The Best Milk Frothers and delicious hot drinks have a strong bond together, giving us frothy, creamy, irresistible drinks that we love. Frothing milk is not easy, if you are trying out methods like free falling milk in a pot or using a spoon to create a foamy texture.
A milk frother can help you bring the taste, the texture, and the appearance of a delicious, hot drink within minutes and with the least effort. It’s a simple, easy-to-use machine that comes in various shapes and types with various features. Its basic function is to froth the milk, using the brisk movement of a spinning channel that is located in the center and moves to aerate the milk, introducing small bubbles in a consistent way so that the milk gets a smooth and soft texture and gives a consistent froth throughout the container.
Why do you need a milk frother?
So, if you love coffee and other hot drinks of the same drink family, then you can easily explain what it is like to drink the best coffee ever, right? Hot drinks, whether we talk about a hot cup of coffee, latte, or cappuccino, there are a few ingredients that are a must in these drinks, and make them so special and irresistible.
If you could figure out those special things, the best and the most special part is the creamy texture and the smooth foamy feel of the milk that you use as the topping content of your drink. Though it’s not like you put a frothed cup of milk and stir the coffee into it, but it needs to be done to perfection.
Just imagine if you are going to a coffee shop to have a cup of coffee and are assuming that you will be presented with a great cup of your favorite drink. When you get your drink, which is supposed to be a great tasting coffee, if it came with plain milk, looking like a milk chocolate drink or coffee milk only, what would your reaction be? Will you drink or ask the serving person if it’s a coffee or not? Certainly, you’d ask where that creamy, foamy smooth texture is that has to be there if you claim to provide an excellent hot coffee drink.
And what is it that’s missing?Of course, the perfect frothy milk on the top of it. You can make perfectly frothed milk at your home with the help of top rated milk frothers. In addition to preparing great tasting coffee topping, there are many reasons for which you will love to have a milk frother with you in your kitchen, which are:
- To prepare hot chocolate drinks with frothed milk
- To get perfect glossy finish in your latte
- To introduce a sweetened taste and a creamy texture in hot milk
- For giving a homogenized frothed texture to the milk, which can be used as a hot drink topping
Its not a magic thing that is only available for shop owners or professionals, rather it can easily be used by anyone.
Types of milk frothers
Milk frothers come in different sizes and with various features and capabilities. On the basis of these features, we can easily categorize them into following basic types:
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Handheld milk frothers
Handheld milk frothers are the simplest and lightest weight standalone frothers that are also called milk frothing wands. This is because such a frother is shaped like a slender, long stick with a wide base and a pointed front end with the head that froths milk via quick spinning of the head. These are battery operated and can be used to froth milk quickly. There is no steaming feature in such milk frothing wands. These are better when you only have to prepare a few cups of hot drink or coffee toppings and may not help in case you need a large amount of frothed milk.
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Stainless steel press/manual milk frothers
When you have to prepare many cups of hot drinks like cappuccino, latte, or hot coffee with frothed milk topping, then you’ll need to have a frother that is capable to produce more froth to cater all servings in a better way. For this you can use a stainless steel manual milk frother. Such a frother is a simple, wide, cylindrical, stainless steel pot with a cap with a pump-like pull-press function with a frothing head. These are also termed as stove-top milk frothers. This is because you can place them on medium or low heat on a stove to create a steaming effect inside. As the milk gets hot, you have to move the upper pump handle gently but a bit quicker with short intervals. This makes a soft, creamy foam, giving you a homogenized frothy topping for your hot desert.
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Electric milk frothers/steamer
Electric milk frothers are the most sophisticated machines that are available to help in frothing milk for hot drinks. These come in various sizes and are equipped with advanced features. Some have huge capacities, while some are made to deliver 2-3 cups of hot, frothed milk. You may choose whichever suits your needs.
Electric milk frothing machines can be classified further asa electric steaming/frothing wand attached to espresso machines, and standalone electric milk frothers with a container. An electric steamer/frother wand has a shape of a wand attached to an espresso machine with which you can steam a cup of milk quickly. All you need to do is to put the cup, half filled with milk, right below the steamer wand and let it froth the milk to your satisfaction.
While the standalone electric milk frothers, with a perfectly sized container to put the milk to froth, can be considered as the best option for anyone who need perfection in texture and taste simultaneously.
These are the ones that run on electricity, have a container for the milk, can warm up the milk while it froths, and are able to provide you greater amount of perfectly foamed milk as compared to other types of milk frothing gadgets.
Electric milk frother vs Manual milk frother
Sometimes people get confused when they have to decide on the type of frother they should buy, especially when they have a few concerns in their mind regarding manual and electric frothers. If you are also in search to find which type will be best for you, and you need to know how these types differ from each then here are a few helpful tips to guide you better:
You may not get a smooth foam and may contain bigger air bubbles because of the way you pump the head of the whisker in the containerThese are portable and can be taken along while on travel or where you have no power, like on a campsite.
