Burger King's Brief Switch to Oat Milk with Oatly's Baristamatic
Burger King Austria recently made headlines by becoming the first to introduce Oatly's new Baristamatic oat milk in all its locations, completely replacing cow's milk for several days. This oat milk is specifically designed for use in push-button coffee machines common in fast-food chains. The initiative aimed to improve dairy-free coffee options, particularly within automated systems.
The initial response to the Baristamatic oat milk was overwhelmingly positive, according to a spokesperson from Oatly. However, Burger King Austria soon decided to revert to offering both cow's milk and Oatly's oat drink to their customers. Although specific reasons for this decision were not provided, it was suggested that entirely removing dairy might have been too drastic a step at this time.
Oatly introduced this Baristamatic oat milk earlier in the year at Anuga 2025, emphasizing its improved performance in automated machines due to a slightly thinner texture than Oatly's other products. This feature was intended to maintain consistent output and avoid issues like sedimentation.
For Oatly, this collaboration with Burger King Austria is seen as a significant step towards promoting a plant-based and more sustainable food system. The company expressed satisfaction that a major fast-food chain is taking steps to offer plant-based alternatives, encouraging a lower-emission diet among consumers.
Burger King's actions align with its broader environmental goals. In the UK, for example, Burger King has committed to making half of its menu plant-based by 2030, aiming to reduce carbon emissions. Dairy farming is noted as a significant source of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, making such initiatives relevant to climate change goals.
Despite the reintroduction of cow's milk, Oatly sees this as progress in their mission to make plant-based options more mainstream. The introduction of the Baristamatic oat milk was not only a first for Oatly but also a notable industry shift in making dairy-free options more accessible.
