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Walk down any milk aisle and you’ll find a dozen almond milks, all claiming to be the creamiest and cleanest. So my friends and I blind taste-tested 22 unsweetened brands, compared every ingredient list, and ranked the best almond milk brands you can buy in stores and online. Elmhurst took the top spot, with Malk a close second.
Want even more non-dairy milk alternatives? Check out my Coconut Milk Brand Guide and Oat Milk Brand Guide.
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Best Almond Milk Brands Results
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. Here are the top 10 brands I recommend:
Amazon Grocery Unsweetened Almond Milk
You can’t beat the price and it has a smooth, creamy texture and a mild almond flavor. A budget pick that works well in cereal and smoothies.
30 calories, 1g protein (1 cup) | $2.54
Califia Farms Organic Almondmilk Unsweetened
Popular, but the taste and texture run thin. Fine for smoothies or baking, but not if you want a rich, true almond flavor.
60 calories, 2g protein (1 cup) | $5.49
Better Goods Unsweetened Original Almondmilk
Walmart’s budget pick. Mild flavor and medium texture. It works for cereal and recipes without standing out.
30 calories, 1g protein (1 cup) | $2.54
Sprouts Original Unsweetened Almond Milk
Fairly priced, especially on sale. The flavor is weak, but the texture holds up in coffee and smoothies.
30 calories, 1g protein (1 cup) | $3.29
Good & Gather Unsweetened Almond Milk
Target’s budget option. A bit thin with a mild almond taste, but fine for smoothies and cereal.
30 calories, 1g protein (1 cup) | $2.69
365 Organic Almond Milk
A reliable organic pick with a mild almond flavor that works in cereal, coffee, and baking. Easy on the wallet if you already shop at Whole Foods.
40 calories, 1g protein (1 cup) | $3.18
Silk Almond Unsweet
Smooth, creamy, and sold almost everywhere. The ingredient list isn’t the cleanest, but it won our blind taste test.
30 calories, 1g protein (1 cup) | $3.74
Three Trees Organic Almond
A short list of organic ingredients with a pure, lightly sweet flavor and a creamy texture. It costs more, but it’s worth it.
80 calories, 3g protein (1 cup) | $6.99
Malk Unsweet Almond
Organic and made without gums or fillers. They updated their flavor profile and it moved from #11 to #2 on our list. Grab it at Costco, Target or Amazon if your store doesn’t carry it.
70 calories, 2g protein (1 cup) | $5.29
Elmhurst Milked Almonds
Just almonds and water, with no gums or thickeners. Their process uses lots of almonds, so it tastes richer and creamier than most brands.
130 calories, 5g protein (1 cup) | $6.99
Rating System for Almond Milk Brands
As you’ll see from the scoresheet, 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 are 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 dry and bitter, others were sweet and smooth. And some were just funky. We took all this into account when rating each brand.
- Texture: Is it smooth or gritty? Does the texture change with each sip or coat your mouth?
- Packaging: 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.
Best Overall Almond Milk
Elmhurst Milked Almonds is my best overall almond milk. It has just two ingredients (filtered water and almonds), no gums or fillers, 5 grams of protein per cup, and it earned top marks for packaging. You’re paying for almonds, not water, and you can taste the difference. The only catch? It can be hard to find in stores, so I usually order it online.
Malk Unsweet Almond is a very close second and much easier to buy. It’s organic, made without gums or fillers, and tastes so much better and less bitter than it used to. You can grab it at Costco (my number one store these days), Target, Whole Foods and on Amazon.
Best for Smoothies
When I’m building a balanced smoothie with fruit, greens, protein and healthy fats, Elmhurst is the base I reach for. With 5 grams of protein per cup, it’s an easy way to add more protein to every blend. Elmhurst packs in up to 4x more almonds than other brands, so your smoothie comes out creamier, too. Try it in my Berry Almond Milk Smoothie.
Best Coffee Companion
Silk Almond is super smooth in both flavor and texture, so it blends right into your cup. It works great in an iced coffee or iced latte. Want extra foam? Elmhurst also makes a barista almond milk blend made for lattes. And for something cozy, Silk is lovely in my Warm Almond Milk and Honey.
More Almond Milk Brands to Buy
If your favorite almond milk didn’t make my top 10, tell me in the comments! We tested 22 brands from grocery stores and online retailers. These are the winners—but I’m always open to more. Help me update the Top 10 Best Almond Milk list for next year!
