Califia Farm
[{'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on September 5, 2019', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': "Since I've got fairly high cholesterol, I've been looking for a good cream substitute for my coffee that fit the following qualifications:\n1. Doesn't taste horrible\n2. Is actually creamy\n\nAlmond milk - decent flavor, blah texture. Watery.\nCoconut milk - marginally better.\nCashew milk? Meh.\nOat Milk? Hmmmmm....\n\nSo let me first say: This does not taste like milk.\n\nIt shouldn't, it's made from OATS. It's actually got a bit of a nutty oatmealy flavor to it, but doesn't seem to be overpowering. It is, however, VERY creamy and behaves in a very milk-like manner when added to coffee. I use a frother and BOY does it hold air! About as good as milk does!\n\nThe overall result is that this oat creamer tastes good in my coffee, and the texture is the closest to actual cream I've yet to see in a plant-based creamer. The picture is 15 minutes after I frothed it and added coffee, so it REALLY stays foamy!"}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on July 22, 2019', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': "Whatever the nay-sayers say here, for years this is the #1 almond milk/cow milk alternative of Brooklyn and Manhattan's deeply seriously coffee coveted cafes use. Period.\n\nThere's a reason these absurdly serious coffee cultured people and cafes tucked in the most forward-thinking neighborhoods in America use this stuff. And ONLY this stuff.\n\nI live in Williamsburg Brooklyn, used to live in Manhattan, 10 years now. I'm a foodie. Love my lattés/flat whites. I developed food sensitivities in 2012. So goodbye cow milk. Hello Almond.\n\nThe deal: Once Califia began this Barista Blend, around 2013/14 it swept the cafe culture in NY. They had whole milk, skim, and this Barista Blend, which replaced the former star, and pretty good, Pacifica brand. Of course it froths. That and the taste are the only 2 reasons it's stocked in cafes where space is scarce, having the highest rents in the entire country.\n\nSince 2017, Oatly has been firmly added. And in the last year, 2018/19, they're starting to replace the Barista Blend with the sugar free version - green label. (Reg red Barista Blend has 5g per cup, just over 1t.).\n\nNot to sound like it sounds, but when the most exclusive cafes and people, for whom all-they-care-about-on-earth is learning about, dissecting, and searching the world for the very best coffee/coffee experience, pick this, for their single milk-alternative when their cafes are the size of your walk-in closet, you know it's hands-down exceptional.\n\nBTW, this DOES NOT NEED REFRIGERATION BEFORE OPENING. It's also shelf-stable for 1 year unopened! Wish I knew that all these years. You CAN buy on amazon for cheap, delivered to your door, and only stick it in the fridge once you open it.\n\nTo your health!"}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2019', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': 'Such an amazing replacement for dairy! Taste just like milk and has such a nice semi thick rich smooth tase! Never drinking anything else but oat! It’s made out of whole roll oats, dairy free, no sugars added! Vegan friendly, gluten free, nut free, kosher. Califa has so many more amazing products to enjoy such as almond milk flavored creamers. I prefer to use this with a hint of blue agave syrup. Refrigerate after opening or prior.'}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2019', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-4 review-rating', 'review_body': 'Oat milk is the truth! Of all the milks I’ve tried, oat milk makes the BEST lattes. Creamy, sweet, and perfectly textured for pairing with coffee. It’s macronutrient composition is higher in carbohydrates than fats than traditional creamers, which gives you a rich and creamy drinking experience- without being oily in any sense. I’ve attempted, and failed, many times to make my own (it always slimes within minutes) This oat milk isn’t as thick or flavorful as others I’ve tried, but it works wonderfully with coffee and foams, and stays, amazingly. I’m so glad oat milk is gaining popularity, hopefully it’ll be a staple in stores and coffee shops soon!'}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2018', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': "I have tried a number of almond milks for use making lattes and cappuccinos at home and this is by far the best.\n\nWhile my regular milk lattes and cappuccinos/etc turn out great, regular Almond Breeze or even the regular Califia Farms almond milk (i.e., the non-barista blend) separated, didn't froth and tasted a bit odd. I began to ask my favorite coffee bars which almond milk they use in their drinks and, with the exception of the few that make their own almond milk in house, the answer was Califia Farms Barista Blend.