Electric Milk Frothers | Manual Milk Frothers |
Need electricity to run | Can be run without any power source |
Come with advanced features to keep the milk warm while it froths. | These have no advanced features and need to be placed on a stove to heat the milk inside. |
They whisk the milk in a uniform manner and give more creamy and smooth texture with a homogenized texture. | |
Automatic milk frothers require less effort and time while these work and will not require consistent supervision to get a perfect foamy milk. | They need a consistent effort to create foam and requires more time to produce frothy topping. |
Electric milk frothers are small and easy to carry, but they cannot be ported where there is no source of power. | |
These come in a slightly higher price as compared to manual milk frothers. | These are cheaper than electric milk frothers. |
Things to consider while buying for a milk frother
Though you may have a list of things in your mind that you are looking to find in your milk frother, but this will not help until and unless you know on which features or buying basic you have to focus and what aspects can be ignored without affecting the quality of the product. So here is our list of important features and aspects that you must check before you decide on the product that seem perfect to you.
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Type of milk frother
The first thing that has to be very clear in your mind, is the type of Milk frother you’ll prefer to buy. Either it can be a best manual milk frother or an electric milk frother or you may like to have a handheld milk frother. Always decide which one is the right one for your kitchen. You can decide on the basis of the nature of tasks you expect to perform with the help of the purchased product. As if you need quick results with little efforts you can buy an electric frother, or if you have got to whisk a cup at a time with no extra recipe work, you can opt to buy a handheld milk frother which is also better if you need a small one to carry along with you while travelling.
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Capacity/capability
The next important thing is the capacity of the milk frother or the amount of milk it can froth in one go without any issues. Most of the electric milk frothers that come with a sufficient container can whisk and froth about 2-3 cups of milk in one go. While handheld frothers can help you froth a single cup at a time. So, make sure you have your expectation in front of you while selecting a frother for your use.
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Portability/compactness
Another important aspect that you’ll have to consider is the portability and ease of carrying a frother wherever you need to. Though its not a routine practice for everyone that requires to port a frother along with you. But it could be better to have a portable frother when you have a little place around or have to place the frother in a compact place and may need to carry it while on a vacation or outdoor events.
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Ease of use
Easy and simple machines are always welcomed in homes where people don’t have time to get engaged in complicated settings and operations. So, make sure you select a milk frother that is easy and simple and has easy to understand functions for you. Many of the top rated and sophisticated milk frother come with simple functions and easy controls like separate buttons for heating, frothing and whisking functions.
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Applications and special features
If you are looking for a simple milk frother than it is okay to have one that is capable to froth milk only. But if you want to experiment with various recipes like hot chocolate, latte and frothy milk deserts than make sure if the frother is capable to assist you in various tasks.
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Performance and customer reviews
Performance and customer experiences are always a good source of knowing the actual functions and capabilities of any household product. Samely, if you are buying a milk frothing wand or electric machine you should consider reading milk frother reviews to give you a better idea regarding its performance.
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Price
Price can be an important thing to consider, when you are on a budget. But there are many quality products that come at low prices. You can have a cheap yet quality milk frother if you can compare products and features and choose the one that promises you high quality results and comes at a reasonable cost. Here in our list you can find all the quality milk frothers, that also come at a reasonable cost.
Which is the best choice?
If we consider the advanced features, easy usage,quality of frothed milk produced, and the quick action work of electric milk frothers, we can say that these are the best options for quick and quality results. Otherwise, if you are not so concerned about the perfect texture and also have no issue with spending a little bit of time while pumping the manual frothing handle and can bear with some large bubbles in the foam then the manual frother can be an economical option for you.
Also, for those who need a cheap solution for your milk frothing needs, the best option would be a handheld milk frother or a manual milk frother.
Our Pick
Breville BMF600XL Milk Café Milk Frother
Well, we have picked this fabulous electric milk frother as “Our Pick” not just because of some superficial features, rather we have looked into the detailed features. We also have considered the practical application of this fully loaded milk frother.
Let us start with the external features. It is a very stable household frothing machine that stays firmly on a table top or kitchen shelf and will not spill your milk if subjected to a little jerk. It has a wide base on the top of which the container is placed that contains milk that is to be frothed. It has a capacity of about 2-3 cups that can be treated without any issues and is the best large capacity milk frother we have found so far. This one can be considered as one of the best milk frother having such a large capacity. There is a dial in front of the machine that can be set to the desired temperature, either cold, warm, optimum, or hot with temperature scale ranging from 120-160 degrees.
The frother is capable of frothing and heating the milk simultaneously. Also, you can stir the milk without heating or heat the milk without frothing. Another special feature is its separate discs for latte, cappuccino, and heating the milk for hot chocolate. It can also be considered as a best milk frother for latte, as it has the perfect functionality to give you a thick, creamy finish to your drink.