Common Questions
Elmhurst has just two ingredients: filtered water and almonds. Three Trees is a close second with three: water, organic almonds and French grey salt. When you’re comparing cartons, skip the ones with gums, oils or “natural flavors” on the label, and you’ll be in good shape.
You’re paying for almonds, not water. Budget brands are mostly water with a small amount of almonds, plus gums to thicken them up. Brands like Elmhurst and Three Trees use a lot more almonds per carton, so they cost more but taste richer and creamier.
Silk got the highest marks for flavor and texture in our blind taste test, and it’s super smooth in coffee. My top pick overall is Elmhurst for its clean ingredients and quality, with Malk a close second that’s much easier to find, including at Costco.
Many store-bought almond milks have only about 1 gram of protein per cup, and lots of brands add gums and fillers to make up for using fewer almonds. If you want more protein, Elmhurst has 5 grams per cup. Some people also weigh how much water almond farming uses.
Not always. On many brands, “Original” means sweetened, so check the label for added sugar before you buy. I recommend unsweetened almond milk for everything, so you can sweeten your smoothies with fruit instead.
Almond milk without gums or thickeners naturally settles in the carton. It’s totally normal and actually a good sign that it’s made without fillers. Just give it a good shake before you pour.
Yes! It’s easier than you think, and you can make it as creamy as you like. Here’s my step-by-step guide to homemade almond milk using a blender or a nut milk maker.
Most almond milk is best within 7–10 days of opening, kept in the fridge. Shelf-stable cartons can stay in the pantry until you open them. Brands without gums, like Elmhurst and Three Trees, separate naturally, so give them a good shake before pouring.
I love Simple Green Smoothies and I have followed you for a long time so I say this with love, but why leave out the protein when comparing to milk? I do think it’s an important distinction. Milk has a good amount of protein while almond milk has next to none, so it’s not necessarily a perfect replacement if you’re looking to have that extra protein.
Michelle, that is a good point but if we’re talking about smoothies specifically, we prefer to use fruits and veggies with higher protein content (e.g., avocado, kiwi, spinach) as well as plant-based protein powders, so the protein content of our liquid base is less important. We believe dairy can do more harm than good, which is why we prefer to always reach for a plant-based milk over cow’s milk.
I was shocked that my brand ranked so poorly. I use Almond Breeze but def will try out your top three suggestions. Great share.
I felt the same about my preferred brand, Trader Joe’s. So glad you found this article helpful! After you try out some new ones, come back and let us know what you think of them.
This is such a helpful article!!! Thank you so much for putting it together! I’ve always loved New Barn Almond milk but I can’t find it in my Whole Foods anymore so I switched to the So delicious almond with cashew milk. Now I’m so curious about Elmhurst! Thanks again!
Thanks, Kavli! So glad you found the article helpful. Once you give it a try, let us know what you think of Elmhurst!
What a giganticWASTE OF TIME! Not all these brands are available me nation wide. For my money, Silk is the best because taste is number one. Unless you have lived on another planet, these nut juices have been around long enough for people to know what the want.
Hi Paula! So sorry you feel this way. Jen did clarify that they searched grocery stores near her hometown of Central Florida (so she’s aware not all almond milks on her list may be available to folks in other areas). However, many of them are! We understand that everyone has their own preferences and if Silk is the one for you, then it’s great you know that! The truth is, there are many people who are new to plant-based milks. There are even folks who have been drinking almond milk for years but who are open to learning more and trying new brands to see if they like another one better. I’m actually one of those people, so they do exist! We hope to do more reports like this and hopefully we’ll be able to expand where we can pull products from for the testing. Until then, rawk on!
Hey SGS team,
I think this was a winner. I appreciate the side by side comparison. I have many of these options readily available, but often wonder if it really makes a difference in taste. I typically buy the Kirkland brand organic unsweetened vanilla flavor. While you did not have it in the mix of taste testing, your reviews gave me things to look for on the label.
I’d love to see you do this with coconut milk or maybe frozen fruits?
Thanks for sharing this good info!
Pam, we’re glad we could help you! Thank you for your feedback, this was our first Rawkstar Report and Simple Green Smoothiesopes to do more so I’ll pass on your suggestions!
Hey Pam! I was always curious if there would really be a difference in taste. When we did the blind taste test it was SUPER obvious and kinda blew us away at how different they could all be. I think coconut milk sounds like a good one to do too! Thanks for the suggestion.