“Does It Have Dairy?”: The Lactose Intolerant Guide to Coffee

A while back, I fell for a friend of mine. One of the first things I remember about them was when they shared about living with a lactose intolerance. As someone who enjoys coffee, I felt bad because they were limited to a smaller variety of beverages. To those of you who also live with a lactose intolerance, I ended up doing some research and here’s what I found.

Do coffee beverages have dairy? The short answer is yes, a majority of them do. From macchiatos to lattes there is a decent amount of steamed milk added to each one of those recipes. The good news is nowadays many coffee shops have adapted and accommodated their menus to serve those with lactose intolerance through giving them a variety of alternatives.

What is lactose intolerance?

Lactose intolerance is when an individual is unable to digest lactose. Lactose is a type of sugar that is found in dairy products. Many people can manage this condition when eating dairy products, but often times there are symptoms that come along with it. Some of the symptoms that are felt are stomach pains, nausea, and occasionally gas. 

Dairy-Free Alternatives drinks

We don’t want any stomach aches when getting coffee. The number of those who are lactose intolerant or are starting a dairy-free diet is rising on the daily. Knowing this, coffee shops have adapted to help serve the needs of their customers. There are several alternatives to dairy filled beverages. To help out, most coffee shops will usually have a dairy-free symbol next to the drinks (if not you can always ask).

Here is a small list of dairy-free alternative drinks: A classic black coffee, cold brews, nitro brews, and americanos. These choices are all made with water. 

Alternatives for milk

There’s more good news, you don’t have to miss out on any of the main drinks either. All successful coffee shops offer dairy-free alternatives for their milks such as almond milk, coconut milk, oat milk, and soy milk .

Almond Milk

First is almond milk, my favorite. The texture for almond milk is less saturated and contains less fats. Almond milk is a bit lower in calories and protein so it’s a good choice for those who may be trying to shave off a few pounds.

Coconut Milk

Second it coconut milk. Coconut  milk has become a bit more popular recently. It is made from coconuts (no way!) and has a very thick and rich consistency. It contains a high calorie count and many of the calories come from fat. 

Oat Milk

Next is Oat Milk. Oak milk derives from whole oat grains. The texture is rich and still gives you just as much flavor. If you’re looking for some extra carbs, oat milk has the highest amount of calories and carbs out of the plant-based alternatives for milk.

Soy Milk

Last is also a common one, soy milk. Soy milk is made from ground up soy beans. Similar to oat milk, soy milk also has a rich texture. This is the choice you would go with if you were looking for an alternative that would provide you with a bit more protein (compared to whole milk).

Cost of alternatives

Some of the coffee shops I’ve been to have tried to remove the cost of an alternative, but because the alternatives typically cost more, they usually add a small surcharge. You may be wondering how much it costs to replace whole milk, I made some calls. As of today, here are the options and prices for alternatives to the most popular coffee chains.

Caribou

Alternative choices: almond, coconut, oat and soy- $0.80

Dunkin’ Donuts

Alternative choices: almond milk and oat milk- $0.75 before tax

Dunn Bros

Alternative choices: almond, coconut, oat and soy- $0.80

Starbucks

Alternative choices: almond, coconut, oat and soy- $0.60 

Tim Horton’s

Alternative choices: almond milk and soy milk- $0.00, it’s free! 

Local Shops

I also made a few calls to the local shops I go to in Minnesota. Most are trying to not have an associated fee for an alternative, however the ones that still are still charging range from $0.50-$1.25. 

Wrap up

Although your choices may seem scarce, there are substitutes choices to expand what is offered. At that small cost, the available alternative options are a good trade for all of the symptoms that lactose intolerance brings. Here’s to no more stomach cramping and nausea.

As always I hope you learned something new today.

With Gratitude,

Dil