I can’t remember the exact reason why I started taking my daily coffee with almond milk. But I guess when you’re mainlining four Importers Coffee pods at home and then another two servings of actual Importers at Cafe du Cap – every day – you do start to consider the volumes.

Dairy milk isn’t necessarily bad for you, but it’s got higher calories and it’s weird that we are the only species on the planet that consumes milk into adulthood. It’s also weird and interesting and true that dairy was not consumed by humans until the agricultural revolution kicked off.

Be that as it may; for one reason or another, I switched to almond. But because we drink our Importers pods from a Nespresso machine at home, there is only one milk holder “reservoir” on the machine. My lover hasn’t switched to almond, so for now, I am drinking either espresso shots or cortados with cow milk at home, and then cortados with almond milk at Cafe du Cap.

It’s the best I can do for now. Also, I’ve been meditating every day, so, like, whatever.

Either way, my little situation did prompt some research on the cow milk versus almond milk conundrum. Sure, some might do the research before switching, but I went with intuition, and then dived into the research.

Right, here goes.

It seems three-quarters of the planet are lactose intolerant, and their bodies can’t break down the lactose found in milk. Back to what I was saying in the first paragraph. Although, interestingly, this majority figure is spread primarily in countries outside North America and Europe.

Almond milk has fewer calories, but lacks the range of nutrients and important bone-strengthening calcium contained in cow milk. But then some people believe cow milk can lower obesity and type 2 diabetes, and others believe it can raise the chances of heart disease. It’s a minefield, to be quite honest.

Although there was one interesting fact I did come across during this particular rabbit hole, and something far more sinister than most Cape Town hipsters would be comfortable with. Especially given what we have been through, as a collective, following the #DayZero chapter of our lives.

I’m talking, of course, about the significant impact almond milk production has on the environment. I mean, were you even aware that it takes 384 litres of water to make one litre of almond milk?

I know! It’s a mockery!

Not that cow milk devotees should be looking down their noses. With cow milk taking 1 016 litres of water to make one litre of milk, things are far from ideal.

I think I might drop milk entirely and just smash espressos like the Italians. Espresso shots of Importers Coffee, all day.

Or the Americano? Hmm… I don’t know if I can order that with a straight face.

[sources:popsugar&healthline&tomp]