Best Milk Frothers
Are you a latte or cappuccino lover? Do you love the creamy foam at the top of those drinks? That form was created by a milk frother, and it is possible to create it at home.
In general, there are two types of milk frothers that are particularly popular – the stationary electric types, and the handheld battery-operated versions. Battery-operated frothers are more affordable, and they are great for people who are new to frothing. Electric stationary frothers, on the other hand, are considerably more expensive and have more options. Although electric frothers tend to provide high quality foam, the battery-operated version can also accomplish this, depending on which brand you buy.
In this article, we’ll look at two of the most popular electric brands and two of the most well-liked battery-operated devices.
Best overall: PowerLix Milk Frother
The affordable PowerLix Milk Frother has a powerful motor that makes delectable foam with lots of volume in just 15 seconds. It is a good choice if you are new to milk frothing. It can make a rich and sweet liquid foam, or a smooth microfoam. The froth is high quality and does not dissipate easily. However, you need to heat the milk separately first. You can also use it to make other drinks such as milkshakes or cocktails.
It is easy to use. Simply insert the whisk into your preheated (if it will be heated) beverage. Press the power button on the handle. Then move the wand of the whisk up and down in your drink. Turn off the device when you have reached your desired foam consistency.
This device has an ergonomic design and a sleek black exterior that will fit into any décor. It is lightweight at 5.6 oz., small, easily stored on your kitchen counter, and portable. It is made with stainless steel so it will not stain, tarnish, or rust. It will not break or bend when used. It has a slim, comfortable handle where the power button is located. Although this unit is small enough to store in a kitchen drawer, it is safer from scratches if stored on the cute metal stand which is included.
It is quiet and battery operated but you need to buy the batteries separately as they are not included with purchase.
The PowerLix milk frother is easy to clean. To do this, simply immerse the whisk end of the wand into a container of hot water and turn on the machine. Make sure not to submerge the top half of this device in water as it could cause damage.
One drawback of this device is it does not heat the milk for you. This needs to be done beforehand, and then you can use the frother to create your foam. Also, the wand is a bit shorter than with other brands.
Pros
- Affordable
- Lightweight and portable
- High quality foam
- Powerful motor
- Quick
Cons
- Batteries must be purchased separately
- Does not heat the milk for you
- Wand is a bit short
Best hand-held: Aerolatte Handheld Milk Frother
The Aerolatte Handheld Milk Frother was one of the first hand-held frothers to make it to market, and it remains one of the most reputable. Each year it has improved and had new features added. It is lightweight and inexpensive. It is well built and functions better than many other brands. It provides excellent value for the price.
The device is available in many different colors and designs, with a luxurious satin finish, and it has a variety of cute stands, cappuccino art stencils, and other decorative features to choose from.
Also, the manufacturers of this frother have perfected the diminutive motor to work at the ideal speed and rotation for milk foaming. It’s a very handy device to have in your home and makes your milk all frothy in about 20 seconds.
This frother works well with any kind of milk, fat-free to low fat, as well as soya, almond, or coconut milk at hot or cold temperatures. But you do need an espresso machine in order to use it. For hot froth, preheat the milk and then use the frother. Together, your frother and espresso machine can create cappuccinos and lattes to perfection.
The Aerolatte’s main parts are constructed of stainless steel, so they will not corrode, rust, or stain, and they are hard enough that they won’t bend. The whisk is one of the fastest on the market today, and it results in a supremely creamy product in a short amount of time. It has a hard plastic base and handle which will last a long time.
At only 3.5 oz., this device is very light, and so it is portable, and yet it is also very robust.
It is easy to clean by simply rinsing under a hot tap or wiping with hot soapy water. Do not submerge this device in water, though.
One drawback is it runs on two AA batteries, already installed upon arrival, but they need to be replaced every couple of weeks if you are using this device every day.
Pros
- Affordable
- Lightweight and portable
- Durable stainless steel parts
- Fast whisk
- Works well with all types of milk and non-dairy milk
Cons
- Batteries need frequent replacement
- Does not heat milk
Best premium brand: Breville BMF600XL Milk Cafe Milk Frother
The Breville BMF600XL Milk Cafe Milk Frother is a cream-of-the-crop, high end electric brand. This is for those who don’t mind dropping serious cash for super creamy milk foam. It will make your morning latte truly decadent. This machine is a great investment, and it comes very highly recommended by consumers and coffee magazines alike.
This brand offers a feature that many other milk frothers do not: the ability to customize the precise temperature, amount of foam, and type of foam desired. Using a circular dial, you can choose any temperature for your milk, ranging between cold and 160 degrees Fahrenheit. The foam is automatically created using a built in spinning magnetized disk, and the milk is warmed using induction heating. It makes enough milk foam for an entire family at one time.
