The Best Milk Frother - Take Your Lattes to the Next Level
How’s your latte art?
If you’re interested in getting started making masterpieces on the surface of your coffee beverages, you’ll need an excellent milk frother to provide the perfect foam.
In this article, we’ll check out the features of milk frothers, explain which types of milk frothers there are, and then dive into a few product reviews to find the best milk frother on the market.
Quick View: Our Top Milk Frothers
Milk Frother | Type | Rating |
|---|---|---|
Electric | ||
Electric | ||
Manual | ||
Handheld | ||
Electric |
What Is a Milk Frother & How Does it Work
As the name suggests, milk frothers are kitchen appliances used for turning steamed milk into foam or froth to enhance coffee based beverages.
if you’ve ever had a cappuccino, you’ve experienced the output of a milk frother.
It’s kind of cool: frothers work by introducing steam into hot milk, then working that hot steam into the texture of the milk.
You’ve probably heard the hissing and bubbling of a frother in a café before; the hissing is from the initial introduction of steam into the milk, and the bubbling is from mixing the steam deeply into the milk to make foam.
What Types of Milk Frothers are There?
There are a few types of milk frothers out there:
- Manual Frothers: Froth your milk by using a plunger.
- Handheld Frothers: Battery operated mechanical whisk wands which frothes milk that’s already hot.
- Electric Frothers: don’t require any human intervention other than loading milk. Just pour, close the lid, and flick the switch.
What to Look for When Buying a Milk Frother
There are few things you need to consider when buying a milk frother.
1. Type of Frother - Manual, Handheld or Electric
You need to decide which type of frother best suits your needs.
If you're looking for a quality milk frother that will heat your milk and will create a thick foam then you should consider going for the electric option.
You can also get good results with a manual or handheld frothers, these will also be best for travelling or camping.
2. Price
The price is one of important factors for each buying decision, if you're under a budget this is something you should definitely pay attention to.
In my opinion going for a product that is too cheap will not serve your best interest, this is because frothers are not an expensive product and you can get a great frother for a great price.
3. Ease of Use
We want products that we can use. Usability is a crucial factor in a product, it will determine if and how often we'll use it.
In my opinion the ease of use and overall user experience is something that should be taken into consideration.
Manual or handheld frothers are very easy and intuitive to use.
Electric frothers have more options, but still, well designed electric frothers will be easy to use.
4. Cleaning
Milk frothers need to be cleaned after each use.
you'll need to decide which frother best suits your cleaning preferences.
The manual and handheld frothers are a breeze to clean, you can put them in the dishwasher and you're done.
The electric frothers can't be put in the dishwasher and you will have to clean the by hand.
The Best Milk Frother - Reviews
We’re about to review 5 of the best milk frothers on the market so that you can think about the features you need.
Not all frothers will have the same range of froth and foaming, and most non-automated frothers are reliant on your judgment for when to stop. Without further ado, let’s take a look at a few of the best frothers out there.
Breville BMF600XL Milk Cafe Milk Frother
The Best Electric Milk Frother
If you really want to take your coffee and milk frothing to the next level, then the Breville BMF600XL Milk Frother might be what you need.
It is very well built, beautiful, has great features and will froth your milk like a champ. This is our choice for the best electric milk frother.
Breville BMF600XL Milk Cafe Milk Frother
Quality
Perfect professional froth & different temperatures
Amazing build quality.
Price
A bit expensive
Ease of Use
Very easy to use.
Easy to clean, Dishwasher safe
PROS
- Adjustable Temperature
- Very quiet
- Perfect froth
- Great look & design
- Induction heating
- Dishwasher safe
CONS
- Not cheap
- Minimum amount of milk for frothing is required (6 oz)
General Overview
The Breville BMF600XL is the Cadillac of milk frothers, this frother will take your lattes and cappuccinos to the next level.
It is beautiful and very well built, the detachable pitcher is made of stainless steel, it has high capacity and you can froth and heat milk for 3 cups. (the capacity is 16 oz)
Working With the Breville
Using the Breville is a breeze! Just pour milk into the pitcher, select your desired temperature using the dial, hit the start button and that's it.
The frother will turn off once the desired temperature is reached.
Want to add chocolate powder or cinnamon? No Problem!
You can also make hot chocolate, just pour some milk and powdered coco and you're done! the Breville will mix the milk and will make you an amazing hot chocolate.
Because of the induction heating, when you're done you can put the pitcher in the dishwasher and that's it.
Who is it for?
This frother is for those who's not on a budget. If you're looking for a high quality frother that will look great on your counter and will give you high quality frothed milk (and more!) then this is the frother for you.
Epica Automatic Electric Milk Frother & Heater
The Best Value Milk Frother
The Epica Automatic Electric Milk Frother is our choice for the best value frother, providing excellent quality long lasting foam for hot or cold milk. Great design & build quality, reliable and easy to clean.
Epica Automatic Electric Milk Frother & Heater
Quality
Perfectly consistent high quality foam every time.
Quality sturdy build.
Price
Good Price.
Great value for the price.
Ease of Use
Easy to use: Set & Forget.
Clean up is a breeze.
