Plant-based milk is a billion-dollar industry, and growing. That tracks, seeing as consumers are increasingly opting for alternatives to cow’s milk. They might be lactose intolerant, vegan, or simply seeking a healthier option. 

The issue is that a lot of the more popular milk alternatives aren’t actually healthier. The illusion that plant-based milk equals healthy was shattered a few years ago, when a few deep dives revealed that a lot of popular oat milk products are actually highly processed, high in sugar, and have almost as many calories as cow’s milk while lacking protein and other important micronutrients.

One way to ensure more transparency around what’s in your plant-based milk is to make it yourself. Thanks to the rise in countertop nut milk makers, this can be a pretty painless (and even fun) process. 

But which nut milk maker is best for you? We tried a bunch out to find the answer. ChefWave, Nutr, and Tribest all made our “best” list.

The Best Nut Milk Makers

Compared to all the other nut milk makers I tested, the ChefWave is easily the most beautiful and convenient. It makes creamy, tasty nut milk to boot. 

I was pleasantly surprised at this device’s sleekness. It’s like the Apple product of nut milk makers. And it was much smaller than I thought, based on how massive its (apparently very protective) packaging was. Another delightful surprise: Unlike the other devices I tested, it comes with its own glass pitcher.

Setting up the ChefWave is straightforward. It’s designed like a drip coffee machine, meaning the pitcher sits directly under the spout and gets filled up as it makes milk. To operate it, you simply put about a tablespoon of your nut or grain of choice (no pre-soaking needed) into the top of the device along with water and use the digital touch screen to select the correct setting. (These are also outlined in the instruction manual.) 

I did wish the touchscreen was slightly more reactive—I occasionally had to press a button more than once for the device to register my selection. Otherwise, it was simple and easy to use. Plus, the screen shows you how much time is left (each milk-making session takes about 15 minutes), so there’s no guesswork involved. 

Perhaps my favorite element of the ChefWave is its transparency: It told me what noise to expect when it’s in use directly in the manual. I was thankful for this, because all of the devices range from dull grinding to startlingly loud when they start producing milk. ChefWave’s heads up for its grinding and whirring sound was nice and self-aware. 

As for its milk production, I enjoyed the little glass portal on the top of the device, which is like a little window into the generation process. Unlike other devices we tested, you also don’t have to strain the milk from the pulp—it fills up the pitcher with creamy milk on its own.

When it’s done, it automatically goes into a seven-minute cleaning mode, so you don’t even have to worry about cleanup when you’re done. This is the only device that offers such a feature. 

For the most part, the milk from each device tested tasted quite similar to one another, so the ChefWave’s ease of use, versatility, and design were big factors in deciding a top pick. The milk had a creamy consistency and allows for a variety of options: Almond, soy, cashew, oat, macadamia, coconut, and more. 

I was most excited about Nutr’s compact nut milk maker because of its branding—it’s modern and fun. Even the instruction booklet is a level up from the more traditional versions of the other devices. The packaging is next-level—just unboxing the Nutr felt like its own moment of delight—and I love that it comes with a cute measuring spoon.

Setup was easy, given there are only a few pieces and it’s the size of a giant tumbler. To make milk, you put your nut or grain of choice directly into the device along with water, lock the lid, and use the touchscreen to select the correct temperature. (The instruction manual includes corresponding milks and temps.) 

I was surprised at how loud the device was. It only lasted a few minutes, but pressing start felt like a lowkey jump scare. Unlike the ChefWave, you have to strain your own milk with the included strainer, and it doesn’t come with its own cup or pitcher to pour the milk into. Still, cleaning up is easy, given it’s just a few pieces, and I enjoyed the more compact option for anyone with limited counter space. The almond milk tasted like almonds and was on the creamier side, which I enjoyed. It took a few minutes to “milk” the nuts, and less than a minute to manually strain it.

