Best Coffee Creamers, According to Baristas

• Baristas prefer creamers with simple ingredients that enhance, not mask, coffee.
• Oat-based creamers are a top pick for frothing, steaming and latte art.
• The best creamer depends on whether you drink hot coffee, iced drinks or espresso.

People have been enjoying their coffee with a splash of milk for hundreds of years, but with the more recent surge in creamer offerings—from dairy- to plant-based and an extensive variety of flavors—there’s now one for every diet and palate. To help you find the best store-bought coffee creamer, EatingWell tapped coffee pros to learn what kind they use and why.

Oatly

Ali Scrable, authorized specialty coffee trainer, Specialty Coffee Association, and manager at Lavender Coffee Boutique in Denver, Colorado, says the key to allowing the nuanced flavors of coffee to shine through is to opt for a coffee creamer that contains minimal additives and sweeteners, naming Oatly Barista Edition Oatmilk as a favorite among coffee professionals. “Oatly Barista Edition’s texture is almost like whole milk,” says Scrable. “I’ve watched first-time students pour clean latte art with it in SCA classes, and I once judged a competition where someone poured a seahorse using Oatly—which really says everything!”

Best for: pairing with espresso and light roast coffees and for creating latte art because of its superior stability

Chobani

“Chobani has become our go-to recommendation as baristas and beverage professionals,” says Marisa Zaremba, founder and lead barista at Sugar on the Rim. “What stands out most is how rare it is to find a creamer that balances great flavor, versatility and truly simple ingredients. Chobani creamers consistently deliver on all three.”

From a functional standpoint, Zaremba appreciates that Chobani’s dairy creamers work well across all her coffee needs. “They perform beautifully in hot coffee, iced drinks and even whipped or blended into cold foam, which is something many store-bought creamers struggle with. And the flavor profiles feel indulgent without overpowering the coffee itself, making them easy to incorporate into a wide range of coffee styles,” says Zaremba.

She also noted that Chobani creamers emulsify effortlessly, which means they maintain a cohesive texture in both hot and cold drinks and don’t require aggressive stirring.

Best for: coffee drinkers looking for a dairy-based creamer with a luxurious texture and elevated flavor profiles to add to their everyday coffee ritual

Califia

“We use Califia oat milk in the shop because we find that it has the best texture for our milk-based drinks,” says Carlos Enriquez, barista at PERC in Savannah, Georgia. He explained that because oat milk creamers are naturally high in starch, they offer superior binding when blended with espressos (in other words, they don’t separate) in addition to a richer texture than most plant-based creamers.

Califia creamers are available in plain and vanilla flavors, as well as barista blends that are specifically designed for frothing and steaming.

Best for: creating barista-style results at home, including coffee and matcha-based beverages

Types of Coffee Creamers

You can’t go wrong with any of these barista picks, but you can also explore the whole world of creamers and find the one that’s just right for you and your cup of coffee. Here’s a quick look at the most popular types of coffee creamers and how they’re made.

Dairy

Early dairy-based coffee creamers consisted mainly of plain milk and cream. Today, many conventional dairy creamers are made from milk derivatives, like casein, and are available in a wide range of flavors. As a result, additives and artificial flavors have become common ingredients. If you have dietary restrictions or just prefer to avoid additives, look for creamers with short ingredient lists that feature simple ingredients, such as whole milk or cream, cane sugar and real vanilla.

Soy

Soy milk creamers are typically made by blending filtered water and soybeans with sweeteners, vegetable oils to improve texture and mouthfeel and stabilizers to prevent separation. They have a higher protein content than most dairy-based creamers and a mild nutty flavor.

Almond

Similar to soy milk varieties, almond creamers are made by blending almonds—which have been soaked and filtered—with oils, sweeteners and stabilizers. While they typically have a creamy texture, they’re prone to separating when mixed with hot coffee—especially lighter roasts, due to higher acidity, making soy creamers a more suitable option for darker roasts.

Oat

There’s no shortage of oat-based creamers in the refrigerated aisle, and they appear to be a top pick among baristas for their creamy texture and ability to hold up to hot temperatures, including steaming when creating latte art. They’re made with a mixture of filtered oats and water and, like other plant-based options, they feature sweeteners and stabilizers.

Coconut

Coconut creamers are made with full-fat coconut milk or coconut cream, which gives them a naturally smooth and thick texture. Cane sugar and maple syrup are often added for sweetness, and stabilizers like guar gum are added to help prevent curdling when poured into hot beverages.

The Bottom Line

With so many coffee creamers to choose from, it can be difficult to find the best option to match your preferences. Opting for one of these barista recommendations can make choosing easier. Dairy-based creamers offer the richest texture and are ideal for everyday coffee needs, while plant-based varieties are best for frothing and steaming, making them perfect for creating espresso drinks.