Best Milk Frothers

Buying guide for best milk frothers

A milk frother can put the finishing touch on your favorite caffeinated beverage, turning your kitchen into a mini cafe. Whether you enjoy lattes, cappuccinos, regulars, or espressos, a layer of frothed milk can be a delicious addition.

There are different types of milk frothers, and each is used in a different way and has its advantages and disadvantages. Handheld whisks are the most affordable option and are straightforward to use. Pump frothers take a bit of work to use but produce a decent froth. Electric frothers take no skill at all to use and are the only option that heat the milk for you. Using a manual milk frother well can take some getting used to, but we’ll break down some techniques for you.

Though even the best milk frothers are relatively affordable, you should still consider which type of frother you would prefer and what meets your needs. If you are ready to purchase a frother, consider our recommended models.

Properly frothed milk doesn’t look like meringue, nor does it have excessive bubbles like a glass of beer. Instead, the froth is very fine — it’s called microfoam — and at first glance resembles milk with a slight sheen.

What is frothed milk?

Frothed milk, sometimes called foamed milk, is dairy or soy milk that’s been whipped or stirred very rapidly. This creates a layer of microbubbles that increases the volume of the milk, while decreasing its density.

The frothed milk is then warmed, which breaks down the milk sugars for that sweet taste that so perfectly complements coffee’s bitterness.

Note that steamed milk, while heated in a similar fashion, isn’t heavily whipped. Steamed milk has a bit of a foamy topping, but it’s heavier and creamier than frothed milk. It’s steamed milk, not frothed, that baristas use to make pretty designs on lattes and other coffee drinks.

Our team researches electric milk frothers to find the best models for making coffee drinks at home.

We look for milk frothers that are effective at making delicious drinks and easy to clean when finished.

We love electric milk frothers with features such as foam control and cold milk frothing, as these machines offer great versatility.

Some electric milk frothers also heat or steam milk. We compare the best models of this kind to models that only froth milk.

We look for top-rated milk frothers that foam all types of milk, including cow milk, soy milk, oat milk, and almond milk.

Our team compares electric milk frothers that are battery-powered with models that are corded to find the best value and quality.

Our researchers examine both electric milk pitchers and handheld frothers to compare the value of extra functions like milk heating.

We award bonus points to quality electric milk frothers that create microfoam and make latte art fun and easy.

We look for milk frothers that can foam milk easily, quickly, and with quality results.

We compare different handheld milk frothers to find the models with the most bang for the buck.

Coffee, espresso, cappuccino: what’s the difference?

Do you need a milk frother for your favorite coffee drinks? It’s helpful to first understand the differences between common coffee beverages.

Latte

A latte is also an espresso drink, but the milk is steamed, not frothed, and the drink has twice as much milk as a cappuccino.

Cappuccino

A cappuccino is espresso blended with an equal amount of frothed milk.

Regular

Also known as American coffee, this is your basic brew. Regular coffee is made from roasted and ground coffee beans briefly steeped in hot water. It is typically served with sugar and milk.

Espresso

Espresso starts with the same roasted coffee beans but ground to a much finer texture.

The biggest difference, however, is in the brewing technique. An espresso machine forces hot water through the coffee grounds at high pressure, creating a beverage that is far stronger than regular coffee.

While espresso is sometimes sweetened with sugar, it’s always served black.

Types of milk frothers

While many espresso/cappuccino makers have a built-in milk frother, if you’re going to froth the milk separately, you need a milk frother. There are three basic types to choose from.

Handheld whisks

These inexpensive frothers look like an immersion blender, but instead of a blending blade, they have a whisk. You simply lower the frother into your container of milk, and whisk until the milk foams, usually a minute or two. Most are battery-powered. If you choose a handheld whisk, look for one that remains on until you switch it off, rather than one that requires you to hold the button down continuously during the frothing process.

• Pros: Handheld whisks are fairly inexpensive and easy to use. In one session, you can whip up enough frothed milk for several drinks.

• Cons: Handheld frothers can chip or damage porcelain containers, and some are not powerful enough to produce a good head of foam. You have to heat your milk separately.

Pump frothers

These frothers look like small stainless steel or glass pitchers with a lid and plunger. You pour the milk into the pitcher, attach the lid with the plunger, and then pump the plunger up and down until the milk froths. Although it doesn’t take much muscle power to work a pump frother, this isn’t the best choice if you have arthritis or weakness in your hands, wrists, or lower arms.

• Pros: Pump frothers are inexpensive, self-contained, and easy to use and clean. They are ideal if you just want enough frothed milk for one or two cappuccinos.

• Cons: Your hand might get tired, you have to heat the milk separately, and it’s quite a bit of work to froth enough milk for a crowd.

Electric frothers

These handy appliances look like a small carafe. Pour in your milk, flick the switch, and the electric frother does the work for you, whisking the milk until it foams. Many electric frothers also heat the milk. Some let you choose between frothed and steamed milk, which is a great option if you enjoy both lattes and cappuccinos.

• Pros: You can froth a lot of milk without much bother. It’s very convenient to have the milk heated for you.

• Cons: Much more expensive than handheld whisks or pump frothers, electric frothers are also generally more difficult to clean.

Tips for frothing milk

Your local barista makes it look easy, but it’s actually a bit of an art to froth milk by hand.

• While you might think you can save time by frothing milk that’s already heated, you will get the best results by starting with cold milk from the fridge.

• Your frothing container should also be cold. Pop it in the freezer for five to ten minutes before frothing the milk.

• Although low-fat or skim milk is easier to froth, whole milk creates a sweeter, creamier froth.

• While you can froth cow or goat milk with ease, it’s more difficult to froth plant-based alternatives. The key is protein: without protein, you won’t get a good froth. Soy milk, which has nearly as much protein as dairy milk, froths quite well. But you’ll have a hard time working up a nice froth with almond or rice milk.

• If you are using a handheld whisk, keep the tip slightly toward one edge of the milk container and submerged to roughly the halfway point of the milk.

• If your bubbles are too large, gently swirl the frothing container, or lightly tap it against the counter.

• Warm your milk as soon as you finish frothing. The perfect temperature is around 140° to 150°F. If you get much hotter, your froth will taste scorched, not sweet.

• Let your frothed, warmed milk sit for a minute or two to thicken before pouring it into your espresso.

Struggling to get your milk to froth? Check the sell-by date on the carton. Old milk doesn’t froth nearly as well as fresh milk.

How much do milk frothers cost?

For a handheld whisk, you’ll pay $20 or less.

Expect to pay between $15 and $20 for a good pump frother.

For an electric frother, the range is $30 to $50, although those with more bells and whistles can cost over $100.