Non-dairy milks (also known as plant-based or vegan milks) have exploded in popularity over the past five years. This popularity only continues to grow as Americans explore vegan alternatives to dairy in an attempt to improve their health, lessen their environmental impact, or both.
Dairy milk may still rule the latte universe, but a variety of non-dairy milks have been threatening its dominance since soy milk started showing up in cappuccino cups in the ’90s. And with almond and hemp milks — and even macadamia, cashew and coconut — to contend with, baristas can find themselves juggling a variety of steaming techniques as they try not to burn non-dairy milks while getting them hot enough to add to espresso.
Topics: Alternative Milks