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Cindy is a freelance writer and editor who began her career in cookbook publishing. She is Food & Wine magazine’s expert on bakeware, cookbooks, and kitchen organization. She has reviewed more than 25 vacuum cleaners, 23 steak knives, and dozens of baking tools like cookie cutters, silicone baking pans, and proofing baskets.
With so many coffee machines to choose from, it can be difficult to figure out exactly what you need to make a great cup of coffee. But whether you prefer your coffee maker to a drip, pour-over, or espresso machine, we recommend investing in a milk frother. The best milk frothers can transform any cup of coffee into a special cappuccino, latte, or macchiato. Plus, a milk frother can be used to make non-coffee drinks like hot chocolate and matcha, as well as to perfectly blend protein powder—and it has uses beyond beverages, too.
We tested 22 highly rated milk frothers of varying sizes and designs to find out which one works best. We created both hot and cold froth, evaluating key factors like ease of use, design, and texture to determine the best milk frother for your morning latte and more. Keep scrolling to see our list of the best milk frothers for making barista-quality coffee drinks at home.
This dual stirrer milk frother is inexpensive, easy to clean, convenient to use, and produces beautiful foam from a variety of liquids.
In our opinion, this milk frother is a winner for many reasons. The first thing you’ll notice is that it has a pair of metal rings on the end attachment, whereas most competitors only have one. In our testing, the Double Ring made a real difference, producing beautiful, smooth foam from whole milk and silky, structured foam from oat milk. It also created an inch and a half of foam on a cup of hot chocolate. We felt that the Double Ring aerated liquids much faster than many other milk frothers we tested, and for the price, it can’t be beat.
The ElitaPro gets top marks in the design category because it’s lightweight, easy to use, and comes in 17 different colors. Simply place the whisk in a cup of soapy water, stir gently, rinse, and then dry again for easy cleaning. We like the little stand that comes with it for keeping it next to the coffee maker. It also comes with an extra whisk attachment that can be used for making omelets and similar dishes. Our only complaint is that if the attachments aren’t secured properly, they can fall off during use.
Type: Handheld Electric | Self-Heating: No Dimensions: 9.45 x 2.52 x 2.44 inches Weight: 5 ounces
Instant Pot designers are great at creating efficient and versatile models, so it’s no surprise that the brand’s milk frother can do more than just froth milk. In fact, it’s also a cup warmer that can simply heat up coffee or tea, and make hot or cold, thick or thin foam.
The Instant machine performed well in all of our tests. With whole milk, the foam lasted longer and stayed intact on hot coffee, and with oat milk, the foam didn’t froth up after pouring; in our cold foam tests, the foam texture was very consistent and silky, perfect for latte art, especially since this frother’s spout is narrow and precise. The hot chocolate effect was perhaps our favorite, producing a drink that was as creamy and rich as a milkshake. In the extra-foam mode, the Instant worked so well that it overflowed our cups!
“I bought this instant milk frother on sale and I love it,” says Anicia Young, assistant business editor at Food & Wine magazine. “I bought it mainly to try making a latte to go with my tea, but I love the versatility of it and the fact that it can froth and heat milk. I usually set it to froth milk when I brew my tea, so you can froth the milk before your tea brews, and it’s super easy to clean, just be careful not to get the electrical components wet.”
This machine is more expensive than most portable machines (including the ElitaPro, above), but it’s also more powerful—in our testing, the Instant stood out as the most feature-rich of the countertop frothers. The only design or performance issue we encountered in our testing was getting the internal stirrer to fit correctly. The rectangular frother takes a few tries to master.
Type: Tabletop Electric Heater | Self-Heating: Yes | Capacity: 10 oz | Dimensions: 4.7 x 8.25 in |
The Bodum Electric Milk Frother has a futuristic and compact design that takes up very little space, although more than any other countertop model on our list. What’s more, the machine performed well in all tests, producing dense, consistent foam that held up well once poured.
In our cold foam tests, it produced a silky, dense foam, and when made with hot chocolate, it produced a milkshake-like texture. This foam maker produced some of the best foam in the tests; all foam was dense and very shiny. It can be heated and lathered separately or at the same time, but it doesn’t have as many texture options as the Instant, above.
