There’s nothing better than walking into a coffee shop and soaking up the delicious aromas of freshly brewed coffee. However, these days our predilection towards coffee often means we want that same experience when we step into our own kitchen, be that to save on cash or simply because we can’t wait to get out the door to have our first sip of that delicious dark and chocolatey elixir. This causes a problem – how do we make it taste as good as a barrister does?
Well, in this post we will introduce to a whole host of milk frothers that make it easy to make barrister quality coffee in your own kitchen without having to invest in an expensive coffee machine. From the small to the big, the hot to the cold, and the cheap to the expensive, we will introduce you to everything you need to know to choose the best milk frother to ensure you get the perfect cup of coffee every time.
How to choose the right milk frother
In order to understand exactly what type of milk frother is right for you, you will need to understand what your exact needs are, what type of coffee you like, how big a budget you have, and what type of milk you plan to use. You’ll also first need to understand what is on offer on the market and how the sorts of uses they are best for. Here we will outline the different types of frother, milk, temperature options, sturdiness, and cost of the major milk frothers out there.
Handheld Vs Jug Style Milk frothers
There are essentially two major types of milk frother available on the market, the handheld frother and the jug style frother. Handheld frothers tend to be a lot cheaper than their jug counterparts thanks to the fact that they are, as their name implies, hands-free! This means they usually come without any sort of stand or container and can simply be stored in your kitchen drawer making them a good option for those lacking surface space in the kitchen. They tend to be battery-powered and just need to be held in the milk whilst the whisk spins to froth up the milk.
On the other hand, jug style frothers will always come with a beaker, a stand, and a whisk. Many jug frothers use something called induction heating to froth the milk. This helps to ensure the milk is uniformly heated to the perfect temperature with accurate temperatures achieved throughout the container. They will also have a motorized whisk to froth up the milk as it heats (unless you prefer cold frothed milk as they can deal with that too).
What type of milk will you use?
These days more and more people are switching to a plant-based diet, be that for allergies, health benefits or for environmental purposes. This means that when people think of milk these days it can be from a whole range of places be it almond, rice, coconut, oats or the humble dairy cow. However, the make-up of these different kinds of milks is very different which means some require different types of frothers to be able to work effectively.
If you do plan to give different types of milk a go in your coffee, which we wholeheartedly encourage, then you will need to make sure your frother is one with sufficient power to froth a thicker heavier milk, such as an oat milk and may prefer to opt for the jug type frother over the handheld option. Unfortunately, although oat milk is one ‘new milk’ that goes particularly well with coffee it also happens to be one of the hardest to froth!
Hitting the sweet spot for temperature
When you heat milk to different temperatures, it will have different flavors. This means that if we are using a milk frother it is very handy to either have a thermometer to hand or, preferably, to have a built-in thermometer and handy gauge that helps you hit the sweet spot where the milk is going to be perfect for your favorite cappuccino or latte. Too hot, you are going to burn your tongue, too cold you will have to drink up fast and the flavor will be off.
The key temperature not to pass is 158°F as this is when the milk will move towards boiling point and start to change the flavor. You should also bring it to at least 139°F and no more than 149°F as this allows the milk’s proteins to unravel and denature which causes bubbles to form and create the delicious flavors and perfect texture for a flat white, cappuccino, and latte. Whilst milks with more fat are harder to foam, they are also the thing that makes the texture so good so if you’re using a fat-free milk and it doesn’t feel right, that will be why.
You need to avoid underheated milk because at lower temperatures it is unstable and the bubbles in your foam are unlikely to hold and will simply fall into one another. However, it is vital not to overheat your milk too as once the milk has become too hot you won’t be able to taste the subtle flavors of your coffee anymore. In this sense, it can be better to err on the side of slightly too cold, rather than trying it to push the temperature too far, especially without a temperature gauge.
Some higher spec frothers are also able to both heat and cool your milk so if you are someone who likes an iced coffee but also loves the foam, this might be the road you want to go down. However, be warned just because you can cool overheated milk it doesn’t mean you won’t have changed the flavor so if it has gone too far you won’t readjust the flavor just by cooling it back down again.
Picking the right frother material
If you have plenty of cash, then you’ll want to make sure the frother you buy has as many component parts as possible made from stainless steel. This is super sturdy and won’t alter the flavor of your milk. It is also nice and easy to clean and is usually dishwasher safe (depending on the other component parts). Glass is also a fine material to use and although it is more fragile it looks more stylish if you plan to leave it out on your worktop.