Nutr now sells its own line of wellness blends, or bulk nuts plus flavored packets filled with functional and adaptogenic ingredients. You can customize which blends you like, which include your base of choice (almonds, oats, cashews, and hemp), and added flavors (chocolate, vanilla cinnamon, strawberry, matcha, and turmeric and ginger). These weren’t available during my testing period, so I can’t comment on the flavor and function, but it’s a smart move and a differentiator from the other devices. It eliminates a specific pain point—shopping separately for bulk nuts—and also adds versatility through a bunch of healthy flavor options. 

Other Great Nut Milk Makers

This isn’t the least expensive nut milk maker we tested, but it is less expensive than our top picks and way less time-consuming than the cheapest device I reviewed. It’s also easy to set up right out of the box. The reason this fell short of a top pick is because the design isn’t that sleek: It looks like a bigger version of a hot water kettle, and I struggled a bit to lock the lid before using it.

Its nut milk-making process was also extremely loud to the point that it startled me. That being said, this is one of the quickest to make milk, and everything it produced tasted pretty good. However, I noticed a lot of nut chunks in the pulp, which suggests that it isn’t as efficient as other devices. 

On the plus side, it comes with a little brush, which makes it a lot easier to clean.

This li’l device is often just about $30, making it the least expensive option on this list. It also makes decent milk, if you’re willing to work a bit more and wait a bit longer than you would with pricier nut milk makers. That said, you should already have a blender if you want to use the Chef’n Nut Milk Maker—if you don’t have one, it’s virtually impossible to use.

The machine consists of just four pieces. I noticed that while it’s small and compact, the measurement markers on the model I received seemed a little smudged in places. (Otherwise, it’s pretty cute.) You have to both pre-soak your nuts for 12 hours before making milk, and then add more water and blend the resulting mix. From there, you have to strain the mix to make your nut milk, and the resulting flavor is just fine. It’s creamy, but uses the most nuts and water compared to all the other devices. 

If you are just looking to occasionally make your own nut milk, and don’t mind having to pre-soak and use a blender, this is a good option as an entry into the space. It’s by far the cheapest and takes up the least amount of space. But if you plan on making nut milk regularly, you’d be better off investing in the ChefWave or Nutr. 

Is Nut Milk Healthy?

Nut milk can be healthy—but it depends what your health goals and dietary preferences are.

First, let’s talk about what it actually is. Nut milk doesn’t have anything to do with the dictionary definition of milk, which is a “fluid secreted” (sorry) “by the mammary glands of females for the nourishment of their young” (sorry). No mammary glands are involved in the production of nut milk, which is made by straining water over crushed nuts or grinding nuts to a paste and blending it with liquid, creating a whitish substance (sorry) that’s reminiscent of standard cow’s milk.

Nut milk—particularly the homemade variety—can be a good source of vitamins and minerals, and is particularly high in vitamin E and manganese. It can also contain fiber, but this nutrient is often strained out in mass-produced versions. Store-bought brands tend to be significantly lower in calories and saturated fat than cow’s milk, but also much lower in protein than cow’s milk—a standard single-cup serving of almond milk offers 1 gram of protein to cow’s milk’s 8. Another thing to keep in mind is vitamin D. Most cow’s milk is fortified with up to 841 IUs of the micronutrient, and while it’s FDA-approved Food and Drug Administration “Vitamin D for Milk and Milk Alternatives” View Source to fortify milk alternatives, not all brands choose to.

Store-bought plant milk brands may be fortified with calcium and protein (and vitamin D) to make them more comparable to cow’s milk, as well as some preservatives to keep them shelf-stable. Boxed or bottled plant milks can also include fillers like carrageenan, guar gum, and xanthan gum. “All of these are linked to GI upset and it can be hard to find milks without them—another case for making your own, “ says Kate Morton, RDN and founder and CEO of Funk It Wellness. Many store-bought options have added sugar, too.