PROS
- Quick quality froth
- Very quiet
- Reliable
- Great look & design
- 2-year warranty
CONS
- Short power cable
- Milk can sometimes overflow
General Overview
The Epica has a stunning stainless steel build, has a frothing capacity of 4.25 oz./125 ml and heating capacity 8.5 oz./250 ml.
You can use this frother for a variety of drinks, from cappuccino to ice coffee and cocktails, you can add cream or chocolate when frothing for extra taste or great looks. It will also work great with different kinds of milk, almond, soy, etc.
Epica can be EPIC
The Epica is very quiet and quick, it will froth and heat your milk in no time. With its vacuum insulation your milk will stay hot, and you can also use it as a pitcher because it has a detachable base.
When it comes to cleaning it up, you can't put it in the dishwasher, but cleaning is easy and it also comes with a brush that will help you with cleaning.
Who is it for?
A great choice for those who are looking for quality product that can produce great consistent foam. It will also be great for those who make different types of drinks.
HIC Milk Creamer Frother
The Best Manual Milk Frother
HIC Milk Creamer Frother is our choice for the best manual frother.
It has a beautiful design, it's dishwasher safe and very easy to clean.
Frothing milk is very easy and you'll get great froth for your cappuccinos and lattes.
HIC Milk Creamer Frother
Quality
Good quality froth.
Very well built.
Price
Low price
Ease of Use
Easy to use and clean.
PROS
- No electricity or batteries
- Portable
- Easy to use & clean
- Very well built
CONS
- Not very big
- Need to work on the plunger.
General Overview
Not much to say about the HIC Milk Creamer Frother, it's a simple frother that will give you great results.
It has a 14 oz capacity and made of stainless steel (it has very little plastic in it).
Work That Plunger
This frother won't heat up your milk, so you'll need to heat up you milk before frothing. It will take you around 30-60 seconds to froth your milk.
Depending on your liking you'll be able to make a lot of foam, depending how long you're pumping.
Who is it for?
For those who look for a cheap portable frother which will give good enough results. You will need to put some work although pretty easy work, so if you're looking for the most easy way to froth milk this is not the frother for you.
MatchaDNA Handheld Electric Milk Frother
The Best Handheld Milk Frother
The MatchaDNA is a great handheld milk frother for those looking for a cheap frother that can produce froth, but doesn't want to invest in an electric frother.
MatchaDNA Handheld Electric Milk Frother
Quality
Handheld & battery operated.
Super-fast froth generation.
Price
Very Cheap.
Ease of Use
Plug and play.
Easy to use & Clean
PROS
- Easy to use & clean
- Froths to your exact preference
- Portable
- Won’t tire out your hand
CONS
- Doesn’t heat the milk
- Needs batteries
General Overview
The build quality of the MatchaDNA is good, but mechanical frothers will still break eventually.
You should also factor in the cost of AA batteries into your consideration of the MatchaDNA, as the more you use it, the more frequently you’ll have to replace them.
this is our choice for the best handheld frother.
Who is it for?
A great choice for the occasional user who's looking for a cheap frother.
Chefs Star Premier Automatic Milk Frother & Heater
The Best Affordable Milk Frother
The Chefs Star Premier gives you quality with a low price, with its great price tag it feels and competes with frothers having a higher price tag.
This is why it's our choice for the best affordable frother.
Chefs Star Premier Automatic Milk Frother & Heater
Quality
Very quiet.
Makes a lot of foam.
Price
Great price
Ease of Use
Easy to use & clean.
PROS
- Stainless steel.
- Quality build.
- Quiet & Fast
- Non stick coating & Very easy to clean.
- Detachable base.
CONS
- Capacity is for 1-2 coffee cups.
- Milk will not get very hot.
General Overview
If you love cappuccinos and lattes this frother might be for you.
It's made of high quality stainless steel, it feels sturdy and with its sleek design it can look great on your counter.
Because of its low price tag and great quality this is our choice for the best affordable frother.
Using the Chef Star
This frother is very quiet and you will barely hear it when it's working.
The Chef's frother is very easy to use, it has 3 options:
1) Heat your milk
2) Froth your milk (hot or cold milk).
3) Heat & froth your milk.
It's quite a fast frother, It will take you about ~1 minute to froth a cup of milk.
After frothing your milk you can take out the detachable pitcher for quick and easy cleanup.
Who is it for?
This frother's capacity is a bit small, so if you're usually making coffee for 1-2 people (or you're not a heavy milk user) it will be great for you.
If you're on a budget it might also be a good choice for you.
Milk Frother | Type | Rating |
|---|---|---|
Electric | ||
Electric | ||
Manual | ||
Handheld | ||
Electric |
Final Words - Wrapping up
In this article we have reviewed some of the best milk frothers out there.
The frother you purchase is up to you, but the biggest considerations are your frothing needs, your frothing skill level, and your desired price point.
If you’re just getting started with frothing, and looking for a cheap frother you will probably be well served by the MatchaDNA because it’ll let you play around with frothing for different amounts of time, and, if you choose to do so, the temperature of your milk during frothing.
If you want an electric one you can choose between the Breville and the Epica depending on your needs.
No matter which frother you pick, just remember to keep practicing your frothing technique (if it’s not automated) and developing a preference for the froth that you think is perfect.
