Collection: Oat plant-based drink — a delicious dairy alternative

Oat drink is now one of the most popular plant-based alternatives to cow’s milk. It has earned this place thanks to its deliciously mild, slightly cereal-like flavor, creamy texture, and beneficial nutritional properties. Whether you choose it for health, dietary, or ethical reasons, oat “milk” has plenty of advantages. At JAVA Coffee Roasters, you’ll find a wide selection of premium-quality oat drinks, including organic varieties and special Barista editions crafted especially for coffee.

Oat drink is made from oats, which naturally provide valuable dietary fiber (mainly beta-glucans), B vitamins, and essential minerals. It also contains thiamine (vitamin B₁), important for the nervous system, as well as minerals such as iron and magnesium.

Compared with cow’s milk, natural oat drink has fewer calories and less fat — but also less protein. One hundred millilitres of oat drink contains about 33 kcal, while the same amount of full-fat cow’s milk (3.2% fat) has around 60 kcal. Oat drink provides roughly 0.83 g of protein per 100 ml, which is several times less than cow’s milk (over 3 g) or soy drink (about 3 g per 100 ml). Its fat content is usually around 1.46 g/100 ml, and carbohydrates are the main macronutrient — approximately 5 g per 100 ml, of which a few grams come from natural sugars formed when oat starch is broken down.

Pure oat drink naturally contains small amounts of vitamins and minerals (including trace amounts of calcium, iron, magnesium, and zinc from the grain), but overall it’s lower in micronutrients than cow’s milk. For this reason, most commercially available plant-based drinks — including oat drinks — are fortified with key vitamins and minerals such as vitamin B₁₂ and iron, which are especially important for vegans and people following a dairy-free diet.

The natural sweetness in oat drinks comes from the oats themselves — starch is broken down during production, giving the drink a mildly sweet taste. However, some products are additionally sweetened, so it’s always worth checking the label and choosing unsweetened versions whenever possible.

If you’re looking for high-quality oat drinks, you’ll definitely find something for yourself in our store.

We especially recommend Rude Health, a brand offering fully organic oat drinks made from top-quality ingredients. These products contain no added sugar, making them lower in calories and with a smaller glycemic load. Rude Health has also created a special Oat Barista edition — an ideal choice if you mainly use oat milk as an addition to coffee.

Another excellent brand we recommend is Minor Figures — available in our shop in both Oat Barista and Oat Barista Organic (bio) versions. Both make perfect milk substitutes for coffee, giving your drink a creamy texture and the natural sweetness of oats.

You’ll also find unique oat-based blends enriched with other plant ingredients, such as Rude Health Oat + Almond (oat–almond drink) and Rude Health Oat + Coconut (oat–coconut drink), which combine a smooth oat base with a subtle hint of nuts or coconut.

Oat drink is an excellent option for anyone who, for various reasons, cannot or prefers not to consume traditional cow’s milk. It’s a 100% plant-based alternative, often chosen by vegans and vegetarians, as well as by people with lactose intolerance or milk protein allergies — since oat drink is naturally free from lactose and dairy proteins.

It’s also a great choice for those who care about their health, as plant-based drinks contain no cholesterol and generally have less saturated fat than dairy products. Unlike some other plant-based milks (such as soy or almond milk), oat milk is less likely to trigger allergic reactions, as it doesn’t contain soy, nuts, or dairy proteins.

However, it’s worth paying attention to the gluten issue. Although oats are naturally gluten-free, cross-contamination can occur during cultivation (for example, when grown near wheat or barley) or during processing in shared facilities. Therefore, people with celiac disease or severe gluten intolerance should choose certified gluten-free oat drinks, made from pure, uncontaminated oats — such variants are available in our assortment.

Oat milk is also often chosen by people with digestive sensitivities or those following a FODMAP diet, for whom dairy can be difficult to digest. It’s typically easier on the stomach and intestines. Thanks to its low calorie content and high satiety index, oat milk is also a smart addition for those on weight-management or calorie-restricted diets, helping reduce calories while keeping you comfortably full.

Oat drink is incredibly versatile in the kitchen — practically anywhere you would use cow’s milk, you can easily substitute it with its oat-based counterpart. It tastes wonderful in coffee: many people love lattes or cappuccinos made with oat milk for their delicate, cereal-like aroma and natural sweetness that perfectly complements coffee. It also works great in tea lattes (like matcha latte or chai latte), hot chocolate, or frothed as a plant-based alternative to traditional milk foam.

