Oatly vs. Califia Farms: Best Barista Blend Oat Milk Reviewed

Oatly Barista Edition and Califia Farms Oat Barista Blend are both oat milks made for coffee, and both brands say they foam. Their published labels differ more than their marketing does. Per 1 cup (240 ml) on each brand’s US product page, Oatly lists 3 g of protein, 2 g of fiber and 7 g of added sugars, and it is fortified with vitamins A, D2, riboflavin and B12. Califia lists 1 g of protein, 0 g of fiber, 3 g of added sugars and 0 mcg of vitamin D.

So the choice is less about which one “wins” and more about which label fits what you want in your cup. Daily Home Coffee has not run a side-by-side steaming test of the two. This comparison uses the ingredient lists, nutrition panels and product descriptions each brand publishes, checked in October 2026. Recipes change, so read the carton you actually buy.

Quick Comparison

Per 1 cup (240 ml)	Oatly Barista Edition	Califia Oat Barista Blend
Calories	140	130
Total fat / saturated fat	7 g / 0.5 g	7 g / 0.5 g
Added oil	Low erucic acid rapeseed oil	Sunflower oil
Total sugars (all listed as added)	7 g	3 g
Protein	3 g	1 g
Dietary fiber	2 g	0 g
Calcium	350 mg	240 mg
Vitamin D	3.6 mcg	0 mcg
Sodium	100 mg	105 mg

Fat and calories are close. The bigger gaps are protein, fiber, sugar and fortification.

Ingredients Side by Side

Oatly Barista Edition

Oatly’s US ingredient list reads: oat base (water, oats), low erucic acid rapeseed oil, and 2% or less of dipotassium phosphate, calcium carbonate, tricalcium phosphate, sea salt, dicalcium phosphate, riboflavin, vitamin A acetate, vitamin D2 and vitamin B12.

Oatly gives the Barista Edition’s fat content as 3%, between its Original (2%) and Full Fat (3.7%) oat milks, and says it is formulated to work particularly well in hot drinks like coffee. For its US products, Oatly says it uses only non-GMO canola oil that is expeller-pressed with no hexane; canola is what Scandinavia calls rapeseed oil.

Califia Farms Oat Barista Blend

Califia’s main ingredients are oatmilk (water, oats), sunflower oil, minerals (dipotassium phosphate, calcium carbonate, tricalcium phosphate) and sea salt. The product page also lists the oats as gluten free and says the blend contains no dairy, soy or gluten.

The list is shorter mainly because Califia’s page shows no added vitamins, which matches the 0 mcg of vitamin D on its nutrition panel.

The Ingredient Both Share: Dipotassium Phosphate

Both milks contain dipotassium phosphate. Oatly is the brand that explains why: it calls it an acidity regulator, added so the Barista Edition does not separate when it hits hot drinks. Califia lists it under minerals without a stated purpose.

Taste and Flavor Profile

Neither brand publishes a detailed flavor profile, and taste is personal. What each says about its own product:

• Oatly describes the Barista Edition as made from liquid oats, so it “isn’t overly sweet or excessively heavy,” and says it can be added to dark coffee or tea without separating.
• Califia describes the Oat Barista Blend as smooth and creamy, and says it blends into hot or iced coffee.

The labels add one measurable difference. Oatly lists 7 g of sugars per cup and Califia lists 3 g. Oatly says its oat milks contain no added sweeteners such as cane sugar; the sugar, including maltose, forms when enzymes break down the oat starch, and FDA guidance makes it count as “added” on the label. Califia’s page does not say where its 3 g comes from.

Steaming and Foam

Both brands sell these milks specifically for espresso drinks:

• Oatly calls its Barista Edition “fully foamable” and says it gives you control over the density of the foam for latte art. For people who are not baristas, its suggestion is to heat the milk in a container while “giving it a whirl” until it foams.
• Califia says its Oat Barista Blend froths, foams and steams for lattes, and lists frothing in lattes first among its uses.

No independent foam test of these two products was used for this article, so it does not rank them on microfoam. If foam is your priority, buy one carton of each and steam them the same way, at the same temperature, in the same pitcher. The cappuccino step-by-step guide covers steaming technique and makes a related point: plant milks vary by brand and formulation, so if one will not hold its foam, try a version sold for frothing and follow its heating guidance.

Pros and Cons

Oatly Barista Edition

Pros:

• 3 g of protein and 2 g of fiber per cup, the higher of the two on both.
• Fortified with vitamins A, D2, riboflavin and B12, plus 350 mg of calcium per cup.
• Oatly explains its stabilizer and its sugar on the product page.

Cons:

• 7 g of sugars per cup, all listed as added sugars.
• 10 more calories per cup than Califia’s blend.
• Contains rapeseed (canola) oil, which some shoppers prefer to avoid.

Califia Farms Oat Barista Blend

Pros:

• 3 g of sugars per cup, less than half of Oatly’s figure.
• Short ingredient list built on sunflower oil.
• Made with gluten-free oats, according to Califia’s product page.

Cons:

• 1 g of protein and 0 g of fiber per cup.
• No added vitamin D, and less calcium per cup than Oatly.

Which One Should You Choose?

Choose Oatly Barista Edition If

• You want more protein, fiber and calcium from the milk in your coffee.
• You care about fortification, especially vitamin D and B12.
• A slightly sweeter label does not bother you.

Who Is Oatly NOT For?

On the labels alone, Oatly is the weaker fit if you are trying to keep sugar low: 7 g per cup against Califia’s 3 g. It also contains rapeseed oil, so if you avoid canola, Califia’s sunflower oil base is the one that fits.

Choose Califia Oat Barista Blend If

• You want the lower sugar figure of the two.
• You prefer sunflower oil to rapeseed oil.
• You get protein and vitamin D elsewhere and only want the milk for texture.

Who Is Califia NOT For?

Skip it if you were counting on your coffee milk for protein, fiber or vitamin D. Its panel lists 1 g of protein and 0 g of fiber per cup, with no vitamin D.

How This Comparison Was Made

Daily Home Coffee did not steam, taste or store these milks for this article. Earlier versions of this page described a two-week home test; that description could not be supported, so it has been removed along with the results attributed to it. The comparison above is based on:

• Oatly’s US product page for Oatmilk Barista Edition: ingredients, nutrition facts per 240 ml, fat content and the brand’s own answers on oil and sugar.
• Califia Farms’ product page for Oat Barista Blend: main ingredients, nutrition facts per 240 ml and the brand’s product description.

Both pages were read in October 2026. Brands reformulate, and versions sold in other countries can differ, so check the panel on your carton before relying on any figure here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Oatly Barista Edition sweetened?

Oatly says its oat milks, other than Chocolate, contain no added sweeteners such as cane sugar. The 7 g of sugars per cup forms when enzymes break down the oat starch, and FDA guidance means it is labeled as added sugar.

Why do both milks contain dipotassium phosphate?

Oatly says it adds dipotassium phosphate as an acidity regulator so the milk does not separate in hot drinks. Califia lists the same ingredient among its minerals but does not explain it on the product page.

Which has fewer calories?

Califia, by a small margin: 130 calories per cup against Oatly’s 140. Both list 7 g of fat per cup.

Are both gluten free?

Oatly lists a gluten-free certificate for the Barista Edition. Califia says its blend uses gluten-free oats and contains no gluten. If you need to avoid gluten for medical reasons, check the certification on the carton you buy.

Which one is better for latte art?

Both brands market their milk for foaming, and this article has not tested either one. Steam both the same way and compare.