Coffee Creamer Brands That Either Enhance Or Damper Your Daily Coffee Ritual
Although there are many ways a person could conceivably take their coffee, most people will use some form of creamer from time to time. It's common for coffee to taste a little bitter on its own, which has inspired a whole industry of creamers to help take that edge off.
However, creamers are secondary enough to the coffee experience that they're not really something most people would go out of their way to taste test. However, that doesn't mean they can't make a difference in the coffee experience, and those differences deserve to be compared.
BEST: Chobani
Although the company is primarily known for Greek yogurt, Chobani also offers a line of coffee creamers. As Tasting Table explained, cream is an end-product of their yogurt creation process anyway, so not turning it into a coffee creamer would be letting it go to waste.
However, that doesn't mean they slapped that cream into packages to make a quick buck. They add real sugar, real milk, and truly natural flavors in their caramel, sweet cream, vanilla, and hazelnut variations. No artificial flavors here!
WORST: Almond Breeze
Although almond milk is a fine foundation for a non-dairy creamer, there are better places to get such a product than through Almond Breeze. For one thing, a report by the Alabama Media Group suggests that other brands may also offer more almond content in their products.
That's because their parent company, Blue Diamond, settled a class action lawsuit in which it was found that only 2% of their products were made of actual almonds. The rest was water, sugar, the thickening agent carrageenan, and sunflower lecithin. For reference, other almond milk brands contain up to 30% almonds.
BEST: International Delight
International Delight may not be the most recognizable name on the coffee creamer market, but it has a reputation among coffee drinkers for being at the top of the line. And part of that comes from the smooth richness of their flavor options, which include such unique selections as Southern butter pecan, white chocolate raspberry, and Almond Joy.
According to Delish, reviews for their classic French vanilla flavor have been about as glowing, as it doesn't taste overly sweet and doesn't contain any sugar. Although it's not the only creamer that's friendly to people with diabetes, it's one of the best.
WORST: Market Pantry
In fairness to Target's house brand, Market Pantry coffee creamers are affordable options that are known to last pretty long on the shelf. It's also true that it's not going to introduce any unwanted aftertastes to coffee, and it's hard to find someone who actively dislikes it.
However, this is also part of the problem. Although Tasting Table describes its taste as a mild and unobtrusive flavor that gets as close to the bean as possible, that just makes it sound like it does so little that it would cost less just to get used to the taste of black coffee.
BEST: Califia Farms
Califia Farms is known for its oat milk, but it also produces a line of similarly dairy-free coffee creamers. And while oat milk is often known to be high in calories, the Food Network noted that this is not a problem this creamer's users have to worry about.
It's also just 15 calories and does not contain any hydrogenated oils or other artificial ingredients. As for how it tastes, its richness beats out many other oat-based creamers, especially if it's frothed before it's added to the coffee.
WORST: Dunkin Donuts Extra Extra
For some customers, the fact that Dunkin Donuts uses real cream in their Extra Extra creamer is a serious boon. After all, not everybody likes the mouthfeel of non-dairy creamers. However, Eat This, Not That warned that this isn't all that's in there.
In addition to containing artificial colors and flavors, the most concerning inclusion of the ingredients list is the thickening agent carrageenan. It's a potential carcinogen, but it's more immediately associated with negative effects on the immune system and the stomach's biotic makeup.
BEST: Elmhurst
According to Tasting Table, Elmhurst was primarily a dairy company for almost a century before it moved aggressively into the plant-based milk market in 2017. That also means the brand is known for its oat-based creamers, and it's hard to get better at it than them.
That's not just because their creamers taste good and come in bold flavors like chai spice and pistachio crème. In addition to being dairy-free, they're also vegan, kosher, and don't contain any GMOS, artificial ingredients, carrageenan, or gluten. Almost everyone can enjoy it!
WORST: Great Value
With budget products, the conventional wisdom states, "You get what you pay for." And based on Eat This, Not That's analysis, Great Value's coffee creamers are not an exception to that rule. The reason has to do with the load of artificial ingredients in it.
Although this creamer contains real sugar, the other main ingredients are just water and vegetable oil. Despite having real sugar, it also contains sucralose and corn syrup solids, so it's likely overly sweet to boot.