It comes with a latte frothing disc and a cappuccino frothing disc, so you can customize the type of foam you want. The latte disc results in a creamy smooth milk and the cappuccino disc makes a creamy, thick froth. And they come with their own storage area on the machine so you won’t lose them.
Another nice feature is it can be used to make other drinks such as hot chocolate. Simply choose the foaming disc you prefer, heat the milk and add chocolate powder, set your desired temperature, and the machine will heat it and froth it into a rich chocolate masterpiece. Some people also find it handy for making cold frothy drinks.
The entire machine including all parts is made of durable stainless steel, so it will last a very long time. It’s gorgeous to look at and you will probably want to display it on your counter top. At 3.6 pounds, it is very sturdy.
The Breville device is easy to clean. You can separate it from its heating base and the parts can easily be taken apart, and everything is dishwasher safe. If you prefer to wash by hand, all parts are easy to clean that way too.
One drawback, depending on how you look at it, is the milk capacity. It requires quite a bit of milk, which can lead to waste if you don’t want to drink a lot at one time. Another issue is it creates a loud noise during use.
Pros
- Large capacity
- Durable, long lasting stainless steel construction
- Customize temperature, amount of foam, type of foam
- Can make other types of drinks such as hot chocolate
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Large capacity may lead to waste
- Noisy
- Expensive
Most versatile: Nespresso 4192-US Aeroccino 4 Milk Frother
The Nespresso 4192-US Aeroccino 4 Electric Milk Frother is expensive and targeted to a more advanced home coffee connoisseur. It is also very versatile. It produces a rich and decadent cream that makes it worth every penny. It has so many settings that you are bound to find the precise type of froth you’ve been looking for. This is a relatively new model that produces creamy thick foam for the perfect latte. This machine is incredibly easy to operate.
The machine includes a carafe, base, lid, seal, and a whisk. The whisk does it all – prepares hot milk, hot froth, or cold froth. The whisk is magnetized, and this holds it in place inside the carafe while it is working.
This device uses induction heating to heat milk for various drinks including lattes, although there is no temperature control, which you might find in other models. Still, it can make both hot and cold milk foam to your liking. You can set the desired foam density, depending on whether you prefer cappuccinos or lattes, and each setting has its own button. This is high quality foam. Users have described the latte foam from this device as velvety smooth, and the cappuccino foam as airy.
Many users agree the Aeroccino is the best milk frother on the market for use with non-dairy milk. With almond milk, for example, it makes a truly creamy foam. It froths and warms non-dairy milk perfectly.
While it is preparing your milk, a light on the machine blinks; it stays on once the drink is ready. After frothing your milk, it shuts off automatically (you can also shut it off at any time). The entire process takes about 80 seconds from start to finish if you are making hot or cold milk froth; it takes about 150 seconds to make hot milk. It can make a maximum of about 120 mL of milk froth or 240 mL of hot milk, which is approximately enough for two drinks. Thus, it might not be suitable for serving to a larger party.
The entire body of this frother is stainless steel, making it very durable and built to last. It is a bit odd looking, though, like a long can, and needs some improvement to its outer design. It doesn’t really match a modern kitchen décor. At just over 1 pound in weight, it can be transported easily, and it is rather small in diameter, so should fit onto your counter top or in your cabinet easily. It is also a very quiet machine when in use.
The design of this machine makes it a bit less easy to clean than other models but the parts (except the base) are dishwasher safe. Just make sure not to submerge the carafe or base in water. And don’t forget to wash the Aeroccino every time you use it, to keep it well sanitized.
Pros
- Very versatile with multiple settings for different kinds of froth
- Can make hot or cold milk froth
- Fast and efficient
- Small diameter, easy to store on counter top or in a cabinet
- Easy to clean, dishwasher safe
Cons
- Odd looking design
- Only makes 2 cups at a time
- Expensive
- Temperature is not adjustable
Quick frothing tips
Once you have bought your perfect milk frother, there are a few tips you can use to make sure it provides the best frothy goodness.
First of all, avoid over frothing your milk. Frothing creates those lovely little bubbles in your milk, and if you froth for too long, those bubbles will disappear. If you reach that point, you will not be able to get the bubbles back. So, once you see those bubbles appear and you see the foam building, stop frothing.
Secondly, follow the manufacturer’s instructions, especially as they pertain to quantity of milk. The manufacturer will specify a minimum and maximum quantity, and you should make sure to stick within that range. If you try to make more or less, you will not have an ideal froth, and you could damage the machine.
Last but not least, if you are using a hand-held frother, foam your milk in small batches. This way, the motor will not overheat and stop.
Photo credit: New Africa/Shutterstock