Can You Put Creamer In Espresso Instead Of Milk? Find Out Now!

Milk has been the best solution to lighten and sweeten coffee for centuries. Except in some parts of the world where cream or sweetened condensed milk is preferred over milk.

Black coffee purists would agree that adding creamers is the “lazy way” to make coffee. But with the rise of coffee creamers, people have started considering it as a more convenient solution over milk.

People new to the coffee industry are still wondering if coffee creamers are a good solution. Should you add coffee creamer to your morning espresso instead of milk? Continue reading to find out how you can use coffee creamers to make a good cup of coffee at home.

Can You Put Creamer In Espresso?

Yes, you can put creamer in espresso. As a matter of fact, coffee creamer is an excellent replacement for milk. It adds thickness and sweetness to your coffee. There are a huge variety of coffee creamers available such as dairy-free, lactose-free, sugar-free, etc. You can also use flavored coffee creamers for a more enhanced taste and texture.

What Is A Coffee Creamer? How Is It Made?

Despite what the name suggests coffee creamers do not contain any form of milk or cream. In fact, coffee creamers are also commonly known as coffee whiteners since it is used to lighten and replace milk in coffee or tea.

Most coffee creamers are made of sugar, oil, and thickeners. Even though these coffee creamers are available in different varieties such as low-fat, dairy-free, and sugar-free, they are quite high in calories. 

Therefore, you should always look at the ingredients present in a creamer, before consuming them. If you’re someone who wants to have a low-calorie coffee, creamers might not be your best bet. 

There are two types of coffee creamers available in the market, powder, and liquid. These creamers do not differ as much in taste as they do in how it is stored and preserved. 

Powdered coffee creamers have a longer shelf life and do not need to be refrigerated. While liquid coffee creamers need to be refrigerated and can last for only upto a month once it is opened for use. 

What Does A Creamer Taste Like?

The taste of creamer resembles that of milk or half-and-half. It is thick and often sweetened and flavored. You can find many flavor options for coffee creamers such as hazelnut, caramel, and pumpkin spice. 

When you add coffee creamer to your coffee, it adds a thick texture and also flavors and sweetens the coffee. They serve as an advantage for coffee lovers, who like the idea of having flavored coffee, but do not have all the necessary ingredients and time to make one. 

Difference Between Creamer And Milk

A lot of people confuse creamer with a condensed form of milk. While in reality, most of the time creamer has nothing to do with milk. Most creamers in fact do not have dairy in them. Coffee creamers act as a substitute for milk. Here are some of the common differences between the two:

1. Creamer is a great option for people who are lactose intolerant since regular milk contains lactose, while creamers are lactose-free.

2. While whole milk has its unique taste and flavor, coffee creamers are creamy and thick and also come in a variety of flavors such as hazelnut, caramel, vanilla, etc.

3. Coffee creamers might not be the best option for calorie-conscious people due to the high amounts of additives and sugar present in them. Creamers are higher in calories than milk as they contain thickeners, oil, flavorings, sweeteners, etc.

4. Powdered coffee creamers also have a longer shelf life as compared to milk. It can last upto a month after opening if properly refrigerated, while milk goes bad within a couple of days.

Espresso & Creamer: Is It A Good Combination?

Ideally, coffee creamers and espresso are a good combination, but it also depends on individual tastes and preferences.

If you enjoy your regular milk latte, you will probably also enjoy adding creamer to your espresso. Coffee creamers do bring the right amount of thickness and flavor to your coffee.

Some people on the other hand find coffee creamers too sweet or artificial in taste. For them, milk is the only preferred addition to coffee. 

5 Best Creamers You Can Use For Your Coffee

Now that we know you can add coffee creamer to coffee instead of milk, let’s look at some of the best coffee creamers out there.

1. Nestle Coffee-Mate Creamer Powder – French Vanilla

Produced by a brand that is best known for its coffee appliances and products. Any product by Nestle is hard to disappoint and Coffee Mate checks the box.

The decadent flavor of french vanilla creamer powder when added to your cup of coffee, gives it the right amount of sweetness, texture, and flavor. If you are someone who likes their coffee flavored but not too sweet, this is the perfect option.

The Nestle Coffee-Mate Creamer is dairy-free, and also does not contain any form of lactose, cholesterol, or gluten. Thereby making it a perfect option if you have any food allergies or intolerance.

It comes in a nice reusable bottle that has a convenient easy-to-use snap lid. A single 15oz bottle gives you over 200 servings. I’d say it is a win-win, given the price and quality it offers.

2. Elmhurst Unsweetened Oat Creamer

Elmhurst is a brand that is dedicated to creating the best quality plant-based milk and creamers. The Unsweetened Oat Creamer is every bit delicious and nutritious, just as it is supposed to be.