And that’s just the beginning. Oat drink makes an excellent base for smoothies and fruit shakes, and it’s perfect for pouring over breakfast cereals, muesli, or granola for a nourishing start to the day. It pairs beautifully with porridge, and can be used in baking and desserts — pancakes, waffles, chia puddings, vegan custards, and cakes made with oat milk turn out deliciously light and creamy.

In savory dishes, oat drink also finds its place. It can successfully replace cow’s milk in recipes for vegetable fritters, creamy sauces, or soups, for instance as a substitute for cream in pumpkin or mushroom soup. Its neutral, gently grainy flavor blends harmoniously with a wide variety of ingredients.

A special category within plant-based drinks is the Barista editions, created specifically for coffee beverages. These versions are designed to froth beautifully, producing a dense, stable microfoam ideal for cappuccinos, lattes, and even delicate latte art.

Their excellent performance comes from carefully refined recipes. Barista milk — whether dairy or plant-based — has a slightly adjusted composition. In the case of cow’s milk, producers often increase the protein content to around 3.4–3.5%. For oat Barista drinks, the key lies in a higher fat content and the addition of stabilizing ingredients. It’s the fat that helps create and maintain that fine, velvety foam.

Barista versions typically include plant oils (most often rapeseed or sunflower oil) to enhance creaminess and foam volume, along with acidity regulators and stabilizers that improve texture and consistency. As a result, Barista editions can match — or even outperform — cow’s milk in coffee applications. The foam is thick, stable, and elastic, making it easy to create latte art, while the taste remains balanced with a hint of natural sweetness.

If you love milk-based coffee drinks, it’s worth trying an oat Barista drink. The brands mentioned earlier — Rude Health and Minor Figures — both offer Barista lines highly regarded by professionals. Minor Figures Oat Barista, for example, is the choice of many third-wave coffee shops, while Rude Health Barista is praised for its clean, natural composition and excellent performance with espresso machines.

It’s important to remember that ingredients such as plant oils are added to strike a balance between foam quality and ingredient simplicity. These drinks tend to have a slightly higher calorie content (due to increased fat) and a somewhat longer list of ingredients. However, all substances used are approved and safe for consumption in the recommended amounts.

Choosing oat drink is not only beneficial for your health but also a conscious, sustainable choice from both environmental and ethical perspectives.

The production of cow’s milk involves livestock farming — a process associated with methane emissions, high consumption of feed, water, and energy, as well as animal welfare concerns. In contrast, plant-based drinks leave a much smaller ecological footprint. Among all dairy alternatives, oat milk is considered one of the most environmentally friendly.

According to studies, producing oat milk generates about 80% fewer greenhouse gas emissions and uses roughly 60% less energy compared to cow’s milk. Oats require far fewer natural resources to grow — cultivating oats needs around 80% less land than the amount required for pastures and feed crops to produce the same volume of cow’s milk.

Water use is also very favorable: oat drink ranks among the lowest in water consumption compared to other plant-based milks and uses dramatically less water than dairy production. Oats thrive in temperate climates with minimal irrigation, and they are mainly grown in Europe, the USA, and Canada, avoiding tropical deforestation.

By choosing oat drink, you support a more sustainable food system. Ethically, plant-based drinks are free from animal exploitation — a meaningful consideration for many people. Opting for oat milk also supports local agriculture and responsible producers.

It’s also worth noting farming practices in oat cultivation. Large-scale monocultures are sometimes treated with chemicals — for example, glyphosate (Roundup) may be used before harvest for desiccation, leaving potential residues in oat-based products. Conscious consumers should therefore look not only for fortified ingredients but also for organic certification.

Choosing a BIO-certified oat drink ensures that oats are grown without harmful pesticides or synthetic fertilizers, and that the entire production process meets higher sustainability standards. Organic producers also tend to prioritize better working conditions, fair pricing for farmers, and reduced environmental impact on local ecosystems.

In summary, oat “milk” is not just a delicious and nutritious addition to your diet — it’s also a sustainable and ethical choice. By choosing an organic variety, you can enjoy your favorite coffee with creamy oat foam knowing that your decision benefits both you and the planet.