Milk dispensers for coffee shops help business owners make their entire operation more efficient and cost-effective. By tidying up cluttered bench tops and counter space, a coffee shop’s entire service period works better and faster.
For a modern coffee shop to be successful, they have to offer plant-based milk alternatives, and usually a few types. Today’s shoppers demand variations and options that match their increasingly varied dietary requirements and preferences.
Operationally, this can present a challenge. Barista stations often become crowded messes of half-empty milk cartons and spills, increasing the potential for cross-contamination and wasted liquid.
Luckily, milk dispensers for coffee shops – like the Flo-Smart system – don’t just dispense dairy. Oat milk, almond milk, soy milk, juice, and even wine can be easily dispensed at the touch of a button, simultaneously making your operation more efficient and your café cleaner.
We spoke to Salmaan Shaikh, founder of The Handy App and head of marketing at True Foods Hospitality, to learn more about the value of a comprehensive milk dispenser that can serve oat milk.
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Why coffee shops have to offer plant-based alternative milks
According to Coffee Intelligence, the plant milk industry is estimated to grow at a CAGR of more than 15% over the next five years. This is compared to the 6% growth projected for the dairy industry.
Of course, the non-dairy segment is growing from a smaller base, but forecasts for the oat, almond, and ‘other’ milk make one thing clear for the coffee sector: plant-based milk is an essential offering.
The popular buzz around plant-based alternatives stands in stark contrast to traditional dairy. Just ten years ago, specialty coffee professionals were touting the benefits and differences in performance of certain types of (dairy) milk under the steam wand. Today, the loudest conversations revolve firmly around the latest and greatest in non-dairy milk.
According to Alpro, an international plant-based alternatives company, 48% of British coffee drinkers have requested dairy-free milk with their coffee. Statistics suggest that over 21 million plant-based coffees are consumed weekly across the country.
“100% you have to offer plant-based milk in coffee shops,” says Salmaan.
“It’s essential, especially given the development in people’s dietary restrictions, the awareness around animal rights and a focus on the constituents and safety of dairy products.
“I’d personally point to Oatly’s barista edition as a phenomenal product, a master stroke. I was sceptical about all things plant-based, but that product personally changed my opinion and really opened my eyes to other possibilities in the segment.”
Evidence supporting optimistic projections for plant-based milk in coffee can be further observed by activity from the largest brands in the space. Alpro has joined Swedish oat milk giant Oatly and Australian brand Minor Figures in developing barista-grade versions of their popular products that perform more closely to dairy when steamed for milk-based beverages.
The world’s largest branded chains – Starbucks, Dunkin’, Costa Coffee, and Tim Horton’s – offer multiple plant-based alternatives free of charge (until recently, many charged for the swap).
Plant-based milk RTD coffee products are also hitting the market in droves, appealing to demands for convenient, health and wellness-friendly canned beverages. Balancing the best ingredients in an ambient RTD format is famously tricky – especially with fresh milk – but companies like Califia Farms, Pop & Bottle, and Minor Figures have invested heavily in solving the problem, and the results are high quality.
In summary, as a coffee shop in 2025, plant-based milks must form part of your menu, or you’ll likely alienate a large number of potential customers, and milk dispensers for coffee shops can help significantly.
How can milk dispensers for coffee shops help with plant-based beverages?
Flo-Smart milk dispensers for coffee shops are two- or four-tap automated beverage dispensers that works from a sleek countertop installation via direct lines to refrigerated bladders stored beneath the bench top.
First and foremost, milk dispensers for coffee shops make service speed more efficient and coffee shop operations more manageable, replacing the arduous, labour-intensive tasks of retrieving, replacing, and storing liquids in separate refrigerators and accurately measuring dosages for steaming or serving.
At the push of a button, a barista can instead place a jug underneath one of the up to four taps, and the Flo-Smart system dispenses the exact amount of liquid required for any specific beverage that has been ordered. Most of our clients integrate Flo-Smart with their most voluminous liquids, including dairy, as well as the most commonly ordered non-dairy options.
Flo-Smart can dispense any non-carbonated, non-pulped beverage accurately and consistently, including plant-based dairy alternatives. Oat milk, almond milk, coconut milk and soy milk all work seamlessly with the system.
Non-dairy milk products are expensive – more so than dairy – and often retail in smaller-sized cartons (dairy supplies are usually available in larger volumes, which cuts down on plastic or paper waste). A common sight in a busy café is a litany of different plant-based milk cartons on the counter, ready to be crudely dispensed as orders vary throughout the day. In the interest of efficiency, proper storage and organsiation are jeopardised.
Flo-Smart’s bladders are large – up to 18 litres. This lets café and coffee shop managers prepare for a busy shift by pre-filling them with the most popular plant-based milk – typically oat – before service begins, removing the chance of waste build-up in the workspace and improving storage and, thus, beverage quality.
When available, businesses can order their plant-based milk in larger volume containers, saving further time and waste instead of ploughing through numerous cartons per day.
An ideal set-up for a modern cafe with a Flo-Smart system installed could look like one tap for whole milk, one tap for skimmed milk, one tap for oat milk, and one tap for almond milk. All liquids will be dispensed to exact, pre-set quantities, reducing the inevitable waste that comes from measuring by hand and maintaining a stable milk storage temperature regardless of service pressure.
At Flo-Smart, our milk dispensers for coffee shops works seamlessly with oat milk, as well as any other plant-based milk your customers demand. Your workspace will be cleaner, your stock management will be more efficient, your beverages will be more consistent, and your service will speed up.
For more information, visit our website or get in touch with us directly.
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Milk dispensers for coffee shops
