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Are you a coffee lover who craves the perfect cappuccino or latte in the comfort of your own home? Those double-digit lattés and cappuccinos cost a small fortune at high-street cafes.
But what if we told you that we could potentially save you a big chunk of change by frothing milk at home?
Yes, it’s possible. What you need is a milk frother! These handy devices are designed to create rich, velvety foam that elevates your home coffee experience to the next level.
But, with so many milk frothers on the market, it can be overwhelming trying to choose the best one for your needs.
But fear not, we’ve done the research and found the best milk frothers that won’t break the bank. From handheld frothers to electric frothers, we’ve got you covered.
Our Top Pick: Best Value
Whether you’re a coffee novice or a seasoned barista, these milk frothers are perfect for anyone who wants to make cafe-quality drinks at home.
Is It Worth Buying A Milk Frother?
Ask yourself. Do you enjoy lattes, cappuccinos, or flat whites? If you answered yes to any of these milky coffee drinks, you’d get a lot of use out of a milk frother.
One of the main benefits of a milk frother is its convenience. With just a push of a button, you can froth milk in a matter of seconds; without having to whisk it manually.
This is going to save you loads of time and effort, especially if you’re a busy person.
Another benefit is the versatility it offers. You can use it to create a variety of frothed milk-based beverages, such as lattes, cappuccinos, and macchiatos.
You can also use it to froth non-dairy milk alternatives like soy, almond, or oat milk.
Lastly, a milk frother can create a coffee shop-like experience in the comfort of your own home and can make you feel like a barista in your kitchen.
Additionally, it can save you money in the long run by allowing you to make your favorite frothed milk-based beverages at home rather than having to stand in line at a coffee shop for an overpriced drink.
Overall, a milk frother is a worthwhile investment for those who enjoy frothy beverages and want to elevate their at-home coffee experience.
7 Best Milk Frothers For Lattes & Cappuccinos
If you’ve landed on this page, we’re guessing you’re looking for a good quality milk frother to make great-tasting cappuccinos and lattés at home.
Well, you’re in luck. We have tried and tested dozens of popular milk frothers, from some of Amazon’s best sellers to popular frothers found in high-street stores.
We put each of them through various tests, narrowed down our list, and picked out seven of the best that can easily create hot and cold fluffy, velvety milk.
Nestle Nespresso Aeroccino3 Milk Frother – Best Overall
Our first recommendation is the Nestle Nespresso Aeroccino3. This is one of the more popular milk frothers in the market, and after testing, we understand why.
Using this Aeroccino3 is super-easy, and with one touch of a button, you can prepare both hot and cold milk.
Here’s how it works: press the button once for all standard milk preparations, or hold the button for two seconds to froth cold milk.
Once you turn on the device, the unit heats up really fast and is ready to be put to work effortlessly, heating your milk to 160- and 170 degrees Fahrenheit (roughly 71 – 77 Celsius).
We all agreed that the milk foam produced by the Aeroccino3 was the perfect consistency for latte art.
The Nespresso Aeroccino3 is easy to clean thanks to the non-stick surface, and an intelligent auto shut-off feature ensures it’s not left on accidentally.
The price might be off-putting for some, but if you drink a lot of milk-based coffee drinks at home, the price is pretty reasonable.
And coming from a well-known, established brand such as Nespresso, you know you’re getting a quality product.
What We Love
- Easy to operate with just one button.
- It uses electricity to function (no batteries)
- Small compact size for easy storage.
Take Note
- It only comes with one type of frothing whisk.
- The heating and spinning cycle could be longer to produce a thicker foam.
Powerlix Milk Pro Handheld – Best Manual Milk Frother
Are you shopping around for a cheap budget-friendly milk frother? Look no further than the Powerlix Milk Pro.
Although small in size (slightly larger than a Sharpie), the Powerlix doesn’t disappoint with a speed of 19,000 RPM; it can effortlessly churn out a batch of frothed milk in under 20 seconds.
There’s definitely a lot of power in this little handheld frother!
We found that moving the whisk around the milk rather than holding the whisk in one place produced the best results. This not only produced better quality milk froth but also sped up the time it took.
The Powerlix Milk Pro comes with a compact stand, which makes storing the whisk easy. Just quickly rinse it with warm water and hang it on the stand.
