What People Make After Buying an Almond Cow
Have you considered buying an Almond Cow but walked away thinking "what would I use this for other than making an occasional batch of almond milk?", you're not alone.
Here's the honest answer: most people do in fact start with making almond milk. But they’re so surprised at how easy the process is that they start to experiment with other nuts and seeds. Then they start to experiment with making things other than plant milk! It’s this ease and versatility that has led to the Almond Cow currently being used in 300,000+ households (and even some cafes). From everyday coffee creamer to extravagant cocktails and even soup, Almond Cow users are constantly finding new ways to put it to work.
Here’s a glimpse of what your Almond Cow journey may look like:
The First Batch: Almost Always Almond Milk
The most common first batch, by a wide margin, is almond milk. It's familiar and what most customers expect from the machine; “Almond” is in our name after all! After experiencing the quick, simple process and delicious results, many users give the machine a permanent place on their kitchen counter.
One reviewer from The Daily Beast put it simply: "The milk turned out way better than I expected. It was creamy, frothy, and I could control the level of pulp."¹ Another reviewer from Get Healthy U described the first run like this: "When it finished in under a minute, I actually said out loud, 'That's it?’"²
The classic almond milk recipe we suggest is just two ingredients: raw almonds and water. From there, most people add some of their favorite sweetener, a splash of vanilla, and a pinch of salt. That's all it takes to make something that tastes leagues better than what you'd get at the store and for a fraction of the cost at that!
What Becomes the Weekly Staple
After the first few batches, people settle into a rhythm. The most common everyday go-tos in our community are:
Oat Milk After almond milk, oat milk seems to be our community’s favorite milk, especially when paired with coffee! Almond Cow users find that oat milk froths well and blends seamlessly into lattes while costing far less to make per batch than store-bought oat milks.
Cashew Milk is great for smoothies and cooking. Cashews make the creamiest plant milk with a neutral, slightly sweet, buttery flavor. Because of this it's especially popular in savory recipes, soups, and curries where you want richness without a strong nut flavor.
Oat Almond Milk This one comes up constantly in community discussions as a favorite for coffee specifically. Why? Oats for froth & almonds for flavor! It's a milk that one reviewer described as giving "barista-level" results at home.³ Almond Cow has a dedicated Oat-Almond blend recipe that's worth bookmarking.
Soy Milk The pick for anyone who wants the closest thing to dairy in terms of nutrition. At 7 to 9 grams of protein per cup and a mild flavor that works in cooking, baking, or just drinking straight, it earns a regular spot in a lot of people's routines. Worth knowing: soybeans need an overnight soak and a quick peel before blending, and the finished milk needs about 20 minutes on the stovetop since raw legumes need heat. It sounds like more work than it is. The Ultimate Guide to Homemade Soy Milk walks through the whole thing.
ACE Juice Apple, carrot, and elderflower run straight through the machine into the collector cup, no milk base needed. It's a morning ritual for a corner of the community who use their Almond Cow the way others use a cold press juicer. A good reminder that the machine does a lot more than milk.
Creamer A large number of people buy the machine primarily to make their own creamer. It’s not surprising considering commercial creamers are among the most heavily processed (and priced) plant milks. Making creamer in the Almond Cow is just as easy as making a batch of standard plant milk, and we have a bunch of creamer recipes for you to try!
The Coffee Shop Copycats
This is the category that tends to convert skeptics. Once people realize the Almond Cow can help them replicate drinks they're spending $6 or $7 on regularly, the math starts to work in its favor pretty quickly. Here are some cafe favorites that you can start making at home:
Brown Sugar Oat Milk Shaken Espresso The Starbucks version costs around $6 and uses an oat milk full of added oils and stabilizers. The homemade version only costs around $0.50 in ingredients and takes three minutes. There’s a reason this is one of our most popular latte recipes!
Iced Matcha Latte Fresh oat milk, matcha, and maple syrup are all you’ll need for this one. We suggest making your oat milk the night before, so it's ready to pour over ice in the morning.
Cold Brew Milk Most people are surprised to learn you can cold brew coarse-ground coffee directly in the Almond Cow overnight! And the surprises don’t end there; after emptying the filter basket of coffee grounds, you can fill it with your favorite nuts/seeds and blend them directly into your coffee!
Cinnamon Dolce Latte Made from cashews, almonds, brown sugar and cinnamon, this latte tastes way better and costs way less than the $6 version you’ll find at your local coffee shop.
