This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
I really enjoy making homemade almond milk, yet I don’t always have time to do it. I’ve bought so many brands over the years, and decided it’s time to compare them and decide which ones are truly the best. With the help of my awesome friends, I compiled an in-depth review on the best almond milk brands you can buy.
The amount of almond milk brands in grocery stores have exploded the past decade. As we buy more plant-based products, grocery stores continue to add more products. I can’t help but smile as I watch the almond milk, cashew milk and oat milks push cow’s milk out more and more.
Rating System for Almond Milk Brands
As you’ll see from the scoresheet below, almond milk is not all the same. Many brands add fillers, gum, fortify with vitamins, and alter taste with “natural flavors” to modify the true flavor. Our blind taste test helped us focus on flavor without a bias. We also dug into the actual ingredients and nutritional panel to decide what was really going on, too.
Here’s the main factors I used to rank the best store-bought almond milk brands:
- Ingredients: Just because the branding looks clean, attractive and healthy, it doesn’t mean the ingredients tell the same story. We compared ingredient lists and raised flags when gums and super long ingredients were listed.
- Taste: Does it have a pleasing and rich flavor that is appropriate for almond milk? Blind taste-testing was a game-changer when it came to comparing the taste of a variety of milk. Some were bitter, others were sweet. And some were just funky. We took all this into account when rating each brand.
- Texture: Is its smooth or gritty? Does the texture change with each sip?
- Packing: Eco-friendly packaging also gave certain brands a boost. If a brand used recyclable materials or had B-Corp status then they got bonus points.
With the scoring system, you can see how almond milk brands stack up when tested side by side. We focused on unsweetened and unflavored varieties, which I recommend using all the time. We rated them based on quality of ingredients, taste, texture and sustainable packaging.
Best Almond Milk Brands Results
Making the switch to a plant-based diet can be exciting— and almond milk is a versatile and delicious addition. With so many great brands available, you’re sure to find one you love. Yet to save you some money and time, I’ve compiled the top 10 brands you can buy and feel good about.
Elmhurst Milked Almonds
score: 88/100 | cost: $6.49
Elmhurst only uses almonds and water – no weird gums or thickeners – and their special way of making it (something called HydroRelease) makes it super creamy and flavorful without any extra stuff. Plus, they use a ton of almonds, so it’s actually nutritious and tastes way richer than other brands.
Thrive Market Organic Almond
score: 87/100 | cost: $3.39
Made with simple, organic ingredients at a fraction of the cost. Plus, it’s super creamy and has a naturally delicious almond flavor without any added sugars or weird stuff. Since it’s from Thrive Market, you can get it delivered right to your door, which is super convenient.
Three Trees Organic Almond
score: 86/100 | cost: $7.49
They use just a few simple, organic ingredients, and you can really taste the difference – it’s so pure and subtly sweet. The texture is amazing too, really creamy and not watery like some other brands. It’s a bit pricier, but if you’re looking for a high-quality, clean, and incredibly tasty almond milk, Three Trees is totally worth it.
Silk Organic Almond
score: 85/100 | cost: $5.49
This is a great everyday option, made with organic almonds and has a smooth, creamy texture that works perfectly in everything from coffee to smoothies. It’s widely available in most grocery stores, making it super convenient to pick up. While it might not be as “clean” ingredient-wise as some smaller brands, it’s still a good organic choice that’s consistently good and readily accessible.
365 Organic Original Almond
score: 84/100 | cost: $3.29
This is a great organic milk that has a nice, mild almond flavor that works well in just about anything – cereal, coffee, baking, you name it. While it might not be as fancy as some other brands, it’s a solid, reliable option that’s easy on the wallet, especially if you’re already shopping at Whole Foods.
Good & Gather Unsweetened Almond Milk
score: 82/100 | cost: $2.59
Good & Gather Unsweetened Almond Milk is a decent, budget-friendly option if you’re shopping at Target. It’s not the most flavorful or creamy almond milk out there – it’s a bit thinner and the almond taste is pretty mild – but it works fine for things like smoothies or cereal.
Sprouts Organic Original Almond
score: 81/100 | cost: $3.99
Sprouts Organic Original Almond Milk is a pretty solid, middle-of-the-road option. It’s organic, which is a plus, and it’s usually reasonably priced, especially if you catch it on sale at Sprouts. The flavor is not great, but the texture is okay. It’s a good, high-quality choice for everyday use in things like coffee or smoothies, but it’s not going to blow you away with its flavor or creaminess.
