Updated for 2018! A decade ago, a reader named Mary emailed to ask me about dairy-free coffee creamer options. When I first posted this Q&A, there were just a few options on the market. Now there are about two dozen to choose from! This list includes ALL of the dairy-free creamers we’ve found, and we update it regularly.
Q: Mary – As vegetarians, our greatest challenge to becoming vegan is that we deeply enjoy our morning ritual of traditional European coffees and Australian “flat whites” (made with organic milk). Our attempts at milk substitutes have not been successful. We have tried hemp, oat, soy, and almond milks — all to no avail. We cannot seem capture the mellow flavor enhancement nor the creamy texture that milk dilution provides our coffee. And pure coconut milk as a “milk for coffee” substitute also has not worked for us – it just makes the coffee oily. Are there any other potentially viable options for dairy free coffee creamer out there that we simply have not tried yet?
A: Alisa – Yes! Over the years, I’ve researched brands, taste-tested numerous options, and pooled opinions from many coffee drinking friends to give you the best vegan and dairy free coffee creamer alternatives available to date. But because coffee creamer seems to be a very personal thing, this dairy-free creamer list offers different tastes and consistencies for all – try them out to see which one is the holy grail for your morning cup of joe.
Dairy-Free vs Non-Dairy
First, it’s important to make a quick distinction. Many coffee creamers that are labeled as “Non-Dairy” are not actually dairy-free by ingredients. With foods such as whipped topping and creamers the term non-dairy may be used if the product contains 0.5% or less milk by weight – usually in the form of casein / caseinates (reference: Go Dairy Free: The Guide and Cookbook). These products may be okay for many lactose intolerant individuals, but could still be a problem for people who are allergic / sensitive to milk (casein is the top allergenic protein within milk) and for those seeking truly dairy-free or vegan products.
The following dairy-free creamer suggestions do not contain any dairy in the ingredients (casein, whey, lactose, etc.), but as with all products, do your homework if milk cross-contamination is a concern for you. Counter-intuitive as it may seem, many dairy alternatives are made (or packaged) in shared facilities or on shared lines with their dairy-based counterparts.
Milk Alternatives: Maybe for Some
I have heard reports from many people who simply enjoy almond milk, soy milk, coconut milk beverage, or just a touch of regular, full-fat coconut milk in their coffee. Though these may be rich enough, milk alternatives frequently separate in hot liquids and they don’t have the same mouth feel as commercially made creamers. For some coffee lovers this is not a problem, but for others like Mary, dairy-free creamers have been created.
Dairy Free Coffee Creamer: Liquid – Sold Refrigerated
So Delicious Dairy Free Coconut Milk Coffee Creamer
This flagship dairy free coffee creamer is so popular that it comes in standard pints and larger quart sizes, too! Available in the flavors you see below, this beloved product line recently received a carrageenan-free formula overhaul. You’ll have to taste-test it to see if the new blend meets with your standards, but we thought it added a nice splash of flavor. Like most of the others on this list, it is vegan and soy-free, but this one is also tree nut-free. Updated review coming soon!
So Delicious Dairy Free Almond Milk Creamer
I’m a big almond fan, so I liked the flavor of this mellow dairy free coffee creamer. It wasn’t as thick as expected, but this somewhat rich dairy alternative does add body and a smooth finish the second it submerges into a hot beverage. This vegan creamer has always been soy-free and carrageenan-free, too. But it’s only sold in quart sizes. For more details, enjoy our Full Review of So Delicious Almond Milk Creamer.
Ripple Half & Half
These little bottles of light cream come in Original and a sweeter Vanilla. Unlike most brands, these are top allergen-free, and they work wonderfully in recipes. They don’t “break” when the heat is on. You can read more about this product in my full review.
Silk Soy Creamer
A recent formula change to make this dairy free coffee creamer even creamier and carrageenan-free has many former fans up in arms. We’ll see what happens with the shakeout. In the meantime, this is an option that is made without nuts, is non-GMO verified and made with whole soy (not isolates) and is pretty easy to locate chilled in stores. It’s sold in pint and quart packages in Original, Vanilla, and Hazelnut.
