Best Milk Frothers

Being able to froth your own milk at home is one of the many ways that our coffee-drinking lives have changed over the last decade or so. If you have a decent frother, you open up a whole host of different possibilities, and you can truly bring the coffee shop to your kitchen.

The ability to make cappuccinos, lattes, flat whites, as well as the many variations of milky coffee drinks, in your own home rather than having to head out to a Starbucks or Costa and spending a few pounds every time, is a real game-changer.

While at one time a milk frother was considered to be a premium luxury item, the recent boom in the popularity of coffee has meant that there are now plenty of different options available, and at much more affordable prices. Having a milk frother in your home has never been such a realistic option.

There is such a wide selection of options, though, that it can be difficult to determine which one is the right one for you – but don’t worry. In this list below we will look at some of the best milk frothers available today to help you decide.

Before we get on to that, though, let’s have a quick look at what you should be looking for in a frother – if you want more info then be sure to check out the information on making the perfect froth at bottom of this article.

Different Types Of Milk Frother

There are a few different types of milk frother, and it may depend on how you make your coffee when it comes to determining which type is best for you. Many people with pod coffee machines prefer to make their own frothed milk, even though the Tassimo and Dolce Gusto machines can provide pods to supply your frothed milk. This can be expensive, for what is essentially powdered milk, so you might want a frother. The frothers that are easiest to use are the electric cylinders that you just pour the milk in and press a button – they tend to go hand-in-hand with pod machines, just because they seem to fit the concept of pod machines – complex drinks made easy.

Of course, these tend to be a bit more expensive, and you don’t always have the same amount of control – you get the same result every time, but little room for experimentation. There is also the option of the foaming wands/whisks, though, which are designed more like the ones you see on espresso machines in cafés and restaurants. You are in control with these, and can get the consistency exactly how you like it, but getting it right every time does take a fair bit of practice.

There are also manual frothers. These tend to be the cheapest, and they do give you plenty of control, but are much more time consuming and physically demanding to use!

Our 9 Best Milk Frothers

With all this in mind, let us delve into our list of best milk frothers to help you find the best choice for your kitchen.

Lavazza A Modo Mio Milk Easy Frother

The first milk frother on our list is this offering from Italian coffee giants, Lavazza – they’ve been making coffee and coffee related products since 1895, and have established themselves as one of the most reliable and fashionable coffee brands around today.

This is a great product to look at first, as it really shows you how simple things can be when it comes to frothing milk. With this gadget, all you need to do is pour the amount of milk that you require into the cylinder, pop on the lid and press the button (once for cappuccino foam, twice for latte/flat white foam or hold for three seconds for cold foamy milk). That’s all there is to it and within 20-30 seconds your milk is ready.

If you wanted to just heat your milk, rather than frothing, you can simply remove the magnetic whisk before you pour in the milk – that way the milk won’t be whipped around the cylinder, it will just absorb the heat.

The cylinder fits on to a small base, which is plugged into the mains – again a very simple design and process. There is a transparent lid, so you could halt the process once you have the desired texture, but to be honest, that is quite tricky to do so you’re better off just trusting the settings on the machine to get your optimum milk.

It’s not huge, which is great for storing it away in a cupboard, but it does mean that you only tend to get one cup’s worth each time – if you regularly make more than one or two drinks at a time, you might be better off with a larger frother.

I love the versatility with the different settings, and it is so simple to use. This type of machine tends to be more expensive, and that is the case here, but you get a really good product for your money.

Check The Latest Price Of Lavazza Milk Frother

Nobebird Electric Milk Frother

Another easy-to-use option for you now – this one from a company called Nobebird, a company from China that specialise in electrical gadgets.

First of all, before we get into what it can do, a little note about how this looks. I really like the traditional feel of this very modern product – it looks just like a normal milk jug at first glance, and then you see what it can do! The handle is a great feature, not just for the aesthetics.

The functionality is quite similar to that of the Lavazza frother above, in that there are three settings (you get Hot Milk, Hot Milk Froth and Cold Milk Froth here), and the jug sits on a power base which you plug into the mains. There are two separate whisks with this frother though; one on the bottom of the jug which does the frothing and one on the underside of the lid which does the heating.

You can froth up to 350ml of milk at a time, which is double the capacity of the Lavazza. This is great if you tend to make more than one drink at a time. It is still quite compact, though, so it is easy to store away when you’re not using it.

In terms of price, it is at the cheaper end of the scale for a frother like this – something I put down to the fact that Nobebird is not exactly a household name. It is a fine product though, and at the price, could be a good product to go for if you’d like to test the waters with a milk frother.

Check The Latest Price Of Nobebird Milk Frother

Dualit 84135 Triple Function Milk Frother

Next up we have another electric jug-style milk frother from kitchenware specialists Dualit, who are known around the world for their innovation and style.

As you might expect it’s another very nice looking machine – a more contemporary style than the Nobebird, with a stylish and sleek finish, it would certainly look at home in most kitchens. I love the handle as well, which not only looks great but it also gives you so much more control over your pour which is essential if you’re trying to create coffee art.