There are no long power cords to get tangled, and you don’t need a free wall socket because the Powerlix is powered by two AA batteries.
The Powerlix Milk Pro is worth the modest asking price if you are in a hurry for a frothy, milky morning coffee. One of the best manual milk frothers we tried.
What We Love
- Best in its class when it comes to power, and you can froth milk in as little as 15-20 seconds.
- The Powerlix Milk Pro comes with a lifetime warranty.
- The incorporated stand allows you to keep your device handy at all times.
- Very lightweight and features an ergonomically designed soft-touch handle.
Take Note
- Due to the speed of the rotating whisk, it can make a mess if you don’t fully submerge it in the milk.
- It drains batteries more quickly compared to others due to the powerful motor.
Breville Milk Cafe Milk Frother – Feature Rich
Suppose you have a slightly larger budget and want the best milk frother money that comes with excellent functionality. We recommend checking out the Breville Milk Cafe.
Although this is one of the more expensive devices on our list, you are getting a lot for your money.
The Breville functions in a similar way to the Nespresso Aeroccino3. It utilizes two whisking discs that can be swapped out depending on the type of milk to foam.
For example, one disc creates a dense microfoam with tiny bubbles that hold for a long time – perfect for creamy lattes. The other disc heats and warms milk and produces tiny bubbles with minimal aeration – this disk is ideal for steamed milk. It’s worth noting that both will circulate the milk to keep it from scalding as it heats.
These discs fix to the bottom of the jug and rotate; this consent circulation of the milk helps prevent scalding as it heats up. The unit also has a place to store the discs when not in use.
A nice feature of the Breville is the auto-turn-off once your milk has reached the appropriate temperature.
The Breville Milk Café Milk Frother also uses induction heat to warm the milk. Only the milk inside becomes hot, not the metal jug holding the liquid.
This Breville can froth your milk to a wide range of temperatures. Do you prefer cold, hot milk, or any temperature in between? Whatever your milk preference, we’re sure the Breville can accommodate.
If you’re an almond or coconut milk fan, the Breville can also froth that!
We found that the Breville Milk Cafe Milk Frother ticked all the boxes and produced some of the best quality milk froth in our tests among the various countertop frothers.
What We Love
- Heat up the milk effortlessly in a wide range of temperatures.
- Supplied separate frothing discs allow you to make smooth milky foam or a thinker bubblier froth.
- The device uses induction technology for quick heating.
- The milk jug is non-stick and easy to clean.
Take Note
- It’s not cheap by any means.
- It makes a lot of foam, so not suitable for a solo cup of coffee (wastage).
Bodum Latteo Milk Frother – Budget Friendly
The Bodum Latteo looks like a regular French Press but looks can be deceiving. The Latteo froths your milk by using a manual pumping action.
We were surprised to discover that we could produce some impressive milky foam by repeatedly pumping the filter up and down.
Using the Latteo manual milk frother couldn’t be any easier. Simply fill the glass carafe with cold milk all the way up to the visible black fill line.
Next, place the lid and plunger firmly in place, and then pull and push the plunger until you have your desired amount of milk foam. To serve, remove the cover, gently spoon the milk foam from the beaker, and add it to your coffee.
If you’re looking for an elegant device to add spoonfuls of fluffy, aerated, milk-foamy goodness to your morning coffee, the Bodum Latteo works well.
However, during our tests, we did find that the Bodum Latteo produced larger bubbles which only held form for a short time.
As much as we tried, we couldn’t make tiny microfoam bubbles.
For the price, it does what it’s designed to do. But we found the plunger method a little too cumbersome and preferred the Powerlix Milk Pro, which also comes in at around the same price.
What We Love
- Very affordable and produces a large amount of foam from little milk.
- Extremely easy to operate; if you can use a French Press, you can use this.
- Quick results for bubbly frothy milk in only 10-20 seconds.
Take Note
- This device is manually operated, so you must do all the work.
- Be careful cleaning the glass beaker as it will easily break in the dishwasher.
Huogary Milk Frother – Electric Milk Steamer & Milk Foam Maker
Another completely hands-off milk-foaming device is the Huogary. This device comes with easy-to-use functions for quick milk frothing action.
It only takes a simple button press, and within 1 to 2 minutes, the Huogary automatically heats up to 140 °F (60 °C).