Silk Almond Creamer (refrigerated) – Available in enticing Vanilla, Hazelnut, Sweet & Creamy (not pictured), and Caramel flavors, this newer option from Silk is soy-free, carrageenan-free, and starting off with rave reviews. All four are extremely low in fat (0 to 1 g per tablespoon) and sweetened with cane sugar.
Silk Dairy-Free Creamer Singles
These aren’t yet available for consumers to purchase, but you might spot them at some coffee shops and restaurants. It wouldn’t hurt to ask a favorite spot to order some in either, since they are available wholesale. Interestingly enough, these are not nut- or soy-based, like their other creamers. They’re made with an oil emulsion and seem to be top allergen free. Here is the ingredient list: filtered water, cane sugar, sunflower oil, acacia gum, contains 2% or less DF: natural flavor, xanthan gum, sea salt.
Califia Farms Almondmilk Creamer
You might see several types of Califia creamers in the refrigerated section, but the bottles must be refrigerated at all times. See the next section for their shelf-stable options. These refrigerated bottles come in several flavors, including some seasonal options. But year round you can enjoy Unsweetened, Vanilla, Hazelnut, Pecan Caramel, Mexican Cocoa, Irish Creme, and Dulce de Leche.
Wildwood Soymilk Creamer
This lesser known option has actually been around for quite a while and is reportedly the only “made with organic soymilk” creamer. It’s available only in Original, and though not as well-distributed as the other dairy-free creamers, you may stumble across it in stores.
Coffee Rich Non-Dairy Creamer
Though it’s far from virtuous in terms of ingredients (corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, soy protein isolate and more), this option is likely to be more like other non-dairy creamers you are used to, but it is kosher pareve and thus dairy-free. Available in Original and Fat Free.
Natural Bliss Almond Milk & Coconut Milk Coffee Creamers
Coffee-mate has finally emerged with dairy-free options. All fall under their Natural Bliss line, and they come in a few appealing flavors. These appear to be carrageenan-free and vegan, and are enriched with pea protein. See Sarah’s full review for more details.
Nutpods Dairy-Free Creamer
This beloved brand added a refrigerated line on top of their shelf-stable line. You can read more on Nutpods in the shelf-stable section that follows. The refrigerated versions come in the same great, everyday flavors, and are also unsweetened.
Kineret Coffee Whitener
This old-school creamer is made by the kosher company, Kayco. It is dairy-free and certified kosher parve. It is sold frozen, but you defrost it in the refrigerator and shake before using. This brand is primarily sold in major grocers in the U.S.
Mocha Mix
Carla B. shared this brand with us via Facebook, “You forgot the old standby, Mocha Mix. Totally full of junk and chemicals (probably very similar ingredients to the Rich brand creamer), but I have to admit, it tastes more like half and half than any of the other dairy-free creamers I’ve tried.” According to the ingredients, and the kosher pareve labeling, it is dairy-free (and therefore casein-free).
Store Brands of Refrigerated Dairy-Free Coffee Creamer
Some are getting in on the action with OEM versions of dairy free coffee creamer – another company such as So Delicious or Silk produces the dairy-free creamer, but the store brand’s label is affixed. Such is the case with Trader Joe’s current coconut creamer and we have seen some other stores get in on the action – maybe you have seen one?
Dairy Free Coffee Creamer: Liquid – Sold Shelf-Stable
Although the following options are sold un-refrigerated, they do need to be refrigerated once open.
Nutpods Dairy-Free Creamer
Of those that we’ve sampled to date, Nutpods is our personal top choice for dairy free coffee creamer. It submerses beautifully for that full, lightly creamy mouthfeel and all flavors are unsweetened, so you can sweeten for your mood that day using whatever sugar or sugar alternative that you choose. The ingredients are quite pure and the product is soy-free, certified gluten-free, non-GMO verified and made with a base of almonds and coconut. For more details, enjoy our Full Review of Nutpods.
Califia Farms Almondmilk Creamer
We loved this product on launch, but a package and formula redesign has reportedly changed this dairy-free creamer notably. Their ingredients include both almond and coconut cream, but this product is carrageenan-free, soy-free, certified kosher parve, and it comes in 4 vegan flavors: Unsweetened, Vanilla, Hazelnut and Pecan Caramel. They also have a Barista Blend. Though it is of the prior formula (we will update!), you can still get details and reader comments on the new formula via our Full Review of Califia Farms Creamer. These creamers are reportedly shelf stable until opened, but they are usually sold in the refrigerated section.
