This Single Serve Non-Dairy Creamer Is Actually Pretty Good
Non-dairy creamer and vegan milk are finally here. Baristas won’t bat an eyelid when you ask, and most grocery stores have a wide selection of milk alternatives. But when it comes to coffee on the go, large containers are simply inconvenient, leaving those who don’t like dairy products with few options. Let me introduce single-serve non-dairy shelf-stable creamers. These plant-based packs are relatively new and competition is starting to heat up. I tried five different brands and here’s how they stacked up.
Most grocery stores still don’t carry small, packaged, non-dairy creamers (yet), and if they do, it’s the miniature Coffee Mate buckets. Besides not being vegan, they are clumsy and leak-prone. The creamers you see below are perfect for keeping in your desk drawer, in your pocket on the way to the cafe (cow’s milk only) or on a hike or flight. You can even pack a few in your suitcase if you’re visiting a country that isn’t yet dairy-friendly.
Best Non-Dairy Creamer Bags
I chose five vegan and dairy-free brands that were easy to find and order online. The competition includes: Moo Stix Oat Milk Creamer, Coconut Cloud, Kuju Coffee Cloud Creamer, Nod Oat Creamer and Joi Oat Milk Creamer. They are all powders except Moo Stix, which is a liquid. When testing the best non-dairy creamers, I looked for the things that matter to every coffee drinker: color change, flavor, sweetness, and mouthfeel. I also took into account the price per serving.
Nod Oat Creamer Vanilla : Best for sweet, aromatic coffee.
This oat creamer added a powerful sweetness and vanilla flavor. The powder did not brighten the coffee at all and was difficult to dissolve, causing clumping at the bottom of the cup. This oat creamer contains coconut sugar, so if you’re looking for oat creamer because you’re allergic to coconut or coconut-derived ingredients, it may not be right for you. The texture was my least favorite of the five brands. At first the coffee seemed watery, but the longer the coffee sat, the thicker it became until it was somewhat viscous, but not creamy. (It was repulsive.) At the time of writing, a box of 10 packs costs $13.50 on Amazon, making it a mid-range product.
Pros:
- It can be vanilla, caramel or unsweetened.
- Mostly organic ingredients
Minuses:
- Difficult to dissolve
- Possibly an unpleasant viscosity.
- The flavor has a slightly artificial taste
Coconut Cloud Dairy-Free Coffee Creamer : The best option for coconut lovers.
This non-dairy option is coconut-based for premium creaminess. One bag lightened a six-ounce cup of coffee like a spoonful of milk cream, and the texture was silky and rich. The taste was distinctly coconut, but not artificial flavoring, but rather coconut oil. This creamer is best for a person who loves or doesn’t mind coconut and enjoys creamy, light coffee without the added sweetness. At the time of writing, a 20-serving package costs $22.99 on Amazon, making it one of the cheapest options per serving.
Pros:
- Full, rich, creamy consistency
- Mixes completely and easily
- Affordable price per serving
Minuses:
- Possibly a strong coconut aftertaste.
Kuju Coffee Cloud Creamer : Best for unsweetened, unflavored coffee.
There are only four ingredients in this coconut cream, and although there are two in coconut products, there is no strong coconut flavor. It’s somewhat neutral, brightens the coffee like dairy creamer, and creates a rich, creamy consistency in a six-ounce cup of coffee. This creamer is perfect for the person who loves unsweetened coffee and appreciates a short list of ingredients. While it didn’t linger, I did notice an aftertaste similar to the Coconut Cloud brand, but not as strong. My boyfriend also tried this drink and did not feel any aftertaste. At the time of writing, this buttercream costs $12.95 for a box of just eight packets, making it the most expensive of the five options.
Pros:
- Clarifies coffee like cream
- Rich creamy texture
- Neutral taste
- Dissolves quickly
Minuses:
- Most expensive per serving
Joi Oat Milk Creamer : Best for a crowd-pleasing cup.
We’ve come to my top pick. I like Joey’s oatmeal much better than Nod’s creamer. Joey’s powder was much finer and dissolved easily after mixing. This lightened the coffee, but not too much. The consistency was creamy, but not too creamy. The flavor was neutral and allowed the coffee to be the star. The box says “sweetened” but it is very sweet. (Cream is only available sweetened, but the same brand makes unsweetened oat milk powder . I haven’t tested it.)
My coffee also had a rather attractive frothy topping that seemed a bit unusual. That’s why Joi Oat Milk Creamer is a crowd favorite. It cuts through the coffee just enough to take the edge off without going overboard. At the time of writing, one box of 10 sleeves costs $14.99, making this option slightly cheaper than Kuju Cloud Creamer per serving.
Pros:
- Neutral taste
- Gently sweetened
- Dissolves well
- Medium creamy texture
Minuses:
- Expensive options
Moo Stix Oat : Best if you just want oat milk, dammit.
Moo Stix is the only non-dairy, vegan, individual coffee creamer that is packaged as a liquid rather than a powder. If you’re not satisfied with the powdered options and just want some oat milk, for heaven’s sake, here it is. This oat milk is no-frills, unsweetened, unflavored, and completely uncreamy. There are no problems with its dissolution, since it is already liquid. The problem is that it’s very watery, and each packet only contains a third of an ounce of oat milk, about a teaspoon and a half. I felt like I was drinking black coffee until I added the second stick of Mu. Everything went smoothly after that and the oat milk didn’t overpower or make my coffee harder. Even if you use two servings for every six-ounce cup of coffee, at $14.99 for 50 bags, Moo Sticks are still the most affordable per-serve option.
Pros:
- Liquid oat milk
- Neutral taste
- Good bang for your buck
Minuses:
- Watery
- Small serving size
As more companies join the non-dairy single-serve coffee creamer pool, we’ll start getting even better options, but for now, this is a good start. Whether you like it creamy and sweet or low-fat and simple, there’s an option for you here.