How To Choose The Best Milk Frother – Complete Buyers Guide How To Choose The Best Milk Frother – Complete Buyers Guide
How To Choose The Best Milk Frother – Complete Buyers Guide

The UK has become a nation of coffee lovers. We just can’t get enough of cappuccinos, lattes and Cafe Mochas – to name just a few of our favourites. So, it’s no surprise that many of us have taken to recreating the coffee shop experience at home. And, one of the most affordable ways to do this is to buy a milk frother.

These handy little gadgets are a very viable way to create milk-based coffees at home for a fraction of the cost of buying a coffee machine or paying for coffees in Starbucks or Costa every day. In fact, you can pick up a basic unit for as little as £5 – £10 right up to fully featured units which cost around £100 – and everything else in-between. There really is something for everyone.

What is a Milk Frother?

In its simplest form a milk frother is a whisk which can be used to aerate milk into a rich, creamy foam. Some units will heat and foam the milk at the same time for a hands-off experience. Whilst others need to be heated on stoves or in the microwave and then manually frothed to produce a foam.

No matter how the frother you choose prepares the milk, the end result is the same: you’ll have a convenient facility in your home to prepare almost any kind of milk-based coffee for literally pennies each time.

Milk Frother Comparison Table

Preview:
Lavazza A Modo Mio Milk Up Frother, Stainless Steel Container, Black
Low Price
aerolatte Milk Frother with Storage Tube, Black, Stainless Steel
Our Top Pick
Jura 24029 Automatic Hot and Cold Milk Frother, Stainless Steel, 650 W, Black/Chrome
Dualit 84135 Triple Function Milk Frother - Make Hot/Cold Froth in 70 Seconds - Easy Clean 500ml Heat Milk Frother Machine - Removable Mess Free Milk Whisk - Plastic, Black
Severin Induction Milk frother with Capacity 700 ml and with 500 W of Power SM 9688, Brushed Stainless Steel-Black
Bialetti Tuttocrema Aluminium, Black, 6 Cups, 1L
Name:
Lavazza 18200057
Aerolatte Milk Frother
Jura 24029
Dualit 84145
Severin SM9688
Bialetti Tuttocrema Milk Frother
Type:
Electric
Handheld
Electric
Electric
Electric
Stovetop
Heats Milk:
Yes - On stove
Heat Without Frothing:
Max Frothing Capacity:
120ml
Variable
340ml
500ml
350ml
313ml
Preview:
Lavazza A Modo Mio Milk Up Frother, Stainless Steel Container, Black
Name:
Lavazza 18200057
Type:
Electric
Heats Milk:
Heat Without Frothing:
Max Frothing Capacity:
120ml
Check Price:
Buyers Guide:
Low Price
Preview:
aerolatte Milk Frother with Storage Tube, Black, Stainless Steel
Name:
Aerolatte Milk Frother
Type:
Handheld
Heats Milk:
Heat Without Frothing:
Max Frothing Capacity:
Variable
Check Price:
Buyers Guide:
Our Top Pick
Preview:
Jura 24029 Automatic Hot and Cold Milk Frother, Stainless Steel, 650 W, Black/Chrome
Name:
Jura 24029
Type:
Electric
Heats Milk:
Heat Without Frothing:
Max Frothing Capacity:
340ml
Check Price:
Buyers Guide:
Preview:
Dualit 84135 Triple Function Milk Frother - Make Hot/Cold Froth in 70 Seconds - Easy Clean 500ml Heat Milk Frother Machine - Removable Mess Free Milk Whisk - Plastic, Black
Name:
Dualit 84145
Type:
Electric
Heats Milk:
Heat Without Frothing:
Max Frothing Capacity:
500ml
Check Price:
Buyers Guide:
Preview:
Severin Induction Milk frother with Capacity 700 ml and with 500 W of Power SM 9688, Brushed Stainless Steel-Black
Name:
Severin SM9688
Type:
Electric
Heats Milk:
Heat Without Frothing:
Max Frothing Capacity:
350ml
Check Price:
Buyers Guide:
Preview:
Bialetti Tuttocrema Aluminium, Black, 6 Cups, 1L
Name:
Bialetti Tuttocrema Milk Frother
Type:
Stovetop
Heats Milk:
Yes - On stove
Heat Without Frothing:
Max Frothing Capacity:
313ml
Check Price:
Buyers Guide:

Prices & information last updated on 2021-09-13

Milk Frother Reviews: Your guide to the best 6 in the UK

Lavazza 18200057 Milk Frother

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Lavazza A Modo Mio Milk Up Frother, Stainless Steel Container, BlackLavazza A Modo Mio Milk Up Frother, Stainless Steel Container, BlackLavazza A Modo Mio Milk Up Frother, Stainless Steel Container, Black

Who said creamy cappuccinos, lattes, mochas, and the rest are beverages you can only enjoy by spending a couple of bucks at your favourite coffee shop? With an automatic milk frother at home, you can enjoy all the cups you want of various specialty coffees. And, after researching what the market has to offer and comparing different products, we have come up with a shortlist of what we believe are some of the best milk frothers available today.

Second on our list is the Lavazza 18200057. This glossy black milk frother with a touch of black and chrome not only looks great but is also an expert at what it does. It operates quietly, lets you know when your frothed milk is ready and can be used to make more than just coffee at a time. To help you familiarize yourself with the Lavazza 18200057 Milk Frother, we delve into its various features below as well as a quick overview on how to get the device up and running.

How to Use the Lavazza 18200057

Lavazza A Modo Mio Milk Up Frother, Stainless Steel Container, Black

One thing to love about the Lavazza 18200057 Milk Frother is that it is designed to be easy to use. It features a very simple design of 3 major components – a lid with a crown-holding slot (which is what Lavazza refers to the stirring/whisk attachments as), a milk container with handle, and a milk frother base with a power cable attached to it. Also included are a couple of accessories (a notched & a smooth crown), which lend the appliance versatile functionality.

The icing on the cake however, is the fact that the Lavazza 1820057 only has one multifunction button that turns the device on & off and prepares your milk in almost anyway you need it! Therefore, whether you are a tech whiz or not, you will have this milk frother mastered in no time.

Setting the 18200057 is also very easy. All you need to do is simply connect the power cable at the base of the appliance to an earthed socket. How you proceed from here will depend on what you want to make…

To make hot frothed milk – Place the notched crown at the base of the milk jug and then proceed to add milk to your desired quantity. The jug has 2 clear markings for maximum and minimum levels. After that, place the milk jug over the Lavazza 18200057 milk frother’s base and cover with its lid, then press the multifunction button once & quickly. The appliance will automatically start heating the milk until it achieves optimum drinking temperature and a perfect milk-to-foam ratio. When the milk is ready, an audible beep will sound, so you can easily walk away and make the rest of your coffee as the milk froths.
When making cold frothed milk – Follow the same procedure but use the smooth crown instead. You must also press the multifunction button for at least 3 seconds before releasing to activate the cold frothing function. A beep will announce when your cold milk is ready to pour.

How Easy is it to Clean?

All parts of the Lavazza 18200057 are removable, so you will have an easy time cleaning the appliance. In fact, the lid, notches, and milk jug are all dishwasher safe. As for the base, wiping with a damp cloth is all that is required to keep it clean.

Is There Anything Else You Need to Know?

Other noteworthy aspects to know about this milk frother include:

It comes from a giant manufacturer: Lavazza is a famous Italian brand with 120 years of experience in making coffee. Their expertise is passed down onto this milk frother, allowing you to enjoy superb coffee as well as tasty milkshakes, cocoa, and more.
Operates quietly: Thanks to an induction motor, this appliance froths your milk quietly.
Available in different looks: Aside from the beautiful black model featured here, the Lavazza 18200057 also comes in stylish red and white colours.
Features a small milk jug: With a maximum and minimum capacity of 180ml & 120ml respectively, the jug of this milk frother is not that big. This means that you will need to use the appliance several times in a row when catering to many people.
Pros
Simple operation
Heats and froths milk
Can prepare cold milk drinks like milkshakes
Milk jug is dishwasher safe
Quiet operation
Cons
No control over the heating temperature of the milk
Can only prepare 120ml of frothed milk at one time

What We Think

It’s hard to go wrong when shopping from a renowned brand and the Lavazza 18200057 is a perfect pick for those looking for a reputable electric milk frother manufacturer. Being a Lavazza product, this appliance has the art of frothing mastered down to a perfect consistency. What’s more, it is simple to operate, easy to clean, relatively affordable, and it will even look great on your kitchen counter-top.

