We nurses need our coffee, but getting your morning latte or cappuccino at your nearest coffee house may be a delicious way to start your day. Still, you may notice that it might be an expensive habit.
Milk frothers allow you to recreate those creamy, silky drinks at home and turn your morning ritual or afternoon pick-me-up into a mindful and pleasurable moment.
However, there are plenty of milk frothers to choose from and many details to take into consideration, including size, portability, capacity, and price.
Here are the 10 best milk frothers of 2020.
Price: $$$
With its 25-ounce (740-mL) jug capacity, this Breville frother offers the largest milk capacity among the frothers on this list, allowing you to prepare multiple frothy drinks at once.
Aside from the jug, it includes two whisks — one for frothing and one for heating — and an electric base with multiple temperature settings that range from cold to extremely hot, which helps satisfy various temperature preferences
Another unique feature offered by the Breville frother is the small opening on its lid, which allows you to add spices, such as cinnamon or powdered chocolate, while heating and frothing the milk.
It also works with nondairy milks and is surprisingly quiet while frothing. Plus, the jug is dishwasher safe because all of the electric parts are conveniently placed on the electric base.
While its large milk capacity may be an appealing feature for some, the minimum amount of milk required for frothing is 6 ounces (177 mL). This may lead to waste if you’re preparing a single standard 8-ounce (240-mL) cup.
The frother comes with a 1-year limited warranty. Most of the parts and accessories are also available in case you need to replace them.
Price: $
If you’re looking for an automatic frother at an affordable price, the Secura Automatic Electric Frother and Warmer will not disappoint.
It offers an 8.5-ounce (250-mL) frothing capacity and includes both heating and frothing whisks, along with a cleaning brush for the latter.
This frother comes with a single temperature setting that’s not adjustable and features vacuum insulation to preserve the heat. Still, a common user complaint is that it may burn a thin layer of milk at the bottom.
This frother also comes with an electric base, but because the frother’s pitcher is built in with its electrical parts, it’s not dishwasher safe.
However, its non-stick interior makes it easy to clean despite the potential layer of burnt milk.
It also works with nondairy milk alternatives, makes little to no sound while frothing, and has a 2-year warranty.
Price: $$$
The Nestle Nespresso Aeroccino 4 offers simplicity, convenience, and long-lasting foam.
This frother comes with four settings — cold or hot and froth or extra froth — with just one whisk, meaning that you don’t have to swap them or worry about misplacing the second one.
Additionally, despite being electrical, you may submerge it in water or clean it in a dishwasher.
Also, the pitcher comes with a small lip to make pouring easier, and it makes almost no sound while frothing.
However, in this case, convenience comes at a price, making it the most expensive frother on this list while having a lower milk capacity — 4 ounces (120 mL) for frothing and 8 ounces (240 mL) for heating.
Lastly, the frother comes with a 2-year warranty.
Price: $
The Bodum Bistro Electric Milk Frother delivers dense and creamy foam while having the lowest price among the electric frothers on this list.
This unit also includes two main parts — the power base and electrical pitcher — and only one whisk for hot foam, or a heating only option for both dairy and nondairy milk.
It features a 10-ounce (295-mL) heating capacity, and about half of that for frothing. Unlike the other electric frothers on this list, the Bodum Bistro doesn’t deliver cold foam.
One distinctive feature of the Bodum Bistro is that it can heat your milk to 158°F (70°C). If the milk is left in the pitcher and the temperature drops to 122°F (50°C), it will automatically start operating again to re-heat or re-froth it.
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While this frother isn’t dishwasher safe, you may fill it with water and a bit of soap up to the maximum heating mark and run it to allow the soapy water to clean it. After that, you only have to rinse it with enough water to remove any soap residue.
Lastly, this frother boasts a 2-year limited warranty.
Price: $$
The Capresso Froth Plus mixes the large capacity of the Secura frother and the convenience of the Nespresso Aeroccino 4 at a moderate price.
Like most automatic frothers, it comes with an electric base and removable pitcher with a maximum milk capacity of 8 ounces (240 mL) for frothing and 12 ounces (355 mL) for heating.
As for the convenience part, the pitcher is made out of a scratch-resistant material while also being dishwasher safe.
Another distinctive feature of the Capresso frother is that it comes with three discs total, two for frothing and one for heating — unlike others, which include only one or two.
However, a frequent user complaint is its relatively short life span of just over 1 year, with defects that may not be covered by its 1-year limited warranty.
Price: $
The Aerolatte handheld milk frother has a portable and compact design that easily fits in any drawer.
It also comes with a counter stand, and protective cases are available as well.
