If you are lactose intolerant, vegan or just crazy about nut milks, it's likely that you have an assortment of plant-based milks in your refrigerator, standing at attention like armed soldiers, ready to accompany your morning bowl of cereal or oatmeal.
The undeniable appeal of this tasty and gut-healthy drink is its complete personalization. Bases range from the ever-popular almond and cashew to more subtle ones including Brazil nut, pistachio and walnut. These drinks can also be sweetened with dates or coconut sugar and even enhanced with spices like cinnamon or vanilla.
8.5
Nut milk producer Nama M1
Like
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The machine is easy to use and produces delicious nut milk.
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Leftover nut pulp can be repurposed and used for crackers, cookies and muffins.
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Parts are easy to wash by hand
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Nama M1 also features a self-cleaning function.
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It's cheaper to make nut milk at home than to buy it from the grocery store without any fillers.
Don't like it
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Homemade nut milk tends to separate, which can be off-putting for picky drinkers.
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There are several separate parts, so they can take up valuable space in the kitchen.
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Quite expensive, as is the production of nut milk in general due to inflation.
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Milking oats was not as successful as milking nuts
In these tough economic times, expensive nut milk may seem like a luxury rather than a nutritional necessity. There are devices like the $359 Nama M1 designed to help customers save money in the long run. I picked up this fancy device and put it to the ultimate test.
Here's how it happened. Plus, here's a breakdown of how much it costs to make nut milk at home versus in the store.
How does Nama M1 work?
It looks like a blender, but please don't use it for your morning smoothie.
The process of creating nut milk requires virtually no effort. The easiest way is to simply take a cup of your preferred nuts (or mixed nuts) and add 3-4 cups of water (depending on your preferred consistency) to the drum.
Then press the main button and let the machine express milk for 1 minute. Once the countdown ends, you'll be prompted to open the nozzle and let the mixed liquid drain into the included pitcher (which comes with a lid for easy refrigerator storage). The Nama M1 will then extract the remaining milk for another 45 seconds.
Using the M1 name was as simple as it could be.
You Can Make More Than Just Nut Milk
The beauty of the Nama M1 is that the drinks can be tailored to your personal preferences. You can add the sweetener and/or flavoring of your choice, including dates and sugar, as well as fruit and honey. You can also replace popular nuts with almost any grain or seed, including oats and hemp.
I'll admit, I wasn't a big fan of using the machine to make oat milk. I made a batch, but the resulting texture had something sticky and gritty about it that ruined my morning coffee.
The remaining pulp is a nutritious addition to cookies and muffins.
Nama M1 also provides a helpful list of recipes to help inspire indecisive people. This includes ideas for using leftover pulp to make a great addition to grain-free baked goods such as cookies, muffins and crackers.
What does nut milk taste like?
Fresh almond milk
Barista-style nut milk is velvety, creamy, and delicious, superior to most popular products sold in grocery stores. You can experience the depth and complexity of flavor in even something as simple as almonds. The company also offers a clever plastic mat that folds in half and seals tightly, allowing you to store and freeze leftover nut pulp. This is an innovative and effective way to preserve the by-product, ensuring nothing goes to waste.
It is important to note that nut milk separates after a few hours. Although this may be aesthetically unpleasant, it is a completely natural phenomenon without the addition of binders. You will need to stir the pitcher well before using.
So, is it cheaper to make your own almond milk?
If you buy almonds in bulk, making nut milk without fillers at home is about a dollar less per cup than buying it at the store.
A cup of whole almonds typically costs between $1.50 and $2.50 and can yield 3 to 4 cups of almond milk. If you buy almonds in bulk and the price reaches $1.50, you'll pay 38 cents per cup to make almond milk at home.
Compare this to almond milk from the grocery store. Nationally, typical food prices in the United States range from $3 to $4 per half gallon (8 cups). This works out to between 31 and 50 cents per cup.
If you want almond milk with no fillers, it's cheaper to make it.
Pure almond milk with no fillers, such as Elmhurst, costs about $1 more per cup than homemade.
While the cost difference may seem minor, there is an important caveat. Most grocery store nut milk brands load them with fillers to improve texture and shelf stability. Thickeners, including gellan and guar gum, are often added to provide creaminess, and stabilizers such as lecithin (made from sunflower or soy) and potassium citrate are added to extend shelf life.
If you want pure nut milk with no fillers, you'll have to choose a premium brand like Elmhurst, which costs about $1.75 per cup. If you want the healthiest almond milk without extra fillers, then making it at home is an obvious option.
Of course, there's the initial cost of a nut milk maker to consider, but if you drink a cup or more of almond milk a day, even this premium machine will pay for itself in a year or less.
Nut milk cost comparison
| Type of nut milk | Price per cup (average) |
|---|---|
| Homemade (without filler) | US$0.38–0.83 |
| Typical store bought (with fillers) | $0.31 – $0.50 |
| Elmhurst (no filler) | $1.50 |
How much does Nama M1 cost?
Nama M1 is compact and pleasant to look at.
The Nama currently costs $359 on the brand's website and $379 on Amazon. While the Nama M1 and real nuts are certainly an investment, this unit is ideal for those who drink nut milk daily and can spend a couple of $5-$8 packs in one week.
As mentioned above, Nama's filler-free nut milk will pay for itself in about a year for a family consuming one or more cups per day.
Final verdict
For those who drink natural almond milk with no fillers, the Nama M1 is a solid investment.
Most people think that they don't have the time or patience to invest in making homemade nut milk, but this invention proves otherwise. Name M1 is simple, time efficient and produces a clean drink that isn't chock full of unpronounceable ingredients you often read on nutrition labels.
While the initial cost may seem unpleasant, it is a long-term expense that should pay for itself after several months of consistent use. And honestly, it's your health that makes it even more worth it.
