New vegan cold brew drinks are on the way to the United States.
Chameleon Cold-Brew just launched bottled cold brew drinks made with organic oat milk.
Based in Austin, Texas, Chameleon Cold-Brew was the first fair trade and organic cold brew company in the U.S.
Until recently, all of Chameleon Cold-Brew’s products were vegan; the brand just introduced cans of cold-brew with whole milk. However, alongside the dairy launch, the company also introduced a new plant-based cold brew blend featuring oat milk, which is sold in 46oz bottles, according to NutraIngredients-USA.
Chameleon Cold-Brew’s other vegan products include Caramel Coffee, Vanilla Coffee, Pecan Coffee, and Mexican Coffee.
Vegan Coffee
Fellow coffee company STōK Cold Brew also just launched its own vegan cold brew drink. The new beverages come in flavors Almondmilk Mocha and Oatmilk Latte.
Last September, America’s first canned vegan oat milk latte became available in Whole Foods Market and on Amazon. The creamy caffeinated drinks are made by RISE Brewing Co.
Speaking to Refinery 29, RISE’s CEO Grant Gyesky said, ”We decided to pair our cold brew coffee with oat milk after over a year of trying virtually every existing dairy alternative.” Soy, almond, coconut, walnut, rice, oat, and hemp milk were all tested for the beverage but consumer feedback consistently pointed to oat milk due to its taste, nutrition, and consistency. Gyesky added that he believes oat milk is RISE’s future.
Tapping into consumer demand, leading coffee chain Starbucks upped its vegan range by introducing a line of vegan cold brew coffee smoothies featuring plant-based pea and rice protein, dates, almond butter, and raw chocolate (cacao).
Going a step further, in February, Starbucks introduced bottles of almond milk Frappuccinos, available in flavors mocha and vanilla. The “sweet and creamy” beverage was available in 2017 but was not vegan at the time. Following a conversation with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), the largest animal rights organization in the world, the recipe was updated to be animal product-free.
The Decline of Dairy
As the public leans away from dairy for health, environmental, and animal welfare reasons, plant-based milk is becoming more popular. Earlier this year, it was reported that 48 percent of dairy-drinking Americans are also buying vegan milk. In the UK, more than a quarter of young people have reduced or cut dairy consumption altogether.
