Have you ever wondered, why does coffee from a nice cafe taste and feel much better than the ones we make at home? Well, that is because instead of dumping cold milk in a shot of espresso they use a milk frother and steamer to add steamed milk and a big dollop of milk foam on top to give you that smooth creamy mouthfeel effect.
Steaming milk raises the temperature of the milk which in turn increases the sweetness in milk and adding milk foam to the milk gives it a nice cloudy texture. This is why coffee made by the barista taste so much better than the ones we make at home.
However, it is not necessary that to have barista-style coffee we need to go to the coffee shop every day. With the correct techniques and equipment, it is possible to make a good creamy cappuccino at home.
Let’s take a look at what a good milk frother and steamer can do and what is the right pick for your kitchen to make luscious creamy coffee!
Difference Between A Milk Frother And Steamer
A Milk frother is used for creating milk foam or froth which is commonly used in one of the most famous coffee drinks known as a cappuccino.
The process of frothing milk involves aerating the milk, which in turn adds air bubbles in the milk. This method of incorporating air in the milk is what causes the milk to double in volume and create a light airy texture of milk foam.
There are different types of milk frothers available in the market. Most electric milk frothers have the option to steam milk along with frothing milk. With handheld or manual frother the user is required to heat the milk separately.
A steamer, on the other hand, is used for steaming or heating milk. The process involves exposing steam to the milk, lightly aerating the milk which leads to creating smaller air bubbles also called microfoam.
Steaming milk alone does not provide a lot of milk foam, instead, the texture of the milk is velvety and is most commonly used in drinks like a latte or hot chocolate.
Normally Coffee makers or espresso machines are used to steam milk using the steamer wand.
However, most electric milk frothers have the option of steaming milk along with frothing.
[Must Read: Complete Difference Between Milk Frother And Steamer]
7 Best Milk Frother And Steamer
- Breville Milk Cafe Frother
- Bodum Bistro Milk Frother
- Maestri House Milk Frother
- Secura Detachable Milk Frother
- Nespresso Aeroccino Milk Frother
- Secura Milk Frother
- Instant Pot Milk Frother
1. Breville BMF600XL Milk Cafe Milk frother
The Breville milk cafe is our top pick due to its amazing features. It comes with a detachable milk carafe, which is attached to a base unit that controls the heating.
One of the most promising features of this milk frother is that it comes with adjustable temperature settings. You can froth your milk hot or cold as per your preference.
You can also use this product to have steamed milk when you do not need to froth milk.
It also comes with two frothing disc attachments. One is a cappuccino disc used for thick and creamy froth and the other one is a latte disc for more smooth and silky froth.
Another great thing about the Breville milk frother is that it consists of a durable stainless steel body making it easy to clean and also its milk frother jug is dishwasher safe.
On top of all the above features, the Breville Milk Cafe is a fully automatic milk frother, which means it will automatically shut down once it has frothed milk at the desired temperature.
If you’re not a coffee lover you can also use this gear to make hot chocolate for yourself or your kids. It can froth up to 3 cups of milk at a time. Isn’t that amazing?
With all the amazing features and benefits the Breville milk cafe frother definitely makes for an excellent addition to your kitchen equipment?
Things we like!
- It offers different temperature settings
- Can froth milk hot or cold
- The milk jug is dishwasher safe
- Can be used just to steam milk
Things we didn’t like!
- Expensive
2. Bodum Bistro Milk Frother
The Bodum Milk frother is another great equipment for making milk foam for cappuccino, latte, and macchiato
It has a compact design and comes with a removable base with cord storage. The frother has a stainless steel body which ensures durability and a non-stick interior that avoids burning the milk.
Moreover, it is accompanied by a single button that controls all the functionalities. The process of using the frother is also very simple.
Add the milk to the frother and cover the lid. For the quantity of the milk following the markings on the milk jug. Press the button and the frother will turn on.
Once frothing is complete, the frother automatically stops. And there you have it pour your frothed milk on top of your coffee and enjoy!
Things we liked!
- Compact and portable
- One button operation
Things we didn’t like!
- Not dishwasher safe
3. Maestri House Milk Frother
This one has to be one of our favorite models due to its advanced technology and features. Its look gives it a stylish element. It comes with a detachable milk jug, the heating is controlled through its base unit.
One of the many impressive features of this product is that it comes with a digital touch panel to control its settings. The user can choose between different temperature settings and amongst 3 different froth density options which include – thick, medium, and airy foam.
A perfect equipment for bigger gatherings as it can steam up to 600ml of milk at a time.
It also contains an overheating protection setting that is once the operating temperature range exceeds the usual range, its overheating protection setting will be activated and it will automatically shut down the device for rest.
On top of the above features the milk jug, the lid, the measuring cap, and the frothing whisk are all dishwasher safe which means easy cleaning.
