Should I use milk powder or should I put coffee creamer in my coffee?
This is a million dollar question that many of us coffee lovers ask ourselves on a daily basis.
Milk powder or coffee creamer? – What is good for your health and what enhances the taste and flavour of your morning coffee?
I was in this dilemma from last 2-3 years since when I started drinking coffee in the morning.
I researched a lot about the pros and cons of both of these ingredients and few days back, eventually I found my answer.
Yes, today I am going to talk about powdered milk vs coffee creamer.
You should know what is good for your health and what is bad for your health, isn’t it so?
I am going to share my opinion or point of view about both of these ingredients.
Once you read my explanation, then you can decide for yourself which one to choose for your daily coffee.
So, lets get to the point.
Before we go into more detail, I think it is important to cover the 5 key differences between these two ingredients which I have listed below.
Table of Contents
- 5 Essential Differences Between Coffee Creamer vs Milk Powder
- FAQ Regarding Coffee Creamers and Powdered Milk
- What is Powdered Milk?
- What is Coffee Creamer?
- Is Coffee Creamer And Milk Powder The Same?
- Can Powdered Milk Be Used As A Coffee Creamer Replacement?
- How to Use Powdered Coffee Creamer to Make Coffee?
- How to Use Powdered Milk to Make Your Daily Coffee?
- Are Powdered Coffee Creamers Bad for Health?
- What are Healthy Coffee Creamer Alternatives?
- What is the Healthiest Powdered Coffee Creamer?
- Are There Any Side Effects of Using Powdered Milk in Coffee?
- Conclusion
5 Essential Differences Between Coffee Creamer vs Milk Powder
| Coffee Creamer | Powdered Milk |
| 1. Usually Made from Non-Dairy Products Such as Vegetable Oils, Sugar and Water | 1. Made from Whole Milk or Pasteurized Milk |
| 2. Usually Contains Higher Calorie Count | 2. Has Comparably Less Calories Per Serving |
| 3. Beneficial for Lactose Intolerant People | 3. Can Cause Health Problems for People with Lactose Intolerance |
| 4. Makes Your Coffee Smoother and Helps to Retain Original Flavour | 4. Due to Fat and Protein Content, It tends to Reduce the Coffee Flavour and Smoothness |
| 5. Long Term Consumption of Non-Dairy Creamer can Lead to Obesity and Heart Diseases | 5. Non-Fat Dry Milk Powder is Completely Safe to Consume and Causes No Health Risks |
FAQ Regarding Coffee Creamers and Powdered Milk
Ok, now you know the main differences between these ingredients.
Its time to discuss more about the most frequently asked queries related to coffee creamers and powdered milk products.
I have tried my best to answer most of them.
I hope you will find them really useful and these answers will finally help you decide which ingredients to add in your coffee and which one to avoid.
What is Powdered Milk?
If you read this Wikipedia article, then you will understand that powdered milk is one form of dried milk.
It is actually made in a dairy by evaporating milk and by making it dry.
The main benefit of making milk powder is to enhance its shelf life.
You can preserve it for a longer period and it does not get spoiled easily unlike your regular liquid milk.
Its moisture level is very low and therefore you don’t have to store it in refrigerator.
There are different forms of powdered milk which are used for various purposes in the homes and offices.
Some of the well known forms are dry buttermilk, dry whole milk, non fat dry milk, dry whey products and so on.
What is Coffee Creamer?
Coffee creamer is also known as non-dairy creamer.
In the common terms, people also call it as a coffee whitener.
It is a liquid granular substance which is used to add in the tea and coffee to enhance its taste.
It is used as a replacement for milk or cream in your coffee.
One benefit of using coffee creamers is that they do not contain lactose unlike your regular milk.
So, it is beneficial for people who have lactose allergy.
But most of these creamers do contain a milk derived protein named as Casein.
You don’t have to store them in the refrigerators and their shelf life is also longer like a milk powder.
Along with dry coffee creamers, you will also get to see liquid coffee creamers in the market.
They need to be stored properly in your fridge and need to be packed tightly to preserve them for long period.
These creamers do contain various types of flavours though such as hazelnut, vanilla, etc.
For people, who are health conscious, they can use low fat and low calorie versions of these coffee creamers.
Check Out 2 Smart Methods to Freeze Your Liquid Coffee Creamer
Is Coffee Creamer And Milk Powder The Same?
The simple answer is no.