One study that compared plant-based milk alternatives Journal of Food Science and Technology “How well do plant based alternatives fare nutritionally compared to cow’s milk? ” View Source to cow’s milk found that while soy is the best nutritional replacement for cow’s milk, almond milk can also be suitable. It’s also a better option for most people than oat milk, which can disrupt blood sugar balance. “Oat milk has a significantly higher glycemic index (GI) than whole oats, as the fiber is removed,” says Morton. “This means that oat milk can cause greater blood sugar spikes than other unsweetened plant milk options.”

All in all? Nut milk is quite healthy for adults (no plant-based milk is recommended for children under the age of two American Society for Nutrition “Going nuts about milk? Here’s what you need to know about plant-based milk alternatives ” View Source ). Whether you’re lactose intolerant or simply looking to avoid dairy, it’s a worthy option—especially if you make your own.

Are Nut Milk Makers Worth It?

At a time when ingredient transparency is as sought after as ever, a nut milk maker puts the power back in consumers’ hands to know exactly what’s in their dairy-free milk. In the long run, it’s also an economical and environmentally friendly alternative to buying pre-made, pre-packaged nut milk. 

Taste-wise, homemade nut milk felt fresher and healthier to me. (Though it’s hard to know whether this was a placebo effect or not.) Having put in all the ingredients myself, I knew exactly what I was tasting—nuts, water, maybe some dates or extracts to sweeten or flavor. In fact, some even had a subtly nuttier flavor than premade and prepackaged nut milk. And, of my top picks, the milk the machines produced was also just as creamy as store-bought versions. 

You don’t need a specialty appliance to make your own nut milk. You can use a cheesecloth and pre-soaked nuts to essentially “milk” the nuts with your hands. Nut milk makers just offer a more modern, more convenient alternative. 

How Do Nut Milk Makers Work?

A nut milk maker is an appliance that allows you to make your own plant-based milk using just nuts (and sometimes grains) and water. Some also allow for customization through dates (for sweetness) and other flavor blends. 

Most of the popular devices use stainless steel blades to grind up the nuts or grains, which are manually entered into a machine with water. Once grinded, either you or the device will strain liquid from the pulp, and voila! You’ve got your plant-based milk. 

How We Found The Best Nut Milk Makers

Meet Your Guinea Pig

I’m Melanie Ehrenkranz, the newsletter editor at Ness, where I cover health and wellness products and news each week. I have over a decade of experience as a journalist with a focus on technology, where I’ve spent a few years reviewing various gadgets and devices. I also have several years of experience covering the health and wellness industry and consumer goods. 

Our Testing Process

I spent several hours researching the most popular nut milk makers on the market, narrowing the list down to five products to review. I looked at things like unboxing, ease of use, nut milk taste and quality, variety, price, and ease of cleaning. 

For each device, I made two batches of nut milk, using the same brand of almonds for each device. I did a blind taste test for each, noting things like texture (how creamy was it?), flavor (how nutty was it?) and quality (how pulverized were the nuts?). I also shared a glass from each nut milk maker with my mom to get her opinion.

The Nut Milk Maker Buying Guide

When buying a nut milk maker of your own, consider these factors:

• Ease of use: It should be simple to figure out how use a nut milk maker—if not intuitively, then at least from clear, concise instructions in the user manual.
• Nut milk taste and texture: This is subjective. But if you’re interested in buying a nut milk maker, you probably want your nut milk to taste like, well, nuts—not watered-down essence of almond. It should also produce smooth, creamy nut milk without any stray chunks or blobs that might get lodged in your throat.
• Variety: A nut milk maker should make it easy to work with a large variety of nuts. (And even non-nut milk bases, like oats.) The best nut milk makers allow you to truly customize your blend, with an option to blend dates or other mix-ins.
• Ease of cleaning: The best nut milk makers make cleanup easy. Some, like ChefWave, offer a self-cleaning function. If that isn’t an option, it should be relatively easy to wipe down—no small, hard-to-reach components to cause complications.