The Maestri House Milk Frother sure contains some really impressive features! What do you think?
Things we liked!
- It offers different temperature settings and froth density options
- Has a memory feature that stores previous temperature settings
- Dishwasher safe
4. Secura Detachable Milk Frother
The Secura detachable milk frother has a modern and elite feel to it. It’s a smart multifunctional milk frother that can be used to heat milk, froth cold, or hot milk and also make hot chocolate.
This device can froth up to 250 ml of milk at once which is double the basic capacity of any other milk frother. It comes with two whisk attachments one for frothing milk and the other for heating milk.
Another good thing about the Secura detachable milk frother is that it has a stainless steel milk carafe which is easy to clean and it is also dishwasher safe.
Things we liked!
- One button controls all the functions
- Large capacity
- Dishwasher safe
Things we didn’t like!
- Requires changing the whisk attachment for heating and frothing milk
5. Nespresso Aeroccino3 Milk Frother
The Nespresso Aeroccino comes in a cool design and is compact in size which means it requires less storage space.
The process of using the milk frother is fairly simple. It is equipped with a single button.
For frothing hot milk you simply need to press the button and the button lights up red. For cold froth keep the button pressed for around 2 seconds and the button lights up blue.
The product also contains a whisk for making dense froth, if less froth is needed the whisk can be removed. Another feature is that it also has an auto shut off feature, that is it stops automatically once the frothing is done.
The only downside can be that it heats milk to 160 to 170 degrees Fahrenheit which is a little too hot. The recommended temperature for heating and frothing milk is between 130 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
Things we liked!
- One button performs all functions
- Auto shut off feature
Things we didn’t like!
- Not dishwasher safe making it difficult to clean
- High heating temperature
6. Secura Electric Milk Frother
The Secura electric milk frother and steamer is a smart compact device.
The frother is made of a high-quality stainless steel exterior and a non-stick interior. The frother and steamer come with two-button functions and can be used for both frothing and heating individually.
One of the really cool features of this equipment is that it offers a setting for dense frothing and airy frothing. This is great for making both cappuccinos and lattes.
It froths non-dairy milk like almond and oat milk perfectly and really smoothly.
Overall the Secura Milk frother is robust equipment and will be a great addition to your kitchen.
Things we liked!
- Comes with an extra whisk and cleaning brush
- Can froth non-dairy milk nicely
Things we didn’t like!
- Not dishwasher safe
7. Instant Pot Milk Frother
The Instant Pot Milk Frother is a versatile kitchen appliance that elevates your coffee experience. With its 4-in-1 frothing feature that can help you make cold foam, light warm foam, thick warm foam, and hot milk, it provides a range of options to suit various preferences.
One of the standout features is its ability to be your own barista, allowing you to create a variety of foams from both dairy and non-dairy alternatives for cappuccinos, lattes, iced coffee, matcha, and more.
The easy-to-use controls with a 2-button interface make it convenient for the user to adapt the equipment. Moreover, its dishwasher-safe lid and whisk, and non-stick interior make it easy to clean.
Things we liked!
- 2- button interface
- Great for non-dairy milk
Things we didn’t like!
- Not dishwasher safe
The Verdict – Which Is The Best Milk Frother And Steamer?
We have to admit after reviewing so many milk frothers and selecting the best 7 milk frothers and steamers. Deciding on the single best equipment is a really difficult choice. However, we have made our choice and our top pick has to be the Breville Milk cafe milk frother.
Though it is the most expensive milk frother on our list, it has the most amazing functionalities. It is a fully automatic device which means you can walk away while the milk frother is doing its thing.
It can make up to 3 cups of frothed milk and it comes with two different frothing discs for different types of coffee. If you are looking for a great milk frother Breville Milk cafe is the way to go!
However, if you feel this is a little expensive for your budget or you’re looking for a smaller milk frother and steamer then the next best option in our opinion would be the Maestri House Milk Frother.
It offers some exceptional features that we have not seen in any other frothers. For its price, we think this frother would be totally worth it!
You may also be Interested In
We wrote a very detailed article explaining the difference between Milk Frother and steamer, Read it here!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Most electric milk frothers come with a setting of heating or steaming the milk. However handheld or manual milk frother can not steam milk. Milk needs to be heated separately when using such equipment.
Frothing milk depends on the protein content of milk. Higher the protein content the better the foam. Whole milk creates a thicker and creamier foam while skim milk creates lighter foam because large foam bubbles are created.
Are milk frothers and steamers the same?
While the function of a milk frother and steamer is similar they offer different functionalities and uses. The difference between a milk frother and a steamer is explained in detail in the above post.
When frothing non-dairy milk such as almond or soy milk it is important to use a good quality electric milk frother. The above guide would be applicable when using non-dairy milk as well.
