We're delighted to welcome Watershed in Bristol as the eleventh café to join our Udderly Kind campaign, making oat milk the default for every customer as part of a trial period. Watershed joins The Canteen and Biblos, making Bristol one of the strongest cities in the campaign, and adds to a growing list of independent businesses showing that the switch is simple, popular and good for businesses and customers alike.

We caught up with the team at Watershed on their launch day, and they told us:

"Here at Watershed we're always looking for ways to be more sustainable. We're very conscious of our carbon footprint, and making this switch is going to be really helpful towards that, because dairy milk generates way more greenhouse gases than oat does. So I feel like this is a really good change. Also, we all care about animals and the environment here, me especially, and the dairy industry is one of the most exploitative businesses. It's nice to make this change for the animals as well."

International Coffee Day

Watershed began their trial on Monday 28 September, which means that on International Coffee Day (1 October) and beyond, every customer ordering a milky coffee will be served oat as standard. International Coffee Day is a moment when people around the world stop to think about what goes into their cup, and it is the perfect day to show what a kinder default looks like in practice.

Defaults matter because many of us simply accept whatever is offered first. By making oat the starting point rather than the alternative, Watershed takes away the extra question at the till and the sense that plant-based milk is a special request. It is a small change behind the counter that could shape thousands of coffee choices over the course of the trial.

Oat is the New Normal

Making oat milk the default is one of the simplest changes a café can make, and it's one customers are already ready for. YouGov polling commissioned by Animal Justice Project found that almost a third of UK consumers would happily accept oat as the default, rising to 44% among Gen Z. Around 70% of the world's population is lactose intolerant, making oat a more inclusive option too.

The change also makes practical sense behind the counter. Oat milk lasts longer once opened, can be stored ambient before opening and doesn't curdle as easily, so cafés waste less and save more. Most customers will simply notice a great cup of coffee, but each one also carries a lower environmental footprint and reduces reliance on the dairy industry.

Let's Make the UK Udderly Kind!

Our Udderly Kind campaign has made great progress over the past few months, and we're excited to keep the momentum building by securing more trials. Don't forget, you can help us do so by giving cafés a nudge too.

Want your café to be part of the next round, or know one that should be? Get in touch, we'd love to hear from you.

As always,
For the Animals!

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