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And yet coffee shops that claim to be organic, eco conscious and fair trade still penalize you for opting for a milk alternative (by charging extra, like up to

And yet coffee shops that claim to be organic, eco conscious and fair trade still penalize you for opting for a milk alternative (by charging extra, like up to $1).

t3rabytes 4y ago
There's still a rather significant cost difference between the two. In my local market, a one gallon container of whole milk is $3.89 retail, while the barista-blend of Califa Oat Milk is $4.39 for a one quart container (or $4.99 for a half gal of Oatly).
joshlemer 4y ago
This really pisses me off, even starbucks charges like a dollar for almond/oat milk.
- vinay427 4y ago
  This charge was finally removed a few months ago at their UK locations, so it seems more or less inevitable in the US given that the UK is often a vegan/plant-based testbed for many US chains: https://plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/food/starbucks-ends-vegan-milk-upcharge/ https://plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/food/starbucks-ends-veg...
freeone3000 4y ago
It costs more.
FalconSensei 4y ago
The milk alternatives that can achieve the same foaminess can cost 2x the price of regular milk, so I guess it makes sense
- prideout 4y ago
  Which milk alternatives can achieve the same foaminess?
  - t3rabytes 4y ago
    Oatly and Califa have barista blends that get close. I've been using Minor Figures for a few weeks and have been enjoying it.
  - vineyardmike 4y ago
    Specific “barista” blends. Eg Barista Oatly Milk.
  - SpaghettiX 4y ago
    If you want something even more foamy, try Wunda Milk. In a blender, the foam can double the height of the drink - so fill the container only half full
Mikeb85 4y ago
Because it costs them more. The fact that it's more ecological to produce doesn't translate to lower prices for many reasons.
- goodpoint 4y ago
  How much milk goes in a coffee cup? 5c more at industrial price.
  - Mikeb85 4y ago
    For a latte? It's like 80% milk...
mikepurvis 4y ago
Not really super surprising— the volumes are way lower and there's less subsidizing going on. On a grocery store shelf here in Ontario, you can get 4L of 2% regular milk for $5. But the Earth's Own products, which include oat and soy milk? Those are more like $6 for a single litre.
- bipson 4y ago
  As an European I am always baffled by the humongous containers you have overseas. Here we buy litres or half, and we adore milk, mostly 3.5%. The non-diary alternatives are not even allowed to be called milk (they are now drinks).
  - mikepurvis 4y ago
    As a parent of young kids, we easily do 1L+ of milk per day, even when we drink water as our meal beverage. It goes on cereal in the mornings + a glass before bed + it's an ingredient for certain meals (think baking, cheese sauces, that kind of thing). I used to make yogurt and cheese as well, but it wasn't really cost/labour effective to do so, even with milk being as cheap as it is.
honkycat 4y ago
it costs more... but only because the dairy industry is heavily subsidized. Sure we're burning down the planet and allocating massive amounts of water to feed and maintain livestock during drought conditions. BUT! The ranchers need their 5th house and the proles need their artificially cheap meat that is blocking their arteries. ( not a vegan just annoyed by mis-allocation of resources )
Workaccount2 4y ago
As a badly lactose intolerant person, I get that oatmilk is 2x the cost. But please, you are putting in 15 cents of oatmilk, and charging 0.75 to 1.00 extra for it. A small cup of black coffee with oatmilk for $3.50. Please.
- t3rabytes 4y ago
  The markup makes sense for lattes -- 12 ounces of whole milk may be $.36 at retail milk prices, but 12oz of oat milk is closer to $1.50 (see my other comment for the price comparison).
micromacrofoot 4y ago
they'd roughly cost the same if not for dairy subsidies
- bipson 4y ago
  Still absurd. The amount of oat you have to feed a cow to get a single litre is not even close to the literal handful you need for an oat-based milk - let alone the time and how of work that went into caring for the cows, handling the mess, etc. It should not even be close. We simply industrialized the whole diary thing, and consider it essential. And I say this as someone who cannot live without cheese. It should just be way more expensive and reflect the cost it has on the environment/society.
oh_sigh 4y ago
Beyond the cost from the supplier, perhaps because there is a greater overhead associated with supplying that milk to a minority of customers. If everyone was drinking oat milk by default I don't think there would be a $1 upcharge.

