Comparison
Pistachio Milk vs Coconut Milk: Taste, Fat & Nutrition
Nutty and unsaturated, or tropical and rich? How carton pistachio and coconut milk compare, and why the fat type matters.
Quick answer
Pistachio milk is nuttier, higher in protein (about 2 g vs near 0 g per cup) and richer in unsaturated fat, while carton coconut milk is lower in calories but higher in saturated fat. Pistachio suits coffee and everyday drinking; coconut adds a tropical note to cooking and curries. Note this is the carton coconut beverage, not thick canned coconut milk.
The short answer: pistachio milk is nuttier, slightly higher in protein and rich in unsaturated fat; carton coconut milk is a little lower in calories but higher in saturated fat. They taste worlds apart and suit different jobs. One important note up front. This compares pistachio milk with the carton coconut beverage, not the thick canned coconut milk used for curries, which is a completely different product.
Carton vs can: get this right first
Coconut "milk" comes in two forms that get confused constantly. The carton/refrigerated beverage is diluted for drinking, around 40 calories a cup. Canned coconut milk is thick and rich, 400-plus calories a cup, made for cooking. Comparing pistachio milk to canned coconut would be unfair, so everything below is versus the carton drink.
Nutrition side by side
| Per 1 cup (240 ml), unsweetened | Pistachio milk | Coconut milk (carton) |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | ~50-60 kcal | ~40 kcal |
| Protein | ~2 g | ~0 g |
| Fat | ~4-4.5 g (mostly unsaturated) | ~4 g (mostly saturated, ~3.5 g) |
| Carbohydrate | ~2.5-3 g | ~1-2 g |
| Sugar | ~0-1 g | ~0 g |
| Taste | Nutty, pale green | Tropical, coconut |
| Allergen | Tree nut (pistachio) | Coconut* |
Approximate values for unsweetened carton versions; they vary by brand. Check current labels. Coconut figures are from a Silk Unsweet Coconutmilk label. *Coconut is classed as a tree nut by US labeling, though most tree-nut-allergic people tolerate it; check with your allergist.
The fat difference that matters
Both milks have similar total fat, but the type differs. Pistachio milk's fat is mostly unsaturated, the kind associated with heart health in the wider nut research summarized by the Harvard Nutrition Source. Carton coconut milk's fat is mostly saturated. That doesn't make coconut milk "bad," especially in the small amounts you'd use, but it's the main nutritional reason many people choose pistachio for everyday drinking. Pistachio also brings a little protein where coconut has essentially none.
Taste and use
Coconut milk has an unmistakable tropical flavor that's wonderful in curries, smoothies and tropical bakes, and divisive in coffee. Pistachio milk is nuttier and more neutral-sweet, which makes it a more flexible everyday milk, good in coffee, on cereal, and across the kitchen (see pistachio milk uses). For frothing, coconut foams reasonably and pistachio makes a softer foam unless it's a barista formula.
Which should you choose?
Choose coconut when you want its tropical flavor, especially in cooking, and don't mind the saturated fat. Choose pistachio for an everyday milk with unsaturated fat, a little protein and a gentler, nuttier taste. Also see pistachio milk vs almond, vs oat and the comparisons hub.