This battery-operated frother has a long wand with a frothing whisk at the end and an on-off switch. It’s made out of stainless steel and available in four colors.
While it froths all types of milk — including nondairy types — you must heat the milk beforehand, because unlike an electric frother, this one won’t heat the milk for you.
Also, make sure to turn it on when the whisk is completely submerged in the milk to avoid splashing it all over the kitchen counter.
Additionally, it may double as a multipurpose whisking tool that can be used to make sauces and dressings.
This frother is a budget-friendly choice, very easy to clean, and comes with a counter stand and 2-year warranty.
Price: $
The Kuissential Slickfroth 2.0 is another low budget, lightweight milk frother that delivers a delicate foam.
This frother is battery-operated as well but has a powerful motor that vibrates all the way up to the handle.
Instead of having an on-off switch, the Kuissential Slickfroth has a single button at the top of the handle, which you should press and hold to get it to froth.
Once you’re done, just place the whisk in soapy water and pulse a couple of times to clean it.
Just like the Aerolatte frother, this one works with all types of milk but doesn’t heat them.
It can also be used to mix powders, such as matcha or chocolate, into the milk or prepare any other recipe that needs whisking.
Lastly, this frother boasts a 2-year warranty but doesn’t come with a counter stand.
Price: $
The PowerLix Milk Pro handheld frother is yet another elegant and compact frother that creates a creamy foam in about 20 seconds.
This one is also available in three colors: black, silver, and red — although only the black one includes a counter stand.
It has an ergonomic handle with a button that you press and hold to froth the milk — just like the Kuissential frother. The whisk is also made out of stainless steel, and it needs AA batteries to operate.
Plus, the PowerLix Milk Pro frother works with nondairy milk alternatives to make both hot or cold drinks, but note that just like the other handheld frothers, you’ll have to heat the milk beforehand.
Lastly, this frother offers a 100% lifetime warranty for a low price.
Price: $
The HIC Milk Creamer Frother is an excellent alternative if you’re looking for a frother that doesn’t require batteries or electricity — although it does take a bit of extra work, compared with the electric ones.
It’s completely made out of stainless steel, and the lid has a wire whisk with a handle that you manually pump up and down roughly 20 times to froth the milk.
Again, you’ll need to heat the milk first and then add it to the frother.
Alternatively, due to its heat-resistant material, you could place it directly onto the stovetop and heat the milk straight in it — although some users report that this may lead to an overheated bottom that may burn the milk. It also works with cold milk.
It has a generous 14-ounce (414-mL) milk capacity and froths nondairy milks as well.
Additionally, it’s very easy to clean, as well as dishwasher safe.
Lastly, this manual frother comes at an affordable price and with a 2-year warranty.
Price: $
The Norpro Glass Froth Master is an economical alternative for a manual frother. It also provides you with simplicity and convenience.
Its beaker is made out of glass, so you get to see how much foam you’ve got, and it comes with a stainless steel lid that holds the wire pump.
It has a 16-ounce (480-mL) milk capacity — the second largest milk capacity among the frothers on this list — and it also froths hot and cold dairy and nondairy milks.
Another unique feature of the Norpro frother is that it’s microwave and dishwasher safe, as it’s made out of glass.
However, that might also be its major downside, as it’s more delicate and has a higher risk of breaking.
There are multiple variables you should take into account when choosing a milk frother, including:
Price. Handheld and manual frothers are generally on the cheaper side but still deliver excellent results.
Size and portability. Electric and manual frothers are considerably larger than the handheld ones, but handheld and manual frothers work perfectly anywhere you go.
Types of milk. All three types of frothers work with dairy and nondairy milks, but overall, it’s best to use full fat milk when using a manual frother to get more foam.
Temperature. Electric frothers may be more convenient when it comes to temperature, as they heat the milk for you, although all three types of frothers will froth hot milk just fine.
Ease of cleaning. Manual frothers are probably the easiest to clean since you don’t need to worry about getting the handle or electronics wet, as is the case with handheld and most electric frothers.
Ease of use. If you’re looking for a frother that does the full job for you, an electric frother may be your best pick — followed by the handheld ones.
Once you have decided which type of frother best suits your need, you’ll have plenty of options to choose from.
To Conclude
Milk frothers will have you enjoying homemade lattes and cappuccinos at the push of a button.
If you’re interested in buying one, consider reviewing the features that are most important to you, such as counter or drawer space, whether its easy to use and clean, price, and if it works well with your milk of choice.
Once you have set your frothing priorities, you’ll find numerous options that can be divided into different functional categories, including electrical, handheld, or manual frothers.
Ultimately, they’ll all deliver a silky and creamy foam to top your favorite drink.