Many vegans find traditional soy, rice, or almond milk too thin when it comes to their morning cup of coffee. Fortunately, companies have recognized this demand and have released a number of creamers.
These are richer and more satisfying being specifically designed for your morning brew.
Below is a roundup of the top creamer brands.
Quick NavigationList of Vegan Coffee Creamersnutpods Unsweetened Dairy-Free CreamerSo Delicious Coconut Milk, Original CreamerCalifia Farms Almond Milk Coffee CreamerLaird Superfood Creamer OriginalIs Non-Dairy Creamer Vegan?Ingredients to Avoid to Buying Vegan Coffee Creamer
List of Vegan Coffee Creamers
For those of you who are impatient like me, I put together a quick list of vegan coffee creamer brands that I recommend. I also go into much greater detail on each product if you scroll down the page, or use the quick navigation above, for your convenience.
|
Brand |
Flavors |
Method |
|---|---|---|
| nutpods |
6 |
Liquid |
| So Delicious |
4 |
Liquid |
| Califia Farms |
4 |
Liquid |
| Laird SuperFood |
2 |
Powder |
nutpods Unsweetened Dairy-Free Creamer
Nutpods is a relative newcomer to the market and the result of a Kickstarter campaign in 2015. Founded on the desire for a wholesome dairy-free creamer that was as rich and creamy as half & half.
Nutpods is that creamer!
But it is not just a delicious creamer. They have developed a creamer that is free of all the usual additives found in other creamers. Nutpods creamers are made without carrageenan, titanium dioxide, mono and diglycerides, hydrogenated/partially hydrogenated oils.
Nutpods creamers are purposefully unsweetened so you can choose how sweet you like your beverage and what kind of sweetener you prefer to use. This also opens it up for use in savory dishes from mashed potatoes to quiche.
Available Flavors: Original; French Vanilla; and Hazelnut.
Endorsements & Company Promises
- Certified Vegan (The Vegan Society)
- Kosher (Orthodox Union certified)
- Gluten-Free (Gluten-Free Certification Organization)
- Non-GMO Project Certified
- Whole30 Approved
- Plant Based Foods Association Member
What We Liked
- Thick and creamy
- Authentic mouthfeel
- Mild coconut flavor does not overpower
What We Didn’t Like
- Needs to be shaken before use to ensure a smooth consistency and prevent curdling
- Requires about two tablespoons per cup
So Delicious Coconut Milk, Original Creamer
So Delicious Dairy Free has been in the business for nearly 30 years. They produce a wide array of tasty dairy-free products.
They use organic ingredients whenever they can. All their products are Non-GMO Project Verified or enrolled. They are also all certified vegan.
So Delicious do not use artificial colorants, flavors, hydrogenated oils or trans-fats. Furthermore, because their products are plant based, they are completely cholesterol free.
They also have a comprehensive allergen testing program to make sure their products are safe for everyone.
Their business philosophy is premised on a strong commitment to treating everyone and everything – animals, the environment, and each other with respect. That translates into taking sustainability seriously. From using 100 percent recycled paperboard cartons to decreasing their water use, actively working on minimizing their CO2 footprint.
Available Flavors: Original; French Vanilla; Hazelnut; Barista Style Original; Barista Style French Vanilla.
Endorsements & Company Promises
- Certified Vegan (Vegan Action)
- Gluten Free (Gluten-Free Certification Organization)
- Kosher (Kehilla Kosher certified)
- Organic (Organic Certifiers)
- Non-GMO Project Certified
What We Liked
- Original is unsweetened and has a wide range of uses
- Company has a wide range of ethical polices
What We Didn’t Like
- Some users have found that the creamer can settle as your coffee sits. We recommend drinking your coffee hot.
- Must shake well before use to ensure smooth consistency and to prevent curdling.
Califia Farms Almond Milk Coffee Creamer
Califia Farms (pronounced like California) innovate delicious plant-powered foods made with sustainably-sourced natural ingredients.
They are based in the San Joaquin Valley of California.Their name stems from the Spanish legend of warrior queen Califia, who reigned over the mythical island of California. Spanish conquistadors believed they had arrived at Califia’s bountiful island when they first explored California.
This company is completely plant based. All of their products are vegan. More than that the company promotes sustainable practices such as recycling, heat-recovery systems, and ethically sourced ingredients.