Pretty much every frother is going to have some plastic parts but if possible you should try and pick one where these parts are not going to come into contact with the milk as this can have an impact on the flavor of the milk and, therefore, your coffee. Handheld frothers especially will have significant plastic handles but these will be kept well away from the milk so you won’t have to worry when it comes to this type of frother.
Price and warranty considerations
If you are the sort of person that needs a product to have a warranty before you buy it, then you are better off going for a jug style frother since the handheld variants don’t tend to come with one. Unfortunately, a warranty does tend to add to the cost, but you can often get them for at least two years so if you are spending more on a frother it is worth ensuring the machine you have is going to last one way or another.
Top frothing tips for the perfect cup
So you’ve invested in your latest bit of kitchen kit to enable you to make the perfect cup of coffee but how do you get to be able to do it like a barrister? Well, as with anything, it will come with practice and trying to build an understanding of the perfect temperature through touch as well as using a temperature gauge. However, there are also some tricks of the trade that can kick you off to a good start:
#1 Be careful not to over-froth your milk
Diving right in and creating as much froth in a jug as you possibly can is a common approach to take when first getting a froth in at home. Whilst this might be fun, it is not going to lead to the best foam for your coffee as the bubbles are going to be unstable and you will actually end up bursting the bubbles you created. Once they’re gone they’re gone too, as the process which forms them has already happened.
#2 Measure your milk
Make sure you aren’t filling above the recommended maximum or minimum lines in your further. Too much milk and your jugs going to overflow, too little milk and you’re going to ruin your expensive new bit of kit and actually won’t get any froth at all. If you try and froth too much at once you’ll also likely burn out your frother motor. If you measure the amount you are using you will also get a better intrinsic understanding of when it is reaching the sweet spot so you will become a natural at making the perfect cup of coffee.
#3 Purge your steamer spouts
If you have a coffee machine with a built-in milk steamer, then you need to make sure to purge your steamer spout before and after use. If you don’t do it before-hand you’ll have a dribble of water that’s been sat in the spout all day and if you don’t clean it after the spout will retain some milk in its tip and nobody likes the smell or taste of gone off milk!
#4 Find the sweet spot for frothing
This tip is just for coffee machine type steamer spouts and handheld variants. The key to frothing with these is finding the right spot just below the surface that allows for some air to get into the milk, but not too much. If you are hearing a screaming screeching sound, then you are holding your steamer too low, if it is bubbling like crazy it is too high. Once you have enough foam you should dip it in a little further to create a nice swirl and glossy finish.
Picking the right coffee: Arabica vs Robusta
Arabica coffee makes up 60% of worldwide coffee production, with Robusta making up the other 40%, but what is the difference between them? Well, if you are someone who loves coffee but want less caffeine, then you’re going to want to look for Arabica beans since these have 0.9-1.5% caffeine content compared to Robusta’s 2.2-2.7% caffeine content. Both beans originated in Africa, with Arabica coming from the Ethiopian highlands and Robusta from Western and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Robusta coffees typically have more of the dark bitter flavors that are harsher and have a nutty finish, whereas Arabica coffee beans have a higher acidic content that leads to more varied chocolatey, fruity, and citrusy flavors in your cup. As such, depending on how you like your coffee to taste, you will need to pick based on your preference between these two major underlying tasting points of the two beans.
Milk Frother 2022Reviews
Whether you’re after a portable handheld milk frother or a state-of-the-art jug-based milk frother, whether your budget is large or small – we’ve got all bases covered in our reviews below.
Best Handheld Milk Frother 2022
#1 Best Value Milk Frother: Bonsenkitchen Electric Milk Frother (Silver)
If you love the sound of frothy milk in your coffee in the morning but have a small budget to play with then check out this milk frother made by Bonsenkitchen. Coming in at under $10 this milk frother really is value for money. The whisk itself is made out of quality stainless steel and the plastic shaft handle is BPA free, it functions with two AA batteries so is also cheap to maintain (plus 2 batteries are included in the price!).
All you need to do to use this whisk, simply add your frothing liquid of choice to a jug and insert the frother. With a simple one-touch switch the whisk will commence to froth and you’re good to go – make sure you keep the temperature at around 60 degrees Celsius and you will create the perfect foam. This handheld milk frother is super easy to use and is sure to create perfect cappuccinos, hot chocolates and much more.
#Milk_frother #Cappuccino #Hot_chocolate #Bonsenkitchen #Handheld #Lightweight
#2 Best Handheld Milk Frother: Café Casa Frothy Hand Mixer and Milk Frother
Here we have one of the best handheld mixers on the market made by Café Casa. It is designed specifically to enable you to make barista-style coffees in your own home, so if you love a latte or can’t live without a morning cappuccino then get one of these milk frothers in your kitchen. It is sure to significantly improve your morning routine.
