It’s not an exaggeration when I say that the first sip of a nicely-made cup of coffee is a luxury and a perfectly made cappuccino or a latte is a pure pleasure.
If you try to imitate the lattes and cappuccinos you get at your favorite coffee shop, it may seem impossible.
But I’m here to let you know that though baristas may have professional tools and tricks, a no-frills milk frother can also make your morning brew just as luxurious and delicious.
Short Answer: The best milk frothers I’ve found that’ll give you that sumptuous cup you desire are the Miroco MI-MF001 Milk Frother, the Breville BMF600XL Milk Cafe Milk Frother, and The Golde Superwhisk.
Read on to learn more about the function and types of milk frothers and as well as the best ones I mentioned that will give you a delightful drink in no time at the comfort of your home.
What does a milk frother do?
A milk frother is a tool used to make milk foam, which is then added to coffee like a latte or a cappuccino. It basically incorporates air into the milk, resulting in a thick foam.
The creation of small bubbles during this procedure lightens the texture of the milk and increases its volume.
There are 3 varieties of milk frothers found in the market: manual, portable electric, and automatic. Some devices are also smart enough to warm the milk while producing froth.
Another way of making milk froth is by using the steam wand or nozzle of an espresso machine. This also warms up the milk and is the standard way of preparing a cappuccino.
Types of milk frothers
Manual
The hand-operated frother, like the French press, has a movable perforated mesh plunger. In around 10-20 seconds, you can double the volume of milk.
The cup may also contain a narrow spout for creating foam art. Manual milk frothers can also be used as French presses for preparing tea or coffee.
Handheld Electric
A small electric mixer with a milk frother spins the milk to froth it. Some electric mixers are also battery-operated. It can also be used to beat eggs or whipped cream.
When you turn on the device the whisk in it makes a vortex and infiltrates air into the milk. The foam maker works until the milk gets the desired thickness. Portable or handheld devices are more efficient and faster at foaming than manual ones.
Automatic
Automatic frothers run on electricity and make milk frothing hands-free. They’re made up of a power base, a carafe, and a frothing disk.
To heat the liquid, most models have induction heating. They operate with a press of a button and turn off automatically.
Electric frothers produce the best foam and are the quickest. They also have a large capacity to prepare multiple drinks at a time.
What is the point of frothing milk?
Frothed milk is created by incorporating air in the milk, which means adding air bubbles to it. This process of aeration creates froth or foam.
The goal of frothing milk is to achieve the velvety texture that is the signature of many fancy coffee drinks. This texture provides a creamy, airy mouthfeel to let’s say your latte.
Does milk froth better hot or cold?
Cold milk absorbs more air than hot milk. As a result, it froths better.
If you want a good froth in your latte, you need to incorporate air into the milk before the pitcher gets hot. Place the wand an inch deeper into the milk and find a tip angle that makes the milk spin.
It’s also worth noting that when milk is fresh, it froths faster, and when milk is cold, it steams better.
If possible, keep your steaming jug in the refrigerator before use.
Hot, warm, or old milk will not froth.
To understand more about the ideal temperature for frothing milk, watch the video below.
Difference between steaming and frothing milk
Frothed milk contains a lot of foam and has more volume. Steamed milk is warmed and more delicately aerated which creates small amounts of microfoam.
Steamed milk is also more typically used in a range of coffee drinks like lattes, whereas frothed milk is exclusively used in foam-filled beverages like cappuccinos.
If you want to learn more about the distinctions between a latte and a cappuccino, you can read my post here.
| Frothed milk | Steamed milk |
| Can be hot or cold | Always hot |
| A significant amount of foam | Delicately aerated |
| Larger, stiffer bubbles | Silky microfoam |
Best milk frothers
There are 3 groups of milk frothers on the market today:
- the old school manual frother
- the handheld or the portable frother
- a frother that you can place on your countertop
I’ve picked 3 of the milk frothers that I think are the best choices so let’s read on.
The best milk frother for your countertop: Miroco MI-MF001 Milk Frother
I don’t believe any other milk frother performs as well as the Miroco MI-MF001B in terms of versatility, pricing, and milk consistency.
What sets this model apart is its price and design – it has a handle and a spout, which makes it easy for pouring. It performs just as well as more expensive ones at a fraction of the price at $40.
It comes with 3 simple froth settings and includes extra whisks too.
The Miroco MI-MF001 Milk Frother is best for people who:
- want a flawless, no-hassle foam that’s also easy to pour
- don’t want complex frother settings
- are prone to losing things
The best milk frother for customizing: Breville BMF600XL Milk Cafe Milk Frother
The design of Breville’s milk frother conveys mindfulness and thoughtfulness.
This is the only milk frother that allows you to customize the temperature of the froth, from simply warming the milk to getting it blistering hot. It’s also large enough to froth several drinks at once.
It costs around $199.99 – a bit expensive but all in all a great investment.
The Breville BMF600XL Milk Cafe Milk Frother is best for people who:
- can differentiate a latte and cappuccino foam
- want their drinks to be extra hot
- want to have complete control over their milk froth
The best handheld milk frother: The Golde Superwhisk
The Golde Superwhisk is without a doubt the best-looking handheld frother I’ve seen. What I like about it is that it can be easily dismantled for cleaning.
It’s also rechargeable, comes with a USB cable, and has a cover, which makes it easier to stow in a drawer or backpack when traveling on the go.
This frother costs $40-46.
The Golde Superwhisk is best for people who:
- travel a lot
- want a frother that can muti-task
- don’t want to keep changing batteries on the device
- want to have complete control over the amount of froth on their drink
- own a microwave or are willing to reheat the milk on the stovetop
To sum it all up
Now that you understand the use and varieties of milk frothers, you may be asking if a milk frother is actually worth it, and what else it could be used for especially if you’re not an everyday coffee drinker.
Well, if you’re a coffeeholic like me, it’s definitely worth it because you get to make other varieties of coffee like lattes, cappuccinos, and macchiatos at the comfort of your home, anytime you want, which saves you time and money in the long run.
You can even use it to beat eggs for breakfast or for whisking ingredients for baking like egg whites and whipped cream.
The 3 milk frothers I talked about in this post are the best on the market so far. My favorite is the Golde Superwhisk because it can do a lot of different things and you can take it with you when you go on trips. The best thing about it is that it’s pocket-friendly.
So, what are you waiting for? You can choose from the milk frothers I recommended, or you can learn more on your own (via the internet, of course) and see how it transforms your favorite morning brew.