With the growing population of dairy-free and lactose-intolerant people in the United States, many restaurants are beginning to offer lactose-free milk alternatives for coffee.
However, that’s not the case for every restaurant chain. Does McDonald’s offer almond milk alternatives for coffee?
Unfortunately, Mcdonald’s does not offer almond milk for their coffee products. Although a few locations have almond milk as a mix-in, it’s not widely available in drinks other than plain black coffee.
To find a good coffee with almond milk, you must go to a local coffee shop or another chain restaurant serving breakfast foods.
Although McDonald’s doesn’t serve almond milk as a coffee creamer, several other fast food restaurants offer milk alternatives.
If you’re looking for a quick way to get dairy-free coffee, here’s a guide to McDonald’s milk and the alternatives offered at similar establishments.
Does McDonald’s Have Almond Milk for Coffee?
McDonald’s does not offer almond milk for coffee at any of their regular restaurants. At specific McCafe locations, you might be able to request almond milk as a substitute for regular coffee.
However, this service is only available at select locations throughout the country.
Thus far, only a few Mcdonald’s McCafe locations offer almond milk as an alternative.
In these cases, you must request almond milk while ordering–and even still, you might not get the substitute if the location doesn’t offer it.
Unfortunately, frappes and other fancier drinks don’t offer almond milk substitutions. It’s only available for regular coffee without any extra mix-ins.
So unless you are lucky enough to find almond milk at one of the few McCafe locations that offer it, your only options are regular or skim milk.
Unfortunately, there are no other creamer substitutions, although you can take your coffee black and add your creamer afterward.
Does McDonald’s Offer Any Other Milk Alternatives?
McDonald’s restaurants in the United States have yet to offer any milk alternatives in their stores.
Currently, McDonald’s stores in the United States only offer whole, 2%, or skim milk consistently–even then, some stores only have whole or skim milk.
McDonald’s in Australia recently announced they would partner with MILKLAB to add oat milk to the McCafe menu.
While oat milk isn’t available at all locations and will cost extra, several thousand McDonald’s locations in Australia will offer the alternative.
Thus far, Australia is the only country with any other milk options for coffee.
So if you want coffee at a McDonald’s in America but are lactose intolerant or vegan, you’ll have to drink it black, bring your creamer, or wait until you can find a nearby Starbucks.
What Kind of Milk Does McDonald’s Have?
McDonald’s only carries skim, whole, and 2% milk. Of course, most branches also have chocolate milk.
However, it is sold in cartons for kids’ meals and isn’t typically used in coffee.
Most McDonald’s locations offer to skim or whole milk as creamer options. Otherwise, only a few menu items need milk, so no other options are presented.
Additionally, there is no dairy-free ice cream, as the ice cream machines have pre-packaged options. And McDonald’s cheese is not lactose-free.
What Restaurants Have Almond Milk for Coffee?
If you’re looking for fast food restaurants that offer milk alternatives for coffee, here are some of the most popular restaurants and fast food places (aside from coffee shops) with almond milk or other milk alternatives.
- Bruegger’s Bagels
- Corner Bakery
- Einstein Bros Bagels
- Panera Bread
- Tim Hortons
This isn’t an exhaustive list but includes restaurants typically labeled as “fast food” or any restaurant where a customer typically spends less than half an hour dining.
All of these restaurants offer some alternatives at all of their locations.
In addition, many sit-down restaurants have a wider variety of milk options because they cater to breakfast or have larger kitchens.
With these restaurants, you should be safe purchasing a coffee and asking for almond, oat, coconut, or soy milk.
While the most common alternative is soy milk, oat and almond milk are becoming more popular. Unfortunately, each of these restaurants only has one non-dairy alternative.
Currently, no traditional fast-food restaurants offer any non-dairy creamer for coffee.
This is likely because fast food restaurants focus on lunch and dinner and only offer coffee as supplementary food instead of a primary menu item.
Even fast food places with breakfast only have regular cream or milk for coffee.
Of course, you’ll have to be specific and ask about cross-contamination or other allergens when ordering food.
While they might offer dairy-free creamer alternatives for coffee, many restaurants don’t have many dairy-free menu options (or minimal choices).
Always be clear if you need to special order something without cheese or milk.
What Coffee Shops Have Milk Alternatives?
However, most coffee shops and chains offer multiple types of milk. Here are some of the most popular coffee chains that offer milk alternatives.
During some only offer almond or soy milk, most have oat and coconut milk.
- Biggby Coffee
- Blue Bottle Coffee
- Caribou Coffee
- The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf
- Dunkin’ Donuts
- Dutch Bros
- First Watch Coffee
- Peet’s Coffee
- Starbucks
Many of these coffee shops also offer food. Although they’re more expensive than fast food, finding dairy-free alternatives and drinking your coffee with almond or other milk is easier.
Local coffee shops or restaurants are more likely to have alternative creamers.
Some branded creamers (such as Coffee-Mate) are naturally non-dairy, so you can stock up on small packets and carry them in your car or purse if you can only get coffee from McDonald’s.
However, remember that you’ll have to ask the server to leave room in the cup for your creamer.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a coffee with almond milk, you won’t be able to find it at McDonald’s.
Unless you are in specific McCafe locations throughout the United States that stock almond milk, you’ll have to drink your coffee black or settle for regular cream.
However, this might change as more people need to avoid lactose or have chosen to go vegan in recent years.