Keep Your Coins, Vegan Coffee is a Scam — And Here’s Why

There are many reasons veganism has taken off, some of its best-known benefits being lowering your chances of getting certain types of cancer, reducing the risk of heart disease and weight loss. But as with every movement, within it are greedy corporations looking to make bank off our ignorance.

Thousands of bags of ‘vegan coffee’ are being pushed onto shelves all over the world, with marketers working overtime to convince us it’s a better option than just plain ol’ ground beans — when, in truth, vegan coffee doesn’t actually exist.

The Facts

All coffee beans are roasted seeds of a plant. There are no animals involved from start to finish — not even animal by-products — so, by its very nature, coffee is vegan. We don’t need a giant American company to tell us so and, most often, slapping a ‘100% vegan’ badge on packaging is just pure marketing tactics.

So can vegans drink coffee?

Absolutely, but there is a but. Where the tricky part comes in is what you put in your cup of coffee, as dairy products like milk, cream and creamers are animal-based products. The way to get around that is to opt for plant-based alternatives like oat milk (like a true millennial), almond milk, coconut milk, etc.

If you’re fully vegan, it’s also important to try and avoid flavoured versions of coffee (like a caramel iced macchiato, for instance), as it’s not always guaranteed that syrups and add-ins weren’t manufactured with the help of animals. Watch out for what you’re picking off the shelves for your DIY latte, or if you’re grabbing a drink from a coffee shop and feel unsure, ask your barista questions (it’s your money you’re spending, las las).

Veganism goes beyond avoiding animal-based products

Bottom line: If you’ve chosen a vegan lifestyle, you should be thinking about more than just making a few ‘good’ choices; it’s a total commitment to living ethically. That’s why even if you’re drinking a cup of coffee that’s completely plant-based, questions like, “was this grown with harmful chemical pesticides?” and “is this being sold at such a low price that there’s little chance its farmers can be benefitting?” can go a long way in helping you decide if a brand deserves your coins or not.

Coffee that truly aligns with vegan values will support ethical supply chains and be interested in educating and empowering its farmers. That’s on period.