Made out of stainless steel and with a handle that is designed to fit comfortably in your hand, this handheld milk frother is both easy to use and effective. It is powered by 2 AA batteries, however, these, unfortunately, aren’t included. Being powered by batteries, this handheld milk frother is also portable so you can even take it on holiday with you so you never have to be without your frothy morning coffee!
#Milky_coffee #Frothy_coffee #Milk_frother #Cafe_Casa #Portable #Battery_powered
#3 Best Milk Frother for Cappuccinos: FoodVille MF02 Rechargeable Milk Frother
All you budding baristas out there are sure to love this superb milk frother by FoodVille. This milk frother comes with not one but two whisk attachments – one for whisking milk and one for whisking eggs. With this milk frother, you can get the ultimate breakfast – a perfect cappuccino and the best pancake batter, a sure-fire way to start a good day.
This frother is rechargeable so once you’ve purchased it there will be no additional costs in terms of buying batteries. The motor installed in this frother is also of a superb quality allowing you to froth at a speed of 23000rpm (with the option to have less power also) ensuring that you get smoothly frothed cream every time. FoodVille also offer a 3 year warranty so you can make this purchase with confidence that should anything go wrong you will receive a replacement or your money back straight away.
#FoodVille #Frother #Cappuccino #Quality #Rechargeable #Powerful #Warranty
#4 Best 3 Speed Milk Frother: Zoocura USB 3 Speed Milk Frother
If you are wanting to make a variety of delicious items with your milk frother then this frother from Zoocura is an excellent choice. With 3 different speeds to choose from and 2 whisk heads you can use this for making hot chocolates, whisking eggs, making baby formula, protein shakes and for foaming up your milk for your coffee of choice. And with such a high-speed motor your milk will be frothed in under 20 seconds – perfect if you’re always in a rush in the mornings.
This is another rechargeable milk frother and charges via a handy USB port. Once you have fully charged the frother it will last for at least a month even if you’re using it every morning. This product is also highly durable being made out of stainless steel. It also comes with a 3 year warranty so you can be reassured of the company’s confidence in the quality of this product.
#3_speed #Milk_frother #Foam #Milk #Quick #Powerful #USB #Rechargeable
#5 Best Milk Frother for Lattes: PowerLix Milk Frother Handheld
Set up your own café in your kitchen with this superb milk frother from PowerLix. Froth either hot or cold milk to make yourself the perfect hot latte in the morning or a chilled iced coffee with frothed milk to cool you down on a sunny afternoon. You don’t need to be a trained barista to use this wand, simply place it in the milk, switch it on and move it up and down until you have the amount of froth you desire. You can also use this milk frother to create delicious cocktails, fruit shakes, and even salad dressings.
This milk frother is battery operated so is fully portable and it runs at a speed of 19000 rpm. Made from quality stainless steel this lightweight milk frother ticks all the boxes – durable, easy to use and easy to clean you’re sure to love having this product in your kitchen repertoire. Plus, with this milk frother, you will receive a complimentary e-Book with recipes ideas for your milk frother. PowerLix also offers a 100% money-back guarantee so if you aren’t happy with the product you will not have wasted your money.
#Milk_frother #PowerLix #Foam #Latte #Barista_coffee #Happy_mornings #Quality
#6 Best Milk Frother for Frappes: Zulay Kitchen High Powered Handheld
This stylish milk frother from Zulay Kitchen comes in 4 different colors: black, teal, hot pink and ruby red. With a color to suit all tastes this milk frother really adds an attractive touch to your kitchen and morning routine. As well as being attractive it is also super functional, made out of stainless steel with a high quality and efficient motor this milk frother rotates over 200 times a second – ensuring your milk is frothed to perfection. If you love an iced frappe then this frother will certainly do the job – a welcome addition to a sunny afternoon in the garden.
In addition to frothing milk, this multipurpose frother can also be used for mixing protein power shakes, aerate eggs and whipping up delicious hot chocolates. Clean the whisk head easily in hot water but make sure you don’t get the base wet. Treat yourself to this milk frother and enjoy barista-style drinks from the comfort of your home. What’s more, Zulay Kitchen are so confident in the quality of their product that it comes with a lifetime guarantee so you’ve got nothing to lose.
