Coffee Mate Vs International Delight – What’s The Difference?

When it comes to starting your day, many people turn to a delicious cup of coffee to boost their energy and satisfy their taste buds.

One super popular way to whiten and sweeten your coffee is with a coffee creamer like International Delight or Coffee Mate.

These two coffee creamers are pretty similar in that they are both lactose-free, come in many flavors, and can take your coffee from drab to fab with just a couple of splashes.

But are there any differences? How do you choose the one that’s right for you?

So, what’s the difference between Coffee Mate and International Delight? The main difference between them is that International Delight uses palm oil instead of soy oil like Coffee Mate. It also doesn’t come in powdered forms. International Delight sells iced coffees and individual creamers, whereas Coffee Mate does not.

Read on to discover more about the differences between these two popular coffee creamers/flavorings, what they taste like, how many flavors they come in, what ingredients they use, and more!

What Is Coffee Mate?

Coffee Mate is what’s known as a coffee whitener, which means it functions like milk or cream in a coffee, but with a few differences. It is produced by Nestlé, though it was introduced by Carnation in 1961.

You can get Coffee Mate as a liquid, a powder, or a concentrated liquid, and they are all lactose-free, which makes them a great choice for people who have lactose intolerance, but who still want a delicious way to whiten their coffee.

What Is Coffee Mate Made Out Of?

Since Coffee Mate isn’t technically a dairy product, but still whitens in a similar way to cream or milk, you might be wondering what it is made from. Most Coffee Mate products include the following ingredients:

• Corn Syrup Solids/Sugar
• Vegetable Oil (usually soy)
• Sodium Caseinate (a milk product derivative)
• Corn Maltodextrin
• Dipotassium Phosphate
• Flavour And Artificial Flavour
• Mono And Diglycerides
• DATEM
• Salt
• Carrageenan (an emulsifier)
• Sodium Aluminosilicate
• Sucralose
• Acesulfame-Potassium

The types of flavorings used in the Coffee Mate creamers depend on which flavor you’ve purchased, but in general, each one will contain these ingredients in some combination.

What Flavors Does Coffee Mate Come In?

One of the great things about coffee creamers like Coffee Mate is how many flavors they come in. It’s a quick and easy way to create a fancy and delicious variation on your regular morning cup of joe.

Below we’ll break down the different flavors of Coffee Mate based on whether they are liquid or powders.

These are the flavors that are sold pretty much year-round, though they may sell seasonal or specialty flavors in the fall or around the holidays.

Liquid Coffee Mate Flavors

• Coffee Mate Original flavor
• Coffee Mate After Eight (mint chocolate) flavor
• Coffee Mate Turtles flavor
• Coffee Mate Coffee Crisp flavor
• Coffee Mate Double Double flavor
• Coffee Mate French Vanilla flavor
• Coffee Mate Caramel Vanilla flavor
• Coffee Mate Caramel Macchiato flavor
• Coffee Mate Hazelnut flavor
• Coffee Mate Low Fat French Vanilla
• Coffee Mate Less Sugar French Vanilla

Powdered Coffee Mate Flavors

• Coffee Mate Original Powder
• Coffee Mate Less Fat Original Powder
• Coffee Mate French Vanilla Powder
• Coffee Mate Hazelnut Powder

What Does Coffee Mate Taste Like?

When it comes to the flavor of Coffee Mate it really depends on which one you choose since that is the taste that is going to shine through once it is added to your coffee.

If you purchase the plain Coffee Mate, it will have a mild taste that is similar to milk or half and half.

In general, the liquid Coffee Mate will be easier to stir into your coffee than the powdered version, though both dissolve pretty easily into liquids. The liquid version may taste a little smoother and little creamier as well.

Coffee Mate will add a smooth and creamy richness to your coffee without the lactose found in milk or cream.

What Is International Delight?

Like Coffee Mate, International Delight is a lactose-free coffee creamer that comes in liquid form. It is sold by Danone, a French company, but was created in 1987 by WhiteWave foods in the United States.

This creamer is quite similar to Coffee Mate, though there is one key difference in ingredients.

Instead of using soy oil, International Delight uses palm oil in their product. They also have salt on their ingredient list, which you don’t see in Coffee Mate.

