Fresh oat milk vs powdered oat milk

As the world becomes more conscious of the impact of animal agriculture, more people are opting for dairy-free milk. Among these alternatives, oat milk has emerged as a popular choice due to its creamy texture and neutral taste. Oat milk is now the UK’s most popular alt-milk.

In the UK, oat milk sales doubled in just a year. There have even been several oat milk shortages as production has struggled to keep up with demand.

Brits spent £146 million on oat milk in 2020 and spent a total of around £394m on plant-based milks overall. If you work in an office, chances are a percentage of your team doesn’t drink cow’s milk.

This may be because they’re vegan, lactose intolerant or have concerns about animal welfare or sustainability issues. So when you’re deciding which type of alt-milk to provide your team with, which one is best?

We’re putting the spotlight on the most popular alt-milk – oat milk. We’ll explain why it’s most likely the best choice for your office.

However, it’s important to note that there are two different forms of oat milk. Both versions are affordable, easily available, taste great and also work well in your coffee. Let’s review the pros and cons of fresh oat milk vs powdered oat milk.

Bean-to-cup coffee machines

We’re going to focus on fresh vs powdered milk – specifically on how it works with a bean-to-cup machine. A bean-to-cup machine is a type of coffee maker that grinds beans to make fresh coffee in seconds.

With a machine, you can enjoy the taste of freshly ground coffee from the comfort of your own office. You’ll find that they’re most popular among coffee connoisseurs because they provide a far better, more authentic taste than pre-ground coffee. They also offer a wide range of coffee drinks and provide a far superior taste and aroma to instant.

Modern-day bean-to-cup machines are innovatively designed to look and work great in any office kitchen. Along with offering the functionality of grinding different types of beans in different hoppers, you can also now get dual milk machines. This means you can offer your team a choice of milk that will work perfectly in your coffee.

Most types of milk will work well so you can choose from cow’s milk, most plant-based milk and powdered versions too. If you’re interested in finding out more, we have a wide range of makes and models available online. 

Fresh oat milk

Fresh oat milk is made from whole oats that are soaked in water, blended, and then strained. The result is a creamy and delicious milk that’s great in coffee.

It has a smooth texture and doesn’t leave any grittiness or residue in your cup. Some plant-based milks curdle in hot drinks, but oat milk is one that’s mostly stable in your coffee.

Also since it’s not highly processed, it contains slightly more nutrients than its powdered counterpart. However, fresh oat milk has a shorter shelf life than powdered oat milk. It needs to be consumed within 5-7 days of being made and must be refrigerated at all times so you’ll need to think about storage logistics.

Powdered oat milk

Powdered oat milk has a much longer shelf life than fresh oat milk making it a convenient option for the office. It can last up to 6 months if stored properly and best of all, you don’t need to refrigerate it until you’ve opened the package. This makes it ideal for offices where there isn’t much fridge space or if you have a bean-to-cup machine without a refrigerator function.

It’s important to note that powdered oat milk doesn’t have quite the same creamy texture as fresh oat milk and can sometimes leave a little residue or grittiness in your cup if not mixed properly. Some brands may also contain additives or preservatives that aren’t present in fresh oat milk. Overall though, you’d be hard-pushed to tell the difference and like fresh oat milk, it doesn’t curdle in coffee.

Which should I choose?

When it comes down to choosing between fresh or powdered oat milk for your bean-to-cup coffee machine in the office, it really depends on your personal preferences and priorities. If you’re looking for a creamier texture and don’t mind refrigerating your milk every few days, then fresh oat milk is probably the way to go. On the other hand, if you’re short on space or want something with a longer shelf life, then powdered oat milk might be the better option.

Regardless of which one you choose, both types of oat milks offer an excellent dairy-free alternative that will enhance the flavour of your morning cup of joe. So whether you’re lactose intolerant or simply prefer plant-based options, why not give them both a try and see which one you and your team prefer?

If you’d like any advice on alt-milks or coffee machines, our team are here to help. Just get in touch with us.