As for the product’s downside of being rather small, we believe that firing up the Lavazza 18200057 milk frother several times, will not seem like much of a sacrifice when you and your family, friends, or guests sit down to enjoy a cup of creamy cappuccino, some hot chocolate goodness, or a glorious milkshake. However, if you want something bigger, feel free to peruse the rest of our milk frother reviews.

Aerolatte Milk Frother

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aerolatte Milk Frother with Storage Tube, Black, Stainless Steelaerolatte Milk Frother with Storage Tube, Black, Stainless Steelaerolatte Milk Frother with Storage Tube, Black, Stainless Steel

Inside its unimposing case, a surprising amount of technology has been packed into the Aerolatte frother. This technology helps the Aerolatte to create consistently good foam every time you use it and ensures the appliance lasts for years. Plus, when you couple this with its incredibly low price point, it is easy to see why it is a firm favourite for coffee lovers.

How Does The Aerolatte Work?

aerolatte Milk Frother with Storage Tube, Black, Stainless Steel

The Aerolatte’s specially designed motor helps ensure the perfect foam every time

The Aerolatte uses specially designed technology designed to help ensure perfect foam and longevity.

The first notable piece of technology is the ‘dry’ rotation speed and torque motor. This might sound a bit confusing and a bit like techno-babble. But, the end result of this improved motor is that you get a better foam using this device when compared to many other battery powered milk frothers. One of the reasons the speed of the motor is important is because, if it spins too quickly or not fast enough, a foam is produced which is a bit like of bubble bath or you end up with foam so dense you need a spoon to eat it. Secondly, the torque is also important because if it is incorrectly set it places excessive demand on the motor, which greatly reduces the life span of the appliance. The Aerolatte overcomes both of these problems ensuring a perfect foam every-time and gives you a reliable frother you’ll be able to depend on for years to come.

How Easy Is It To Clean?

aerolatte Milk Frother with Storage Tube, Black, Stainless Steel

Cleaning is an important consideration for any milk frother and you really don’t get devices much simpler to clean than this. A quick wash under the tap is all that is required to get it spick and span. Every now and then it is recommended to stick the whisk into some hot, soapy water to clean it thoroughly. Drying is equally as simple: switch on for 10 – 15 seconds and the Aerolatte will spin itself dry!

Is There Anything Else I Need To Know?

The construction of this frother has been designed to withstand daily kitchen life. The screws are rust resistant and the battery contacts are nickel coated (which also prevents rust). The case itself is made from ABS. A tough plastic which is used in everything from car bumpers to protective head-gear. So, this device should last for quite some time. Even if it gets more than its fair share of bumps and knocks.

Of course, the downside of owning a battery powered frother it just that; it runs on batteries. So, if you think you’re going to use it a lot, and don’t want it to run out juice half-way through frothing your milk, you may want to invest in rechargeable batteries or buy a mains powered milk frother.

Pros
Low price
Simple to use
Portable and can be used with any jug
Dry rotation speed motor ensures a long life and is perfect for frothing milk
Simple to clean
Cons
Runs on batteries
Milk needs to be heated manually

What We Think

If you’re an occasional coffee drinker then this frother is for you. It is priced incredibly low, is easy to clean and engineered to last for years. We believe this handy gadget is worth getting if you don’t want to splash out on some of the pricier units and just want something to try out making milky coffees at home.

Jura 24029

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Jura 24029 Automatic Hot and Cold Milk Frother, Stainless Steel, 650 W, Black/Chrome

When looking for a milk frother that will allow you to enjoy an instant, pleasingly rich creamy cup of coffee (or 2!), the Jura 24029 should definitely be a top contender to include in your list.

We found this Jura milk frother to be similar to the Lavazza 18200057 in many ways. Both units come from reputable brands plus they are stylish, easy to use, offer multiple functionality, and deliver hot or cold frothed milk at the push of a button. Of course, there are some differences between the two appliances. So, read on to find out what the Jura 24029 has to offer.

How to Use the Jura 24029

One of the appealing aspects we noticed right away about this milk frother is that it has a smart yet simple design. This machine allows you to prepare milk to make everything from caffè lattes and mochas, to hot chocolate and milkshakes. Making it incredibly versatile.

The 24029 comes with a black base and a stainless steel pitcher in chrome finish. An innovative magnetic drive allows the pitcher to stick onto the base while a single button (located at the bottom of the base) activates the different functions of the milk frother.