So, when you have this, you will be ready to create any hot milk drink that you need, whether it is a smooth creamy latte, frothy cappuccino, or hot thick chocolate.
It is durable, reliable and is easy to use and maintain, and can easily be cleaned and the milk container is dishwasher safe.
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Budget Pick
In case you are looking for a budget option and still cannot compromise the taste of the frothed drinks, then you can trust the following two options: though we are not picking the handheld ones here, which also come as low priced milk frothers, the following include the milk frother, with a container to warm and froth milk at the same time.
Secura Automatic Electric Milk Frother and Warmer
This Secura Automatic electric milk frother is also capable of warming milk for preparing hot chocolate and latte milk. It is a great milk frother having a capacity to contain250 ml milk when set for warming purposes, while can froth milk with 125 ml of milk in its container. It is the best budget pick if you need to have a milk warmer and frother that can help you out in creating soft foamy milk for cappuccino, latte or hot chocolate drink. It is very easy to operate with simple one touch one and off options and separate buttons for frothing and heating the milk inside the container. The overall body is durable and comes with a 2-year warranty to cover any issues that are not caused due to faulty handling.
Despite all the features and benefits you may enjoy while having this frother with you, the customers have experienced issues and in some cases it may not last longer. Also, people also have complaint regarding the way it produces froth as it may not be sufficient and enough frothy as you may need for latte and you will have to process the milk agan.
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Chefs Star Premier Automatic Milk Frother
It is also a best option for people who are looking to find a low budget option, but still needs to have a complete suite to create various kinds of hot and cold drinks with frothed, creamy and lofty milk foam. You can heat milk only or choose to froth the milk. The capacity of the containers is 125 ml for frothing function while 250 ml of milk can be heated inside without any problems.
The frothing machine is made with a durable stainless steel body that is easily detachable from its base and can be washed with no hassles. The functions are easy to operate and anyone can operate it with a touch of a button. You can froth milk without heating it or simply heat it to prepare hot chocolate drinks.
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Cheap milk Frothers
Sometimes, all you need is a soft, lofty milk froth and you don’t need heating or warming features for a latte and hot chocolate preparation. In such cases, when the only thing you need is to froth the milk, then no need to pay extra money for features that you don’t need. You can go for a best manual milk frother or a handheld milk frother. Handheld milk frothers and manual milk frothers are cheaper because they don’t have steaming/warming functions and also a container is absent in the handheld milk frothers. Here are two of the best cheap milk frother for you to try:
Kuissential SlickFroth 2.0 – Electric Milk Frother
This is a handheld milk frother that may also be termed as a milk frothing wand. It runs on 2 AA batteries and consists of a slightly broad handle where there is an on and off button. The base has a long metal rod that has a frothing head at the end. The metal part is used to stir the milk and get the desired amount of froth. You can use the frother in a mug or a jug made of glass or plastic. It is one of the sturdiest and a very durable handheld milk frother available on the market. It runs quietly and gives a smooth, creamy small bubbled froth with the milk. Also, you can use it for whisking almond milk, without any issues. It works equally for latte, cappuccinos and hot chocolate drinks. You just have to make sure you don’t whisk thick mixture with the frother.
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Aerolatte Original Electric Hand Held Milk Frother
Aerolatte handheld milk frother is also an example of cheap yet quality based milk frother. It also runs on two batteries. It is lightweight and portable and has a durable body to give you a long lasting performance. It is capable of giving you smooth, homogenized foamy froth in milk to make delicious hot chocolate, latte or cappuccino drinks within minutes.
It is an easy to use handheld milk frother that is a delight to use. It runs smooth and gives a perfect froth for your drinks. It can be cleaned easily with the help of a damp cloth. Though it has got all the beneficial features to give you an easy frothing experience, but it still has got some drawbacks that you must know before buying it. The frother is not capable of whisking thick liquids and substances and will not work if you try to do so. Also, the batteries may last for only a few uses and you will have to replace it when you have a regular routine of whisking milk. If you need a frother to froth milk only and to use off and on, then it will be the best you can get.
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Other great options for best milk frothers
Nespresso Aeroccino Plus Milk Frother
It is a quiet little milk frother that can froth about 125-130 ml of milk easily. It is quick enough to give you hot milk froth in just 70 seconds. It can give you a hot chocolate milk drink of about 250 ml while for frothing you should not exceed 125 ml. The frother is very easy to use and gives a convenient solution for milk frothing needs. It has a smart design with a durable body and runs on electricity. It can be used for hot chocolates, coffee and cappuccinos.
Though sometime the machine may not be able to deliver the results as quickly its been expected. But it is rare when it happens. Also, if you have got whole milk inside or milk with a lot of fat in there, it may cause some burning precipitation inside the container that may not be very easy to clean. So make sure you avoid using fat filled milk, rather medium level fat content will be the best.
