The 4 Best Coffee Creamer Brands of 2023, Tested by Our Experts
Updated: Apr. 19, 2023When you reach for your morning cuppa, you want the best coffee creamer to top it off. Find out which coffee creamer brands our pros preferred in a blind test.
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Searching for the Best Coffee Creamer
Coffee is an essential part of our morning routines. Few of us can say we roll out of bed and head off to work without a cup to jumpstart our day.
While hitting up our favorite local coffee shops is a great treat, most of us are brewing right at home and topping off our favorite blends with a splash of coffee creamer.
But have you ever grabbed a coffee creamer brand you’re not used to? A splash of the wrong stuff can make your cup of joe go from a morning treat to yuck real fast. So what’s really the best coffee creamer for adding flavor to your caffeine fix? You know our Test Kitchen had to find out!
Don’t forget to check out this delightful coffee creamer ice cream recipe.
How We Tested Coffee Creamers
Coffee is a major part of our staffers’ routine in the Taste of Home Test Kitchen, so asking them to judge coffee creamers was no challenge at all.
Our team of expert culinarians jumped right into this test, grabbing all the top coffee creamer brands at grocery and big box stores. Our research showed that vanilla was the most popular flavor, so carts were loaded up with bottles of vanilla coffee creamer—classic and non-dairy options.
Each of the ten brands was then sampled blindly in a formal test (and also used to fuel our team as they cooked in the Test Kitchen). These qualities were kept in mind while tasting:
- Appearance:Â Creamer colors do vary from off-white to mocha. Whatever the hue, it should look tempting.
- Texture: A satisfying coffee creamer should approximate the texture of heavy cream or half-and-half, which blend so well in a cup of joe. Too thin or even gritty (as some non-dairy options can be) won’t make the grade in this test.
- Flavor:Â Obviously, taste is the most important category. A good coffee creamer should deliver on creaminess, sweetness and, in this case, vanilla flavor. The combination of flavors should also pair well in coffee.
Ten cups of joe later, our Test Kitchen found the best coffee creamer options.
Best Classic Coffee Creamer
International Delight French Vanilla Coffee Creamer
For a people-pleasing coffee creamer, our Test Kitchen recommends International Delight French Vanilla.
Crack open a bottle of this coffee creamer and you can transform ho-hum office coffee into a treat to enjoy as you ramp up your day.
This coffee creamer is powerful stuff; our testers noted it was sweeter than most and had a good amount of vanilla flavor and even a few notes of almond extract. A splash is all you need to take your java to the next level.
Best Natural Coffee Creamer
Coffee Mate Natural Bliss Vanilla
If you check out the ingredients list on many coffee creamers, you’ll often find a long list of additives. If you prefer a simpler list, make the switch to Coffee Mate Natural Bliss Vanilla. You’ll find just four ingredients in this creamer: nonfat milk, heavy cream, sugar and natural flavor (that’d be the vanilla).
And four ingredients are all you really need for a great cup of coffee, according to our experts. Ellie Crowley in the Test Kitchen says, “This brand tastes fresh and has a great mouthfeel.”
The fresh cream and milk have everything to do with this note. Our team of testers all agreed that this tasted most like half-and-half (but was way better).
Our testers also enjoyed the vanilla flavor and level of sweetness. These are balanced in this Coffee Mate creamer, but they don’t overwhelm the taste of the coffee. Instead, you’ll get just the right balance as you sip on your morning pick-me-up.
Try this coffee creamer hack to make your mornings so much easier!
Best Non-Dairy Creamer
Almond Breeze Vanilla Almondmilk Creamer
Dairy-free options are essential for many, but finding a satisfying replacement for cream can be challenging—especially in terms of texture. But trust our Test Kitchen: Almond Breeze delivers.
This almond milk creamer is especially lush. The golden-colored creamer blends exceptionally well with a hot cup of coffee, according to Taste of Home Food Stylist Josh Rink.
Besides having a silky texture, Almond Breeze is full of flavors that marry so well with coffee. A splash of this creamer adds notes of vanilla and toasted almonds to your cup of joe. While this non-dairy creamer is sweetened, the almonds and vanilla are the real heroes here.
Most Flavorful Coffee Creamer
Good & Gather Plant Based Caramel Vanilla Non-Dairy Almondmilk Creamer
Want a non-dairy creamer that offers a bit more? Try Good & Gather Caramel Vanilla Almondmilk Creamer. A splash of this Target-exclusive brand transforms your basic black coffee into something a little closer to your go-to café order.
At first blush, this almond milk creamer looks a bit thin in texture, but our testers found that it swirls beautifully into a morning mugful. Take a sip and you’ll find a nice level of sweetness along with a pleasant combo of almond and vanilla, according to our Test Kitchen’s Sarah Farmer. “Caramel even jumps in there, too!”
With three distinct flavors and a velvety texture, this creamer is a hit. Another bonus—as a dairy-free option, more folks can enjoy pouring this into their cups at your next brunch.
Check Out More Test Kitchen-Preferred Products
Our Test Kitchen is constantly testing kitchen gadgets, cleaning gear and food looking for brands that deserve the right to be called Test-Kitchen Preferred.
Be sure to fill your pantry and fridge with these favorites:
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