Milk

With Milk or Black – How Do You Drink Your Coffee?

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How you drink your coffee can be a very personal thing. Some people are extremely sensitive, for example, about the type of milk or cream or they use. Others are very particular about sweeteners, syrups, etc. So how do you drink your coffee?

This post will focus mainly on alternative milk products and black coffee. Both options are just as valid as tried-and-true cream and sugar. If you are looking for an alternative to regular milk or nondairy creamers, we may have something here that would interest you.

Soy Milk

Milk derived from soybeans is one of the oldest non-dairy milk products in the world. Its history dates back to fourth century China and a product known as soy wine. Modern soy milks are quite popular among those who maintain a plant-based diet.

Regular soy milk heats up much more quickly than coffee, resulting in an unusual texture. However, there are some brands whose formulas have been designed to act more like regular milk in terms of heating and steaming. Soy milk offers a slightly sweet and nutty taste with a smooth and shiny finish.

Nut Milks

If you are not into soy, you can try hazelnut or almond milk. Both kinds of milk are derived by soaking the nuts in water before blending the entire mixture and straining out the solids. Almond milk has a sweet taste, though it separates from coffee rather easily. Hazelnut milk is also sweet and a bit nutty. It will not give you much volume if you are looking to create a bit of froth by steaming.

Rice Milk

You might try rice milk if you’re looking for something that is low in fat and cholesterol-free. It works well enough in coffee, but it is thick and starchy. It also will not add any sweetness to your coffee. Keep that in mind if coffee’s natural bitterness is a problem for you.

Black Coffee

You could go completely radical and drink your coffee black. One way to get around the bitterness of hot brewed black coffee is to cold brew it instead. Cold brewing brings out all the natural flavors of the coffee with less bitterness and even a touch of sweetness.

Going black offers a number of health benefits as well. For starters, you do not get the extra calories and ingredients that come with milks, creamers, and sweeteners. Straight black coffee is very low in calories as well. And by the way, all of the health benefits of drinking coffee you’ve already heard about relate to black coffee.

Drinking your coffee black can help increase brain power and cognitive functioning over time. It has also been shown to improve memory and decrease the risk of developing dementia-related diseases. Regular consumption of black coffee reduces Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s risks substantially.

Studies have shown that black coffee can:

  • improve liver performance
  • aid weight loss efforts
  • improve cardiovascular health
  • decrease diabetes risk
  • improve performance during workouts.

Many of the health benefits linked to black coffee are directly related to all the antioxidants it contains. Coffee’s caffeine content certainly doesn’t hurt either.

Have It Your Way

There isn’t just one way to drink coffee. If you prefer regular creamer and sugar, more power to you. Perhaps you’d like to try one of the alternative milk products instead. If you want something completely different, black coffee might be the way to go. Here at Galaxie Coffee, it’s all good. Contact us to learn more about setting up beverage service in your workplace.

January 11 is National Milk Day – What Milk Do You Prefer?

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Did you know the January 11 is National Milk Day here in the U.S.? What’s more, Global Milk Day is celebrated on June 1. It would appear as though milk has worldwide appeal despite having so many sources, which leads us to ask another question: what kind of milk do you prefer?

For classification purposes, milk can be described as either animal or plant-based. Animal milks come from the mammary glands of mammals. We are talking cows, goats, etc. Plant milks are derived by processing the plants from which they come. Examples include rice, soy, almond, and coconut milk.

More About Animal Milk

As you most probably know from school, females of every mammal species produce milk. In fact, the ability to do so is one of the characteristics that defines what a mammal is. Having said that, most of the animal milk sold commercially (85%) comes from cows.

That doesn’t necessarily mean cow milk is good for every person. Indeed, some people are allergic to it while others cannot drink cow milk due to lactose intolerance. Fortunately, there are other animal milks that consumers can buy, though the availability of which may vary from one region to the next. The most commonly bought milks after cow milk are buffalo, goat, camel, sheep, and yak milk.

Animal milk is also processed into a variety of dairy products including butter, cream, and cheese. It is interesting to note that the European Union passed regulations in 2013 prohibiting manufacturers of plant milk products from using dairy associated terms like ‘butter’ and ‘cheese’ to describe their products. The FDA has considered a similar ban here, but no action has been taken as of yet.

More About Plant Milk

Unlike animal milk, which can be obtained simply by accessing the mammary glands of the animal in question, plant milk must be made by combining the chosen plant material with water. The process is fairly simple though. You could even make your favorite plant milk at home if you really wanted to.

Among the many types of plant milk, three of the most popular right now are soy, almond, and coconut. Soy milk is similar to cow milk in its appearance, thickness, and texture. Its taste varies somewhat based on the cultivar of soybean and the production process.

Almond milk is the most popular of the plant milks, probably due to its variety. It can be purchased as unsweetened, sweetened, and flavored (e.g., vanilla and chocolate). As for coconut milk, it is naturally sweet and loaded with healthy fats and oils. It’s great straight up or as an ingredient for cooking.