Better Goods Almondmilk Original
score: 80/100 | cost: $2.44
Better Goods Almondmilk Original is a decent, no-frills almond milk option. It’s the affordable Walmart option. It’s a pretty basic almond milk – the flavor is mild, and the texture is okay, not super creamy but not watery either. It works fine for everyday uses like adding to cereal or using in recipes, but it’s not going to be the star of the show.
Pacific Foods Organic Almond
score: 80/100 | cost: $2.59
Pacific Foods Organic Almond Milk is a decent, widely available option, but the flavor is not there. I wouldn’t drink this alone– ever. On the plus side, it’s organic and you can find it in most grocery stores, making it convenient. The texture is okay, though sometimes it can be a bit thin.
Califia Farms Almondmilk
score: 79/100 | cost: $3.97
I’m sorry– I know many people love Califia BUT it’s not exactly top-tier almond milk when it comes to taste. The taste and texture can be a little thin and slightly off putting. It’ll work for basic uses like smoothies or baked goods, but if you’re looking for a rich and creamy almond milk with a legit almond flavor, there are better options out there.
Common Questions
The healthiest almond milks on the market are the ones with the most limited ingredient list. Elmhurst and Three Trees really stand out with their super clean ingredients.There are several brands that contain just almonds and water without any extra gums or fillers. Make sure to always read the nutrition label so you know exactly what ingredients are in your preferred brand.
As with any food, you can have too much of a good thing! Almond milk is not a great source of protein and can be filled with lots of gums and other additives to help with the flavor and texture. In recent years, the public has been made increasingly aware of the farming and processing practices of almonds and there has been much discussion and debate on the amount of water and pesticides used. If this is a concern for you, definitely do your homework to determine which milk brand most closely aligns with your beliefs.
Based on our blind review of 22 brands, we determined that Silk Almond Unsweetened milk is the best tasting one on the market. Yes— it beat everyone with taste. It doesn’t not have the highest-quality ingredient list yet we all gave it highest marks for flavor and texture.
If your favorite almond milk brand didn’t make our top 10, let me know in the comments below. We tested 22 brands we could find in Tampa Bay grocery stores and online. We highlighted the top-rated in this report. Yet I’m sure there are more out there and I’d love to give them a chance to make the Top 10 Best Almond Milk Brands List!
More Plant-Based Milk Brands
Now that you know which almond milk brands to buy, why not expand your horizons with these additional plant-based milk buying guides:
If you’re interested in plant-based recipes (and exclusive content), sign up for my weekly recipe newsletter.
Many thanks for the Rawkstar Report on best almond milk!! I look forward to future research!!
You’re welcome! Glad you found it helpful!
Love the picture!! Great job. I hope you will do an analysis of shelf stable boxed almond milk. I was totally into boxed milks until I realized that the refrigerated cartons were a much better buy — more for less cost — even in the same brand. Buying boxed milks allowed me to go to the store less often. Now we live across the street from the grocery store and I can walk over and get some more milk, but I still like to have extra supplies in my pantry.
Thanks for your feedback, Elizabeth! We are hoping to do a report on shelf-stable almond milks in the near future.
Please include the Costco shelf stable almond milk also I would love to see a report on oat milk too. Thanks !!:)
Noted! 🙂
Great report Jen! I have moved your emails to my primary on Gmail and really enjoy reading all of your content and even more so putting as much as possible into action and my diet. Your app is absolutely fantastic for anybody who is thinking about getting it. You have categorize things so well and your recipes are delicious. Amazing! Thanks for all you do. I’m a fellow B school graduate.
I agree! Simple green smoothies.com and all the emails I receive are so professionally done. Kudos to your team. So beautiful and full of great helpful and authentic info. Thanks to Rawkstar!
This is so incredibly in-depth!! I’m going to bookmark this for future reference. Thank you for doing everyone such a big favor, and without pushing a bunch of ads in our faces 🙂
(Also- I have yet to make homemade almond milk, but if the taste is light-years above store-bought like homemade coconut milk is, I’ll probably never want to go back!)