Califia Farms Better Half
In smaller pints, the newer Better Half products appears similar to the company’s almondmilk creamers in ingredients, but they are a little richer with just a smidge higher fat content. Some may prefer this added touch of indulgence for their dairy free coffee creamer. They’re available in Original, Unsweetened, Vanilla, and Hazelnut. Like the Califia Creamers just above, these are reportedly shelf stable until opened, but are often sold refrigerated.
So Delicious Dairy Free Barista-Style Coconut Milk Creamer
The Barista-style is very similar to their main line of coconut milk creamers in ingredients. However, it has pea protein added, which presumably adds a little more body, and it’s shelf-stable so you can stock up! We’ve seen it in Original and French Vanilla. For some notes on ideas for using it, see my Post of So Delicious Barista-Style.
Pacific Barista Series Milk Beverages
I couldn’t find them on their website, but Pacific Foods makes a “Barista” line for coffee shops and food service that you can buy online via Amazon. They offer soy-, coconut-, and almond-based options that are reportedly perfect for making spot-on lattes. These do contain carrageenan, but the almond and coconut versions appear to be made without soy.
Walden Farms Calorie Free Coffee Creamer
Uniquely bottled like salad dressings, these creamers are promoted as sugar-free, dairy-free, vegan, gluten-free and more, and come in five enticing flavors: Original Cream, Sweet Cream, Mocha, Hazelnut, and French Vanilla. Sound to good to be true? It might be, or it might not. Overall, they get pretty strong reviews, with a few who weren’t pleased, naturally. But if you are looking for a healthier dairy free coffee creamer, this may not be it. The ingredients include your typical barrage of non-dairy creamer chemicals and they do contain carrageenan and are sweetened with sucralose.
ECOS Coconut Creamer
This is a 100% natural dairy-free creamer made purely from coconuts: coconut water, coconut milk, and coconut sugar. No added tap water, cane sugar or preservatives (such as dipotassium phosphate) are used. Rather than chemicals, pure cream is used for richness.
Dairy Free Coffee Creamer: Powder – Sold Shelf-Stable
Taam Tov Instant Creamer
Powdered non-dairy creamer that is truly dairy-free can seem impossible to find, but this one is certified kosher parve (OU) and vegan. It’s made with just a few ingredients, which unfortunately include titanium dioxide and carrageenan. I would check the reviews before deciding.
Coconut Cloud Creamer
At last, a truly dairy-free powdered creamer that’s also free of funny business. Yes, it’s carrageenan-free and made without titanium dioxide or caseinates (milk proteins). It provides a lightly creamy, full-bodied consistency but a very mild taste that is neither overly sweet nor strongly coconut. You can read my full review here.
And, Coconut Cloud Creamer now comes in Spiced Turmeric Ginger, Matcha Latte, and Single Packs too!
CACafe Coconut Coffee
This is a unique, ready-to-go coffee with creamer concept. It is an instant Columbian coffee with instant powdered dairy-free coconut creamer all in one! The ingredients aren’t too shabby and it comes in either multi-serve canisters or single-serve to-go cups (just add hot water, put the lid on and go). They have sweetened and unsweetened available, and also offer mocha and tea varieties.
Wander Life Coconut Creamer
This is a great option for purists on the go. It comes in 6 varieties, sweetened and unsweetened, and all are vegan and paleo. The sweetened varieties use coconut sugar, and the ingredient list is simple and legible. You can read Leah’s full review here.
Laird Superfood Coffee Creamer
I’m not completely sure what the “Superfood” aspect is, but this is a simple “clean” dairy-free coffee creamer in terms of ingredients. It comes in Original, Unsweetened, Tumeric, and Cacao. They used dried coconut nectar for sweetening.
Vital Proteins Collagen Creamer
This option isn’t vegan, but it is dairy-free. The coconut milk powder base is spiked with collagen peptides, bamboo shoot extract, and acacia fiber. It comes in Coconut, Gingerbread, and Vanilla flavors. And each flavor can be purchased in a canister or single-serve packets.
