In the UK alone, we devour a whopping 98 million cups of coffee daily. Despite being a traditional tea-drinking nation, it’s clear coffee culture is here to stay. And it’s not just the good old instant we like to brew, our love of barista-style coffee continues to grow. From flat whites and americanos to lattes and macchiatos, there are now around 7,700 coffee shops across the country serving our favourites. And we can’t resist that morning pick-me-up at home either with the at-home coffee machine market valued at an estimated £162.8 million.
Depending on your preferred coffee style, milk can make up as much as two-thirds of every cup, so choosing the right one is important. The milk available to complement your coffee has evolved and you can now find specially developed barista milk to ensure a delicious cup every time. In this blog, we’ll look at how barista milk differs from regular milk, and how it helps craft the perfect coffee.
Table of Contents
Barista Milk vs Normal Milk: Understanding Milk Types
What is Normal Milk?
Normal (or regular) milk is pasteurised, homogenised, standardised cow’s milk and it’s available with varying fat content, from whole milk to semi-skimmed and skimmed. The fat content of normal milk affects its taste and texture, with whole milk being the creamiest and skimmed milk the thinnest in consistency. Generally speaking, the lower the fat content, the less stable and less predictable the milk is when heated.
What is Barista Milk?
Barista milk is specially designed for coffee making. It has a higher protein content which makes the milk withstand heat better and creates a more stable foam, smoother texture and creamier taste.
The Cornish Touch: Our Unique Heritage
Here at Trewithen Dairy, our barista milk has added Cornish deliciousness. The lush yet wild Cornish landscape adds a unique flavour to the dairy products we’ve been crafting here for 20 years. With the help of award-winning baristas, we created our Cornish Barista Milk using delicious milk from local Cornish farms with a delicate balance of protein. The result is a creamy barista milk with a velvety texture and long-lasting microfoam. It’s the perfect milk to complement every style of coffee and it’s now an award-winning product in its own right.
The Science Behind Barista Milk
Let’s take a closer look at the science behind why barista milk works so well with coffee.
Protein Content and Stability
The protein molecules in milk change shape when exposed to heat or steam, forming chains which stick to air bubbles and create a foam. Barista milk tends to have a higher protein content than normal milk, which creates stronger protein chains and a more stable foam. This foam holds its shape better and lasts longer, which is ideal for frothy coffee styles and barista art.
Fat Composition and Creaminess
Barista milk has a higher fat content than normal milk. For example, here at Trewithen Dairy, our Cornish Barista Milk has a 4% fat content, and a good blend of protein. The higher fat content gives barista milk its distinctive creamy taste and smooth texture.
Heat Tolerance and Steaming
When heated or steamed, normal milk can become unstable, splitting or curdling. Barista milk on the other hand has been specially designed with a higher protein content which means it has a better tolerance to heat. The creamy flavour of barista milk is more stable when exposed to heat too, whereas normal milk can take on a burnt taste if overheated.
How Barista Milk Enhances Your Coffee Experience
So that’s the science, we’ll now examine how barista milk elevates your coffee-drinking experience.
Texture and Mouthfeel
Specially developed barista milk has a consistent texture and smooth mouthfeel thanks to the stable microfoam. The texture of our barista milk here at Trewithen Dairy is luxuriously smooth, taking your daily coffee to the next level of indulgence.
Flavour Complementation
The consistent, smooth and creamy flavour of barista milk complements strong espresso coffee beautifully. The taste doesn’t overpower – it softly enhances nuttiness, adds sweetness and mellows bitterness, creating an altogether richer experience.
Latte Art Perfection
From simple swirls to leafy motifs and delicate swans, you can find your coffee adorned with all kinds of artistic designs. And to bring their artistic vision to life, talented baristas need reliable milk foam. As discussed, barista milk is crafted with latte art specifically in mind and its renowned, stable microfoam provides the perfect foundation for even the most intricate designs.
Barista vs Regular Milk: A Side-by-Side Comparison
To sum up, here’s a side-by-side comparison of barista milk vs. regular milk:
| Barista Milk | Regular Milk | |
| Taste Test Results | Creamy flavour Remains consistent even when heated | Sweeter flavour Can develop a burnt taste when heated |
| Frothing and Steaming Performance | Froths well when heated Strong, stable microfoam which lasts | Lower-fat versions don’t froth well Froth can fade or fall quickly |
Is Barista Milk Good for You?
We’ve mentioned protein and fat, so is barista milk good for you? Let’s find out.
Does Barista Milk Have More Fat?
As we’ve mentioned, barista milk typically has slightly more fat than regular milk, however, this is what gives the milk its distinct advantages too, such as foamability, stability and flavour. And it’s important to remember that dairy-based barista milk, like we produce here at Trewithen Dairy, still contains all the vitamins and minerals of regular milk, such as calcium, protein and vitamin D.
Choosing the Right Milk for Your Brew
Best Uses for Barista Milk
The smooth texture and creamy taste of barista milk are ideal for milky coffees, and its performance makes it an excellent choice for latte art. Barista coffee wins hands down when it comes to frothy styles such as flat whites or cappuccinos because of to its superior microfoam. The delicious taste and velvety mouthfeel of Trewithen Dairy Barista Milk even work well in instant coffees, milkshakes, cereals and more.
Conclusion: Elevating your Coffee with Cornish Dairy
Recap: Barista Milk vs Regular Milk
Well, there you have it. Barista milk contains more protein than regular milk, which creates a more stable, foam-friendly, smooth and creamy companion for your daily cup of coffee.
Why Choose Cornish Dairy Products
Our Trewithen Dairy Barista Milk was developed with leading baristas and has received a Great Taste Award for its rich flavour. Our milk comes from a blend of Brown Swiss, Friesian, Holsteins and Jersey herds, raised on the rugged Cornish coast. Our barista product is creamy, stable and silky smooth every brew.
Where to Find Our Milk Products
You can find our barista milk in over a 1000 Tesco stores. And if you’d like to have the ultimate barista experience in your home, you can purchase our product at Ocado and South West Spar. If you’re a wholesaler and are interested in stocking some of our Cornish deliciousness, contact us now.
