No matter whether you are making drip coffee, a latte, or cold brew, you can dress it up by using evaporated milk in place of regular milk or creamer.
Milk evaporation is concentrated and has about 60 percent less water than regular milk. As it’s thicker and more concentrated than milk, it adds a richness to a cup of coffee that regular milk doesn’t.
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You can also use condensed milk in your coffee, if you like sugar in your coffee. It has the same creamy silk effect, but it’s also got sugar in it.
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What is Evaporated Milk?
Evaporated milk is a shelf-stable reduced milk that contains about twice as much lactose as whole milk and 60 percent less water.
It’s made by concentrating regular milk. The process involves heat-treating milk to stabilize it and rid if of bacteria. This makes it possible to store evaporated milk in a can on the shelf, rather than in the refrigerator.
It is then added to an evaporator where it is reduced to the desired level. The reduced milk is then homogenized and cooled, then treated with stabilization salts and fortified with vitamin D. Low-fat and fat-free versions also have added vitamin A.
Although it’s made from real milk, it has a silky, syrupy texture that is about the same thickness as cream. And just like milk, you can buy either whole, skim, or low-fat evaporated milk.
Why Use Evaporated Milk for Coffee?
The most compelling reason to use evaporated milk in your coffee is that it is silky and creamy, so it adds a richness to coffee that’s hard to achieve any other way. It makes a great cup of coffee.
Another reason is that evaporated milk is shelf stable and can be stored outside the refrigerator until it’s opened. Cream and milk cannot. You can keep a few cans of evaporated milk around just in case you ever run out of milk or cream. It stays good for 5-6 days once opened, when kept in the refrigerator.
If you do a lot of traveling or camping, you might also find it to be more convenient to bring canned evaporated milk along in place of perishable milk.
You might think that reduced calories would be a reason, but as it turns out cream and evaporated milk both contain about the same calories. There are 170 calories in half cup of evaporated milk, and 172.5 in heavy cream.
What is the Difference Between Evaporated Milk & Condensed Milk
Both are similar in that they are reduced whole milk. The biggest difference is that condensed milk contains sugar, while evaporated milk does not.
You might notice that the label says sweetened condensed milk and it’s not possible to find an unsweetened version. That’s because the unsweetened version is just evaporated milk.
There is a large volume of sugar in condensed milk, which makes it ideal for making things like Instant Pot dulce de leche. If you want a sugar free version, you’d have to make your own at home using a sugar substitute.
How to Use Evaporated Milk for Coffee
- Evaporated milk can be added to any type of coffee – hot, iced, cold brew
- You can froth evaporated milk to make a creamy topping for your coffee
- Add evaporated milk to iced coffee for a rich and creamy alternative to cream
- It can be added at room temperature or cold from the refrigerator
Frequently Asked Questions
Is evaporated milk a good substitute for coffee creamer?
Yes, evaporated milk makes a good substitute for milk, cream, or coffee creamer. It has a very similar taste profile. The only difference is that evaporate milk doesn’t contain sugar or flavoring, so you’ll still have to add sugar and/or flavored syrup, if you want.
Can you whip evaporated milk?
Yes, you can whip evaporated milk, just like you could cream. However, similarly, the milk, beater and bowl should all be very cold before you begin so it will whip up properly. Chilling the milk also improves the texture and amount of whipped cream you’ll get.
How do you store evaporated milk?
The best way to store the milk before you’ve opened the can is on the shelf in a dry, cool spot. It will keep for a long time on the shelf. Once opened, you will need to store it in a container with a lid in the refrigerator. It will keep for 5-6 days.
Another way to store leftover evaporated milk is to make ice cubes out of it, like we do coffee ice cubes. Once frozen, you can remove the cubes from the tray and put them in a container or bag in the freezer. Then you can just add as many as you like to your coffee. They’ll keep well frozen for a few month.
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Laura is the founder and editor of the travel blogs Savored Sips and Savored Journeys. She is dedicated to sharing the best information about drinks found around the world.
This is something really informative, thank you so much for sharing this. Because i am a coffee lover so it’s gonna help me for sure.