\n\nThe quality of the barista blend closely mimics regular cows milk coffee beverages - the barista blend does not separate and also manages to form a bit of foam. Also, it tastes good! Aesthetics aside, the barista blend tastes better than Almond Breeze or other regular almond milks that I have tried in my espresso mixed beverages.\n\nYou should note, however, that unlike the regular Califia Farms almond milk, the Barista blend has both added sugar and thickeners. This is most likely the reason for its stability and superior taste in espresso beverages."}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2019', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': 'My favorite oat milk so far! Would highly recommend. The sugar content is a lot less than other oat milks I’ve tried. Will order again.'}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2020', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': 'Ever since we’ve been ordered to SIP, it’s been impossible for me to find any alternative milks at the grocery store.\nI can’t get almond milk, oat milk, coconut milk or even soy milk which I don’t even like, but will take in a pinch.\nI scoured Amazon for literally anything milk-like and finally came up with this stuff.\nI was skeptical about buying 6 boxes of something I never tried before especially since most people were making lattes out of this, but it turns out, I actually like this stuff more than I like all the other non milks I’ve tried, even Almond Breeze which is my favorite.\nIt tastes great just drinking it straight, it’s kind of thick and rich tasting and there is no weird filler aftertaste!\nMy husband likes it as well, but he adds water to it because it’s a bit too thick for him.\nI can’t have a lot of fat in my diet so I just drink a half a cup which is 3.5g’s, a full 1cup serving is 7g’s🤓\nIt’s also great to use when making Thai soups, it gives it a thicker slightly sweeter creamier taste.🥰\nI don’t drink coffee but I love my morning cup of hot chocolate and it makes a great hot chocolate.\nRight now, it looks like a bunch of other people had my same idea, so this is currently out of stock through Amazon Prime unless you buy directly from a seller, but if you get a chance to buy some without too much of a markup ( I paid between $22 and $32)definitely do it because it’s delicious!'}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2022', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': 'Makes superb latte art and frothy barista style lattes. Blends well. I combine this with half barista style soy milk and it is delicious. We order six of these almost every month. Great with Nespresso latte machine. Many local coffee shops use this same brand and version. See pics. I highly recommend Califia Farms - Almond Milk, Barista style.\n\n= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = ='}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2022', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': "I have a lot of autoimmune issues and get itchy patches of dermatitis, a stuffy nose, and chest congestion after eating certain foods. My doctor recently told me it might be worth it to try going dairy free and as much as I love dairy I did notice feeling crappy after eating dairy products. I can't have nut milks because I feel crappy if I eat too many nuts, so I started trying oat milk. I tried the regular Califia Oat Milk and didn't like it, it tasted burnt to me. I also tried a few others like Ripple and didn't like them either. I stumbled across this Barista Blend while searching for something else to try.\n\nI really like it and even gave a carton to a friend for her daughter who has a casein allergy because I knew they'd been having a hard time finding something she liked. They were happy with it as well. Her mom even made whipped cream with it and everyone was surprised by how well it turned out.\n\nI use it in my coffee everyday and for cooking/baking. I have some Krusteaz gluten free boxed baking mixes and used it to make a cake which was amazing. Usually they end up a little dry but this one was perfectly moist and tasted so good I wanted to scarf the whole thing down right away.\n\nI definitely recommend it, it's the best dairy alternative I've tried so far."}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2019', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-1 review-rating', 'review_body': 'This almond milk boasts that it’s a “barista blend” and on the side even claims “full bodied foam” but this by far the worst milk for foaming almond milk I’ve yet tried. I’ve been steaming almond milk for about the past five years and what works the best(for those who are interested) is 1/2 unsweetened vanilla Almond Breeze in the carton(not the box) mixed with 1/4 Kirkland unsweetened almond milk from Costco and a 1/4 sweetened vanilla Almond Breeze in the box. I know, a bit of a scientific jumble but that combo seems to work the best for a full bodied foam.\nBut whatever you do don’t add any of this Califia to anything you’re going to steam with the hopes of foam because even a few tablespoons is a flatten your foam promise.'}]