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  4. I tested out the $200 Almond Cow plant milk maker, and I can't believe how much I'll be saving on oat milk

I tested out the $200 Almond Cow plant milk maker, and I can't believe how much I'll be saving on oat milk

I tested out the $200 Almond Cow plant milk maker, and I can't believe how much I'll be saving on oat milk
Retail1 min read
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
  • The Almond Cow makes plant milk from nuts, oats, coconut flakes, and more.
  • I tested it out to see how the milk compared to store-bought.

Plant Milk, especially almond and oat varieties, has exploded in popularity over the past few years.

Plant Milk, especially almond and oat varieties, has exploded in popularity over the past few years.
Sarah Schmalbruch/INSIDER

Plant-based milk was a $2.5 billion industry in 2020, making up 15% of all milk sales. By 2026, it's expected to make up 30% of sales.

Plant-based milk was a $2.5 billion industry in 2020, making up 15% of all milk sales. By 2026, it
Doetch, Amanda/Getty Images

Plant milks have shown up on menus at Dunkin' and Starbucks, but they can be pricier than their dairy counterparts.

Plant milks have shown up on menus at Dunkin
AP Photo/Lisa Poole

As a plant milk consumer, I've been tentatively thinking about making my own oat and almond milk, but I wasn't sure if it would be worthwhile.

As a plant milk consumer, I
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

Almond Cow sent me its plant milk maker for the purposes of this review, which came with about four pieces.

Almond Cow sent me its plant milk maker for the purposes of this review, which came with about four pieces.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

My first impression was that it seemed kind of like a powerful blender with a few extra pieces.

My first impression was that it seemed kind of like a powerful blender with a few extra pieces.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

The plant milk maker is a large stainless steel pitcher with a black top and handle.

The plant milk maker is a large stainless steel pitcher with a black top and handle.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

Inside the pitcher, there's a filter basket that holds the ingredients that will go into the milk.

Inside the pitcher, there
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

My favorite detail was this glass milk jar that looks like something a milk man might've delivered 50 years ago.

My favorite detail was this glass milk jar that looks like something a milk man might
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

The company also sent me bags of cashews, oats, coconut shreds, and almonds to use to test the product.

The company also sent me bags of cashews, oats, coconut shreds, and almonds to use to test the product.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

The outside of the box showed how it was supposed to work with pictures that I found quite helpful.

The outside of the box showed how it was supposed to work with pictures that I found quite helpful.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

It also came with a recipe book that had more thorough instructions and ideas for other milk recipes with different flavors.

It also came with a recipe book that had more thorough instructions and ideas for other milk recipes with different flavors.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

I decided to start with almond milk, following the recipe from Almond Cow.

I decided to start with almond milk, following the recipe from Almond Cow.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

I measured out one cup of almonds.

I measured out one cup of almonds.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

The instructions recommended soaking oats before using them, and you can also soak any of the nuts to be able to use fewer. Because I wanted to try it out immediately, I did not soak my almonds this time.

The instructions recommended soaking oats before using them, and you can also soak any of the nuts to be able to use fewer. Because I wanted to try it out immediately, I did not soak my almonds this time.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

Then the almonds go into the filter cup along with some sea salt, and maple syrup for sweetener.

Then the almonds go into the filter cup along with some sea salt, and maple syrup for sweetener.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

I filled the remainder of the pitcher with water and pressed the almond-shaped cow button to start blending.

I filled the remainder of the pitcher with water and pressed the almond-shaped cow button to start blending.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

After three blending cycles that take probably under two minutes total, I removed the top of the pitcher and the reservoir was full of almond milk.

After three blending cycles that take probably under two minutes total, I removed the top of the pitcher and the reservoir was full of almond milk.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

You can pour the milk straight into a container from there. There's no need for additional filtering because the basket does that automatically.

You can pour the milk straight into a container from there. There
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

The almond milk initially has a thick layer of foam on top, which was delicious at first taste. It had a distinctive almond taste, with a bit of sweetness from the maple syrup.

The almond milk initially has a thick layer of foam on top, which was delicious at first taste. It had a distinctive almond taste, with a bit of sweetness from the maple syrup.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

I saved the remainder in my fridge. Unlike store-bought almond milk, there aren't preservatives in my version, so Almond Cow recommends using it within a few days.

I saved the remainder in my fridge. Unlike store-bought almond milk, there aren
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

I tried it in my coffee and was very pleased with the result.

I tried it in my coffee and was very pleased with the result.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

The cleanup was also fairly easy. All of the pulp is confined to the basket, so it's quick to clean up.

The cleanup was also fairly easy. All of the pulp is confined to the basket, so it
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

The recipe book does even include ideas of ways to use pulp created by the process, but I haven't tried them.

The recipe book does even include ideas of ways to use pulp created by the process, but I haven
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

I wanted to see how the price of the homemade version compared to store-bought, so I looked up Walmart's Great Value brand of almond milk.

I wanted to see how the price of the homemade version compared to store-bought, so I looked up Walmart
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

Assuming almonds are also purchased at Walmart for 39.9 cents per ounce, a half-gallon of homemade almond milk costs $2, versus $2.36 at Walmart.

Assuming almonds are also purchased at Walmart for 39.9 cents per ounce, a half-gallon of homemade almond milk costs $2, versus $2.36 at Walmart.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

If you presoak the almonds, you can use only half as much, making the savings even greater.

If you presoak the almonds, you can use only half as much, making the savings even greater.
Shoshy Ciment/Business Insider

Buying almonds in bulk from a store like Costco could offer further savings.

Buying almonds in bulk from a store like Costco could offer further savings.
Abigail Abesamis

The Almond Cow itself costs $195, so that also has to be accounted for to find what the true savings are.

The Almond Cow itself costs $195, so that also has to be accounted for to find what the true savings are.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

I would make back the upfront investment of the Almond Cow after 271 gallons of almond milk, so it's probably only worth buying if you're a prolific plant milk consumer.

I would make back the upfront investment of the Almond Cow after 271 gallons of almond milk, so it
Hollis Johnson/INSIDER

The difference is much more apparent in oat milk. A half-gallon of Oatly oat milk at Walmart costs $4.38. A half-gallon of homemade oat milk with the Almond Cow costs just 23 cents.

The difference is much more apparent in oat milk. A half-gallon of Oatly oat milk at Walmart costs $4.38. A half-gallon of homemade oat milk with the Almond Cow costs just 23 cents.
Scott Olson/Getty Images

Oat milk recoups the cost of the $195 Almond Cow in just 23 gallons.

Oat milk recoups the cost of the $195 Almond Cow in just 23 gallons.
Abigail Abesamis

Oats are much cheaper than the nuts that other plant milks are made out of, so making oat milk is very economical.

Oats are much cheaper than the nuts that other plant milks are made out of, so making oat milk is very economical.
Jan Woitas/picture alliance via Getty Images

It's also important to note that I didn't include the pinch of salt or small amounts of other flavorings you might want to add, which could add to the cost.

It
Suzanne Kreiter/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

I really like the idea of the Almond Cow and how easy it is to use.

I really like the idea of the Almond Cow and how easy it is to use.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

The initial price of $195 is steep, though. I think the Almond Cow only makes sense for people who drink a lot of oat milk and know they will use it regularly. I probably won't buy more almonds, but I will definitely keep making my own oat milk because it's so cheap and tastes just as good as what I would buy.

The initial price of $195 is steep, though. I think the Almond Cow only makes sense for people who drink a lot of oat milk and know they will use it regularly. I probably won
Jamie Grill/Getty Images

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