Tired of just pouring almond milk in your morning cup just to avoid your dairy-based downfall? Fear not, we’re here to give you the run-down on how to choose the best non-dairy creamer. Plus, we’ll even tell you a little bit about a few of our favorites.

There are two main camps when it comes to why people are ditching dairy products: health and environmental/ethical concerns.

Those making the switch for their health may be going dairy-less for several reasons. Lactose-intolerance and health benefits of non-dairy alternatives are two of the biggest motivators. Also, traditional creamers tend to be high in calories (Unfortunately, salted caramel creamer doesn’t exactly scream”healthy choices”). So those looking to reduce their intake are also among those seeking alternative creamers.

The other camp, those with environmental or other ethical concerns, is a bit more complex. The dairy industry has come under quite a lot of criticism in recent years, leading many to shift their consumption habits to avoid supporting it. With this shift has come the rise of dairy alternatives, which is why we’re here today to help you sort out how to choose the best non-dairy or dairy-free creamer.

Before we jump into our top picks, we do need to cover some nuances of the non-dairy territory. If you are looking to move away from your go-to full dairy creamer, you are going to come across two different terms “dairy-free” and “non-dairy.” While they sound similar, there is a pretty important distinction between them.

Creamers that are labeled as “non-dairy” are often not technically free of dairy ingredients. They simply have to contain less than 0.5% milk (by weight). That means they may still have some dairy-based ingredients, like casein, whey, and lactose. If you are simply lactose intolerant, this small amount won’t bother you. However, if you have more serious reasons for staying away from any sort of dairy product, “non-dairy” isn’t going to cut it.

On the other hand, dairy-free coffee creamers are completely free of dairy. These products will be more suitable if you are vegan or have a severe allergy to dairy products.

We are going to focus primarily on Dairy-free creamers, as their marketing tends to be a bit more transparent. Plus, if you are going non-dairy anyway, you may as well go all the way. However, if we do include a non-dairy product, we will make note of it.

Nutpods Oat Creamer is one of the most popular alternative creamers out there. Their dairy-free creamer is made using oat milk, vegetable oils, and thickeners. Overall, it’s pretty simple and straightforward, but it certainly does the trick. Even without added sweeteners, the oat milk provides an innate sweetness and creaminess.