Starbucks nonfat milk vs. almond milk: which one is better?

Starbucks offers both plant-based and dairy milk options. I once accompanied a friend to Starbucks, and she ordered an almond milk latte. This was the first time I heard about plant-based milk. As usual, I ordered my skinny latte, and we decided to do a switch. Surprisingly, the two kinds of milk had a similar thickness but differed in taste. Most people have limited knowledge of both milk options and do not know which one to pick. In this post, we are going to look at different features and how they compare. By the end of it, you will know which option is better.

What are the differences between Starbucks nonfat milk vs. Almond milk

Features	Nonfat Milk	Almond milk
Ingredients	Lactose, water, nutrients	Almonds, water, sugar, tricalcium phosphate, sea salt, xantham gum, guar gum, vitamin A Palmitate, and Vitamin D2.
Taste Profile	Creamy, watery	Creamy, nutty
Caffeine/Nutritional Value	Calories-12 per ounce, 85mg sodium,7g protein, 10g of sugar, 0 fat, 10g carbs per short serving	Calories-15 per ounce, 4g fat, 3g sugar,5g of carbs, 2g of proteins per short serving
Availability/Accessibility	Readily Available throughout	Readily Available throughout

Starbucks nonfat milk vs. Almond milk- How they compare

What it’s made of-Ingredients

Starbucks nonfat milk is dairy milk without the fat. The ingredients in cow’s milk are lactose, water, nutrients, and minerals. This milk has no fat content as it is skimmed. Skimming involves removing the top cream after the milk is brought to a boil and cooled at least four times. The milk still has allergens like lactose and this should be noted by those with lactose intolerance. The Starbucks nonfat milk can be combined with other ingredients to form all sorts of drinks. It can make skinny lattes, flat whites, or skinny tea-based beverages. The term skinny is used at Starbucks to denote a lack of fat. If you have heard customers ask for skinny drinks, they meant their espresso or tea drinks with nonfat milk.

On the other hand, Starbucks has plant-based milk options for vegans and lactose intolerant customers. One of the milk options is almond milk, which has gained immense popularity among coffee and tea lovers. Starbucks almond milk is made from almonds and water. The almonds are blended with water and strained to produce milk. Stabilizers are added to the milk to make it blend with coffee and tea. Other listed ingredients are sugar, tricalcium phosphate, sea salt, xantham gum, guar gum, vitamin A Palmitate, and Vitamin D2.

In this category, nonfat milk wins because it retains its natural ingredients without additives.

Taste Profile

Starbucks nonfat milk has a light, watery taste due to the lack of fat. The creamy dairy taste is still retained, but you will feel a lighter, watery consistency. This works for those who like lattes with a strong espresso flavor. The nonfat milk does not completely overwhelm the taste of espresso, and lovers of strong coffee love this. You will notice the lightness in your mouth, but the creaminess is still intact. I have heard people describe the taste as chalky and bland. The difference in taste is brought by a lack of fat.

Almond milk has a nutty taste to it. It is creamy and similar to dairy milk in consistency. You will notice a smooth texture in your mouth. This type of milk is famous in lattes and refreshers. The Starbucks version is sweetened to give a delicious taste. Natural almonds have a nutty, sweet taste, and it translates to the milk. The best part is that this milk can be steamed to make a delicious latte and can be frothed to produce foam. This milestone was achieved after a series of tests at Starbucks to ensure that the end product was stable and blended well without separating in drinks.

This category goes to almond milk. The unique nutty taste and creaminess introduce a sweet taste that lacks in nonfat milk.

Caffeine/Nutritional Value

Starbucks nonfat milk is not caffeinated until it’s added to coffee to tea beverages. This milk has the lowest caloric content among all milk options at Starbucks with 12 calories per ounce. It has zero fat, 2% cholesterol which comes to 5mg, 4% sodium which translates to 85mg, carbs come in at 10g, which is 3%, and proteins come at 7g. Finally, the sugars come in at 10g of sugar. These figures are for a short serving, which is 8 fluid ounces.