Simple Truth Coconutmilk Creamer
Available in the Kroger grocery store chains, this powdered brand is available in canisters and single serve packets in Original and Vanilla flavors. It’s coconut cream-based, and free of dairy, including caseinate!
Flavorings: Dairy-Free Buyer Beware
You may be surprised to learn that some flavoring syrups actually contain dairy. They might look like pure sugar, but dairy derivatives are used in a handful of varieties. So be sure to check the ingredients carefully. The most popular brand, Torani, offers a handy allergen chart.
Likewise, some flavored versions of those beloved Keurig K-Cups may contain milk protein. Most are dairy-free, but not all, so check! It appears that Crazy Cups, which come in many fun flavors, are vegan, kosher pareve and compatible with Keurig. But of course, always check the ingredients to verify.
What’s Your Favorite Dairy Free Coffee Creamer? Leave a Comment!
For more dairy-free Q&A topics, see our Ask Alisa Page. Alisa Fleming is the founder of GoDairyFree.org and author of Go Dairy Free: The Guide and Cookbook for Milk Allergies, Lactose Intolerance, and Casein-Free Living. and Eat Dairy Free: Your Essential Cookbook for Everyday Meals, Snacks & Sweets. In addition to her own dairy-free lifestyle, Alisa has experience in catering to the needs of various special diets, including gluten-free, soy-free, egg-free, vegan, and multiple food allergies.
200 Comments
Hello, I just started a thyroid medication that requires no calcium for 4 hours afterwards (taken in the am) – are there coffee creamers that do not include calcium?
Many of these don’t have added calcium Renee. They should all have their nutrition facts listed on them for you to see. As a quick note, it is near impossible to avoid all calcium in your diet if eating whole foods in the morning. Even fruit contains calcium! Luckily, the research is specifically on calcium supplements, not natural calcium in plant foods. So I personally avoid products fortified with notable levels of calcium (and calcium supplements) after taking levothyroxine in the morning, but do not worry about more specific naturally occurring calcium. I’ve had no problems at all with this for the past 15 years, and have consulted physicians and pharmacists. What I’ve been told is most essential for absorption is to not eat for at least 30 minutes after taking it on an empty stomach. This is best to discuss further with your physician. Here is some more information on the calcium issue -> http://www.webmd.com/osteoporosis/news/20000606/calcium-supplements-interfere-thyroid#1 & http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hypothyroidism/expert-answers/hypothyroidism/faq-20058536. I hope that helps!
being dairy intolerant I have tried most of these options and would have to say that the Wildwood soycreamer is by far my favorite with Organic Valley plain coming in second. None of the other ones including Nutpods have a nice flavor- or non flavor. The only bummer is that I can’t bring it with me and restaurants never have soy creamer, only soymilk which does nothing.
Thanks for sharing your opinions Ann! I’m wondering if soymilk powder might be a possible solution? I haven’t trialed it, and am not sure how well it dissolves / thickens in coffee, but it is easy to pack along.
These are great suggestions, thanks! How do you carry around with you for breakfast or coffee out at a restaurant? Nothing comes in single serve. At home I use coconut milk, but my challenge right now is going out.
Hi Lisa, there are a couple of powdered options, but the single serve options haven’t really hit. That said, you can make your own little portions of the powdered ones to pack along!
I’d love to make my own creamer but with the shelf life and my work schedule it just doesn’t work out. Although, when I have made it and used date paste as a sweetener it was great. So far my omnivore husband (who almost refuses to eat dinner if I remember mention the word “healthy”) likes the Califia French vanilla creamer. It seems much thicker than the So Delicious options. I like it too. The main problem I find is only one store nearby carried it and now they don’t. I’d also like to find the unsweetened version since my husband sweetens his anyways. I would suggest to anyone making a switch to give it a week for your tired and coffee-craving mind to adjust to the change first thing in the morning.
Hi Alisa!
I’m trying to verify that the Silk Almond creamers don’t have carrageenan and came upon your site and list. I love this creamer but not so much that I’m willing to risk the health issues. Can you tell me how you verified that it’s carrageenan-free? I’ve checked their website and don’t see it listed. Thanks so much!
Hi Niki, I read the ingredients on the package that I had purchased. They do have ingredients on their website though. Just click on the product you want to look at and select ingredients -> https://silk.com/products?category=136
Duh, how did I miss that, Alisa!? Thanks!