Once ready, the Huogary produces a smooth, bubbly milk foam. The design of the non-stick milk frother enables you to pour your microfoam directly into your coffee.
Just a heads up: the best milk temperature for a cappuccino or a latté is anywhere between 130℉ and 149℉ – so the Huogary is definitely in the ballpark range for these coffee beverages!
The three core options are cold-frothed milk (perfect for iced coffees) and hot foam for adding to classic espresso-based drinks such as cappuccinos, mochas, espresso macchiato, etc.
And finally, you have a hot milk option that lets you create some good-tasting hot chocolate!
The Huogary functions in a very similar way to the Nestle Nespresso Aeroccino3 but with a lower cost.
What We Love
- Easy to use with clear indicators for both hot and cold milk preparation.
- Large milk holding capacity (up to 130 ml for frothing and 300 ml for heating milk).
- The unit has two whisks to create dense foam or heat milk.
- Automatically turns off when the milk reaches 140℉.
Take Note
- We found that the hot setting often struggled to hold high temperatures.
Bonsenkitchen Electric Milk Whisk Frother
This is the cheapest option we tested for frothing your milk at home. The Bonsenkitchen electric milk whisk is easy to use and operates with 2 AA batteries.
Like the Powerlix Milk Pro, you must do most of the work to get your milk where it needs to be – it’s not a push-button and-forget device.
The lack of a stand sets this apart from the Powerlix Milk Pro, and the slightly lower price reflects that.
Due to the small compact size, there is also a high possibility that this whisk could become lost or buried in your kitchen cutlery drawer.
The holder is a nice feature to have, and it’s a shame the Bonsenkitchen has yet to include one.
But even though it lacks a stand, the Bonsenkitchen Electric Milk Whisk still performed well in our tests and is on par with the Powerlix Milk Pro in terms of results produced.
With a press of a switch, the Bonsenkitchen comes to life, and within a few minutes, you are greeted with thick milk foam. We found that 30 to 45 seconds was the sweet spot for the microfoam.
The motor on the Bonsenkitchen is also very quiet, so you won’t disturb the late risers if you are the first one awake in your household.
If you’re looking for a cheap, portable device for milk frothing at home or even on the move while traveling, the Bonsenkitchen is a clear winner for both price and portability.
What We Love
- Cheapest of the devices we tested.
- Small compact size can easily be thrown into your traveling luggage.
- Great for mixing protein shakes or beating eggs!
Take Note
- Less powerful compared to others.
Keurig Standalone Frother
The last device that ticked all the boxes, passed our tests, and made our milk frother roundup is the Keurig Standalone Frother.
The Keurig functions very much like the Nestle Nespresso Aeroccino3, and at first glance, you could be tricked into thinking they are one and the same.
Our testing showed that Keurig produced creamy, frothy milk with little to no effort. Operating the Keurig is as easy as pressing one of two buttons on the device’s side.
One button is for cold froth milk for creamy and refreshing iced coffees. The second button heats and froths your milk for rich lattes and cappuccinos.
We were impressed by its compact size, which makes it perfect for small kitchens or offices. It’s also effortless to clean, with a non-stick interior as well as dishwasher-safe parts.
We also noticed that the Keurig milk frother was noticeably quiet. Unlike some of the other frothers we tested, the Keurig Standalone Frother doesn’t make much noise while in use, which is great if you’re trying to be mindful of noise levels in a shared space.
Overall, we highly recommend the Keurig Standalone Frother for anyone who wants to elevate their coffee or tea game with frothy, creamy milk.
Its ease of use, versatility, and quiet operation make it a great addition to any home or office kitchen.
What We Love
- Simple operation and quick frothing ability.
- It can foam with whole milk and non-dairy products, including soy, almond, and oat.
- Non-stick coated interior and removable whisk for easy clean up.
Take Note
- Our testing showed that it struggled to froth half and half milk.
How We Tested Each Milk Frother
The team at Bean Ground compiled a list of the most popular milk-frothing tools and devices, and over the span of two weeks, we put them through their paces – we literally tested dozens.
We put each frother through some basic tests, such as their ability to create a consistent microfoam for a latte and the overall quality of the foam produced.
We also evaluated each device using various kinds of milk, such as skimmed, whole, and even non-dairy milk, like oat milk and soy.
We really wanted to see how each of these frothers could handle a variety. We tasted the foam produced with each milk type and noted how firm and quickly it dissolved.