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Epica Automatic Electric Milk Frother and Heater Carafe
If you are looking to buy a milk frother that promises to keep your drinks at the desired temperature for a longer period of time, it will make sure that. This milk frother can help you create excellent frothy milk, hot chocolate drinks, cold, frothed milk and can keep them cold or hot with the help of its insulated carafe that will not let your drink lose its optimum temperature. It has a capacity of 125 ml to froth milk and for heating purposes, you can pour in 250 ml of milk in the container. It has got three separate settings for hot froth, cold froth and heated milk option. It comes with a 2 year warranty time period for a full support if the product comes faulty.
Some of the commonly seen issues include durability problems and also the container capability to sustain the milk while it froths. You may end up in a mess if you don’t keep the milk to the minimum level.
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Nespresso Aeroccino3 3594 Black Milk Frother
If you need to have an automatic milk frother that is able to provide you with the easiest function and operations, then this modern milk frother can give you the services with a single one touch operation. It is capable of giving you 4 oz of frothed milk and 8.11 oz of hot milk that is heated up to 160-170 degrees within seconds.
It has an auto-shut off function that turns it off when the desired level of heat is achieved. It comes in 3 different colors and gives the user an option to choose a color that he /she likes to buy. The overall body is durable and it comes with a one year warranty from the manufacturer.
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Capresso frothPRO
A uniquely designed milk frother which has the capacity to froth 8 oz milk and can heat about 12 oz of milk to prepare hot chocolate, latte and coffee/cappuccinos. The milk container is made to stay firmly on the base and is easily detachable from the base to be washed easily. It is also dishwasher safe. There are three separate buttons for cold, hot and warm frothing and heating milk operations. The stay cool handle facilitates the user to pour the froth easily. There are two frothing and 1 milk heating disc and the temperature can be set to 3 different levels. It is a perfect frother but can work for small tasks only. Not suitable for frequent usage and may not last long if used heavily.
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Maintenance and usage tips for milk frothers
Using a milk frother, requires your attention just the same way as other appliances need great care while using them. Though the way you need to care for these little machines depends on the kind of machine you have with you. Here are a few tips you should follow:
- Never try to mix thick liquids while using a handheld milk frother or a frother that is not labeled to be fit for such a function.
- There is a difference in the results of foam or froth produced when using different types of milk for frothing, latte preparation or making hot chocolate drinks. As, for example, if you are using skimmed milk you can get a lot of froth quickly, but it will not be a smooth and glossy foam which is possible when you use full cream milk. Though, whole milk requires more time to froth, but result into a smooth, creamy texture as compared to low fat or skimmed milk.
So make sure, if you need a rick feel in the foam you will have to froth whole milk.
- Always make sure you clean you frother after every use. Stainless steel frothers that have detachable containers can be washed easily in a dishwasher while a handheld milk frother only needs to be wiped with a damp cloth or you may wash the head of the frother.
Best Milk Frother FAQs
Q: Which milk gives a smooth, creamy froth, full cream or skimmed?
A: Full cream milk, always gives better and smooth froth as compared to the skimmed milk. Because it has sufficient cream to give a soft and dense texture to the milk froth.
Q: Which milk froths quicker?
A: Full cream milk, takes more time as compared to the skimmed milk. It is because whole milk is heavier and has heavy fats in it. While skimmed milk froths quickly and give a light foam.
Q: Why should I choose an electric milk frother?
A: An electric milk frother always is a better choice as it gives you an easy and quick solution to get creamy and homogenized froth for your hot and cold frothy drinks.
Q: What type of milk frother would be the best for hot chocolate recipes?
A: If you are looking for a best milk frother for hot chocolate, then it must be the one that provides heat as well as spinning function at the same time. Handheld milk frothers and manual milk frothers are not a good choice in such case as you may not be able to get the texture in a perfect way. While electric milk frother can do that easily.
Q: Can I prepare almond milk by using a milk frother?
A: Yes, it is possible to use an electric milk frother while preparing almond milk. Though you may not use a fragile frother in such case. If you need to get a best milk frother for almond milk a manual milk frother or an electric milk frother that has got an option to prepare hot chocolate without lots of frothing action can be the best one for you.
Conclusion
In our hunt to find the best milk frother on the market, we have sorted out some of the best options on the basis of the features and Best Milk Frother Reviews, which will help most people. These options are best for those who love to make a hot milk drink, cold milk creamy drink, cappuccinos, and latte. A milk frother could be a handy solution to all our milk frothing needs, whether we need foamy topping for our coffee or cappuccino or want to make creamy, tasty latte at our home. You can enjoy professional-style frothy toppings while staying home. All you have to do is to pick one of our top suggestions and let the party begin at your home.
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