All of their creamers use almond milk as their base while the Better Half range mix almond milk with coconut cream. Their sugar is not refined with bone charcoal. This is one of the few companies that is openly committed to such a practice and state so clearly on their website.
Available Flavors: Unsweetened; Pecan Caramel; Hazelnut; Vanilla; Original Better Half; Unsweetened Better Half.
Endorsements & Company Promises
- Plant Based Foods Member
- Non-GMO Project Certified
- Kosher (Orthodox Union certified)
- Sustainable Palm Oil (GreenPalm certified)
- Dairy-free, Soy-free, Oil-free, Saturated fats-free & Gluten-free
- 100% carrageenan-free
What We Liked
- Packaging has a neat portion control spout that prevents you from flooding your beverage.
- Extra thick and creamy
- subtle flavor compliments your coffee
What We Didn’t Like
- On the flip side, some people found the flavors too mild.
or read our Califia Farms Creamer Review
Laird Superfood Creamer Original
Laird Superfood™ is the passion project of the world’s most prolific big wave surfer, Laird Hamilton. It has been in development for over two decades.
Big wave surfing places incredible demands on an athlete’s body and mind. Being physically up to the challenge is one thing but without focus and concentration, the ocean can quickly become dangerous.
Laird soon understood that premium coffee was a natural and healthy solution which helped him perform at his best. He began to include coffee into his daily routine. This became the catalyst to a lifelong journey to becoming an avid coffee aficionado.
Laird sought to understand the processes of growing, picking, roasting and packaging high-quality coffee. He soon sought to naturally enhance his finest coffees by formulating his Superfood Creamers™ made from whole food ingredients.
Designed not just to be a coffee creamer but a nutritional supplement as well. These products both contain aquamin derived from 100% red marine algae. Aquamin is a fantastic source of readily bioavailable calcium.
Available Flavors: Original and Mocha.
Be wary: the “Top Fuel” Superfood Creamer™ liquid is not vegan as it contains butter.
Endorsements & Company Promises
- 100% Vegan
- Gluten Free
- Soy Free
- Non-GMO
What We Liked
- Subtle coconut flavor.
- Great in smoothies, deserts, and baking.
- Designed by a company that focuses on coffee with a passion for healthy nutrition.
What We Didn’t Like
- As a powdered creamer this can prove lumpy if not stirred properly.
- For best results blend with a stick blender
Is Non-Dairy Creamer Vegan?
Some non-dairy creamers are vegan while others are not.
Typically, those that are branded as soy and almond creamers are vegan but this is not always the case. Creamers that are simply branded as “non-dairy” creamer should be viewed with caution.
The first step is to look for vegan certification on the packaging.
In the absence of such branding there are a number of ingredients to look out for.
Ingredients to Avoid to Buying Vegan Coffee Creamer
While some products may appear vegan while initially glancing at the ingredients, there are some things we need to look out for.
Of course, milk is the obvious candidate.
However, there are insidious forms of milk that are not so obviously labeled. The most common form is casein or caseinate as these are proteins derived from cow’s milk.
Products certified vegan will never contain this.
Some products may be labeled “dairy free,” “dairy alternative,” or a similar euphemism. These products should be scrutinized. An example is Trader Joe’s Coffee Creamer which is “lactose-free” yet contains casein.
If it doesn’t say “Vegan” or have vegan certification it may be worth contacting the company and requesting they get certified.
Sugar in some products may be processed using bone charcoal. This information is much harder to come by, and some products certified vegan have been known to use sugar which is processed with bone charcoal.
This remains an issue for vegans as very few companies are willing to supply information on the sources of their sugar. The easiest way to avoid this is to simply choose unsweetened variants of coffee creamers.
Finally, a few of the creamers mentioned above contain carrageenan which is a vegan alternative to gelatin. It is extracted from red edible seaweeds.
While this product is completely plant based, there are some concerns regarding its safety. Test results have been inconclusive. It is, however, associated with inflammation which leads some researchers to suspect it has links to ulcers and possibly cancer.
Sadly, much of the research is conducted via vivisection. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given carrageenan a GRAS (Generally Regarded as Safe) status.
I wish you had included info on palm oil in this… that’s another big problem.