This appliance also comes with 3 ‘disks’ (these are essentially the whisk and stirring attachments). Two are for frothing (hot & cold) purposes and the last one simply stirrs the milk whilst it is being heated. Between the multi-function button and the 3 disks, using this appliance is pretty straightforward. These 5 simple steps are all you need to follow when frothing or heating your milk.

Insert either a frothing or stirring disk (depending on what you are making) into the pitcher. Keep moving the disk around the centre of the pitcher until you hear it click into place.
Add milk to anywhere between the MIN & MAX measuring marks indicated on the pitcher.
Cover the pitcher.
Attach the pitcher to the base
Hit the power switch connected to the appliance and you are good to go!

The only thing you need to master is how many times to press the setting button that activates various functions. For cold frothed milk, press the button once, twice for warm milk, and three times for hot frothed milk. A pictogram representing the mode you have selected will light up.

After selecting your desired mode, its corresponding symbol on the control panel flashes three times. This machine starts and stops itself automatically, so there is no need to time the frothing duration or worry about scorching the milk. Once it stops running, the illuminated mode on the control panel also goes off, indicating that your milk is ready to serve.

How Easy is it to Clean?

Another great feature to like about the Jura 24029 is that in addition to offering you a quick and zero-mess way of making frothed milk for your drinks, it is also easy to clean. Thanks to the magnet drive between the appliance’s base and milk pitcher, the stainless steel container easily detaches away, allowing you to carry it over to the sink for a quick wash and rinse.

Is There Anything Else You Should Know?

When it comes to build-quality, we found the Jura 24029 to be quite impressive. It has the kind of features that you would only find in quality milk frothing machines. These include:

Compact Build: You will not have to worry about where to store the accessories that come with this milk frother. Thanks to a clever design, the power cord along with 2 disks can be conveniently stored at the bottom of the base unit. The third disk goes inside the pitcher when not in use, allowing you to keep all parts of the Jura 24029 together.

Portable Design: Weighing about 1 kg and standing no taller than 21cm, this Jura milk frother is easily portable, allowing you to take the pitcher to your table and share with friends and family. This coupled with the fact that it powers up with an AC converter or car cigarette lighter means you can take your Jura milk frother on long road trips as well as camping adventures if you wish.

Large Capacity: The MIN & MAX measurement markings on the pitcher are 8oz (236ml) and 12oz (354ml) respectively. Therefore, you can easily make drinks for 2-3 people in one go.

Dual Automatic Shut-off: The milk frother shuts off automatically when done frothing. As an added precaution, you can interrupt the process yourself at any time by simply pressing the device’s button or lifting the milk pitcher from the base.

Pros
Include multiple stirring whisks to froth or stir milk
Simple, one-button operation
Can prepare cold, milk-based drinks
Stainless steel container can be removed for simple cleaner
Compact
Good sized container can prepare milk fro 2-3 drinks at a time
Cons
Slightly slower operation than some other automatic frothers
Can adjust the temperature the milk is heated to

What We Think

The Jura 24029 does what it is advertised to do. It delivers velvety soft frothed milk with perfect consistency. So, you can easily make luscious Starbucks-like beverages from the comfort of your own home. The possibility of making an endless list of other recipes makes it an even more attractive product.

However, you should know that this appliance takes a minute longer than some other machines to froth milk. But this is the only minor drawback we could find in this well-balanced unit.

Dualit 84145

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Dualit 84135 Triple Function Milk Frother - Make Hot/Cold Froth in 70 Seconds - Easy Clean 500ml Heat Milk Frother Machine - Removable Mess Free Milk Whisk - Plastic, BlackDualit 84135 Triple Function Milk Frother - Make Hot/Cold Froth in 70 Seconds - Easy Clean 500ml Heat Milk Frother Machine - Removable Mess Free Milk Whisk - Plastic, BlackDualit 84135 Triple Function Milk Frother - Make Hot/Cold Froth in 70 Seconds - Easy Clean 500ml Heat Milk Frother Machine - Removable Mess Free Milk Whisk - Plastic, Black

One of the first milk frothers we tested was the Dualit 84145. It impressed us with its high-quality build, near silent operation and ease of use. And, despite it not being the most modern unit around, it is still a best seller with a plethora of positive reviews to back it up.

Fitting a profile common to most mid-range milk frothers the 84145 features a base plate on top of which sits a detachable jug. The base of the jug is home to the whisk motor and heating mechanism which is used to prepare the milk poured into the top half. Once the frothing/heating cycle is complete the jug can be removed from the base plate for serving.

