Alternative Milk decided for Golden Bean 2026 competition

Alternative Dairy Co Wins Taste Test to Partner in Golden Bean 2026

Brisbane, Australia – 12 November 2025 – Plant milk partners have been announced for the 2026 Golden Bean coffee roasting competition, set to take place in Brisbane in June. This year, the event will proudly partner with The Alternative Dairy Co, featuring their Barista Almond Milk as the official plant-based milk for the competition.

The inclusion of a plant milk category at the Golden Bean gives coffee roasters the exciting opportunity of creating a coffee that best complements the chosen milk. After several successful years using Alternative Dairy Co’s Oat Milk, organisers decided it was time for a change. Following an extensive taste test with leading Australian coffee roasters, the Alternative Dairy Co Barista Almond Milk emerged as the clear winner.

Over 60 expert coffee roasters from Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane participated in blind cupping sessions of the three leading barista almond milks: MilkLab Almond, Alternative Dairy Co Barista Almond, and Vitasoy Barista Almond. The controlled tastings were held during the annual Golden Bean review at Roaster Engage The Wood Roaster, (Sydney), The Bean Cartel (Melbourne), and The Coffee Commune (Brisbane).

Participants blind-cupped both a small almond flat white (220ml) and a large iced almond drink (330ml), scoring each milk on Golden Bean’s key taste criteria: balance, sweetness, mouthfeel, and aftertaste.

The Alternative Dairy Co Barista Almond Milk topped the scores with its Consistent Performance, praised for its superior flavour balance and smooth integration with espresso.

“Golden Bean is committed to staying ahead of consumer trends,” said Dr Ainsley Harrison. “As the competition grows globally, we ensure all products—from dairy and water filtration to alternative milks—are tested and selected through rigorous, transparent industry scrutiny.”

The Golden Bean competition is recognised as the largest peer-reviewed coffee roasting competition in the world, rewarding innovation, quality, and excellence within the coffee industry.

The 2026 Brisbane Golden Bean will be hosted by Latitude Coffee in North Lakes-Brisbane QLD, from June 16 –20, 2026.

Contact – sean@goldenbean.com-0419287608