And yet coffee shops that claim to be organic, eco conscious and fair trade still penalize you for opting for a milk alternative (by charging extra, like up to $1).

t3rabytes 4y ago

There's still a rather significant cost difference between the two. In my local market, a one gallon container of whole milk is $3.89 retail, while the barista-blend of Califa Oat Milk is $4.39 for a one quart container (or $4.99 for a half gal of Oatly).

joshlemer 4y ago

This really pisses me off, even starbucks charges like a dollar for almond/oat milk.

vinay427 4y ago
This charge was finally removed a few months ago at their UK locations, so it seems more or less inevitable in the US given that the UK is often a vegan/plant-based testbed for many US chains: https://plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/food/starbucks-ends-vegan-milk-upcharge/ https://plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/food/starbucks-ends-veg...

freeone3000 4y ago

It costs more.

FalconSensei 4y ago

The milk alternatives that can achieve the same foaminess can cost 2x the price of regular milk, so I guess it makes sense

prideout 4y ago
Which milk alternatives can achieve the same foaminess?
- t3rabytes 4y ago
  Oatly and Califa have barista blends that get close. I've been using Minor Figures for a few weeks and have been enjoying it.
- vineyardmike 4y ago
  Specific “barista” blends. Eg Barista Oatly Milk.
- SpaghettiX 4y ago
  If you want something even more foamy, try Wunda Milk. In a blender, the foam can double the height of the drink - so fill the container only half full

Mikeb85 4y ago

Because it costs them more. The fact that it's more ecological to produce doesn't translate to lower prices for many reasons.

goodpoint 4y ago
How much milk goes in a coffee cup? 5c more at industrial price.
- Mikeb85 4y ago
  For a latte? It's like 80% milk...

mikepurvis 4y ago

Not really super surprising— the volumes are way lower and there's less subsidizing going on. On a grocery store shelf here in Ontario, you can get 4L of 2% regular milk for $5. But the Earth's Own products, which include oat and soy milk? Those are more like $6 for a single litre.

bipson 4y ago
As an European I am always baffled by the humongous containers you have overseas. Here we buy litres or half, and we adore milk, mostly 3.5%. The non-diary alternatives are not even allowed to be called milk (they are now drinks).
- mikepurvis 4y ago
  As a parent of young kids, we easily do 1L+ of milk per day, even when we drink water as our meal beverage. It goes on cereal in the mornings + a glass before bed + it's an ingredient for certain meals (think baking, cheese sauces, that kind of thing). I used to make yogurt and cheese as well, but it wasn't really cost/labour effective to do so, even with milk being as cheap as it is.

honkycat 4y ago

it costs more... but only because the dairy industry is heavily subsidized. Sure we're burning down the planet and allocating massive amounts of water to feed and maintain livestock during drought conditions. BUT! The ranchers need their 5th house and the proles need their artificially cheap meat that is blocking their arteries. ( not a vegan just annoyed by mis-allocation of resources )

Workaccount2 4y ago

As a badly lactose intolerant person, I get that oatmilk is 2x the cost. But please, you are putting in 15 cents of oatmilk, and charging 0.75 to 1.00 extra for it. A small cup of black coffee with oatmilk for $3.50. Please.

t3rabytes 4y ago
The markup makes sense for lattes -- 12 ounces of whole milk may be $.36 at retail milk prices, but 12oz of oat milk is closer to $1.50 (see my other comment for the price comparison).

micromacrofoot 4y ago

they'd roughly cost the same if not for dairy subsidies

bipson 4y ago
Still absurd. The amount of oat you have to feed a cow to get a single litre is not even close to the literal handful you need for an oat-based milk - let alone the time and how of work that went into caring for the cows, handling the mess, etc. It should not even be close. We simply industrialized the whole diary thing, and consider it essential. And I say this as someone who cannot live without cheese. It should just be way more expensive and reflect the cost it has on the environment/society.

oh_sigh 4y ago

Beyond the cost from the supplier, perhaps because there is a greater overhead associated with supplying that milk to a minority of customers. If everyone was drinking oat milk by default I don't think there would be a $1 upcharge.