Starbucks almond milk comes with 15 calories per ounce. It has 4g of fat, 110mg of sodium, 5g of carbs, 3g of sugar, and 2g of proteins for a short serving. You will notice that the calories are higher than in nonfat milk. This is the milk with the least sugar at Starbucks.

In this category, we get a draw. Every milk option has its strengths and weaknesses, and when compared, we see a great similarity.

Availability/Accessibility

Starbucks has a steady supply of nonfat milk. Some environmental conservationists have raised concerns about the sustainability of dairy milk in the long run. However, Starbucks remains confident with its supply of nonfat dairy milk o its customers. So far, there have not been any shortages of this product. Starbucks makes it accessible to its customers, and all you need to do is walk to the counter and request nonfat milk. You can also place your order online through the app. If you use the app, you will see a list of all the milk customizations and you can select nonfat milk. If you want your drink customized with this milk, ask for a skinny version of your desired drink, and it will be whipped up in no time.

Starbucks introduced almond milk to its customers in 2016. The coffee chain has made it available to the market without any reported shortages. You can get almond milk at any time of the day at any store. Some of the customizations are almond milk lattes, almond milk macchiato, almond milk cold brew, and great almond milk refreshers.

The availability and accessibility feature gets a draw as both drinks are readily available in a variety of customizations.

Starbucks nonfat milk vs. almond milk- A comparison review

Starbucks nonfat milk-Overview

Starbucks offers this milk option to those who would rather keep off the fat and cholesterol in whole milk. The milk is 100% dairy but differs in taste and consistency. I noticed a watery feeling in my mouth, which was a good thing, to some extent. I loved the low-fat factor in this milk, which significantly reduced the thickness. I was impressed by how it blended with espresso without concealing the strong taste. I always prefer to add milk as a complement to my drink, but not to conceal the taste of my beverage, and nonfat milk does this perfectly. The best part is the healthiness of this option. Reduced fat and cholesterol are always good news for the heart and the body in general. If you love espresso in a subtle flavor, you might not appreciate this option. I loved the variety of drinks I could order with this milk option, from teas to coffees.

What I liked

• The low fat and cholesterol
• The perfect blend with espresso without overwhelming the coffee taste

What I didn’t like

• It can be too watery when taken on its own

Who it’s best suited for

• This milk option is best suited for those on low-fat diets and weight loss.

Starbucks Almond milk-Overview

Almond milk is one of Starbucks’ plant-based options. I liked the nuttiness that came with this milk when I first took a latte with it. I was further impressed by the creaminess that came with this milk. I could hardly differentiate it from dairy milk save for the taste. Almonds have a huge list of health benefits. The top reason for this milk is that it is dairy-free. This is music to the ears of those who are lactose intolerant. This milk is also known to strengthen bones due to vitamin D. You will significantly reduce your risk of heart diseases. I decided to explore the almond milk options, and I was pleasantly surprised to see the variety of drinks that are customized with it. I could get coffee drinks, tea beverages, and tasty refreshers with this wonder milk.

What I liked

• The nutty flavor
• The lactose-free factor

What I didn’t like

• It was not quite as creamy as dairy milk

Who it’s best suited for

• This milk is great for vegans and those with lactose allergies

Final Verdict: So, which is better? Starbucks nonfat milk vs. almond milk

This comparison has brought us to a narrow win by almond milk. Both of these milk options are equally good and have all the right benefits, but almond milk favors vegans and those with lactose allergies. This makes it suitable and inclusive for all customers. It also works well with most drinks, so there is nothing that disqualifies almond milk.

FAQ SECTION

Which one is best for losing weight between almond milk and non-fat milk?

Nonfat milk is the best option as it is the lowest in calories and has zero fat.

Is Starbucks almond milk sweeter than non-fat milk?

No, almond milk has significantly less sugar than dairy milk.