BEST: Laird Superfood
Although many people prefer liquid coffee creamers, Laird Superfood's powdered product is considered one of the best of its kind. According to Delish, it has amassed over 9,000 five-star reviews on Amazon and is particularly beloved by those who want a creamer without dairy or soy.
This plant-based creamer is vegan and an attractive option for those undergoing keto diets and those with sensitivities to gluten. However, none of that prevents it from adding a smooth, rich texture and taste to coffee. Just stir it well once it's added because it's prone to clumping.
WORST: Kirkland
The line of coffee creamers from Costco's house brand has some passionate fans, but they're likely to be even more disappointed in their search for it than those who aren't. That's because Costco's stores are strangely inconsistent about carrying this product despite it being part of their signature brand.
However, those who found it and didn't like it noted that despite having a gram of sugar more than competing brands like International Delight, it somehow tastes less sweet. It's also not particularly creamy, which seems to defeat the purpose of a coffee creamer.
BEST: Silk
When the Food Network tested out Silk's almond-based creamers, the first quality that came to mind was their smoothness. They also expected it to be heavy on the sweetness, but it wasn't overpowering in this respect.
Although the creamer was derived from almond milk, it felt rich and creamy enough that it felt like heavy cream or whole milk had been added instead. As this photo demonstrates, the coffee's color was also more aesthetically pleasing with Silk than with other almond-based creamers.
WORST: Bulletproof
As Eat This, Not That described, Bulletproof is often marketed as a creamer that's "better for you." It's telling that the brand doesn't actually share what it's comparing the value of its creamers to because it's not as healthy as it sounds.
The creamer is made from butter and coconut oil, which may explain why it's so high in saturated fats. At eight grams, it has half of the body's recommended daily dose of the stuff, and Bulletproof creamers add 100 calories to boot. There are healthier options for sure.
BEST: Nut Pods
Since Nut Pods has no sugar and is often unsweetened, dairy-free, and keto-friendly, it's hard not to get the impression that it's a brand that sacrifices taste for healthiness. However, the reviewers Delish noted felt differently, saying that it was as creamy and delicious as a dairy-based creamer.
Nut Pods also come in hazelnut, caramel, and French vanilla flavors, and they all seem to be a hit with consumers. Some have described it as a healthier way to achieve the mouthfeel of half-and-half.
WORST: So Delicious
Although it's nice to know that the So Delicious line of non-dairy creamers is vegan and GMO-free, it seems that this hasn't made their name any less of a misnomer. As tasty as the brand's other products might be, their creamers don't make enough of an impact to be "delicious."
According to Mashed, the coconut milk base doesn't add as much sweetness as it would appear. In fact, this creamer was described as having a weak flavor, if any. As one reviewer put it, "Was expecting it to do something other than change the color of my coffee."
BEST: Planet Oat
According to the Food Network, Planet Oat's creamers stand out for their rich taste and especially for their accuracy in each flavor. For instance, the coffee cake version indeed tastes like a freshly baked coffee cake.
With just one tablespoon of creamer, a customer's coffee takes on all the creamy texture and extra flavor they could ask for. The best part is that it doesn't even need frothing to bring these flavors out, which is often required for other oat milk brands.
WORST: Coffee Mate
Typically, coffee creamers exist to mute the harsher notes of coffee, which means they're typically not expected to have much nutritional value. Even with that in mind, however, one would generally expect them to be at least neutral to a person's health while it does a fairly simple job.
However, this is not true of Coffee Mate's line of creamers. They may attract some attention for their Coconut Crème and Cinnamon Toast Crunch flavors, but one of their most significant ingredients is hydrogenated vegetable oil. According to Mashed, this has led several European countries to ban Coffee Mate due to the elevated risk of diabetes, heart disease, strokes, and heart attacks.
BEST: Milkadamia
Although macadamia nuts are an uncommon foundation for milk, Milkadamia emerged as an industry leader in this niche market. And according to Tasting Table, they keep the nuts raw and don't dump any unneeded additives into their creamers.
Specifically, that means they're vegan, lactose-free, and GMO-free. And since the extract from macadamia nuts is already pretty creamy, they make for an ideal coffee creamer. Milkadamia creamers come in vanilla, unsweetened vanilla, cinnamon, and chai flavors.
