espresso or cappuccino, where it's mixed in with a coffee that's already a bit thicker than American coffee.

This milk is the only one on the list with added vitamins and nutrients, including vitamin B12, which can be difficult for vegans to get enough of from natural sources.

1. Overall rating: 5.5/10

2. Texture: 4.5/10

3. Flavor: 10/10* (unflavored/neutral)

4. Foam volume: 9/10

5. Foam texture: 4.5/10

6. Foam stability: 3.5/10

7. Price (US): $4.49-4.99**

8. Packaging: cardboard container with plastic spout

9. Package size: 32 fl. oz.

10. Price per fl. oz.: $0.14-0.16** (lowest/tie)

11. Per 1 tablespoon:

    1. Calories: 10 (lowest/tie)

    2. Fat: 0.5 g. (lower than average)

    3. Sodium: 5 mg. (lower than average)

    4. Sugar: 0.5 g. (lower than average)

    5. Potassium: 24 mg.

    6. Calcium: 22 mg.

    7. Vitamin D: 0.2 mcg.

    8. Vitamin B12: 0.1 mcg.

    9. Vitamin A: 10 mcg.

    10. Riboflavin: 0.04 mg.

    11. Phosphorus: 17 mg.

    12. Iron: 0.02 mg.

12. Organic: no

13. Ingredients: oat base, rapeseed (canola) oil, dipotassium phosphate, calcium carbonate, tricalcium phosphate, sea salt, dicalcium phosphate, riboflavin, vitamin A, vitamin D2, vitamin B12.

9. Califia Farms Oat Barista Blend

The Califia Farms Barista Blend is an option that would work in a pinch, however we all agreed it was just okay. It does add a little bit of creaminess to the coffee, moreso than the lowest-ranked one on our list. However, it's not that much. As an unflavored creamer, it does allow the flavor of the coffee to come through.

Because it's a barista blend, I thought maybe we just tested it in the wrong scenario (mixing it in with American coffee, rather than into a cappuccino or latte). However, the foam was pretty unimpressive as well. It actually produced the least foam (in terms of volume) out of all the creamers and milks tested, and the foam texture was mostly large bubbles. The foam that was produced didn't dissipate too much, though. Ten minutes after foaming, 75% of the original foam remained.

1. Overall rating: 5/10

2. Texture: 4/10

3. Flavor: 10/10* (unflavored/neutral)

4. Foam volume: 1.5/10

5. Foam texture: 3.5/10

6. Foam stability: 7.5/10

7. Price (US): $4.49-5.09**

8. Packaging: cardboard container with plastic spout

9. Package size: 32 fl. oz.

10. Price per fl. oz.: $0.14-0.16** (lowest/tie)

11. Per 1 tablespoon:

    1. Calories: 10 (lowest)

    2. Fat: 0.5 g (lower than average)

    3. Sodium: 5 mg. (lower than average)

    4. Sugar: 0 g. (lowest)

    5. Potassium: 23 mg.

    6. Calcium: 17 mg.

12. Organic: no

13. Ingredients: oatmilk, sunflower oil, minerals (dipotassium phosphate, calcium carbonate, tricalcium phosphate), sea salt.

10. Good & Gather Sweet & Creamy Oatmilk Creamer

The Good & Gather Creamer takes the second-to-last spot in our rankings, mostly because it tastes overly sweet. Two of us were completely overwhelmed by the sweetness when we first tasted it, although it became more palatable as we continued to drink it. But everyone agreed it was too sweet. The sweetness was also described as "artificial" tasting, and having an aftertaste.

The taste testers were divided over the texture. Two of us felt that it was fairly creamy, while another one felt it wasn't very creamy at all.

This one did produce a nice volume of foam, though. The texture of the foam wasn't silky smooth, but it was better than most. However, after the foam was left to sit for 10 minutes, around 50% of the foam volume disintegrated.

1. Overall rating: 4.5/10

2. Texture: 6/10

3. Flavor: 3/10 (artificial taste with aftertaste)

4. Foam volume: 9/10

5. Foam texture: 7/10

6. Foam stability: 5/10

7. Price (US): $2.49**

8. Packaging: plastic bottle

9. Package size: 16 fl. oz.

10. Price per fl. oz.: $0.16** (lower than average)

11. Per 1 tablespoon:

    1. Calories: 30 (higher than average)

    2. Fat: 1 g. (average)

    3. Sodium: 25 mg. (highest)

    4. Sugar: 4 g. (higher than average)

12. Organic: no

13. Ingredients: oatmilk, sugar, vegetable oil, natural flavors, pea protein, sodium bicarbonate, potassium citrate, sunflower lecithin, gellan gum, sea salt.

11. So Delicious Original Coconutmilk Creamer

I was hopeful for this creamer because of the simple, organic ingredients, however, the So Delicious was the least-liked creamer in our taste test. While it does add a slight bit of creaminess, overall it doesn't do much for your coffee.

One taste tester noticed the coconut taste, while the other two didn't detect any flavor at all. It's unflavored and unsweetened, so we didn't expect it to add any flavor to the coffee, however it also falls flat in the texture. It's not quite like drinking a plain black coffee, but among all the creamers we tried, the So Delicious came the closest to that texture.

The So Delicious creamer did produce a pretty nice foam, however. It was one of the best in terms of volume, and the texture was also pretty good. There were some large bubbles, but mostly the foam had a fine texture. The foam held up pretty well also, losing only about 25% of its volume after 10 minutes.

1. Overall rating: 3/10

2. Texture: 2.5/10

3. Flavor: 3.5/10 (unflavored but with a slight coconut taste)

4. Foam volume: 9.5/10

5. Foam texture: 6.5/10

6. Foam stability: 7.5/10

7. Price (US): $4.99-5.29**

8. Packaging: cardboard container with plastic spout

9. Package size: 32 fl. oz.

10. Price per fl. oz.: $0.16-0.17** (lower than average)

11. Per 1 tablespoon:

    1. Calories: 15 (lower than average)

    2. Fat: 1 g. (average)

    3. Sodium: 10 mg. (lower than average)

    4. Sugar: 0 g. (lowest)

12. Organic: yes

13. Ingredients: coconutmilk, potassium citrate, sodium citrate, gellan gum.

Conclusion

The stand-out by far in our tests was the Sown creamer for its creamy texture. We also liked that it is available in both sweetened and unsweetened varieties. And it foams well, it's organic, and it's in a cardboard container.

The Elmhurst Caramel Macchiato Oat Creamer is a nice option with just a hint of sweetness, and a pretty good texture. It doesn't foam well, however.

And the Starbucks is a great option if you like that candy-like flavor, or if you want a silky smooth foam.

We would also recommend both Silk creamers as good options both in terms of taste and foam. The Almond Breeze got good reviews for taste and texture, but was the worst in the foam test. And the 365 Almond Creamer got mixed reviews for taste, but the foam was great. So it's worth a try if you think you might like it.

* Note: For unflavored creamers which had no noticeable taste (including aftertastes), I used a flavor score of 10/10.

**Note: Prices are based on in-store prices in South Florida in September 2022. These prices may be different in your area or may change over time.