Is Oat Milk Vanilla Cold Brew Gluten Free?

The Ingredient Breakdown

As a food scientist, I always look at the source of ingredients rather than just the name. When we analyze the label for Oat Milk Vanilla Cold Brew, the primary suspect for gluten content is, unsurprisingly, the organic oats. Oats are naturally gluten-free, but they are almost always processed in facilities that also handle wheat. This leads to cross-contamination unless the oats are specifically certified and tested for gluten levels below 20ppm.

Looking at the rest of the list, the organic coffee and water are safe. The organic sunflower oil is a standard fat source that is naturally free of gluten. The organic natural flavors and organic vanilla extract are generally safe in beverage applications, though flavor carriers can sometimes be tricky (not in this certified organic context). The stabilizers, sea salt and potassium carbonate, are mineral-based and pose no gluten risk.

The verdict rests entirely on the oat processing. If the brand uses dedicated gluten-free oat lines, it would be labeled as such. Since it is not, the organic oats remain the only flag.

Nutritional Value

From a nutritional standpoint, this beverage is relatively balanced for a ready-to-drink coffee product. The inclusion of organic sunflower oil adds a small amount of fat, which helps with satiety but also increases the calorie count compared to black coffee. You can expect roughly 100-120 calories per serving depending on the specific volume, which is standard for a dairy-alternative latte.

The sugar content is the next point of interest. With organic natural flavors and vanilla extract, there is likely a small amount of added sugar to balance the bitterness of the coffee, though the brand likely keeps this minimal to appeal to health-conscious consumers. It fits well within a standard diet, but if you are strictly counting carbohydrates or following a keto diet, the oat base (which breaks down into starch) might be a factor to consider alongside the sugar.