As mentioned in the above definition sections, the milk powder is made in the dairy by drying liquid milk.
And coffee creamers are made from dairy free products.
It is actually a combination of vegetable oil, sugar and water.
Read more about the nutrition content of coffee creamers in this Healthline article.
These coffee creamers do contain large amount of sugar though which could be harmful for diabetic people.
So, coffee creamers with various flavours should also be used in moderation if you are health conscious.
And by looking at their manufacturing process, one can easily guess that coffee creamers and milk powders are not the same but are different products altogether.
Can Powdered Milk Be Used As A Coffee Creamer Replacement?
Yes, why not!
Thousands of people, who are health conscious and want to preserve their health by consuming less calories and sugar; use milk powder in their daily coffee.
If you want to avoid higher sugar content of coffee creamers, then you can either use low calorie, low fat creamers in your coffee.
Or the second option is to use more healthy powdered milk as a replacement of creamer.
I strongly recommend this option over coffee creamers because of health reasons.
Using non-fat dry milk powder is the best choice when you prepare coffee on a regular basis.
You don’t even have to mix water to your dry powdered milk when adding it to your coffee.
The taste and flavour of your coffee will remain the same and you will not feel any major difference when you consume your coffee with powdered milk in it.
How to Use Powdered Coffee Creamer to Make Coffee?
As discussed earlier, if you are a lactose intolerant person, then you definitely need to use a non-dairy coffee creamer which is lactose free in nature.
Using a reliable brand like Coffee Mate Coffee Creamer is highly recommended if you are planning to use it in your coffee.
If you are a person who does not like the flavour or taste of then milk and want something lightweight and creamier, then also coffee creamer is the best option for you.
When you make a coffee, take 1 cup of water and boil it properly on the stove.
You will not add any milk to the water.
While boiling the water, add as much as sugar as you need in the coffee mug.
Then add 1 and half tea spoons of coffee powder in the mug.
After that, take the boiled water and pour it in the coffee mug.
Stir the mixture well and finally mix 1-2 tea spoons of Coffee Mate coffee creamer powder in your coffee.
In the end, you will need to stir the whole coffee mixture with your spoon for at least 2-3 minutes.
This step is important to eliminate any particles or lumps of coffee creamer remaining in your coffee.
I recommend you to watch the following instructional video to understand the process more vividly.
Coffee Mate is a gluten free, cholesterol free and lactose free product.
So, it is safe to use for your daily coffee.
Just use it in moderation, that’s it.
Click Here to Get Coffee Mate Coffee Creamer to Make Creamy Delicious Tasting Coffee.
How to Use Powdered Milk to Make Your Daily Coffee?
The process to make your coffee with powdered milk is almost the same as coffee creamer method mentioned above.
Instead of coffee creamer, you will add milk powder in your coffee.
First, boil the water properly on your stove.
While water is boiling, take your coffee mug and add 1-2 tea spoons of coffee powder, some sugar, and 2-3 tea spoons of milk powder directly in coffee mug.
Stir the mixture properly in the mug with your spoon.
Once the water is boiled, pour it in the mixture inside the mug.
Now stir the whole mixture for at least 2-3 minutes to get the best tasting coffee.
I recommend to use a good branded milk powder such as Hoosier Hill Farm All American Whole Milk Powder.
This milk powder is a certified hormone free and gluten free product.
Its high nutritional content is good for your health. So you can use it safely and without any worry of experiencing gluten allergy.
Click Here to Get Hoosier Hill Whole Milk Powder to Make Great Tasting Coffee.
Are Powdered Coffee Creamers Bad for Health?
If you read this article from Medbroadcast.com then you will understand that coffee creamers do have their own disadvantages.
They contain higher calorie count.
Plus some non-dairy coffee creamers can contain trans fats.
Regular intake of such creamers can increase your cholesterol levels.
If stored for longer period of time, these creamers could be spoiled and then it can cause bacterial or fungal infection.
The actual ingredients of such coffee creamers often include some trans fatty acids, modified form of sugar and saturated fats.
So, if you are adding such creamers in your coffee on a higher level and on a regular basis, then it could cause some health issues to you over a certain period.
Therefore, using these creamers in moderation is very important for your health.
Avoid taking them in large quantity, just use 1-2 tea spoons in your coffee and you will be fine.
What are Healthy Coffee Creamer Alternatives?
I was also looking for few healthy ingredients that I could use in my coffee on a regular basis.