The cup, lid, and blender parts are all dishwasher safe, so the Bodum Bistro was one of the easiest frothers to clean in our testing. The downside is that it’s noisier and more expensive than other countertop models we tested. However, if you want to froth multiple batches at once, we think the larger capacity is worth the extra bucks and a few seconds of noise.
Type: Tabletop Electric Heater | Self-Heating: Yes | Capacity: 13.5 oz | Dimensions: 4.1 x 8.3 in |
Whether you’re buying a high-end Nespresso machine or not, the brand’s milk frother is top-notch. This gadget creates a thick foam, holds its structure well, and the easy-to-grip handle makes it easy to create latte art in your cup. It’s quite powerful, and can heat hot chocolate up to 137°F on the lower of its two heat settings. But be very careful with high temperatures: Nespresso claims a maximum of 158°F, which can lead to overheated milk and a burnt taste in our hot chocolate test.
You have a lot of options, including making a thick or fluffy foam, heating but not lathering, or both. In our cold foam test, Nespresso foam held its shape for 5 minutes without leaking air or creating bubbles—better than almost any other frother we tested.
Another great feature of the Aeroccino4 is that it is dishwasher safe, so there is no need to scrub the chrome pot and lid; however, it is also quite expensive, more than twice the price of the already expensive instant coffee machine listed above.
Type: Tabletop Electric Heater | Self-Heating: Yes | Capacity: 8 oz | Dimensions: 4.3 x 7.4 in |
“This milk frother is the perfect choice for smaller kitchens,” says editorial director Megan Soll. “It’s easy to clean and use, and it’s so simple that even visiting relatives won’t be afraid to try it. If you’re looking to limit your appliance collection but still want great milk frothing capabilities, this is a great option.”
The PowerLix looks and works very similar to our best-in-class ElitaPro model, except it’s powered by two AA batteries rather than a wall outlet. You can take it to work to improve the quality of your break room coffee, or even take it (and the coffee maker) on a camping trip for a morning latte by the fire. In terms of performance, this milk frother produces a fluffier foam with whole milk than with oat milk. Both last longer than other models, with foam starting to dissipate quickly after pouring. There’s no getting around the fact that you’ll have to sacrifice power for portability. On the plus side, it’s available in over 20 different colors to suit even the most discerning of designers.
Sometimes an electric model isn’t the right choice. A hand frother doesn’t require an outlet or batteries, so you can use it anywhere, anytime. The dual-mesh hand frother in this jug gives you complete control over the texture of the milk and makes pumping the milk a breeze. In our testing, it only took about a minute to get super-stable, smooth, and dense foam. Since there are no electronics or batteries, you can also throw the whole thing in the dishwasher (top rack).
The Fino is great for making coffee drinks, but it’s not great for making hot chocolate. The bubbler doesn’t scrape the bottom well enough to mix the ingredients properly, and you can’t see how well everything is mixed without stopping to remove the lid and release the heat. In our cold foam tests, the Fino performed better. The bubbles are tiny and very soft, some of the best we can make.
Type: Manual | Self-Heating: No | Capacity: 14 oz | Dimensions: 5.25″ x 6″ |
We picked the ElitaPro Double Whisk Handheld Milk Frother as one of our favorites due to its value for money, comfortable handle, and ease of cleaning. For a more versatile countertop self-heating option, we recommend the Instant 4-in-1 Milk Frother and Steamer, as well as its many variations.
To write this article, we tested a total of 22 milk frothers, including 9 handheld electric milk frothers, 9 countertop electric milk frothers, and 4 handheld models. We put each milk frother through the same series of tests, designed to evaluate all the common ways you might use your milk frother.
We’re keeping the retail prices of the milk frothers a secret until all the rest of our testing is complete, but we’ll reveal them so we can assess the value of each model compared to the entire group and other similar products. During our testing, the most expensive milk frother we tested was $120, the cheapest was $7, and the average price was about $43. Generally speaking, handheld electric models are the cheapest, followed by manual milk frothers, and then countertop electric machines.