In terms of the functionality, as the name suggests it is another frother that has three settings – in this case we are looking at steamed milk, hot frothed milk or cold frothed milk. This is all controlled by the one button at the bottom of the jug – it is so simple to use.

This is the largest frother that we’ve looked at so far, with a capacity for 500ml of hot frothed milk. It’s great for dinner parties, as you can heat the milk and then take the jug over to the table for your guests.

This is towards the higher end of the price scale that we have looked at so far, but it is fully justified – this is a great looking accessory, that does the job well every time and is made by one of the most trustworthy brands around. Definitely one for your shortlist.

Check The Latest Price Of The Dualit Milk Frother

Bodum 1446-01 Latteo Milk Frother

Something a little bit different now from Bodum – the Danish homeware company that has built itself a fine reputation within the coffee industry since they were created in 1944.

This is the first manual milk frother on our list, and we feel this is one of the best ones on the market today. It is quite an unassuming little unit, looking quite a lot like a small cafetiere with the simple glass handle arching out from the cylindrical jug. It just blends into the surrounding area so would fit nicely into most kitchens and is certainly small enough to store away when it is not being used.

Now onto the fun bit – the frothing. All you need to do is pour milk into the jug and then plunge down with the handle to start the process. How often you plunge will depend on how you want your milk and what type of milk you are using but around 90 times should give you a nice, light foam.

Of course, your milk won’t be warm at this stage. This is easily solved by putting the jug into the microwave for 45 seconds, or so. The jug, of course, is microwave safe, as well as being dishwasher safe.

It’s a quick process, but obviously more physically demanding than just pressing a button. This is reflected in the price though, with this Bodum frother being available at a much cheaper price than any of the electrical ones that we’ll look at today. If you’re interested in frothing your milk the old fashioned way, this could be the one for you.

Check The Latest Price Of The Bodum Milk Frother

KitchenCraft Le’Xpress Electric Milk Frother Whisk

Another change of direction now with our first whisk – this from Le’Xpress, part of the KitchenCraft family of brands.

As you will have already noticed, this is quite a bit different to the other products that we’ve looked at so far. This is a whisk that you put into the milk, rather than you putting the milk into the frother.

It’s still incredibly easy to use, though. All you need to do is fill a jug with the required amount of milk, and then place the whisk into the milk and hit the button. There is a bit of an art to getting the foam absolutely perfect, and you may want to experiment with different consistencies for different types of milk – there are loads of instructional videos on the internet to help.

You get so much control over your drink, with a little bit of practice you can make it exactly how you like it. Obviously the whisk doesn’t heat the milk though, so it will need a quick blast in a microwave to get to the desired temperature.

As it is powered by two AA batteries, you don’t need to worry about plugs or charging it up. It’s easy to store it when you are not using it, and you can even take it away with you, either to the office or on holiday.

This is one of the cheapest products that we are looking at on this list, the price of around two cups of coffee at Starbucks. At this price, it makes sense to get one, even as a backup to a more expensive option.

Check The Latest Price Of The Le 'Xpress Whisk

Severin SM 3586 Induction Milk Frother

From one extreme to the other now, as we take a look at one of the most expensive milk frothers available on the market, this spectacular product from Severin, a German electrical product manufacturer.

This is something that really provides the Wow Factor to your coffee setup. It combines the ease of use that you get with many of the electrical cylinder frothers, with the control that you get from the whisks.

You can set the temperature of your milk to anything between 45-60 degrees centigrade with the Easy-Select rotary control – just turn the dial to your preferred temperature. You’ll also be able to see what stage you are at while it is working.

The milk jug insert is big enough for 700ml of hot frothed milk, which is much bigger than most of the competition. You can even open the lid and pop in some other ingredients during the process, such as chocolate, if you are experimenting with different drinks.

One of the unique selling points of this frother is the ability to make really nice hot chocolates from whole pieces of chocolate. I appreciate this is a coffee review site, but this is a fantastic feature and I really would recommend trying it out.

I have barely scratched the surface of how wonderful this frother is, but all of this does come at a price – this is much more expensive than any of the other products we’ve looked at. If you are looking for a milk frother to really impress, I’m not sure you could beat this one.

Check The Latest Price Of The Severin Milk Frother

SG Coffee Frother

Another handheld whisk now, this one produced by SG Coffee – another company that I hadn’t come across before looking at this product.

This whisk boasts ‘advanced power’ with 19,000RPM, which allows you to whisk up your milk incredibly fast – you can get a decent foam in just 30 seconds with the right milk. This is also helped by the fact that there is a double-headed spring-whisk, which again increases the efficiency of your whisking.

Like the other hand held whisk we looked at earlier, this is powered by two AA batteries, which again means that you don’t worry about plugging it in, and makes it incredibly easy to take away with you.