Thank you, Emilita! We’re very happy you found this so helpful. And… we won’t tell you homemade almond milk tastes amazing (except, yes we will, it’s SO GOOD)! When you’re ready to make your own, we got you!–> How to Make Almond Milk
Hey Sue— we we’re talking abut doing a Shelf Stable review since there are SO many more choices in that section now too. So glad you mentioned that! As for refrigerated vs shelf stable— it really just depends on the brand. Fun fact: Elmhurst is actually a shelf stable mylk. They just product place it in the refrigerated section to help elevate it + soften the higher price (that last part is totally my own opinion).
I make my own almond and coconut milks. They are so easy to make and taste the best. Only downside is that they aren’t fortified with anything like calcium.
Agreed. NOTHING beats making your own almond milk. It’s truly the best taste and you can control the ingredients.
My favorite almond milk is Silk unsweetened. No upset stomach on this. I have tryed alot of them. This one, I find works the best for me.
That’s awesome you found the one for you! Are you doing the organic or original? I’m alwyas so curious about this and love how everyone responds so differently. As long as you’re happy, we’re happy for you. 🙂
Great review! Very helpful. But can you make a legend for the color coded leaves? I’m assuming red is the worst but not sure about the in between colors. Thanks
Hahaha— I’m not sure how I missed that! I just added it to the top of the chart. Thanks for the heads up Andrea!
We used to use almond milk but since learning about the environmental impact (e.g. Commercial almond production in California requires diverting ground and surface waters from the state’s aqueduct system for irrigation. As cited in an article in the New York Times, it takes approximately 15 gallons of water to produce just 16 almonds, ) have decided to switch to either Soy or Oat milk instead. What do you think of the environmental impact as a factor in choosing a dairy alternative?
Hey Robyn. I think Almond milk is a good option for someone stepping into a more plant=based diet. Of course making it at home is the best option, yet a busy life often gets the best of our day. We did take the environmental impact of the packaging into consideration with this report and scored the more eco-friendly packaging higher because that’s important to us (and you too!). I saw the environmental impact report you mentioned as well and we hope to do Rawkstar Reports for other milks as well— esp Oat Milk and Coconut Milk. Exciting times when we have so many options and resources to dig deeper into everything we do and eat!
Wow! I’m also surprised that the Califia was low scoring! That’s what I mostly get. I guess I’ll be trying the so delicious and elmhurst!
Solomon, it seems like a lot of people are saying the same thing as you (me included)! We’d love to hear what you think of So Delicious and Elmhurst after you give them a try.
This report was super helpful. Thank you for taking the time to taste all of these! I’ll def be giving Elmhurst a try this week.
Thanks, Beverly! So glad you found it helpful. Let us know what you think of Elmhurst!
I loved this!! I always get califia cuz I like the taste and thought it was one of the best nurtrituonally. Guess I’ll start looking at so delicious (no Trader Joe’s near me)
Kelly, I thought the same also! Really glad you liked this and it helped you. Let us know what you think of So Delicious once you try it.
Thank-You for the study on almond milks..!!! I think this information for us Health Hawks are Very Valuable……
Now i know which ones i can buy and I Trust your Testing…., I will be passing this info on to my Friends and family.
I know about Trader Joes’ but is it possible you can list where the Elmhurst and Malk Almond milks are found.?
Thank-You.
Debra, thank you for your feedback! They got Elmhurst from Publix, a regional supermarket that you may not have, depending on where you live. But, you can also buy Elmhurst online. And they got Malk at Whole Foods.
I have Califia Farms in the fridge right now mostly because I love the packaging! I shop at Publix, looking forward to trying Elmhurst.
I love Publix, Michelle! I always shop there when I’m in Florida (I know it’s in other states but that’s where I’ve seen it 🙂 ). Let us know what you think of Elmhurst after you give it a try!
I loved this. Thank you so much. My mom is lactose intolerant and so we switched to almond milk when I started my first green smoothie chalkenege and then after that cleanse. I didn’t know there was such variety and can’t wait to try the winners!
Isn’t it crazy how many there are! And we honestly only hit the southern part of the US. I’m certain there are prob 10+ other brands across the US that we could test at some point too. Yet it really was eye opening for us to compare like this.
This is an awesome report! I really appreciate that the testing wasn’t sponsored. I would love to see more of this kind of comparison reporting!!!
I’m glad you liked this (esp that it isn’t sponsored. Gotta keep the integrity!). I do hope we can do more so thank you for letting me know you’d like that too. I’m thinking oat milk might be next.