Published July 22, 2026
Credit: Emily Hunt
Food & Wine put six widely available barista-style oat milks to the test to determine which could produce the best microfoam for café-quality coffee drinks. Each oat milk was steamed under the same conditions and poured into a double shot of espresso, with the best performers judged on their ability to create the viscous, creamy consistency, integrated microfoam, and easy pour associated with whole milk.
Best Overall: Elmhurst Oat Barista
Elmhurst earned the top spot as Food & Wine’s Best Overall barista oat milk, standing out for its steaming performance, creamy texture, and ability to pour similarly to whole milk.
Food & Wine called Elmhurst Oat Barista “dreamy” and noted that it “steamed up beautifully.” The publication added that, aside from its coloring, the result was convincing enough that “we could have been fooled into thinking this was whole milk.”
The editors also praised its latte art performance, highlighting an “impeccable pour” with hardly any marbling on the crema and noting that the milk flowed from the pitcher similarly to whole milk. Food & Wine ultimately called Elmhurst “a standout,” ranking it first among all six barista oat milks tested.
Designed specifically for coffee, Elmhurst Oat Barista delivers the rich, creamy texture and steaming performance needed for hot and iced café favorites while staying true to Elmhurst’s simpler ingredient philosophy. It steams, foams, and froths for lattes, cappuccinos, and other coffee drinks without the gums or oils commonly found in barista-style plant milks.
Read More:
https://www.foodandwine.com/barista-oat-milk-steam-test-12023745