How Does It Work?

During our tests, we found that this frother could prepare about 2 decent sized cups of coffee in one frothing cycle – which is about average for a machine of this type. Using the device is very straightforward – simply pour some milk to the fill line, secure the plastic lid to the top and press the button located at the base of the unit once. Then in about 2 minutes you’ll have your hot, frothed milk!

In total there are 3 different modes you can use to prepare your milk. Above I mentioned that a single button press with heat and froth the milk however, the Dualit 84145 has two other modes. The second mode is activated by pressing the button twice. This will cause the indicator light to flash red and, in this mode, it will heat and stir the milk but NOT froth it. To access the final mode you need to press and hold the button for about 2-3 seconds. This causes the indicator light to glow blue and it will froth the milk but NOT heat it.

Inside the jug, there are handy fill lines which prevent you from over or under filling the device. The whisk mechanism is also marked with fill lines. This makes it very easy to see if you have too much milk in the machine and should stop any accidents where the device overflows.

Most milk frothers hold the whisk in place using a spigot in the bottom of the machine. In the Dualit 84145 a magnet very cleverly locks the whisk in place and spins it. This makes just that bit easier to clean because the entire inside of the jug is smooth with no protruding parts to clean around.

Pros
Can prepare milk for up to 2 cups of coffee at a time
Simple operation
3 modes allow you to heat and froth, heat and stir, froth and not heat
Fill lines prevent over/under filling
2 interchangeable whisks for frothing or stirring
Cons
Jug cannot be removed for cleaning

What We Think

Whist there are cheaper alternative you could pick over this Dualit frother it still represents good value for money. It’s small, stylish and prepares milk in only 2 minutes making it ideal for any coffee lover who wants a no-frills, simple machine to make their favourite coffees anytime they want.

Severin SM9688

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Severin Induction Milk frother with Capacity 700 ml and with 500 W of Power SM 9688, Brushed Stainless Steel-BlackSeverin Induction Milk frother with Capacity 700 ml and with 500 W of Power SM 9688, Brushed Stainless Steel-BlackSeverin Induction Milk frother with Capacity 700 ml and with 500 W of Power SM 9688, Brushed Stainless Steel-Black

Not many people outside of Germany are too familiar with Severin products, but their range of milk frothers are causing quite a stir for coffee enthusiasts as more of us take to making our favourite coffee shop drinks at home.

The SM9688 currently represents their flagship frothing product – and it is easy to see why. Its sleek case and compact footprint (measuring around 18cm at the base and 25 cm high) allows it to fit snugly in virtually any kitchen.

Aesthetics aside we were curious to see why so many people are enamored with this unit. Let’s take a look at just what this device can offer.

How Does It Work?

Severin Induction Milk frother with Capacity 700 ml and with 500 W of Power SM 9688, Brushed Stainless Steel-Black

The SM9688 comes with 2 interchangeable whisking/stirring heads and a high quality removable mug for easy serving

One of the things that sets the Severin frother apart from the competition is just how flexible it can be when preparing your milk.

Not only does it come with two interchangeable whisking heads (one for frothing and one for stirring milk) it can also prepare your milk at a range of temperatures. In fact, it can prepare milk cold right up to 65 degrees Celsius.

Whilst this may seem somewhat trivial it does allow you to prepare things such as milkshakes and also get a hotter frothed milk for your coffee. Which is great if, like me, you aren’t partial to the luke-warm cappuccinos you can sometimes get at the coffee shops.

To prepare the milk all you need to do is fill the stainless steel mug to one of two embossed fill lines – one denotes the fill level for frothed milk and the other for simply stirring the milk – and press power button to begin frothing. The supplied plastic lid clips firmly over the mug to prevent any spillages whilst the device is operating.

Once the frothing/stirring cycle is complete the SM9688 emits a series of beeps to let you know your milk is ready and the power button flashes blue.

How Easy Is It To Clean?

Severin Induction Milk frother with Capacity 700 ml and with 500 W of Power SM 9688, Brushed Stainless Steel-Black

A problem with heating milk in a pan is that the direct heat can sometimes cause the milk to burn and stick to the pan – unless you continuously stir throughout the heating process.

