Oat milk is a daily essential for Sophie Harris, whether stirred into her morning coffee or poured over cereal, so it is a permanent fixture in her fridge, and she purchases it regularly. Although brands such as Oatly and Alpro are widely favoured, costs can add up when buying them regularly.
This led her to question whether supermarket own-brand oat drinks could be a more affordable option without sacrificing taste or quality.
Testing Supermarket Oat Drinks
Oatly and Alpro barista drinks are Harris's personal favourites, yet she was spending upwards of £10 a week on them and decided this was simply too much. Over the past seven months, she has tested barista oat drinks from a range of supermarkets, including Sainsbury's, Lidl, M&S, Tesco and Asda, to determine whether any could rival the branded alternatives.
The findings were unexpected, and she now regularly chooses two of them over the well-known brands. She is particularly drawn to the barista varieties for their velvety texture and ability to froth, which pair beautifully with coffee.
M&S Barista Oat Drink
M&S's barista oat milk proved to be one of the more impressive supermarket offerings. It boasts that rich, creamy consistency you typically seek in a barista-style oat milk, making it an ideal choice for lattes.
Its flavour was not overpowering, unlike some oat milks Harris has encountered, and she has been picking it up whenever she shops at M&S. The price varies by store, but it is available for £2.20 at Ocado. For a 1L bottle, it was undoubtedly more affordable than the Alpro and Oatly equivalents. Harris gave it a score of 5/5.
Sainsbury's Long Life Oat Barista
Long-life oat drinks tend to be the preferred choice, as there is little discernible difference in taste, and keeping several in the cupboard ensures you never run short. It also makes them marginally more affordable.
This oat drink from Sainsbury's is priced at £1.55, with the chilled version available at £1.70. The most unexpected discovery was that Harris genuinely favoured this oat drink over both the Alpro and Oatly alternatives. It had a wonderfully smooth, creamy flavour and, crucially, produced more foam than any other oat drink she has sampled.
The taste was equally impressive, and the consistency was ideal. It bore a striking resemblance to M&S's offering, so she has been buying both depending on which shop she visits. She said she will never return to branded alternatives. She gave it a score of 5/5.
Other Supermarket Options Tested
Harris also tested Plant-Based By ASDA Oat Barista Drink, which costs £1.55 for 1L, compared to Alpro's Barista Oat Drink at £2.20 for 1L, the same price as Oatly's Oat Drink Barista Edition Chilled. While it was an enjoyable oat drink, it lacked the same richness or indulgent texture, and for those who prefer a properly frothy latte, it fell somewhat short of expectations. It also came across as rather watery and thin in comparison to other barista versions sampled. She gave it a score of 3.5/5.
Tesco's Oat Drink, at £1.50, was okay for porridge and cereal, where creaminess is not a necessity, but its texture differed from that of other drinks trialled. It produced no foam whatsoever, though its subtle oat flavour was agreeable enough. She gave it a score of 2/5.
Lidl's Oat Barista, a 1L carton of long-life oat drink priced at just £1.25, failed to produce any foam at all, which is an essential quality when purchasing a barista variety. It was similarly watery, resulting in a disappointingly thin latte. She gave it a score of 1/5.