WORST: Mooala
Although Mooala's vanilla bean flavor is the signature blend for its coffee creamers, the brand has made a lot of different options available, including the unique banana nut. They're also quite healthy at ten calories per serving and no sugar content.
However, Mashed cautioned that there are better-tasting healthy choices on the market than Mooala's creamers. Although it wouldn't be fair to call the taste awful, it's closer to being bland than particularly flavorful. Mooala was so close.
BEST: Starbucks
Starbucks' Caramel Macchiato is one of the chain's more popular drinks, which means this creamer had big shoes to fill when it comes to matching its flavor. According to the Food Network, however, it managed to capture the flavor surprisingly well!
The creamer has a rich taste of buttery caramel with some notes of vanilla but manages not to be overly sweet in achieving that flavor. That said, anyone who's interested in trying this should be warned that it can be a little tricky to find.
WORST: Splenda Sweet Cream
By its very nature, Splenda is loaded with artificial ingredients. But while its purpose is to provide sugar-free sweetening for coffee, not everything that replaces that sugar is all that great for the body. Although its active ingredient sucralose has attracted some criticism, the problem is more complicated than that.
Although Medical News Today reported that the FDA generally considers one ingredient called acesulfame potassium safe, there's a chance the sweetener could affect metabolism, leading to weight gain and blood sugar control issues. Eat This, Not That also noted that the erythritol in it can negatively affect gut health.
BEST: Vital Proteins Collagen Creamer
According to Healthline, the Vital Proteins line of creamers has a coconut milk base, but is particularly known for its collagen protein content. Collagen is often associated with bone density, and is credited for slowing natural processes that make bones more brittle with age.
In addition, this content boosts the creamer's nutritional value, as it has five grams of protein with just one gram of sugar. The creamer comes in mocha, coconut, and vanilla flavors. That said, it is a little calorie-rich at 70 per scoop.
WORST: Half & Half
According to Parade magazine, dietitians Jessica Bippen and Kirsten Jackson said that the small amount of Half & Half that typically makes sense to put in coffee isn't likely to have any adverse health effects. However, that doesn't necessarily make Half & Half healthy in and of itself.
That's because it has significant sugar and saturated fat content, which can both increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases. They advised anyone with an increased risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol to pick a different creamer.
BEST: Malk
Although The Simpsons made Malk sound like a sketchy off-brand, Healthline explains that it's actually a line of nut-based milk products. In particular, they recommend the brand's unsweetened oat and almond milk creamer. It contains about ten calories per tablespoon, but Malk's strength is in its simplicity.
That's because the brand uses just a small number of high-quality ingredients. In this case, those ingredients are filtered water, organic and gluten-free rolled oats, Himalayan salt, organic almonds from Europe, and natural vanilla flavor.
WORST: Land O Lakes Mini Moo's
According to the Environmental Working Group, there are a few components of Land O Lakes Mini Moo's creamer that comes as a cause for concern. Although it's made from real dairy, the creamer also contains genetically engineered sodium citrates.
However, it's not the only additive that the group was concerned about, as the creamer also contains artificial trans fats and the milk used to make the cream is likely to contain growth hormones and antibiotics. The group also wasn't impressed by the level of processing involved.
BEST: Trader Joe's Coconut Creamer
According to the nutritional facts website Fooducate, Trader Joe's coconut creamer was considered better than average for its wholesome ingredients as coffee creamers go. For one thing, it contains natural flavors that tend to impress customers more than cheaper artificial flavor sources.
Moreover, it's a pretty lean creamer that only contains about five calories per serving. It also doesn't contain any carbohydrates and is generally considered a usable product for even the strictest of diets.
WORST: N'Joy
Going off of pure taste, N'Joy is considered a solid, flavorful, and creamy option. However, its health profile and the purity of its ingredients is a little spotty, according to Fooducate. In fact, the site considers N'Joy much worse than average in this department.
Most egregiously, that's because the product contains trans fats even if the label says it doesn't. N'Joy also contains artificial flavors, colors, corn syrup, and glycerides. The last of these components suggests that it's also highly processed.