Oat Milk: Battle of the Brands

Oat Milk: Battle of the Brands

Oat milk has rapidly become the staple alt-milk in the specialty coffee world. In Portland, you can even find cafés that default to oat milk without an upcharge (we’ve truly evolved as a society in this regard). With oat milk brands vying for space behind every café counter, it’s starting to feel like the modern-day Coke vs. Pepsi rivalry—just creamier and slightly more environmentally conscious. If you’re reading this and are a dedicated soy milk or almond milk head, keep reading, and you may be converted to the oat milk cult. But how do you choose the right one? Not all oat milks are created equal. When it comes to coffee, it's not just about flavor (though that's a huge consideration) but also how well the milk steams. So, we set up a side-by-side taste test to see which oat milk truly delivers the best café-quality experience for home. 

The Contenders

For this test, we picked four widely available oat milks, each with its own loyal following:

  • Oatly
  • Califia Farms
  • Minor Figures
  • Chobani
Pouring latte art overhead view lifestyle by clive coffee

The first three are barista blends, which typically, but not always, have higher protein content. This makes steaming for latte art easier, more stable, and more intuitive as we repeatedly create a homogenous beverage. Chobani isn't a barista blend, but we chose it for its higher fat content, so we're curious if we will get the results we're used to. 

Each milk had to prove itself in two scenarios: steaming for a cappuccino and mixing cold into an 8oz cup of filter coffee. The goal? To see how they hold up in texture, taste, and overall performance. Let’s dive in!

Steaming & Tasting

talent tasting an oat milk beverage lifestyle by clive coffee

Check out the embedded video at the beginning of the blog for the full taste test for both espresso and filter coffee. 

  • Oatly—The O.G. The crowd favorite for a reason. It steams beautifully, producing a silky microfoam texture that integrates seamlessly into espresso. Taste-wise, it leans slightly sweet but doesn’t overpower the coffee flavor. A solid all-around choice.
  • Califia Farms—A bit trickier to steam at first. If you're not used to steaming oat milk, this takes a little finesse. The texture didn’t hold up as well as Oatly, but the taste was pleasantly mild, with a subtle oatiness that complemented the coffee instead of competing with it. The latter point is important from our POV because, as always, you want the milk and espresso to work together and not clash. 
  • Minor Figures—A barista favorite because it steams like a dream, with a microfoam structure that holds steadfast. The taste is a little more neutral, making it a great option for those who want the coffee to shine. Perfect for smaller milk drinks like a cappuccino or a cortado. 
  • Chobani— A surprise contender. It steamed fairly well, though the texture wasn’t quite as rich as Minor Figures or Oatly. Even with the added fat content, it still felt pretty thin. The flavor, however, was smooth and slightly nutty, adding an interesting layer to the coffee. We'd be more likely to add this to a bowl of cereal than use it for steaming milk. 

The Verdict

steaming oat milk on a linea mini lifestyle by clive coffee

Each of these oat milks brings something different to the table. Minor Figures takes the crown if you’re after the best steaming performance. If flavor is your top priority, Oatly is tough to beat, especially if you like a more oat-forward beverage. Califia Farms and Chobani both have their merits, especially if you prefer a more subtle oat presence in your cup. Ultimately, the best oat milk is the one that fits your coffee ritual and compliments the coffee that you're drinking, so don’t be afraid to experiment.

Whatever you choose, one thing’s clear: oat milk isn’t going anywhere. And if it makes your cortado even better, that’s a win in our book. Do you like oat milk, or do you prefer another alternative milk? Are you one of those few who drink banana or pea milk? Sound off in the comments; we’d love to hear from you. 

Further Reading 

Get the Oat Milks: 

Having Trouble Steaming Milk?