The first thing to consider when choosing the right milk frother is whether you want it to automatically heat your drink. In this case, a countertop electric milk frother is your only option. Most self-heating models can heat and bubble at the same time or separately, and some are available in multiple temperatures. The downside is that these are the most expensive types of milk frothers.
Electric frothers (tabletop or handheld) allow you to froth easily with the push of a button, while manual frothers require a little more physical effort and give you more control over the texture. Manual milk frothers are small jars with lids and an aerator attached to a piston that you pump up and down to create foam. The speed and time of aeration determine the final texture, and you can get a variety of textures, from barely foamy to almost whipped cream.
If you have limited counter space or prefer to simply tuck the foamer away in a drawer, consider a portable foamer. They’re usually very thin, don’t take up much space, and are electric, making cleaning a breeze. (Keep in mind that if it’s cordless, you’ll need to charge or replace the batteries frequently.) If portability is important to you, we recommend a handheld or battery-powered foamer. These foamers don’t require an outlet, so they can easily be tucked into an office break room drawer or thrown into a backpack for a camping trip.
Both handheld and tabletop electric models take up more space than portable models because they come with their own water jug.
Milk alternatives are more popular than ever, but not all milk frothers are suitable for different milk textures. Be sure to check that the milk frother you choose is suitable for the type of milk you prefer, whether that’s traditional dairy milk or alternative milks like oat or almond. For the best results when frothing non-dairy milk, look for containers labeled “barista style” or any whole milk alternative, as these will be closest to dairy milk.
If you use milk, the higher the fat content, the better. The fat in the milk helps the foam hold its shape, so whole milk is best for frothing. You can, of course, use 2% or even skim milk for the nozzle, but be aware that the foam will not be as soft and will not last as long.
“A milk frother is designed to froth milk,” says Anthony Contrino, an Emmy Award-winning culinary producer and host of Peacock. “It creates foam by whisking or stirring the liquid to create little bubbles.” These little bubbles form a foam that sits on top of or mixes with drinks like coffee or tea. The home version is designed to mimic the frothed milk that professional baristas make with a steam wand attached to a professional espresso machine.
“It depends on the specific type and brand; some have it, some don’t,” Contrino said. “Portable units only stir the milk, while larger electric units heat and froth it.” Most countertop machines have a heat function and can heat and froth the milk independently, allowing them to create hot milk without foam, as well as cold or hot foam.
“Most plant-based milks foam well, especially those with high protein and fat content. The more fat, the richer the foam,” says Contrino. You won’t get as much foam if you choose low-fat or skim plant-based milks, but there are versions designed specifically for foaming: Look for plant-based milks labeled “extra strong” or “barista style.” You can also control the viscosity and fat content by using a nut milk maker and creating your own blend.
Milk frothers are great for any cooking task that requires thorough and quick mixing. They’re a great way to dissolve granular ingredients like matcha or protein powder into any liquid. Mixing pancake batter quickly makes the finished product fluffier. If you’re making a cornstarch slurry to thicken a soup or sauce, a milk frother will help break up lumps and smooth out the mixture in seconds. You can even use a milk frother to aerate wine, which can serve as an alternative to a wine decanter.
This milk frother makes good foam with whole milk, but it makes better, thicker foam with oat milk. The cold foam is smooth and easy to pour. It didn’t work with hot chocolate, the mixture didn’t mix completely. It’s a good machine, but it’s above average for a portable unit.
This is another great portable milk frother, especially considering its price. It creates a smooth, thick foam for oats and whole milk. But the ElitaPro and PowerLix listed above work just as well, if not better, and are cheaper.
This handheld milk frother froths different types of milk almost perfectly, and you can even microwave the glass jar to make hot foam. However, stirring the hot chocolate was a big hassle.
The milk frother is at the bottom of our list for a few reasons. Some milk frothers are too weak to create a smooth foam, or the foam dissipates quickly. Other milk frothers are difficult to clean or difficult to operate. Other models work well but are more expensive than higher-rated competitors. Some of these brands include Zyliss, Zulay, and Keurig, as well as Nespresso and Bodum models that are different from those mentioned above.
Post time: Nov-21-2024