Made from 100% whole grain and hemp seeds, even a little splash of this creamer adds the perfect amount of creaminess to your coffee. Even without any dairy, gluten, gums, oil, or fillers, Elmhurst does a great job at making this creamer taste delicious.

3. Laird Superfood Vanilla Coconut Powder Coffee Creamer

A creamer that is healthy and delicious, I’ll take that for my breakfast! Laird Superfood Vanilla Coconut Powder Coffee Creamer is not just delicious and flavorful but equally nutritious.

This vanilla-flavored creamer by laird is made with real ingredients like coconut milk powder, organic maple sugar, Madagascar vanilla powder, Aquamin, organic cinnamon powder, and sea salt.

Do not think that the product is any less nutritious given the number of ingredients added to it. This amazing creamer contains no artificial ingredients, sugar additives, colors, or chemicals. 

It is dairy-free, gluten-free, vegan, and soy free. Given that it comes in a powder form, the shelf life of the product is also great, only if you can resist not finishing this one!

4. Nutpods Coffee Cake Coffee Creamer

The brand Nut pods emerged when the founder Madeline couldn’t find a plant-based creamer that is as delicious as creamy and dairy ones. Therefore, this creamer was created to be the most decadent, rich, and creamy addition to your coffee.

The idea of coffee cake creamer comes from the creamers’ delicious and warm flavors such as almond, coconut, vanilla, and cinnamon spice. Made from pure almond and coconut and zero grams of sugar, this creamer contains only 10 calories per serving.

Nutpods is a great option if you’re looking for a good plant-based creamer. Also, perfect for people who follow keto, plant-based diets, have diabetes, or are lactose intolerant. Nutpods coffee cake coffee creamer is what is missing in your coffee, get yours today!

5. International Delight Hazelnut Liquid Coffee Creamer

You’ve probably already heard of International Delight and their coffee creamers. This brand is another option for a variety of coffee creamer flavors such as french vanilla, hazelnut, and other seasonal flavorings.

What I particularly like about the brand is that it comes in these small pod-size cups which can be used for each cup of coffee. So you know the exact serving you get. 

Although some people seem to think one cup of creamer isn’t enough. If that’s you, you can always add two for the right amount of sweetness and flavor. You can also buy different flavors and mix the two. Great way to change your daily coffee routine, isn’t it?

Can You Make Coffee Creamer At Home?

If you like adding coffee creamer to your coffee but do not like the fact that it contains oil, sugar and thickener is such a high amount; try making coffee creamer at home.

The homemade version of coffee creamer is simple and is also relatively healthier than the store-bought one. Made from natural ingredients like milk, cream, and condensed milk; the taste of this creamer is unlike anything else.

This is also a perfect solution for people who want readymade flavored coffee whiteners. All you need to do is add some to your morning cuppa and you’re done. Here is how to make coffee creamers at home:

Ingredients

• ½ cup milk/ cream/ half and half
• ½ cup condensed milk
• ¼ tsp vanilla extract
• 2 tbsp coffee flavoring

Process

1. Take a saucepan, add milk, and condensed milk and bring it to a simmering boil.

2. After 5 minutes of heating the two and once the milk base thickens a bit, turn the flame off. Add vanilla extract and your preferred coffee flavoring.

3. Now add your favorite flavoring. Pick from vanilla, hazelnut, and pumpkin spice. Here are the 10 best-flavored syrups for coffee. Give the mix a good stir and bring it to cool down.

4. Once cool, store it in an airtight container and refrigerate. Add it to your morning coffee and enjoy! 

Pro Tips

1. The coffee creamer tastes even better and is thicker when it is refrigerated overnight. 

2. The condensed milk and coffee flavoring adds the perfect amount of sweetness to the creamer. In case, you would prefer it to be more sweet add a few teaspoons of sugar.

Can Creamer Be Frothed?

Coffee creamers can be frothed to further add some volume to your coffee. They are made of sugar, oil, and thickeners which is why they might not foam as well as milk does, but it is doable. Here is all you need to know about frothing coffee creamer using a milk frother.

How Do You Store Coffee Creamer?

Powder creamers need not be refrigerated and can be stored in the pantry. Liquid creamers however need to be refrigerated.

For best use and storage always read the package information carefully. Do not use it past the expiration date.

Other Things You Can Add To Espresso

Your options aren’t just limited to coffee creamers. People around the world add a varied variety of items to their coffee. You may find some of these surprisingly delicious.

Here is a list of 20 interesting things people add to their espresso.

Final Thoughts

Coffee creamers are a great addition to your coffee when used correctly. Use a good quality coffee creamer or make one at home, following the above recipe. Happy Caffeinating!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)