I’ve Tried Countless Nondairy Creamers, and These Are the Best

Ever since I had my first latte in high school, I’ve been hooked. Coffee has been a part of my daily routine for over 20 years, and in my opinion it’s still the best—and most delicious—morning ritual.

I’m a bit of an equal opportunity coffee drinker. I’ll drink my coffee black, with a splash of milk, or all dolled up with fancy creamers and syrups. I mostly reach for hot coffee in the morning, but sipping fast-food iced coffees in the afternoon is a fun pick-me-up.

So you can imagine my dismay when my doctor told me that I needed to give up dairy. I immediately thought about my coffee! Drinking it black is fine, but not all the time.

I decided that my new mission would be to try as many nondairy creamers as I could to find the best one for any kind of coffee personality. I tried multiple options from 10 brands, and these are the best nondairy creamers from my test.

Best Overall: Silk Dairy-Free Half & Half Alternative

If you’re used to splashing a bit of half-and-half in your coffee or tea, then you’ll absolutely love this alternative from Silk. It’s made with a combination of oat and coconut milks, so it’s also a great option if you don’t eat soy products. Because it uses coconut cream, it has a viscosity similar to that of traditional half-and-half. I love its consistency straight out of the fridge, but it also froths up nicely in my milk steamer. This is the nondairy creamer that I have been waiting for, and I’m so happy to have finally found something reliable.

Pros: A good one-to-one swap, unsweetened, soy-free

Cons: Not always in stock, can be difficult to find

Cost: $4.99 to $6.99 for 32 ounces

Buy it at: Meijer, Sprouts

Best International Delight Dupe: Planet Oat

International Delight is pretty much the gold standard for fun creamer flavors, and I think Planet Oat is its counterpart in the nondairy world. Planet Oat has a lot of classics, including sweet cream, caramel and French vanilla. But it also offers limited-edition and seasonal flavors. One of the best it’s had in recent memory was the white chocolate raspberry creamer sold in collaboration with Emily in Paris. If you love incredibly sweet and decadent creamers, then Planet Oat will deliver. The brand also recently dropped zero-sugar versions of its caramel and cinnamon vanilla nondairy creamers.

Pros: Widely available, multiple flavors, soy-free, some sugar-free flavors available

Cons: Some flavors not available everywhere

Cost: $4.29 to $5.99 for 32 ounces

Buy it at: Meijer, Target, Walmart and others

Best Coffee Shop Experience: Forager Cinnamon Vanilla

Let me paint a picture for you: You are on vacation in a new city, and you stop into the cute little coffee shop next to your Airbnb. After perusing the menu, you order the daily latte special and make small talk with the barista. As you leave the cafe and get ready to do some sightseeing, you sip your latte. It is the most delicious latte you have ever tasted. You will spend years trying to recreate this experience.

I was similarly transported the first time I put this Forager cinnamon vanilla creamer into my morning coffee. I don’t know if I’d have ever thought I’d be calling a creamer “chic,” yet here we are. The flavor is subtle and not too sweet, and the consistency is perfect. It’s perfect for special occasions, or for when you really want your guests to think you created a bespoke latte just for them.

Pros: Great flavor, soy-free

Cons: Expensive, less available than other Forager flavors

Cost: $6.29 to $7.99 for 20 ounces

Buy it at: Meijer, Whole Foods, Sprouts and others

Best Budget-Friendly Option: Trader Joe’s Non-Dairy Brown Sugar Oat Creamer

This is, without a doubt, the best nondairy creamer to pick up when you need something convenient and cheap. I’m usually at Trader Joe’s once a week anyway, so this brown sugar–flavored oat creamer is a reliable and easy option when I’m out of creamer. It’s very rich and sweet, so you only need a splash for some excellent texture and flavor in your morning coffee. I’m also slightly obsessed with using it for overnight oats and smoothies to give them a burst of sweet flavor.

Pros: Widely available, soy-free, budget-friendly

Cons: Not always in stock, pretty sweet

Cost: $1.99 for 16 ounces

Buy it at: Trader Joe’s

Best High-Protein Option: Silk Protein

I found this brand-new Silk protein milk on sale at my local grocery store and decided to give it a try. I was impressed by the price, and 13 grams of protein in my morning coffee is nothing to sniff at. This was really impressive, albeit a little thin texturally. I ended up frothing it in my milk steamer, and that gave it the creamiest texture. Since I don’t always have a big appetite first thing in the morning, having a couple mugs of coffee with a little protein boost is nice. This is one of the easiest dairy replacements in my entire kitchen—and not just for my coffee creamer. I’ve used it in creamy pasta sauces and soups, too. And it’s also available in chocolate, which makes for the most decadent smoothies—just add banana and peanut butter!

Pros: High in protein, budget-friendly, widely available

Cons: Slightly thinner consistency than traditional creamer

Cost: $3.99 to $5.49 for 48 ounces

Buy it at: Meijer, Target, Walmart and others

Related:

• I Tried 8 Oat Milks and This One Made the Best Oat Milk Latte
• People Are Making Ice Cream with Coffee Creamer—Here’s the Simple Recipe
• Ice Cream for Breakfast? Jeni’s Makes it Happen With the New House Coffee Flavor