After some research, I found this article from nmefitnesstraining.com where the author has provided few natural alternatives to coffee creamers.
Those healthy alternatives are as follows.
1. Coconut Oil
2. Coconut Milk
3. Almond Milk
4. Protein Powder
5. Spices such as Cinnamon
If you ask me, then I would certainly recommend you to use coconut milk instead of coffee creamer in your coffee.
Coconut milk has a high creamy texture which you will like a lot in your coffee.
Plus it has very less calorie count in comparison to coffee creamers.
If you can’t make coconut milk at your home, then you can buy it online too.
The best coconut milk for your coffee that you can buy online is Aroy-d Coconut Milk.
This Thailand product is completely gluten free, soy free and dairy free in nature.
It is also completely vegan and BPA free.
There are no preservatives or any additives added in this milk.
So, it is completely healthy and safe to consume on a regular basis.
The procedure to make coffee with coconut milk is really easy and takes just few minutes to make.
Take instant coffee and brown sugar in your coffee mug.
Then add hot water to it and stir the mixture well.
And finally add 1-2 tea spoons of coconut milk that you bought online.
Stir the mixture again for 2-3 minutes to get the best tasting and healthier coffee.
Watch the following video to understand how to make this healthy coffee with coconut milk.
Click Here to Get Aroy-d Coconut Milk for Making Tasty and Healthy Coffee at Home.
What is the Healthiest Powdered Coffee Creamer?
If you research in the market, then you will realize that there are several well known brands out there that offer some of the best coffee creamers you will have.
Dunkin, International Delight, Coffee Mate, So Delicious, Califia Farms, Walden Farms, Nutpods, Laird Superfood, MCT Oil, Rising Tide, Coconut Cloud, Milkadamia, Coffee Booster are some of the best coffee creamer brands in the market.
Choosing the best among them entirely depends on your own requirements.
If you are looking for low calorie, plant based, soy free, gluten free, non-GMO, BPA free and completely vegan creamer product then look no further than these 3 products mentioned below.
1. Nutpods Unsweetened Dairy-Free Liquid Coffee Creamer
2. Laird Superfood Vegan Coffee Creamer
3. Califia Farms Unsweetened Better Half Coffee Creamer
All of these brands provide less than 20 calories per serving.
Most of them are made from the mixture of coconut cream and almond milk, etc.
There are no extra fillers or additives in these creamers.
I strongly recommend to try one of these 3 coffee creamers to add to your daily coffee and see the results for yourself.
Are There Any Side Effects of Using Powdered Milk in Coffee?
If you read this article from Quickanddirtytips.com, then you will know that powdered milk is considered to be a nutritionally equivalent alternative to your regular liquid milk.
It can be used in your daily recipes and coffee in moderation.
But there is one side effect of using whole milk powder.
Whole milk powder does contain some oxidized cholesterol, which could be harmful if consumed excessively on a regular basis.
Therefore, to avoid this health risk, it is important to use non-fat dry milk powder instead of a whole milk powder.
If you are looking for such non-fat dry milk powder to add to your coffee, then I recommend you to use Pride of India Non Fat Dry Milk Powder.
This powdered milk is Grade A completely natural product which is made with pasteurized milk in USA.
There are no artificial hormones or fats but it contains only good source of protein and calcium.
If you are searching for gluten free, GMO free, fat free, cholesterol free and BPA free powdered milk for your coffee, then this is the ideal product for you.
Click Here to Get Pride of India Non Fat Dry Milk Powder for Your Coffee.
Conclusion
From all the information above, we can safely conclude that coffee creamers and powdered milk should be used in moderation.
Excessive use of both the ingredients can cause health risks.
Use of non-fat dry milk powder and coffee creamers made from low calorie, natural ingredients such as coconut cream, spices are completely safe to use.
You can use them in your coffee on a regular basis without any fear of health issue.
I strongly recommend to stay away from high calorie, sweetened and high fat coffee creamers as well as whole milk powders.
Choose any one of the above recommended natural coffee creamers or non-fat dry powdered milk products.
And I am sure you can enjoy your creamy and delicious coffee everyday without thinking of your health concern.
References:
https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-difference-between-coffee-creamer-and-milk
https://www.tasteofhome.com/collection/healthy-coffee-creamer-brands/
https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/health-fitness/healthy-eating/is-powdered-milk-bad-for-you
https://www.matrixagemanagement.com/blog/why-dairy-free-creamer-isnt-healthy