Not a worry – they actually have kind of a funny layout on their product pages that can mess with your eyes a bit.
Every morning I look forward to my creamy hot cup of coffee. After discovering that milk products are wrecking havoc with my body I’ve stopped eating or drinking anything with dairy and have gone on an elimination diet.
I have tried all of the above looking for that ultra creamy taste if Half N Half. Most of the mentioned creamers could not handle my rich fresh ground and fresh brewed coffee. They were too thin. I did not like Nutpod at all. And other candidates had added sugar.
Wildwood soy creamer is the only one that can give that thick creamy mouthfeel that I get from Half N Half and it has no added sugars
Thanks for sharing your top pick Allie!
Thank you so much Alisa. I was desperately looking for a vegan non GMO powdered coffee creamer to travel with and found something from you recommendations, the coconut cloud creamer. I will give it a try. When I arrive at my destination it will be right back to home made almond milk, but this certainly will do for the hotel.
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I have tried several dairy free creamers. My favorite is Organic Valley Soy Vanilla Creamer. I was disappointed not to see it listed in the above guide.
Because of a decline in demand and challenges in production Organic Valley Soy French Vanilla Creamer is no longer available. Sigh…so now I have to go back through this list and find another brand. I am dairy and coconut free, so my options are limited. I have tried the Coffeemate almondmilk creamer. It had an awful after taste. I am now trying Silk almondmilk creamer, but I also find that it has an after taste. I liked Organic Valley soy creamer because it was the thickness of a cream and it tasted pure. I can see my journey is going to be difficult. I did see someone comment that they really liked Silk soymilk creamer, so I think I’ll try that next if I can find it. Thank you for making a list. Hopefully I’ll find one that I can tolerate and is available locally.
Oh that’s a bummer! I’m double checking with them. Thanks for sharing your take on the creamers, too.
So Delicious! Coconut Milk Coffee Creamer is anything but. It has no body, and does not balance the acidic nature of coffee. Half and half does this beautifully because of its fast content, about 3.5 g per two tablespoons. The fat content of So Delicious! is less than 1/3 that. It literally just can’t cut it. I pour a couple of tablespoons in my coffee, and it lightens the cup slightly. It’s useless, has no mouth feel, and almost no flavor. I am trying to go vegan, but I need a viable coffee creamer alternative to dairy cream.
Soy creamer has the mouth feel. Try either Trader Joe organic soy creamer (plain) or Silk’s non-gmo soy creamer. I have also tried making my own coconut creamer by scooping the cream out of the can of coconut milk and adding some stevia. It doesn’t have the mouth feel. I have improved the mouth feel by adding some sunflower lecithin but it doesn’t have that real cream ‘feel’ that you actually can get with the soy creamers. Best of luck.
Thank you for sharing this Rachel!
Alisa, are you familiar with MacCoffee Non-dairy creamer? It claims to be fully vegan and purely made from vegetable products. I have a newly discovered milk & lactose allergy, hence I need to be sure it is milk & lactose free. Living in Kenya I have limited choice of what I can use. All the soy milk here seems to have lactose in it and I hate almond milk. Rice milk is slightly better. but only comes in 1l packs.
I need something for my coffee. Cooking I manage lactose & milk free.
Hi Stephanie, I searched but can’t find anything about MacCoffee being vegan. It is a “non-dairy” creamer, and when I searched online, I did find that the ingredients include milk protein. See all of my recommendations above for options, many are available online.
I just want an original non-dairy coffee creamer to replace my Great Value creamer that the FDA screwed up so badly that now every powered creamer tastes like crap. I don’t do those over sweet yucky flavors that are more like syrup laden desserts rather than cream, like those are good for you smh. Every liquid creamer I try is so sweet and watery I have to pour the coffee out. Milk and cream make me so congested. So I was looking for anything that just tasted like cream that didn’t make phlegm or require a bank loan to get. Did you find anything like that or do I have to continue using half & half and double my Asthma medication because the FDA is sooooo worried about my health yet poo contamination in just about everything is more than fine? I would really appreciate it you could tell me if any of these are what I’m looking for:)
Hi Marry, please read the post above, and click through on any if you would like more information. I’ve listed my top picks at the top and there is unsweetened.