To prevent this the SM9688 uses an induction heating system which ensures direct heat is never applied to the stainless steel mug, preventing burning and making the device much easier to clean. In fact, both the stainless steel mug and plastic lid are dishwasher safe and completely removable which makes tidying up afterwards a breeze.

Pros
Flexible temperature control allows you to prepare milk to your liking
Removable jug can be used for serving
Induction based heating prevents scorching of the milk
Removable dishwasher safe parts make the SM9688 easy to clean
Can prepare heated, heated and frothed or cold frothed milk
Cons
Not the cheapest frother available

What We Think

Naturally, with so many useful features and intuitive functions, the SM9688 isn’t the cheapest frother available. But, if you’re looking for a well-built device which is not only easy to clean but can also prepare a lot of your other favourite drinks such as hot chocolate and milk-shakes we believe the SM9688 definitely won’t disappoint.

Bialetti Tuttocrema Milk Frother

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Bialetti Tuttocrema Aluminium, Black, 6 Cups, 1LBialetti Tuttocrema Aluminium, Black, 6 Cups, 1L

Simplicity and sturdiness is the order of the day when it comes to the Bialetti Tuttocrema frother. It’s no fuss, robust design and lack of electronics means it is reliable, and very low maintenance. However, it does come with one major drawback: it does not automatically heat the milk.

If this hasn’t put you off, and you don’t mind manually heating your milk. Let’s see what this frother has to offer.

How Does It Work?

Because you’ll need to heat this on your hob (it’s made of aluminium and can’t go in the microwave) the Tuttocrema is designed to work on a variety of stovetops from gas or electric to ceramic. It also features a non-stick interior which is easy to wipe clean – great if you accidentally scorch the milk a little whilst heating – and it dishwasher safe making it one of the easiest frothers to clean. You can literally bung the entire frother into your dishwasher!

The lack of automation in this device means there are fewer things which could go wrong and the entirety of the device can be used to foam milk because no room is reserved for heating elements or motors. In fact, you can prepare up to 500ml of milk in the Bialetti Tuttocrema. Which should prepare up to six cups of your favourite coffee. This is by far one of the largest capacity frothers we’ve seen.

An increase in the amount of foam you can create at any one time is not the only advantage the manually operated Tuttocrema brings. Because you heat the milk yourself you can get it to the exact temperature of your liking and because you manually froth the milk using the pump handle you can also prepare this to your preferred consistency.

Pros
Solid and robust design
Manually heating allows you to heat the milk to your preferred temperature
Pump action frother allows you to prepare a foam of any consistency
Does not require batteries or plugging in
Large capacity container can prepare milk for up to 6 drinks
Cons
Milk needs manually stirring to prevent it from burning
Needs to be heated manually on a hob (not microwave safe)

What We Think

There’s not a lot wrong with this Tuttocrema, it’s cheap, should last for years and is easy to clean. Plus the Tuttocrema gives you greater control over how the milk is prepared. So, if you don’t mind doing a bit of work to get your frothed milk this device should suit you. However, if you DO want a hands-off device that does everything for you we recommend you check out one of the electric milk frothers in our comparison table.

Your Guide To The Different Kinds Of Milk Frother

If you’ve read our milk frother reviews above you’ll know they come in all shapes and sizes. Here’s our guide to the main types available along with their pros and cons.

Handheld

aerolatte Milk Frother with Storage Tube, Black, Stainless Steel

Inexpensive, but has some drawbacks

Handheld frothers are invariably battery operated and consist of small handheld unit with a small round whisk protruding from one end.

The whisk is held in a jug of milk and manually frothed until it reaches your desired consistency. Some people heat the milk before frothing, although cold milk is generally agreed to produce a better froth.

There is a second kind you can buy which looks like a glass jar with a whisk built into the lid. We recommend you avoid these because they are prone to breaking and often do not have enough power to adequately froth the milk.

Pros
The cheapest kind of milk frother you can buy.
Simple to use and clean.
Can be used to froth virtually anything from hot chocolates to cold milkshakes.
Cons
For regular users the cost of buying new batteries could become expensive.
You still need to manually warm the milk.

Stove Top

Bialetti Tuttocrema Aluminium, Black, 6 Cups, 1L

Prepares the most ‘customized’ drinks – but involves some effort on your part

Stove tops frothers consist of a metal jug and frothing pump attached to the top. The jug is partially filled with milk and placed on your stove until the milk has been heated through. The final step is to place the lid on the jug and pump the handle to produce the foam.

