Milk can definitely add a refreshing flavor to your coffee. But what if you wake up with no fresh milk or creamer on your shelf, and find a can of evaporated milk instead? Will it make a great substitute?
Well, yes. Evaporated milk is a good substitute for milk or creamer for your coffee. However, it is naturally thicker in consistency so you have to use a smaller amount compared to fresh milk. More so, evaporated milk is unsweetened so if you like your coffee sweeter, then you might have to add sweeteners.
In this article, we will be learning 5 things that you should always remember in substituting evaporated milk in your coffee. We will also be answering some of your most asked questions regarding evaporated milk in coffee. Ultimately, we will be sharing some evaporated milk brands that go along well with your coffee formula.
First, let us define evaporated milk.
What Is Evaporated Milk?
Basically, evaporated milk is just fresh milk that has undergone a heating process to remove 60% of its water content. After the water evaporation process, the milk is canned then undergoes sterilization as part of the canning process. A can of evaporated milk contains 12 ounces of milk, which standard recipes use.
Evaporated milk normally comes in three varieties, namely whole milk, low fat, and skimmed. One of the best advantages of evaporated milk is its shelf life. Normally, a can of evaporated milk can last up to 2 years for best taste. If you encounter evaporated milk with a dark yellow or brown color, avoid using it and get rid of it immediately.
Can I Use Evaporated Milk In My Coffee As A Creamer?
Definitely, you can use evaporated milk for your coffee. Given that it has a richer and thicker consistency compared to regular milk, it can give your coffee a velvety and smoother consistency. Evaporated milk is said to also reduce your coffee’s bitterness, so you actually don’t need to add sugar, if you’re fine with semi-sweet coffee.
As mentioned above, evaporated milk is still different from regular milk or creamer, so there are things that you still need to remember when using it in your coffee. Here are 5 things to consider when doing so.
1. It Can Make Your Coffee Very Creamy
Again, evaporated milk has a richer consistency than your regular milk. So, if you don’t want a very creamy coffee, it is advised that you put a smaller amount of it. However, this can also be a good advantage if you find your regular milk lacking in creaminess.
The amount of evaporated milk you put in your coffee depends on how you want your coffee to be. You can experiment at first and find the right formula. Remember that there is no perfect recipe for a coffee.
2. Using Evaporated Milk Can Help You Avoid Using Sugar
Due to the heating process, the natural sweetness of evaporated milk has been activated. So, for those who love coffee with just a mild sweetness in it, using evaporated milk is the perfect option. However, if you are a fan of sweet coffee, then it is advised that you put sugar or other sweeteners when using evaporated milk.
3. Evaporated Milk Has A Long Shelf Life
Evaporated milk has a stable shelf life compared to other brands of milk. When it is properly stored and unopened, evaporated milk can last 18 up to 24 months. For best taste, it is advised that you use the milk within this time period. Avoid using evaporated milk that has a dark yellow or brown color, as it may be spoiled or contaminated already.
4. Evaporated Milk Does Not Last Long When Opened
Despite the fact that evaporated milk has a long-lasting shelf life, it is not safe to store it for a long time when it is already opened. Normally, refrigerated evaporated milk can only last 4 up to 6 days.
This is said to be one of the biggest disadvantages of using evaporated milk since you will only be needing a small portion of it, then refrigerating the remaining portion. However, you can use evaporated milk in more ways other than coffee, so you might want to explore different dessert or smoothie recipes in which evaporated milk is best used.
5. The 1:1 Ratio
If you will be serving multiple cups of coffee and feeling tired of estimating the portions, you can use the 1:1 ratio. Here is how it works, for every ½ cup of water, use ½ cup of evaporated milk as well. Now, you don’t need to stress over eyeballing the portion of evaporated milk in your cup.
But of course, this might not work if you want a different richness or consistency in your coffee. So if you have a guest who loves a particular consistency for their coffee, you can adjust the portions accordingly. Otherwise, this ratio is a good option for a regular coffee experience.
What Is The Difference Between Evaporated Milk, Cream, And Regular Coffee Creamer?
Let us now discuss what difference it can make when you use evaporated milk instead of more famous coffee additives, such as cream and coffee creamer.
Compared to heavy cream, evaporated milk has lower fat contents. So, if you are becoming conscious of your calorie intake, then evaporated milk can be a better option than cream. In terms of the consistency and texture it brings to the coffee, there is not much difference between the two.
On the other hand, there is a huge difference between evaporated milk and coffee creamer. First, coffee creamer has no dairy contents, unlike evaporated milk. Moreover, evaporated milk is unsweetened, while coffee creamer commonly includes high sugar content. So, if the sweet flavor of coffee is your main consideration, take note of this difference.
Overall, evaporated milk is a better option especially when you are trying to cut down either sugar or calorie intake when drinking coffee.
What Is The Difference Between Evaporated Milk And Condensed Milk?
Both evaporated and condensed milk undergo the heating process in removing approximately 60% of its water contents. But still, there are major differences between the two kinds of milk.
First, evaporated milk is unsweetened with only about 10% of sugar content (coming from the natural sugar contents of dairy milk), while condensed milk is sweetened with about 55% of sugar weight. Second, evaporated milk has a caramelized flavor due to the heat sterilization process, which condensed sugar does not undergo because of its high sugar contents.
Moreover, evaporated milk has a darker color compared to condensed milk. Lastly, evaporated milk has a lighter texture compared to the dense, creamy texture of condensed milk.
Can you use condensed milk in your coffee? Well, of course. Just remember that it is already sweet enough so putting in sweeteners might not be good advice when using condensed milk in coffee.
What Are The Most Popular Evaporated Milk Brands?
Mayenberg Evaporated Goat Milk
Goat milk is said to be a better option than cow milk due to a number of reasons. First, it is easier to digest. Second, its mild flavor goes well with your coffee. And most importantly, it contains more nutrients than cow’s milk.
Goat milk is rich in vitamins A and D and has a significant amount of calcium. A serving of goat milk also contains 2 g of protein.
Carnation Evaporated Milk
Carnation Evaporated Milk by Nestle is by far the most popular brand when it comes to evaporated milk. It has a very creamy and rich texture that can suit your coffee. Aside from coffee, this brand is also popular among dessert, soup, and sauce recipes.
The brand’s best feature is its high vitamin D content. It also contains a reasonable amount of protein per serving which is 1 g.
PET Evaporated Milk
Of course, let us not forget who started it all. PET was the first ever to manufacture evaporated milk that has a long-lasting shelf life. Aside from this, PET has also significantly reduced the calorie contents of evaporated milk to 20 calories only and 1 g of saturated fat.
Evaporated Milk Is A Good Substitute For Your Coffee Creamer
Evaporated milk offers a creamy and rich consistency. It has a naturally sweet flavor so you can avoid adding more sugar. And lastly, it has a very long-lasting shelf life.
Now that you’ve learned about evaporated milk as a goo0d coffee creamer, check out this article that discusses if you should put salt in your coffee.