As a whisk, it is also incredibly versatile – it doesn’t just need to be used for making milky coffees. You can use it to make egg dishes, milkshakes, smoothies etc, just like any other whisk. It is really easy to use, and the handle is so comfortable to hold, you can whisk for quite a long time!

You get a lot of control with whisks like this, which a lot of people prefer. If you’re particular about exactly how to have your milk, a whisk might be the best option for you. While slightly more expensive than the Le’Xpress whisk, this is still much cheaper than any of the other products we have looked at on this list – it’s a great option for people that would get use out of a whisk for more than just their coffees.

Check The Latest Price Of The SG Coffee Frother

Swan Automatic Milk Frother And Warmer

Back to the more contemporary style of milk frother now, but from a well-established company – British kitchen appliance manufacturers, Swan who have been making high quality goods for over 100 years.

You can tell from the first glance that this is a quality, well made product. The classic stainless steel finish, coupled with the stylish light indicators  and matt-black handle give this frother a feel of the traditional and modern coming together.

In terms of performance, this is a powerful little unit. It takes just 80 seconds to turn cold water into warm, using the powerful 500W motor, and you can vary the temperature from the standard setting of 65 degrees. There are two attachments, one for frothing and one for warming, which you can use at the same time to heat and froth – just make sure that you don’t overfill, or you will end up with hot milk everywhere!

At a price point that is at the lower-mid range for a milk frother of this kind, I would say that this is an excellent option for you, particularly if you only tend to make one cup of frothy coffee a day, as it is quite small. Certainly one to consider if it fits your needs.

Check The Latest Price Of The Swan Frother And Warmer

SHARDOR Anti-Splash Electric Milk Frother

We complete our list of best milk frothers with this classic design from global kitchen appliance manufacturers Shardor.

I really like the design of this one – it looks like a little kettle, and would certainly look at home in most kitchens. The smooth curves give it a classic, homely feel, and the simple, crisp white colour with touches of silver and a flash of style.

We’ve looked at a few frothers that offer the three functions that this model offers – warm frothed milk, cold frothed milk or just warm milk. These three settings are triggered by pressing the button (once for warm frothed, twice for warm milk and press three times for cold frothed).

We like to provide you with options, so while the functionality may not differ from some of the other products, the look and feel of this Shardor product does – it is easy to use and comfortable to hold and pour (giving you more control over any coffee art that you want to attempt).

This is at the lower-mid price range of the products that we’ve looked at today, and it performs really well. I would seriously consider this if you are after a frother that doesn’t break the bank, is easy to use and looks the part. It ticks all of those boxes.

Check The Latest Price Of The SHARDOR Milk Frother

How To Choose A Milk Frother

Whichever milk frother that you end up buying, it will serve two main functions. The ‘frothing’ aspect is when it turns your milk from a liquid into a thick, creamy foam. This is often achieved by whizzing the milk around with a coiled whisk, or by pushing steam through it. This aeration process produces tiny bubbles that increase the volume of the milk, while at the same time making the texture much lighter.

The other thing a milk frother will achieve, is that it will heat your milk. A wise man once told me – “you should never put cold milk in coffee”. Basically, this is because cold milk will smother the flavour of your coffee, while also taking away a lot of the heat. It’s not just a case of bunging in any old hot milk though – milk starts to burn at around 70 degrees celsius, which will obviously affect the taste. The optimum range is around the 60-65 degree mark, this is warm enough to compliment the heat and taste of the coffee, but without burning your milk.

When looking at milk frothers, make sure that they perform well at these two functions – this is the minimum that you will require, and it’s important that they get the basics right before you think about other features.

Best Milk Choices For Frothing

Different types of milk will react in slightly different ways when you use them with a milk frother. Your milk choice may be influenced by diet or lifestyle choice, but there are so many different options these days, it’s important to spend a little time learning about what results you can expect from the different types of  milk.

If you are a dairy milk drinker, then whole milk is undoubtedly the best milk that you can get when it comes to frothing. Whole milk has the right consistency to give you a smooth microfoam, without being too heavy or creamy – it’s just the right balance. It is also the best type of dairy milk if you want to experiment with ‘coffee art’ – creating different patterns on the top of your coffee. While you can use semi skimmed, or even skimmed, you will find that the bubbles you get are quite large, and the foam has a more defined texture, so the drink you end up with isn’t quite as smooth as with whole milk.

There are plenty of non-dairy alternatives to milk – it is a market that is expanding at an incredible rate at the moment, with more people avoiding dairy for all manner of reasons. The best ones that I have found have been oat milk or almond milk. Both of these types of milk offer really authentic foam, they have the right consistency and texture to create a really smooth drink. You don’t have to look too hard to find ‘barista’ versions of these drinks either – these are specifically designed for using with a milk frother, so well worth seeking out.

Soy milk is another good option, but you may find it difficult to create much in the way of coffee art with soy – it just doesn’t quite have a strong enough consistency, but the taste is great. While you can use coconut, cashew or even macadamia, we found that these aren’t great when used in a frother, so I would recommend sticking with oat or almond, where possible.