One common myth is that if it separates, it's bad, but in fact "any almond milk will separate naturally," says Carolyn. "Stabilizers and emulsifiers will make shelf stable ones separate more slowly, but regardless, it is natural, normal, and not a sign of it going bad. Just shake the milk before using," she says.

Is it safe to drink curdled almond milk?

Oh and if you find that your milk has separated (a common occurrence with the fresh stuff), that doesn't mean it's gone bad — just shake it up and it will be good to sip. If it's still chunky after shaking, then it's time to toss it.

Why does almond milk separate?

The protein in the almond milk coagulate when they come into contact with the acid of the coffee. This chemical reaction happens so obviously (i.e. the splitting of your milk) because of the big temperature difference in hot coffee and cold almond milk. Most non-dairy or plant-based milks curdle in the same way.