Starbucks is renowned for going above and beyond to please all the demographics in its huge customer base.
Consequently, the company offers plant-based milk alternatives, such as almond, coconut, and soy milk, to customers who don’t consume regular dairy milk. But does Starbucks have oat milk?
Starbucks has oat milk. This coffee house specifically uses Oatly Barista Edition oat milk, thanks to its thick and foamy texture, making it ideal for milk-based coffee beverages, such as lattes and cappuccinos.
Read on to learn more about Starbucks’ preferred brand of oat milk, Oatly Barista Edition, and whether this oat milk is good for you.
What oat milk is used at Starbucks?
There are several oat milk brands on the market today. However, Starbucks exclusively uses Oatly Barista Edition oat milk in its coffee beverages since 2021. So, what’s so special about this oat milk?
For starters, Oatly is a highly-reputed brand. This Swedish company was the first company to make oat milk and has been in the game for about 30 years.
As you can imagine, they have been around long enough to know what works and what doesn’t, allowing them to refine their processes to produce the best quality products for various needs.
As its name suggests, Oatly’s Barista Edition oat milk has been specially curated for coffee baristas.
It has several characteristics that make it easy to work with when preparing your favorite milk-based cup of Joe.
Why does Starbucks use Oatly Barista Edition oat milk?
As mentioned, Oatly’s Barista Edition oat milk has various properties that make it ideal for preparing lattes and cappuccinos.
First off, Oatly’s Barista Edition oat milk is creamy, foamy, and thick, which are the ideal characteristics for milk meant to be used in coffee drinks.
Its thick and frothy texture means the Barista Edition does not disintegrate when mixed with hot coffee at high speeds. Instead, it creates an enticing foam akin to that of dairy milk.
Oatly Barista Edition owes its thick consistency to its higher fat content compared to other oat milk products on the market. The fat comes from rapeseed oil, infused into the formula during manufacturing.
See more : Do Starbucks Refreshers Have Caffeine?
Also known as canola oil, rapeseed oil is high in unsaturated fats, meaning it is healthy for you. What’s more, this oil contains beneficial nutrients, such as omega- 3 & 6 fatty acids and vitamin E.
Oatly’s Barista Edition oat milk also has an acidity regulator, which is the other reason why Starbucks uses it in its coffee beverages.
Coffee has a low pH of between 4.7 and 5.3, meaning it is mildly acidic. The acidity regulator in Oatly’s Barista Edition neutralizes the low pH, ensuring the milk doesn’t curdle in the hot beverage.
Is Oatly Barista Edition oat milk good for you?
Understandably, you might be questioning whether Oatly’s Barista Edition is good for you, considering it has a higher fat level than other oat milk products.
I am here to assure you that the Oatly Barista Edition is a health-friendly product. As mentioned, the fat content comes from rapeseed oil, which is high in unsaturated fats and low in saturated fats.
Saturated fats are what you should avoid since they increase bad cholesterol levels, impacting heart health negatively.
On the other hand, unsaturated fats are good for the heart since they lower the levels of bad cholesterol.
Besides, the amount of fat in the Oatly Barista Edition oat milk is almost negligible. 100 ml (3.38 fl oz) of this milk contains 3 grams of fat, of which only 0.3 grams are saturated fats.
Oatly Barista Edition nutritional profile
Checking out a product’s nutrient profile before buying it is critical, as it allows you to make an informed choice when deciding whether or not the product is ideal for you.
100ml of the Oatly Barista Edition has 59 calories. Comparatively, 100 ml (3.38 fl oz) of whole milk contains 65 calories.
Therefore, although the Barista Edition is enriched with unsaturated fats from rapeseed oil to give it a thicker consistency, it still has fewer calories than dairy milk.
You will also be happy to know that Oatly fortifies the Barista Edition with several nutrients to enhance its overall nutritional value. Some of these nutrients include vitamins A, B12, D2, and riboflavin.
Vitamin A helps boost eye health and overall immunity, vitamin B12 is good for keeping your blood and nerve cells healthy, and vitamin D aids in calcium absorption, thus improving bone health.
Moreover, since oat milk is made from oats, it is an excellent source of dietary fiber.
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Fiber is essential for gut health since it increases the production of good gut bacteria that streamline digestion, ensuring optimal nutrient absorption from food.
Fiber has also been shown to play a crucial role in lowering bad cholesterol.
Is Oatly Barista Edition oat milk sweet?
You will find this oat milk to be quite sweet.
The good news is that Oatly does not sweeten the Barista Edition deliberately; the milk sweetens naturally during manufacturing. Let me explain.
Oat milk is rather easy to make. Simply add water to oats, and then throw in some enzymes to facilitate the breakdown of oats.
During that breakdown, the enzymes convert the complex carbohydrates in oats into simple sugars, thus resulting in a sweet-tasting product.
As such, Oatly Barista Edition is naturally sweet.
Do all Starbucks have Oatly Barista Edition oat milk?
Starbucks does its best to stock all its stores with the Barista Edition. However, considering that this coffee house sources its oat milk from only one manufacturer (Oatly), supply issues are bound to occur.
Moreover, location matters, too. The demographics in certain locations might have an overwhelming preference for dairy milk, causing Starbucks not to prioritize stocking oat milk in such areas.
Nevertheless, that shouldn’t be a problem for you. You can always get your own Oatly Barista Edition oat milk:
If it is not available, you can always use the Califia Farms Oat Barista Blend, too, which is just as good:
I have also written a guide on making an oat milk latte at home, so you can enjoy your favorite beverage without visiting Starbucks.
Conclusion
Whether you are lactose-intolerant or just prefer plant-based milk, you will be pleased to know that Starbucks offers oat milk.
This coffee house giant uses Oatly Barista Edition oat milk, thanks to its rich consistency, allowing for a stellar-looking and exquisite-tasting latte.
Learn more about Starbucks
- Starbucks Cup Sizes and Names: Everything You Need to Know
- Handcrafted Drink Starbucks: What Is It & Should You Buy It?
- How to Order at Starbucks Like a Pro (Quick and Easy)
Nigel Gildon editor:Nigel Gildon is the editor of Chef Wayne’s Big Mamou: Chef Wayne’s Big Mamou. He has worked in the publishing industry for many years and has a passion for helping new authors get their work into the hands of readers. 63 Liberty Street * Springfield, MA 01003