Horchata This one has a cult following in our community. Almond creamer, cooked rice, dates and cinnamon all come together in less than five minutes to make a drink that can be enjoyed warm or cold and will be sure to impress your guests.
What People Make Seasonally
Whether you make a point to shop seasonally or simply enjoy seasonal flavors, you’ll find plenty of recipes on our website to welcome each season deliciously.
Fall:
Pumpkin Spice Latte Nothing says fall like pumpkin spice. Made with pumpkin seed milk, real pumpkin puree, and warm spices, this latte delivers authentic fall flavor without the artificial syrups commonly found in coffee shop versions.
Pecan Pie Milk is a lighter option for people who want fall flavor but are all pumpkined out. This milk is so easy to make and delicious in your morning coffee, overnight oats or cereal.
Pumpkin Espresso Martinis and Hot Toddies are perfect for fall gathering or cozy nights in.
The leftover pumpkin seed and pecan pulp from the above recipes can be used to make our Pumpkin Seed Spiced Granola or our Pumpkin Pie Pulpmeal Parfait. Nothing gets wasted with the Almond Cow!
Winter and holidays:
This Mulled Wine recipe uses the Almond Cow to blend warm spices directly into the wine, dramatically reducing the time it takes to make traditional mulled wine!
This holiday recipe collection on the Almond Cow site pulls together a bunch of our recipes that are perfect for getting you into the winter holiday mood!
Spring and summer:
Strawberry Matcha Latte this fruity twist on a traditional matcha latte is a great way to bring some spring energy to your mornings!
Roseberry Sorbet Looking for a frozen treat to help you stay cool during the warmer months? This sorbet tastes like a stroll through a garden in full bloom.
Pina Colada Nothing says summer like this classic cocktail now made even creamier with a cashew milk base!
Beyond Milk: What Else the Machine Does
The Almond Cow can do much more than just making milk and cocktails! By using the collector cup, you can also use your machine to make soups, sauces, wellness shots, and so much more!
Broccoli Cheddar Soup, Tomato Bisque, and ACE Juice (apple, carrot, elderflower) can all be made directly in the machine. The Quality Edit had this to say about our extensive recipe library: "From salad dressings to hummus to BBQ sauce to curry bases to cocktails, Almond Cow is setting itself up to be a real kitchen companion."⁴
Recipes made with leftover plant milk pulp have become a category of their own: almond pulp granola, pulp cookies, berry smoothie bowls, and more. The community has embraced a zero-waste approach to cooking, transforming what many people would discard into delicious new creations.
The Most Common Questions Before Buying
A few things that come up consistently from people who are close to buying but haven't yet:
"Will I actually use it?" The people who use it most are the ones who already drink plant-based milk regularly. If you're buying a carton a week, the habit is already there. The machine just cuts out the middle man (and plastic packaging). One reviewer from Greenify Me noted they were previously paying $2.99 every week for store-bought almond milk, but with the Almond Cow and our bulk raw almonds, they cut that down to roughly $10 per month. [5]
"Is it a lot of effort?" Each batch of plant milk takes just one minute! Most people rinse the parts immediately after use, and the whole cleanup process takes under two minutes.
"What if I want variety?" Our recipe library has over 600 recipes. The real question is which one to try first!
"Is the milk as good as store-bought?" There is a noticeable difference between fresh plant milk and the stuff you’ll find on store shelves. Homemade milk doesn’t contain the stabilizers and oils that give commercial milk its uniform texture, and it can take a batch or two to adjust and find a recipe that works for you. A reviewer from Good Trade noted that "friends who try it become converts" after their first taste.⁶
Made Something Good? Show Us.
We love seeing what our community creates. Whether it's your first batch of almond milk or a seasonal latte you've been perfecting for weeks, share it with us.
Tag us on Instagram at @almondcow or post in the Almond Cow Community Facebook Group and use the hashtag #MakeYourPlantMilk. We feature community recipes and creations regularly, and your batch might just inspire someone else's morning routine.
Sources
[1] The Daily Beast, Almond Cow Reviews: Is the Fancy Nut Milk Maker Really Worth It?
[2] Get Healthy U, Almond Cow Review: Is It Worth It for Homemade Milk?
[3] The Green Creator, Nama M1 Review (almond-oat blend comparison for coffee)
[4] The Quality Edit, Almond Cow Review
[5] Greenify Me, Almond Cow Review: My Honest Thoughts
[6] The Good Trade, We Review Almond Cow For Oil-Free Nut Milk At Home