The Best Barista Almond Milk in 2025

If you’re switching from dairy to a plant-based milk but still crave a rich, creamy coffee experience — complete with silky foam and latte art — almond milk is a logical contender. But not all almond milks are created equal: the ones labelled “barista” often include tweaks (oils, stabilisers, extra fat) to improve foaming, texture, and stability under heat.

In this guide, we taste, test, and compare eight barista-style almond milks available (or shipping) in the UK in 2025. We focus on how well they steam, foam longevity, flavour neutrality, and how they pair with espresso. At the end we share our methodology and scoring system so you can see how we arrived at our picks.

How we decided on the best barista almond milk

To make our ranking as fair and useful as possible:

• We tested under consistent conditions: same espresso shot, same temperature, same milk quantity.

• All milks were chilled straight from the fridge.

• We assessed each product on taste, texture, frothability, and foam stability (i.e. how long the foam holds before collapsing).

The Best Barista Almond Milks

Plenish’s barista almond is one of the standout options in the UK this year. It’s one of the few almond milks that positions itself as “clean label” with no added oils. The texture is creamy and stable, and it foams reliably, producing a microfoam that holds long enough for latte art. The almond notes are subtle — not overwhelming the coffee — which is precisely what you want in a barista blend.

Alpro’s barista almond is among the more widely available almond barista milks in the UK. Many users report it gives decent foam and texture in coffee. However, the foam isn’t always as silky — sometimes it forms coarser bubbles under aggressive steaming. The milk itself can taste slightly watery when not foamed, and the almond flavour may become more detectable in weaker espresso blends.

Rude Health’s barista almond has a niche, loyal following. In tests by The Vegan Review, it was described as somewhat sweet and acidic in cold brew, with less almond flavour than expected. That said, in hot espresso-based drinks it behaves more stably. The foam is acceptable, though not as tight as top performers. The sweetness may be a drawback for those seeking a truly neutral “cream substitute.”

Methodology

To assess the quality of each barista milk, we aggregated scores from various individuals across four distinct categories. To ensure fairness in our testing process, we refrigerated all the milk varieties beforehand, used a consistent milk frother, and maintained uniform quantities of coffee and milk for each trial.

To evaluate the foam’s longevity, we allowed the coffee and milk mixture to settle for a minute before taking our initial sip. This approach helped us gauge the foam’s stability and its impact on the overall coffee experience.

What did we measure?

• Taste
• Texture
• Frothability
• Foam

What milk frother did we pick?

We selected the VAVA milk frother for several reasons. Firstly, its ability to produce hot, airy foam makes it ideal for testing the best plant-based milks. Additionally, it features interchangeable elements that can heat and froth milk separately. Its ease of cleaning is a significant advantage, and importantly, it’s relatively cost-effective compared to other frothers available on the market.

Final Thoughts

If I had to choose just one almond milk for coffee in 2025, Plenish Barista Almond gets my vote — its clean ingredient profile and strong foam performance make it a standout.

Alpro Barista Almond is a solid runner-up for its accessibility and consistent behaviour.

Rude Health Barista Almond might suit those who prefer a sweeter cup, though it’s less versatile across formats.

If you’re experimenting, try small cartons of a few of these and test them in your own machine and with your roast — the “best” barista almond milk really can depend on your setup, preferences, and barista technique.