Some people favour these because of their simplicity. There are no electrical components and the manual element to preparing the milk provides much more customization than some other types of frother.

They are also generally very easy to clean and most can be placed in a dishwasher.

Pros
Their simple design makes them very reliable and they have no electrical components which could break.
You get complete control over how hot the milk is and how dense the froth is because this is all completed manually by you.
They are dishwasher safe and easy to clean.
Typically inexpensive.
Cons
You need to watch the milk to ensure it does not burn.
With no temperature settings you need guess if the temperature is right for you or use a seperate cooking thermometer.
With no automation you cannot leave this kind of frother to do the work for you. So it takes more of your time to make gourmet coffees.

Electric Milk Frother

Severin SM 9688 Induction Milk Frother with Variable Temperature Control, 500 W, 700 ml, Black

Very convenient, but some lack options to customize the foam & temperature

Electric frothers come in a variety of different styles and shapes. However, generally many look like small kettles and require nothing more than button press to heat and froth milk into a rich foam ready to make Cappuccinos and Lattes.

This kind of frother is the most variable you can buy. Some will only heat the milk to one temperature whilst others will heat it to a wide range of temperatures. You can even use some to prepare a multitude of different things from soups to milkshakes and hot chocolates, whilst others can only be used with milk.

Despite there wide range of varying functionality, one key point remains the same: they are, by far, the easiest and most convenient frother to use.

Pros
Entirely hands off.
Simple operation requires no skill to use.
Can be cleaned with either a rinse and wipe OR washed in the dishwasher (depending on the model).
Many provide a variety of settings which allow you to vary the temperature and consistency of the foam.
Some can be used to prepare other drinks such as hot chocolates and milkshakes.
Come in a wide price range from around £25 to £100 and can suit any budget.
Will not scorch or burn the milk.
Cons
Some will only prepare the milk to one temperature and consistency.
Some devices can only prepare a small number of drinks at any one time.

Buyers Guide – What to Consider Before Buying

Here are the top 3 points we think you should consider when buying…

Use

How often do you plan on using your milk frother? Do you want to use it earlier in the morning before work or more in your leisure time? Do you want something that’s hands-off or don’t you mind preparing the milk a bit yourself?

These are the sort of questions you need to ask yourself before you buy because they will help you identify a type of frother which will meet your needs.

If you buy a frother purely because it is the cheapest available, but then realise you need a more automated unit because it takes too long to prepare a coffee before work, it will probably end up being tucked away in a kitchen drawer never to be used again.

However, if you buy a top-end unit but then don’t use half of its functions because you just needed something simple, you will have paid out for features you’ll never use.

Try to think about what you genuinely need and how often you really think you’ll use it. This will prevent impulse buying based on dazzling features or price and make sure you don’t waste your money.

Cleaning

Ah, yes. Cleaning. A subject most of us are not keen on. Most milk frothers are very easy to clean these days. Some can simply be run under a tap whilst others need to carefully rinsed out and others still can be washed effortlessly in a dishwasher.

The more often you use your milk frother the more often you need to clean it. If you want something hassle-free then a handheld unit or one which is dishwasher safe would probably be right for you.

Again, making sure how you clean your frother suits you will ensure it does not become tucked away in kitchen cupboard because nobody can be bothered to clean it after it has been used.

Price

Price is something of a misnomer. However, it is important.

Most people know their budgets so I won’t insult your intelligence by saying only buy what you can afford etc. What I will say is that price can sometimes tie into features but, the most expensive device does not always mean it comes with the best features for you.

Shop around a bit. Can you find a device that offers everything you need at a cheaper price or by a less expensive brand? Our list covers most major milk frothers and a variety of prices but it is by no means exhaustive if you can’t find what you need, try browsing a full range of milk frothers here.

Summary

With so much choice it can be difficult to know what to buy and what you can expect from your milk frother. We hope this guide has helped demystify the jargon and make purchasing one that bit easier.

If you’re unsure what milk frother might be right for you we recommend:

  • Looking at the Aerolatte if you want something simple and cost-effective to get you started – but don’t mind the fact it cannot heat the milk and requires some manual effort
  • Considering the Jura 24029 if you want something more automated, that is simple to clean and is still gentle on your finances.
  • However, if you want a milk frother that provides complete automation and is customisable, in addition to being simple to clean the Severin SM9688 is definitely worth a look.