Barista Inspired, Barista Approved: Pacific Foods Barista Series

Perhaps one of the most shifting questions for coffee shop operators and owners for the past 10-15 years has been around the topic of milk alternatives. If you were in the coffee industry 15-20 years ago, there was only one dependable milk alternative on the market: soy. Now there are several options to choose from, each with their own pros and cons. Pacific Foods Barista Series is a popular set of products. Let’s take a closer look at these alternative milks and what they have to offer. 

Considering Milk Alternatives

Whether you are new to the coffee industry or a time-tested veteran like us, it can be confusing to survey the vast array of options and make an informed decision as to which milk alternative best suits the needs of your business and your customers. At Dilworth Coffee, we have seen fads come and go and realize that sometimes the most popular options currently on the market are not able to stand the test of time. Here we will share some of the knowledge we have gleaned over the years and hopefully make this complex decision a bit more simple.

Almond Milk

Almond milk was the second major milk alternative to hit the coffee industry and for good reason. It boasts both a higher fat and protein content than soy, resulting in a creamier and foamier texture when steamed for lattes. Additionally, it has a much milder flavor, allowing it to pair perfectly with espresso without overshadowing its natural taste. Perhaps its biggest perk, however, is something hiding in plain sight. The largest grower of almonds in the world is currently California, accounting for an estimated 80% of the world’s almond supply and 100% of the United States’. For this reason, local almond milk cost and supply are theorized to remain much more stable in the current post-covid economy than other popular alternatives.

Coconut Milk

Coconut milk has long been a common alternative to dairy milk in Southeast Asia, Oceania, and parts of East Africa. Although it falls slightly behind almond milk in natural protein, it makes up for it in fat content, making coconut milk a silky and creamy alternative. Its subtle, natural flavor allows it to pair well with coffee without overpowering or greatly altering its taste. At Dilworth, we find that it excels in cold beverages. There is a clean sweetness to cold coconut milk that is hard to rival. Coconuts are an import crop in the United States and are therefore more susceptible to supply shortages and price fluctuation. Without experiencing any significant shortage of coconut supply in the US, we are the world’s 2^nd largest importer of coconuts. Thus, the local cost of coconut milk may be more prone to change year to year.

Oat Milk

Oat milk is one of the newcomers onto the milk alternative scene. Invented in 1994 by Swedish scientist Rickard Öste, its rise to general popularity is uniquely tied to the coffee industry. It’s naturally high in fat and protein content, translating to a creamy texture and steaming proficiency and making it an instant favorite with baristas. Since its introduction to the coffee world in the early 2010’s, oat milk has skyrocketed to prestige among the barista community, often being featured in international beverage competitions and expos. Oat milk is easily the favored alternative for baristas who dabble in latte art. There are many competitions across the country that specifically center around latte design using oat milk.

Why Choose Pacific Foods Barista Series for your Coffee Shop

Economically speaking, oats are a cheap and hardy crop, making it easy to grow in harsh northern climates. Additionally, research has shown that oats are an excellent cover crop, making its year-to-year production much more stable.

Almond, coconut, and oat are our personal favorite milk alternatives here at Dilworth Coffee due to their enticing flavor, coffee pairing prowess, and economic stability. Yet another question remains: which product brand is best for your business? Fortunately for us, the choice was easy, as we were able to find a company that prioritized a product line designed specifically for the coffee industry.

Pacific Foods might simply be the boxed soup people to many of you reading this but believe us when we tell you their lineup of milk alternatives is truly top of the line. Years ago, they began collaborating with the coffee community to formulate the ideal milk alternative for an incredible espresso beverage. It needed to be creamy and silky, able to take heat for a foamy latte, yet still suitable for a refreshing iced coffee beverage. The end result: Pacific Foods’ Barista Series product line, or PFBS for short. With the tagline “Barista Inspired, Barista Approved”, it’s easy to understand why they have become a coffee industry favorite and a preferred product of the Specialty Coffee Association.

PFBS is packaged in a case of twelve 32-ounce shelf stable cartons, making it easy to ship and store in-house. It also requires less storage from your refrigerator, as you only need to refrigerate a carton after it has been opened. Here at Dilworth Coffee, we stock PFBS Almond, Coconut, and Oat milk that is available for both shipping and local pickup for your convenience. The perfect non-dairy coffee beverage is just around the corner and we think your customers will love you for it.