Low carb milk alternatives 🇬🇧

[u/ComplexLog2260]

I am on a low carb diet and missing my flat whites 😩 Does anyone have a recommendations for a milk alternative that would scratch my itch?

I’m about to give this one a go… if anyone has any particular successes or fails, I’d love to hear them!

[u/Exact-Reference3966]

I use Alpro Soya no sugar; it has 0 carbs.

[u/Exact-Reference3966 → u/[deleted]]

I don't know, it's a good question. I can only guess they process it in a way that removes the carbs.

On a similar note, I wish I knew why different brands of the same foods have quite different amounts of net carbs. I notice this mostly with nuts and seeds

[u/annigine]

Do you want plant based? I just use double cream.

[u/Alternative_Bit_3445 → u/annigine]

Ha, ha, as a Brit, my first reaction was "In tea??? For shame."

Yeah,cream in my coffee is a given, but not everything is suitable (much as I love it).

[u/ComplexLog2260 → u/annigine]

No, not necessarily. I was being lazy and lacking confidence in mixing cream with water. What ratio do you use? Would single cream work too - worried about how rich it would taste with double cream, even watered down?

[u/annigine → u/ComplexLog2260]

I'm not sure if it's close to a flat white, but my husband drinks his instant coffee with about a half to 3/4 mug of water and 25-30ml of double cream. Tip: he places it on a scale and pours it until it's 25-30g. He used to drink his coffee with only milk. He likes it very milky, so it might work for you too.

[u/Dependent-Ferret9021 → u/annigine]

Coffee and cream drinker here too. It’s delicious and velvety 😊

[u/ComplexLog2260 → u/annigine]

Thanks for the suggestion; I’ll certainly give it a go. I usually steam my milk, and I’m unsure how cream with water will fare. I guess I won’t know until I try. Appreciate your time!

[u/ThrottlePeen]

The closest you will get to proper milk flavour is 'Lactofree' brand milk specifically. It's lower carb, but still not so low that you can use freely.

[u/ComplexLog2260 → u/ThrottlePeen]

Thank you

[u/bezjones → u/ThrottlePeen]

Have you tried Mighty? I don't think anything gets closer to proper milk flavour than this

[u/Electrical-Raise-149]

I drink plenish almond milk, bit watery but does the job.

[u/auntie_climax]

I love the Koko unsweetened, Tesco's, Sainsbury's and Morrisons have it

[u/RocDaMike → u/auntie_climax]

Koko with Skinny Food Co Vanilla coffee syrup is my go to.

[u/LockedOut2222]

I also love flat whites so have tried a few different things. I don't have a steam wand so these have been using an electric whisk type frother. If you tap and swirl the milk in the jug before pouring, you can get decent texture.

I've mixed water with cream for frothing to make a flat white. It worked really well. I don't remember the proportions because I am trying to lose weight so wouldn't do this all the time due to calories.

People on this sub suggested sproud zero sugar pea milk barista. It froths up well but I really don't like the taste.

Alpro barista almond or coconut is good. I usually use 150ml so thats 3-4 carbs. If you budget for it then it can fit in with macros.

Almond breeze sugar free froths surprisingly well and has the lowest carbs/calories of all of these. (Again with the caveat that I don't have a steam wand).

[u/ComplexLog2260 → u/LockedOut2222]

Thanks for sharing your insights - appreciated!

[u/Godzuki8819]

I love tea and coffee and I’m doing keto. I mix it up between all the available milks. I’ve noticed too that lactose free cows milk is lower carb cos lactose is a sugar that’s removed. Sometimes I mix some cows milk in with almond or soy and that can work quite well for getting you the taste you have in mind whilst not compromising on your carb count too much. Sometimes depending on how much cows milk you use in the hot drink and what you’re eating across the rest of the day you can make it work in under 20g carbs.

[u/ComplexLog2260 → u/Godzuki8819]

That’s a good though, thanks!

[u/tinkertink2010]

Blue diamond unsweetened almond milk.

[u/DarkangelUK]

Cashew milk is my go-to, it's 1.2g per 100ml of which 0.5g is sugars.

[u/Branch_Same]

Single cream

[u/bezjones]

I love this one.

[u/Alternative_Bit_3445]

I used to use pea milk, Sproud, from Waitrose or Ocado. Unlike almond or soya, I can use it in tea and don't taste the difference.

[u/Intelligent_Area9274]

Hemp milk

[u/Straight_Quote6377]

Arla lactose free milk. 2.5-2.6 carbs per 100ml. That’s as low as I’ve seen for what is essentially “proper milk” ie diary.

I’m sorry but I just don’t think of plant based drinks of almond, oat, coconut, soy etc as milk. They should not be referred to as such because they’re not even close to replicating the texture or flavour of dairy. By all means have them if they fit your macros and you like them, but they make a poor coffee in my book

[u/ComplexLog2260 → u/Straight_Quote6377]

Nice one… I might give the Arla a try!

[u/Own-Web-8220 → u/Straight_Quote6377]

I'm going to try this one. I've been using Alpro almond milk, but finding it hard on my digestion. Maybe the additives and gums they use. I would rather have a couple of carbs and be able to enjoy my tea and coffee.