Coffee Creamer: Seeking Half 'n' Half Replacement, Dairy-Free (Vegan)

Coffeemate!

R1, thanks. Can you post a photo of the one you recommend? There are so many different products them make. Thank you!

Milkadamia.

Vanilla and unsweetened are great. Haven’t tried the others.

R3 / R4, to you, does the Milkadamia taste like coconut? (Trying to avoid coconut flavor.) Thanks!

No, I don’t taste any coconut flavor in Milkadamia creamer, OP.

Drink it black. Like a man!

Have you tried the cream of sum yung gai?

Try cashew, or try several different types of non-dairy creamers until you find what you like. It's a matter of personal preference.

We could be coffee pals, OP- same prefs. Oatmilk works for me in strong Peet's Major Dick.

I gave up coffee and now drink tea. I could not find an acceptable substitute for half & half. If I do drink coffee again I will drink it black, like a man.

R10, do you have any particular brand of oat milk that you like? TIA.

Oatly Oat Drink is fabulous, but expensive, ​​Pacific Natural Foods Oat Milk Barista Series ok, but a bit thin.

I've been using Hood's Country Creamer for years because I'm lactose intolerant--it has a just-right, extra creamy texture and smoothness in my coffee, since pre-intolerance I always liked light cream and never half-and-half or milk in my coffee. But since I see it has "casein" as one of its milk-derivative ingredients, I can't honestly recommend it as a vegan alternative to dairy creamer. But it's good, IMO!

Gotta get the Barista Edition.

Checking in, guys. I tried this Califia Farms oat milk, barista blend.

Cost: a bit high, IMO, comes in a 1-qt. container. Plus, you have to use more (maybe 2X as much) of this than half 'n' half. Because you're adding more, your coffee gets cold faster. In its defense, it's engineered for lattes, so maybe that's why it's thinner.

Taste: no off-notes. Taste-wise, I think you could sub this in for half 'n' half. Truthfully, I still prefer half 'n' half (for coffee), I think. If you taste this product plain (without coffee), it is delicious, though.

Curdling: I can see bits of white swirling in my coffee.

Conclusion: Still on the hunt. I will try Milkadamia next. (My local store that sells this kind of stuff is not on my regular path.)

I am unable to find Oatly barista edition in my area.

[quote] Years ago, I tried (unsuccessfully) to find a replacement and could never find anything I liked as much as half 'n' half, not even close.

When I switched from drinking whole milk to 1% it tasted like milky water but I stuck with it, eventually my tastes changed and the 1% was just fine, now drinking whole milk is too think, I prefer the 1%. How long did you try the replacement? I bet if you gave it a couple of months to a half year you would adjust to the replacement.

Oatmilk creamers have the best texture out of all of the imitation creamer, but they do have sort of hint of cereal taste to them.

This one's cheap and available at Wal-Mart.

R17, I'm looking for non-dairy / vegan stuff. Thanks, though!

I switched to black coffee and lost a lot of weight doing that. Now I’m drinking espresso black, and I really enjoy it. But I loved half&half in my coffee and drank vats of it over the years. I now have it only as a weekend treat or when visiting my parents’ home.

Friends of mine call nondairy coffee lighteners “tumor juice” because of all the chemicals in them.

Another vote for milkadamia. Also nutpods. Both are at Whole Foods. I mix them with Oatly barista blend (one in the gray container) in my coffee. So tasty.

Chalky aftertaste is what I'm trying to avoid. (I'm the one who posted about the Califia Farms product.) Does anyone notice a chalky aftertaste with the non-dairy stuff?

Too bad you don't have a TJs close by, their soy creamer is good.

CoffeeMate® is made by Nestle, one of the most evil corporations in the world. You should spend your money buying something else.

Agreed re coffeemate.

Fuck Oatly

I prefer Califia Farms Almond Milk Barista Style Creamer, unsweetened. You can search for local retailers or order online one-time or subscription.

Is man milk vegan?

R28, it's not vegan since it comes from man. But it is organic, warm, and delicious especially right from the tap. Uh, so I've heard. 😜😈☕️

Black coffee. It's the best, anyway.

Oat milk. Many brands.

Oat milk IS really good. Aldi has one of the best ones and it is $2.50-2.99 per carton.

When I'm not using something that's coconut-based, I prefer Ripple Half & Half, which is made from peas. I think it goes well with coffee and other things.

R33, I've used Ripple too and like it a lot. A bit pricy, but very good.

Macadamia nut oil has a very buttery taste it tames the coconut cream.

just drink the freaking half 'n half

I love Oatly's Coffee Ice Cream, can't believe it has no dairy in it, it's so creamy.

Does Oatly make a cream or 1/2 & 1/2 product or just milk?

If only there was a website you could type in does oatly have a half and half

Most of the non-dairy coffee creamers mentioned here do not work well with coffee unless you're using it for latte.

Try Silk Original non-diary coffee creamer made from soy milk.

R30 Also, a second option is EdenSoy Original Soy Milk. Read the nutritional content panel on the side, make sure it has 5 grams of fat, and not the lower fat kind.

The Califia and the Oatly drink do not work well as a coffee creamer. You have to add about twice as much as half and half to work, and then the coffee becomes weaker and colder.

I did try one of the Oatly products. It was in the blue packaging. I don't think it was the Barista Blend (b/c my town doesn't have a huge selection). R41 is correct in that you need to add more than you would half 'n' half. Plus, that stuff (Oatly) is not cheap. IIRC, it may have been a little chalky.

Most of these alternative milks taste great in cold cereal. Hot coffee really seems to bring out the weaknesses.

I'll try the Silk dairy-free creamer, if I can find it in the stores in my town.

R40, Eden Foods apparently has a history of shilling for Republicans, in case that's of any importance to you.

I've been buying Eden Foods for over 20 years. I wasn't aware they were Trump backers. I will avoid them going forward.

Another vote for Califia almond creamer. I avoid the coconut flavor.

Microwave creamer + coffee cup for about 15 secs before pouring coffee, to keep everything piping hot.

Oh just stick with Coffeemate. You know it tastes the best.

Bordens Cremora

Oat milks are the best non-dairy milks for coffee - get a barista-style oat milk and a milk frother and you will be away (unless you're also gluten-free...)