There’s so much confusion out there about vegan coffee it’s honestly surprising. Half the time it’s some company doing shady marketing by twisting their words, or it’s some blog trying to cash in on your vegan coffee needs by hooking you up with some weird stuff. Let’s stay away from them all, as we settle the debate about the truth about vegan coffee while answering a few questions:
- What is veganism?
- Is coffee vegan?
- Are “vegan beans” a thing?
- Are coffee creamers vegan?
- How to recognize proper vegan coffee/
What is Veganism? (Truth About Vegan Coffee)
If you practice not using or eating any sort of animal products (products where animals were used in manufacturing), or any product that’s created by using other animal products, that’s veganism. Summary: No animals allowed.
But it’s less about avoiding animal products, and more about consuming products that are ethically sourced and manufactured.
Veganism is a step towards sustainability to ensure the thriving co-existence of our planet, humans, and animals.
With that explained, comes our next question, “is coffee vegan?”
Is Coffee Vegan? (Truth About Vegan Coffee)
Are you a vegan coffee drinker, and worried if you can drink coffee? Chug away happily, cause the answer is yes.
The harvest of coffee crops and coffee beans is totally animal-free. The color of the coffee bean comes from roasting said bean in high heat, and not by using questionable additives or animal-related ingredients.
So that it’s safe to say that a freshly brewed cup of coffee without milk is a certified vegan option.
Though vegans can drink coffee, they shouldn’t drink “all” types of coffee. We’ll reflect on this later on.
Are “Vegan Beans” A Thing? (Truth About Vegan Coffee)
Coffee bean marketing can get overly competitive at times. To stay ahead of the game, a few not-so-honest companies use this cheap trick to boost their sales. But are these coffee beans vegan? Not quite.
As we mentioned previously, the manufacturing of coffee is 100% natural, without any use of any sort of animal products. Why would you pay extra for something that claims to be “exclusively vegan”, when it was vegan, to begin with?
Just stop stressing about different factors, and enjoy your regular black coffee. It’s 100%.
Having fun Nomies? Check out our piece on why coffee plants produce caffeine.
Are Coffee Creamers Vegan? (Truth About Vegan Coffee)
Classic coffee creamer contains milk in the powder to give the coffee a creamy taste, so it’s not perfectly vegan. But if you want to explore new tastes without sacrificing your vegan values, we have a few vegan coffee creamer and plant-based alternative options you can try:
Option #1: Almond And Coconut Coffee Creamer
This is the most perfectly balanced and flavored creamer on this list. It’s vegan, dairy-free, and low gluten as well. Plus it holds quite a few vitamins and supplements that can help you, even more, when added to your coffee cup.
Option #2: Soy Coffee Creamer
Made out of unrefined soy and sugar, this creamer is the best for people with nut allergies. Also, it’s a safe and healthy alternative to almost all dairy creamers out there.
Option #3: Oat Coffee Creamer
Love oats? There’s an oat-based creamer just for you! You can try it out with both hot and iced coffee, and the resulting blend is completely seamless and delicious.
Plus, there’s a perfect amount of foam to give you good vibes.
Option #4: Cashew Coffee Creamer
A rich vitamin source with luxurious taste, cashew creamer is a perfect dose of sweetness for your morning cup.
Adding just a splash of this creamer can give your morning cup of joe a strong energy influx.
Option #5: Macadamia Milk
Produced from macadamia nuts, macadamia milk has a thick and smooth body with a subtle, fruity taste. For any vegan coffee lover, this non-dairy milk is a must-try.
Option #6: Flax Seed Milk
Flaxseed milk is a bit thinner than cashew milk, but the flavor profile makes up for it. The Nutty, yet earthy tone amps up your coffee cup like nothing else.
Option #7: Hemp Milk
Hemp milk’s flavor is very similar to almond milk. It has a thin body with a creamy texture. The nutty flavor increases the quality of the final cup of coffee.
Option #8: Rice Milk
For people trying to have a nut allergy, rice milk is another fine alternative for dairy-based coffee creamers. It has a light body with a sweet flavor that is really subtle. It appears translucent and mixes with the cup really well.
Option #9: Coconut Milk
With a rich body and creamy taste, the flavor of coconut milk is distinct from any other alternatives out there. The coconut oils provide an extra flavor that doesn’t suit everyone’s taste buds.
Option #10: Pea Milk
No, it’s not what you’re reading it as, and yes, it’s a thing that is very real. In fact, it’s the most nutritious vegan milk alternative out there. The body of pea milk has a soy/almond milk consistency with a neutral taste.
All the options we mentioned can be homemade easily for a quick coffee fix. Plus, the fine mix of flavor and high energy levels gives you a full recharge while keeping you productive for a longer period.
How To Recognize Proper Vegan Coffee
This is something we wanted to discuss later since it’s a more complex topic.
Yes, all coffees are vegan, but even then, there are a few factors you should look out for to ensure your coffee is REALLY vegan.
Factor #1: Know About The Coffee Production Process
Since veganism is all about protecting the animals and the environment, some coffee farmers and brands go out of their way to grow 100% organic coffee beans without non-vegan ingredients. And as proof of it, you can find a Rainforest Alliance Certification on the packaging of these brands.
The certification is an initiative for conserving wildlife and protecting the environment while supporting organic farming.
Factor #2: Check If It’s Bird-Friendly Certified
Aside from the Rainforest Alliance Certification, you also need to ensure that the coffee is bird-friendly certified.
Coffee brands that only cultivate shade-grown coffee, and protect the natural habitats of different birds by avoiding and preventing deforestation.
So if your coffee is Bird-Friendly Certified, you can rest assured that your coffee is 100% organic.
Factor #3: Check Pre-Made Coffee Ingredients
Sometimes pre-made coffee powder or drinks contain dairy content. It’s because a few fancy brands use artificial sweeteners or syrups that include dairy products.
If you wish to keep your coffee free of animal-derived ingredients, you need to check the ingredients printed on the packaging to ensure you are buying the right stuff.
Had fun reading the truth about vegan coffee?
You’ll love to read our piece on is organic coffee worth it.
Bottom Line
The vegan lifestyle is a personal choice of an individual, and we at Coffeenom support it 100%. We hope your vegan coffee experience will take a new, delicious route, and you can stop worrying about consuming non-vegan products every day.
Enjoy your freshly brewed vegan coffee.
Cheers!
FAQs
Vegan coffee is coffee that has been manufactured in a completely organic fashion, without the use of any form of animal by-products.
If you don’t wish to use processed creamers, there are quite a few plant-based creamers that you can make at home easily for your daily coffee needs.
Personally I favor the almond cream.
100% organic, vegan coffee contains a lot of nutrition supplements that are highly beneficial for the body, and they exist in a higher amount than regular coffee.
Since coffee is produced without harming the environment, or any animals, coffee coming from a coffee plant can safely be considered 100% vegan.
