No dairy? No problem! ALTKO is a new alternative food product company that's taking Toronto cafes by storm with its almond milk base.
ALTKO's almond milk concentrate is an innovative alternative milk option, where you simply add water, blend and make your own 100 per cent almond milk.
Many Toronto coffee shops are already using ALTKO's almond milk concentrate in their beverages. Namely: Sam James Coffee Bar, MADO, Isle Of Coffee, Beatrice Society, Cafe Landwer, The Stockyards Grind, Liu Loqum, Morning Parade and Might & Main.
Those looking to try the product at home can indeed buy the jars individually. Jars of the concentrate are available for purchase at Hale Coffee at Bloor and Church, Isle Of Coffee, Cabbagetown Organics, Victoria Whole Foods, Barocco X Nino, The Big Carrot Danforth, Poured Coffee and Cafe Cocoro.
The concentrate lasts up to 18 months after opening, it makes seven litres of almond milk in total, and the milk lasts up to seven days in the refrigerator once it's made.
The minds behind the milk are founders and co-owners Arya Hamedani and Karl Kuus. Hamedani's background as a professional chef and business owner collide with Kuus's career as one of Canada’s top professional ski racers to bring their alternative approaches to life to ALTKO.
"We've been friends since childhood and this all came to fruition in September when we realized that there weren't really any "healthy" plant-based drinks out there," says Hamedani.
"So we partnered up and hit the ground running. We've been taking over coffee shops in Toronto bit by bit and are picking up steam fast."
According to Hamedani, ALTKO's almond milk concentrate is one of the healthiest on the market, with zero additives or preservatives.
"A base allows the product to be versatile, without the use of any oils, additives, fillers, or gums that are in every almond milk out there," he says.
"Not only that but we didn't like the idea of all this "milk" being transported all over the world, when most are actually 98% water. We also reduce coffee shops and consumers' carbon footprint by eliminating all cartons. For example, we saved 20,000 cartons from entering landfills in just the first few months of starting this company, and we're not stopping yet."
Hamedani says that an oat milk concentrate is coming out next.