#Zulay_Kitchen #Milk_frother #Stainless_steel #Lifetime_guarantee #Frappes #Delicious
Best Jug Style Milk Frother 2022
#1 Best Stainless Steel Jug Milk Frother: Miroco Milk Frother
Miroco are a top-brand and with this milk frother, you know that quality is assured. With this jug milk frother all the hard work is done for you – simply pour in your milk of choice (be it traditional cow’s milk or your choice of nut milk). With three different settings, you can choose to froth cold milk, heat, and froth cold milk or just simply heat up cold milk. With this variety, you will be able to make a range of delicious milk-based drinks with the click of a button.
To use this milk frother all you need to do is pour in the milk to the specified level and turn it on. If you are frothing milk it will take less than 2 minutes – the perfect amount of time for you to prepare your espresso. There is the added bonus that this product automatically switches off when it has finished frothing so you don’t need to worry if you need to pop out of the kitchen. This milk frother can also be cleaned very easily by simply running the jug under the tap after use.
#Miroco #Electric_milk_frother #Foam #Perfect_milk #Coffee #Breakfast #Automatic
#2 Best Breville Milk Frother: Breville BMF600XL Milk Café Milk Frother
This state of the art milk frother from Breville is not only of supreme quality it is also beautifully designed to be a stylish addition to your kitchen. With this milk frother, you won’t end up with a bubble bath of foam rather a creamy luxurious milk that will create the most delicious and satisfying milk-based coffees. Included with the milk frother are a cappuccino and latte disk so that you can froth milk that is either thick and creamy or smooth and silky to make your drink of choice.
With this jug style milk frother you can also make hot chocolate directly in the jug – simply add a little cocoa powder or chocolate flakes to the frothing milk and create the most delicious treat. This milk frother will turn off automatically when the milk is ready and you can make up to 3 cups of milk at the same time – great if you are a family of coffee lovers! Plus, the jug is completely dishwasher safe so is super easy to clean. There is a lot to love about this milk frother!
#Breville #Milk_frother_jug #Hot_chocolate #Cappuccino #Latte #Creamy #Delicious
#3 Best Electric Milk Frother: SAYESO Milk Frother, Electric Milk Steamer
Whether you love an iced frappe or a steaming cappuccino to wake you up in the morning this excellent electric milk frother from SAYESO can deliver the goods. It can froth 150ml of milk at a time and has a heating capacity of 300ml if you simply want some hot milk. This speedy milk frother can froth milk in just a minute to ensure that you aren’t waiting long for your fresh morning coffee.
Made out of stainless steel with a vacuum insulation interior this quality milk frother will keep your milk warm for a while. It is also easy to clean and comes with a free cleaning brush to help you keep the jug in tip-top condition – but make sure that you clean the jug directly after use to avoid dried milk which is hard to remove. You’re sure to also love the design of this milk frother which will be an attractive addition to any kitchen. Get yours today and we’re sure you won’t be disappointed!
#Milk_frother_jug #SAYESO #Frappe #Iced_coffee #Insulated #Cappuccino #Milk_warmer
#4 Best Milk Frother for Hot Chocolate: Secura 4-in-1 Automatic Milk Frother
This milk frother from Secura is a great choice if you’re a hot chocolate lover. Coming in at a great price this multipurpose milk frother will bring joy to all the family – whether they love coffee, hot chocolate or a comforting hot milk, it has all the bases covered. With a 250ml capacity, this simple to use milk frother will perfectly froth your milk with a click of the button. If you want to make hot chocolate simply pour in your milk of choice and add either cocoa or chocolate flakes.
This milk frother is also a great choice if you are after a cold frothy beverage – it has a setting to cater to this too. You will also love the fact that this milk frothing jug is 100% dishwasher safe – saving you time and effort. The safety trigger on this jug ensures that the jug switches off as soon as the milk is ready – so no need to worry about forgetting to turn it off.
#Secura #Milk_frothing_jug #Hot_chocolate_maker #Multipurpose #Large_capacity #Electric
Conclusion
It’s clear to see that there is far more to milk frothing than at first meets the eye. Fortunately, there is a whole range of ways to froth milk so no matter your budget you will be able to find a way to recreate the coffee shop experience in your home. In fact, if you can make coffee at home to barrister level, then you can save an incredible amount over the course of a year given the increasing costs of coffee and our ever-growing appetite for the delicious dark nectar.
On this list, you will find our favorite handheld frothers for those with a lower budget, less space, or who want a quick an easy way to froth, as well as jug style frothers that have better functionality, can heat up and cool milk, and work better with all the different types of milk which can be more challenging for handheld frothers. So, go get brewing, frothing, and most importantly sipping!
See more maybe you are interested click here.