In addition, we tested each machine’s versatility with hot chocolate and assessed how easy they were to clean.
We then scored each milk frother from 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest, on usability, performance, and overall design.
We then narrowed down our extensive list and honed in on the top performers in each category.
How To Choose The Best Frother For Milk?
Choosing which type of milk frother to buy can be challenging. Do you want a whisk type, a manual pump variation, or a fully automatic push-button type? Will you be frothing cold or hot milk?
These are some of the questions you will likely ask yourself when purchasing your first frother.
Let’s see if we can help answer some of your common questions.
Do You Want A Pump, Whisk, Or Fully Automatic?
The simplest way to froth milk at home is by using a hands-on pump-action device resembling a French Press. Add your milk and pump the plunger up and down inside a tall cylindrical beaker.
If you enjoy an early morning workout, pumping on this device is guaranteed to get your heart rate elevated and the blood pumping, so it does require a little bit of effort on your part.
The second option is a semi-automatic battery-operated whisk type that does most of the work for you.
Once you turn it on, all that’s needed is to move the handheld milk frother up and down slowly.
A fully automatic electric milk frother is the best option if you prefer a hands-off approach. This type is definitely the easiest to use.
Just add your milk, close the lid, and press a button, and you’re all set! In roughly 1 or 2 minutes, your silky-smooth frothed milk is ready to add to your coffee.
Frothing Hot Milk Or Cold Milk?
Before we get ahead of ourselves, it’s worth mentioning that frothing and steaming milk are two completely different things and shouldn’t be confused with one another.
Typically, the only way you can produce authentic hot steamed milk is by using the steam wand built into many of the best espresso machines.
If you opt to use a whisk, pump-action, or automatic push-button frother, you will have to heat your milk separately, and these devices will only foam your milk, not steam it.
However, there are some exceptions to the rule, such as the Breville Milk Cafe and the Nespresso Aeroccino3 being two of the best performers in our testing. Many of the best automatic milk frothers will also allow you to heat your milk, but they are costly.
Sure, it’s nice to have it all done in one step, and if you’re happy to splurge a little more, it will save you a ton of time.
Milk Froth-Speed
Do you find that you always need more time in the morning, and trying to fit in a few spare minutes to froth some milk seems like an impossible notion?
If speed is a deciding factor on which device you will purchase, we recommend a manual pump action type.
You can have your frothy, textured milk ready in as little as 30 seconds, albeit with a bit of manual elbow grease.
Not a fan of breaking out in a sweat first thing in the morning? A battery-powered whisk type is a great alternative.
The semi-automatic battery-operated whisk type comes in a close second. It typically takes up to 90 seconds to froth up some milk.
But remember, you will have to allow some additional time to heat your milk beforehand with both types.
Or you could invest in a fully automatic electric milk frother that will take all the guesswork out of frothing your milk.
This type will heat and froth the milk in under 90 seconds. The great thing is that you can push a button and then step aside to do other things like brewing your coffee or getting the kids ready for school and return to hot, frothed milk.
Frothing Milk In The Microwave!
If you can’t wait for your new milk frother to arrive and need frothy milk right now, use the microwave. Using the microwave can produce some surprising results if you’re in a pinch.
Here is a quick and straightforward recipe to froth milk for cappuccinos in the microwave. It’s super-easy – trust us!
You only need milk, a clean mason jar with a lid, and a microwave.
Making a frothy batch of milk in the microwave is only a 2-step process.
All that’s needed is some 2%, or nonfat milk poured into your jar. Shake your sealed jar vigorously with the milk inside so that it starts to bubble and foam up.
Once you’ve given it a good shake, place the jar directly into the microwave, push a button or two, and blast away for a few seconds on high.
Using the microwave helps to stabilize the foam. The foam will naturally disperse and collapse if you don’t use a microwave.
See, we told you it was simple!
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FAQs
Since the creation of the Bean Ground coffee blog in 2014, Mark and a small circle of coffee hobbyists have rigorously tested, reviewed, and researched coffee gear. In most cases, they have purchased the items themselves with the sole intention of rating and evaluating.
In that time, they have built up a list of quality points to look for and what makes specific equipment better than others. They cut through the noise and marketing hype that often surrounds products to give you their unbiased opinions so you can make clear decisions on your next purchase.