Galaxie Coffee is more than happy to supply our customers with a variety of milk products. If you are not yet using a coffee service for your office, we invite you to contact us today to learn more about our services and products. Otherwise, we wish you well and encourage you to celebrate National Milk Day on January 11 with a tall, cold glass of your favorite milk.

4 Reasons Non-Dairy Milks are Gaining Traction

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It used to be that non-dairy milks produced from nuts, soy, and grains were reserved for a small number of people who had a particular reservation about cow and goat’s milk. How times have changed though. Not only are non-dairy milks mainstream, but they are also quickly gaining traction against the dairy industry.

According to 2017 research published by Mintel, sales of non-dairy milk products have jumped more than 60% over the last five years. It was estimated at the time that total 2017 sales would eclipse $2.1 billion. Those numbers include sales of almond, coconut, soy, pecan, quinoa, hazelnut, and flax milk.

Here are four reasons that could help explain why:

1. Saying Goodbye to Dairy

More consumers appear to be making a concerted effort to consume less dairy. According to a late 2017 survey conducted in Great Britain, roughly 20% of the population stated a desire to cut down on the amount of milk, butter, and cheese they consumed.

Roughly 28% told researchers they planned to give up cheese and milk, and 19% said they were willing to substitute what they gave up with non-dairy products. That means almond, soy, or other options instead of cow’s milk.

2. Adopting the Vegan Lifestyle

A second factor, which may go hand-in-hand with the first, is the fact that more people are electing to adopt the vegan lifestyle. That same British survey suggested that nearly 10% of Brits aim to be completely vegan by the end of 2018.

Whether or not they succeed, people who go vegan obviously cannot drink dairy-based milk. So they turn to one of the non-dairy options instead. Almond milk tops the list, according to the Mintel research, with a 64% market share. Soy comes in at 13% while coconut milk owns 12% of the market.

3. Greater Exposure

We cannot discount exposure and marketing as factors in the rise of non-dairy milks. If it were not for aggressive marketing, a lot of people now embracing the non-dairy movement would not even know they have choices. Savvy marketers have tapped into the health-conscious movement of the 2010s in the same way they did the aerobics movement of the 1980s. Their efforts have undoubtedly contributed to upward sales trends.

4. Better Quality Products

Last but not least are the better-quality products now on the market. When alternative milks first became the thing, they were not known for their rich flavor and palatable, milk-like texture. But producers have learned a lot over the last 20 years. Today’s non-dairy milks offer the highest quality they have ever offered. They are winning over more consumers as a result.

How about you? Are you a fan of almond, soy, or coconut milk? We would be happy to know what you think. One of our goals here at Galaxie Coffee is to provide the kinds of products our customers want, regardless of what those products are. If that means non-dairy milk for your office, we can handle it.

6 Current Cold Beverage Trends in America

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This is the time of year when a lot of us limit hot coffee consumption to just one or two cups in the morning. Whether it’s a physical thing or something mental, we tend to prefer cold drinks during the summer. That means this is also the time of year when a little observation is all it takes to identify the hottest trends in cold beverages.

This summer season is no exception. Take a step back and look around. You will see more people consuming cold beverages instead of hot coffee. Here are six that are trendy right now:

1-2. Cold Brew Coffee and Tea

Cold brew coffee has been around for decades. However, it didn’t become popular in America until just a few years ago. It is now one of the most preferred cold beverages among coffee and tea drinkers. Cold brew coffee offers all the flavor of its hot cousin but with less bitterness. Some people have described it as naturally sweeter than hot coffee.

Not to be outdone, tea drinkers have their own cold brew concoction. Cold brew tea is made the same way cold brew coffee is. You take your tea leaves (or tea bags as the case may be) and steep them in cold or room temperature water for up to 12 hours. Then serve it with ice and just a touch of lemon for some extra zing.

3-4. Seltzer and Flavored Seltzer

Whether you call it fizzy water, carbonated water, or seltzer, it’s all the same. The point is that seltzer is one of the hottest trends in cold beverages right now. People who love water because it is sugar, salt, and calorie-free also love seltzer because of the extra punch carbonation adds.

Flavored seltzer is also popular. And why not? If you can add a touch of fruit flavor to carbonated water without overloading it with sugar and calories, you make a great product even better.

5. Vat-Pasteurized Milk

Milk is making a comeback thanks to a new vat pasteurization process that replaces heat pasteurization and homogenization. Vat-pasteurized milk is more flavorful, according to those who love it. It is also heavy on the cream. That’s why you’re supposed to shake vat pasteurized milk aggressively before you actually drink it.

6. Cold Pressed Juices

Finally, cold pressed juices are a big hit among fruit and vegetable lovers. Cold pressed juices have been around for decades, but they started gaining traction about five years ago. What’s the appeal? Flavor.

Cold pressing extracts the most fruit or vegetable juice without the added debris created by single auger and centrifugal juicing. Furthermore, cold pressed juices can be safely refrigerated for 5 to 7 days without the need for flavor-killing pasteurization or high-pressure processing.

This is the time of year when a cold drink can be even more refreshing than a cup of hot coffee. What’s your favorite cold beverage? Perhaps we carry it here at Galaxie Coffee.