Some folks believe these differences give International Delight a slightly more bitter and savory than Coffee Mate.

Coffee Mate is generally sweet, creamy, and delicious in flavor thanks to the sugars, flavorings, and sweeteners it contains.

What Is International Delight Made Out Of?

Like Coffee Mate, International Delight isn’t technically a dairy product, but it still works in a similar way to cream or milk.

A lot of the ingredients in the two products are similar, with one major difference: International Delight uses palm oil instead of soy oil like Coffee Mate.

Most International Delight products include the following ingredients:

• Water
• Sugar
• Palm Oil
• Sodium Caseinate (a milk product derivative)
• Dipotassium Phosphate
• Natural Flavor And Artificial Flavor
• Mono And Diglycerides
• Carrageenan (an emulsifier)
• Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate
• Salt

The types of flavorings used in International Delight creamers depend on the flavor you purchase, but generally, they will contain these ingredients in some combination.

What Flavors Does International Delight Come In?

Unlike Coffee Mate, International Delight doesn’t seem to sell any powdered creamers. However, they do sell many liquid flavors, creamer singles, and iced coffees! Below we’ll break down the flavors by category for you:

Liquid International Delight Flavors

• French Vanilla
• Hazelnut
• Southern Butter Pecan
• Caramel Macchiato
• Irish Creme
• White Chocolate Raspberry
• Amaretto
• White Chocolate Mocha
• HERSHEY’S Caramel Chocolate
• Almond Joy
• Cinnabon
• Cold Stone Creamy Sweet Cream
• Vanilla Cannoli Creme Latte
• Willy Wonka Whipple Scrumptious Fudgey Caramel
• Twinkies
• Zero Sugar French Vanilla
• Zero Sugar Caramel Macchiato
• Zero Sugar Hazelnut
• Zero Sugar White Chocolate Mocha
• Zero Sugar Willy Wonka Whipple Scrumptious Fudgey Caramel

International Delight Creamer Single Flavors

• French Vanilla
• Hazelnut
• Caramel Macchiato
• Cold Stone Creamery Sweet Cream
• Sugar-Free French Vanilla

International Delight Iced Coffee Flavors

• Mocha
• Caramel Macchiato
• Vanilla
• Reese’s
• HERSHEY’S Chocolate Caramel
• Mocha Light
• Caramel Macchiato Light
• Oreo

What Does International Delight Taste Like?

When it comes to the flavor of International Delight that is going to depend on which one you choose since that is the taste that is going to shine through once it is added to your coffee.

With so many flavors to choose from, you’re certain to find one you enjoy!

With that being said, International Delight is typically sweeter than a regular milk or cream product since it contains sugars, flavorings, and other sweeteners.

Generally speaking, some people feel like International Delight isn’t quite as sweet as Coffee Mate, though whether that’s a positive or a negative really comes down to personal preference.

Like Coffee Mate it is smooth and creamy and a great way to whiten your coffee without lactose.

What Are The Nutritional Difference Between International Delight And Coffee Mate?

Both creamers typically contain 35 calories per tablespoon regardless of the flavor.

Low or no-sugar versions will contain fewer calories as will less fat versions since both fat and sugar contain calories and the fewer there are per serving, the lower the total calorie count.

Are International Delight And Coffee Made Gluten Free?

Yes, both International Delight and Coffee Mate are gluten-free, but always read your label in case ingredients change over time.

If there are specialty flavors that are released, then you will want to check to make sure there aren’t any gluten-containing ingredients in it before trying it out.

Is International Delight Kosher?

Yes, International Delight is considered kosher and has the OU-D label included. That means it has been supervised by a rabbi and meets the criteria for a kosher dairy product.

Does Coffee Mate Own International Delight?

Even though these coffee creamers are so similar they are in fact owned by different companies.

Coffee Mate is owned and distributed by Nestle, while International Delight is owned and distributed by Danone.

Do Coffee Creamers Taste Like Milk And Cream?

Coffee creamers like International Delight and Coffee Mate are generally much sweeter than plain milk or cream since they contain natural and artificial sweeteners and flavorings that can make them taste sweeter.

Milk and cream tend to have a mild, neutral flavor, while coffee creamers can range from mild and sweet to over the top flavorful depending on the flavor and type that you buy.

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