I live in a small city on the far east cost of Canada and regrettably my choices are very limited and the new products you have included in your review have yet to make an appearance on the shelves of stores where I live, I have tried almond, coconut, almond and soy but I have yet to find the golden solution for me. I noticed that cashew creamer is missing from your inventory. My Naturopath recommended cashew creamer but no one in my area seems to carry it… grrr #$!# Thank you for your review I’ll keep my eyes peeled.
Hi Dean, I’ve yet to see a brand of cashew creamer, which is why it isn’t on my list. Perhaps your Naturopath means to make your own cashew cream.
Soak cashews, drain, add water, blend, strain. Period.
After going vegan the hardest thing to do was give up half and half in my coffee, the dairy free creamers out there are yuck, good for cereal but not coffee. Finally found the solution and it is delicious.
Home made almond milk… half cup almonds to 2 cups water.
Soak the almonds overnight, rinse them off and blend. Throw into nut milk bag, squeeze. Just love it. You can make it creamier by putting less water. It lasts for 5 days @ 2 cups per day.
Thank you so much for sharing this Susan!
So far, I have enjoyed Trader Joe’s coconut creamer the most of those I’ve tried (the standard So Delicious and Silk ones). I don’t like sweetened coffee at all, so So Delicious and Silk are way too sweet for me. I found TJ’s to be the most like actual half and half in terms of creaminess and lack of sweetness. I only wish they had a similar offering in my corner supermarket so I don’t have to go all the way to TJ’s just for creamer. I have to try that first one you listed, since it is supposed to be unsweetened. If I can find it.
You can order it online with ease if you can’t find it locally. It is shelf-stable.
I didn’t know you could order Trader Joe’s online but will check this out. In so many ways, especially for dieters, this is the best I have found.
I don’t see it offered anywhere online, either by Trader Joe’s or Amazon.
Stephen, she was referring to “the first one” I listed, which is Nutpods. That is the one that I responded was available online. Trader Joe’s variety isn’t shelf-stable and it’s only sold in stores. Sorry for the confusion!
Hi Alisa,
The Silk Soy Vanilla Creamer that is non-GMO verified actually does have carageenan in it- and the article/post indicates it is carageenan free. It also has dipotassium phosphate in it as well. We recently stopped using this creamer because it was making my nose run and causing me to sneeze. Not sure what was causing it but it was definitely the creamer.
Thank you for spotting this error Kimberly! It has been fixed.
I have never seen any of these products in the supermarkets. Is this talking about the U.S? Im in the UK.
Every site I go on assumes we’re all american…
Hi Anne,
Yes, these are mostly US & Canadian products. I’m not located in Europe to it’s tricky for me to evaluate what is available in the UK. If I can find someone to sleuth out products there, then we will definitely add them!
I looked at the Nutpods website and see the product is sold on Amazon and Amazon UK. I almost was going to order directly from the website but found out a Whole Foods Store not far from me carries the Nutpods . Only problem with ordering from Amazon is I think they only carry the 3 pack which is one of each flavor. But maybe check it out… 🙂
I’ve seen that you can buy any flavor you want now.
Thanks for this! I know I can find the So Delicious line in Canada, but I don’t love it, so I will hunt for some of these. Trying to cut 100% of my dairy, as now even my “non-dairy” creamer is making me react.
I hope one of these works out for you Aubrey!
hey Alisa – i just tried the Califa better half and i like the consistency but the coconut flavor is strong – any of these recommends have a less coconut taste with the same richness?
Hi Todd, yes, the first one that I list on this post, Nutpods.
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Here us my post since I was researching the 7 day “soup diet” plan originally; and I have been on the veggie/cabbage/celery /carrot soup for 1 1/2 days so far, not hungry but just want to know how COFFEE comes into the mix. I usually drink 5 cups of 1/2 decaf 1/2 regular coffee with original coffeemate liquid in it, I figure the day totals up to at least 10 to 12 tablespoons, also i add truvia. I could tolerate diet coffeemate liquid if I had to. I am not allergic to any of the milk products. Just want to know if this habit will ruin this short term diet plan. thanks.
Hi Nina, sorry, but I’m not knowledgeable on the soup diet.
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