Whether you’re an avid coffee drinker and experimenting with your order, or you’re lactose intolerant, or maybe just choosing to avoid dairy for any reason, finding different coffee options might not be the easiest task around. While most major coffee shops offer non-dairy milk options as replacements for the good ole cow’s milk, we are typically confined to the usual soy or almond milk alternatives. 

But with the demand for non-dairy milk options becoming more commonplace, an array of choices are more prevalent than ever before. From the classic soy to more unusual picks, we’ve listed our favorite non-dairy orders for your next coffee run. 

The Coffee Academics – Iced Agave with soy milk

Address: 109 Don Carlos Palanca, Legazpi Village and Lobby, High Street South Corporate Plaza, 26th Street, cor 9th Ave, Taguig

Since first opening in Hong Kong in 2012, The Coffee Academics has been well-loved by coffee enthusiasts from all over the world. Their locally roasted beans and specialty drinks have received numerous recognitions including; the Number 1 specialty coffee in Hong Kong in 2017 and the Hong Kong Dining Award – The Best Coffee Shop in 2020. 

A must-try is their Iced Agave with soy milk. This drink is described to be a ‘Latte candied with healthy and natural Mexican agave nectar, sprinkled with black pepper’. And while one might think it is rather strange to have pepper in their coffee, this drink tastes creamy and bold unlike most coffee out there. This drink has a hint of spice thanks to the added dimension the black pepper gives while the agave adds a natural sweetness with a hint of floral notes to balance out the bittersweetness of the coffee.

Toby’s Estate – Honey Oat Latte

Address: G/F, Shangri-la at the Fort, Bonifacio High Street,  and 140 Legazpi Street, Legazpi Village, Makati

Having given up on his career as an attorney, Toby’s Estate was established by Toby Smith more than 15 years ago after traveling around the world to gain knowledge about coffee, driven by his passion for the art of making the beverage. Also known internationally, Toby’s Estate offers deliciously crafted specialty drinks as well as whole beans for coffee lovers all over the world. 

My go-to order from this coffee shop is their Honey Oat Latte. Perfect for those with a penchant for creamier coffee, this offers a satisfyingly creamy and warm-spiced drink with notes of honey, butterscotch, and an added taste of oat milk—a savory tribute to all things sweet and salty.

Cartel Coffee Deli – Iced Oat Latte

Address: 119 L.P. Leviste Street, Makati, 1227 Metro Manila

If you’re looking for something cold and lighter for a mid-day pick me to beat the crazy heat. Cartel Coffee Deli’s Iced Oat Latte is the way to go. Located in Leviste Makati, Cartel Coffee offers not only amazing coffee but also delicious parings for your drink that will transport you to Spain.

Apart from baked bread and pastries, they offer signature tapas, sandwiches, pasta, and many more to satisfy your craving for something a little bit different than your usual coffee and snack pairing. An added bonus is their own little Mercado, where you can purchase Iberico cold cuts and cheese to bring home.

Draft Coffee by Lew’s – Coconut dream

Address: Philippine Gamma Knife Center, Cardinal Santos Medical Center, Wilson, San Juan, Metro Manila and Granada, Quezon City

Draft Coffee by Lew’s is a local third-wave coffee shop that has been brewing its “Original Blend” since 2018 with branches in Quezon City, Marikina, San Juan, and Alabang. This homegrown brand offers cold-brew coffee from tap with interesting flavors such as ‘Sweet Corn Coffee’ and ‘Pinkie Swea’ which is coffee with strawberry milk and filling. 

While these two flavors are definitely for the adventurous, they are not for the lactose intolerant. However, a good fit and currently an all-time favorite of theirs is the “Coconut Dream”, and as the name suggests it’s a coffee drink with a coconut cream base. One of the standout features of the beverage is its smooth and velvety texture—admittedly, it is the creamiest out of all milk substitutes without being overpowering at all. You get a nice hint of the sweet coconut, minus the sunblock taste that some coconut-flavored items tend to have. It’s a great way to mix up your daily coffee pick and try something new. 

Single Origin – S.O. Beans and Blends

Address: Madrigal Ave, Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa, Salcedo Village, G/F, Frabelle Building, Tordesillas, cor Bautista, Makati, and 28 Amorsolo Dr, Makati

For coffee fanatics who enjoy their drink plain and simple, Single Origin is a great place to go and appreciate the art of coffee brewing. Single Origin enables its consumers to extraction methods as well as its coffee blends.  They offer extractions by pour-over, with a Chemex, a Swoden, a French press, or a Syphon, and offer different coffee blends depending on their availability.

FRNK Milk Bar – Cinnamon Rice Miruku

Address: Ground Floor, Glorietta 3, Ayala Center, Makati, SM City North EDSA Quezon City, and Glorietta 3, Ayala Center, Makati

Technically not a coffee shop, but we just had to include FRNK Milk Bar to this list as they have one of the most unique substitutes out there; rice milk. Considered a milk tea shop more than a coffee shop, they offer milk-based drinks simply flavored with tea that comes straight from a company based in Kyoto called Morihan. 

I highly recommend their Cinnamon Rice Miruku which is an iced shaken rice milk drink with black tea, basil drops, and a drizzle of dark sugar and clocks in at only 120 calories for the small cup. This drink is reminiscent of a Spanish Horchata but elevated with the black tea flavor and basil drops; definitely a flavor bomb thanks to the complex mix of ingredients.