Can You Put Coffee Creamer In A Milk Frother?

While most coffee enthusiasts enjoy and truly appreciate a perfectly brewed back cup of coffee, many people enjoy adding dairy or non-dairy based liquids to lighten their coffee.

According to reports, 182.45 million Americans used coffee creamers in 2020. Many people enjoy adding dairy substitutes like coffee creamers to their coffee. These coffee creamers come in the form of coffee creamer powder or even refrigerated liquid.

To be able to enjoy beverages like cappuccino, latte, or macchiato you need good frothy milk and milk foam. So the question is: Can you put coffee creamer in a Milk Frother?

Yes, you can put coffee creamer in a Milk Frother. The texture of the creamer after frothing would be thick and will have microfoam as compared to when you froth whole milk you will get light and airy milk foam.

Further in this article, we will find out what is a coffee creamer, the difference between coffee creamer and milk, and how do you froth coffee creamer using different types of Milk Frother.

[Also Learn: Can You Put Sugar In A Milk Frother]

What Is A Coffee Creamer?

Coffee creamers also commonly known as coffee whiteners or just creamers are a substitute for milk in coffee or tea. Most coffee creamers are dairy-free and are made of sugar, oil, and thickener.

Adding coffee creamer in coffee gives a thick and creamy mouthfeel, similar to when you use half and half in your coffee. They come in both granular and liquid forms. These creamers also come in different flavors like vanilla, hazelnut, white chocolate, etc.

Milk Vs Coffee Creamer

Have you ever wondered why milk pairs so well with coffee? That is because Milk contains fats and protein in a large proportion. Brewed coffee is primarily only water, adding fats from milk changes the texture of the coffee giving it a thicker feel.

The protein in the milk when added to coffee softens the bitterns of coffee by bounding to polyphenolic compounds such as tannins. Furthermore, when milk is heated or steamed – the heat breaks down the lactose in the milk into smaller compounds which increases the sweetness of the milk.

Coffee creamer is used to lighten and sweeten black coffee. It contains artificial flavors and sugar which makes the coffee sweet. Further due to the fats present in the creamer, when added to the coffee the texture becomes very thick and smooth.

However, adding coffee creamers to your coffee can drastically alter the nutritional value of your cup of coffee, as creamers are very high in calories due to artificial flavoring and thickeners. 

How Does A Milk Frother Work?

For an even better understanding, of how things would go if you put coffee creamer to your milk frother, let’s understand how does a milk frother works. In simple words, A Milk frother is an equipment used for frothing milk or creating Milk foam.

Milk foam is most commonly used in beverages like cappuccino, latte, hot cocoa, matcha latte, etc. The process of frothing milk involves incorporating air into the milk until it becomes light and foamy. 

Most electric milk frothers have a whisk on the bottom of the milk jug. When you turn the milk frother on, the whisk spins at a really high speed, which helps incorporate air into the milk making it light and foamy. So, if you’re adding coffee creamer directly to your milk frother you will end up with a beautiful frothy latte. 

Also Read: What Is A Milk Frother? Why Do You Need One?

How To Froth Coffee Creamers?

The process of frothing Coffee Creamers is similar to how you would Froth regular milk.

There are mainly three types of Milk Frothers – Electric, Handheld, and Manual

Electric Milk Frother

As the name suggests these frothers run on electricity. Most electric frothers are fully automatic, that is you can add the milk or creamer, turn it on, and walk away. These are also the most recommended category of frothers due to the amazing features and value it provides over its price.

The capacity of frothing milk can vary up from 115ml of milk to 250ml. Electric devices are great for non-dairy milk like almond milk, oat milk, etc. Whether the device is dishwasher safe or not would vary upon different brands and their style.

We have reviewed the Best Electric Milk frother for home use, you can read it here!

Frothing Creamer Using Electric Frother

Add the coffee creamer to the Milk frother. For the quantity of the creamer follow the markings on the milk jug of the frother. If your frother does not contain any such marking, you could follow a general rule of filling up to ⅓ cream or milk to the frother.

Next, set the temperature settings and turn it on. Wait for it to complete frothing and transfer the creamer to your espresso.

Note: If you are using the coffee creamer powder, you will have to mix the powder with water and then add it to the frother.

Handheld Milk Frother

Handheld Milk Frothers also commonly known as frother wand is the most commonly used frother. These Milk frothers are battery operated. It comes with a whisk on one end.

When you dip the whisk wand in milk, it helps incorporate air in the milk which creates small bubbles and milk foam. They come at a very reasonable price and create fairly good foam.

If you want to know what is the best Handheld Milk frother for frothing Milk, Read our guide here!

Frothing Creamer Using Handheld Frother

Pour Coffee creamer in a frothing pitcher or a cup. Dip the end of the frothing wand and turn it on. Whisk the creamer for around 30 to 40 seconds.

You can also tilt the coffee cup a little so that the frother wand covers the creamer properly. Continue frothing if you do not see enough foam or froth. This process can take up to 60 to 120 seconds.

Note: Using a handheld milk frother to foam creamer may not give the best results. And the entire process may end up creating tiny bubbles and not foam.

Manual Milk Frother

The manual Milk frother is a plunger-style frother. In appearance, they look very similar to a French press. It comes with a Milk carafe, a plunger and at the bottom of the plunger, there is a mesh screen. 

When you add milk to the carafe and pump the milk using the plunger the mesh screen helps aerate the milk which creates milk foam.

Hand pump milk frothers are affordable, easy to use, and clean but it does require more effort in frothing milk than the electric or handheld milk frother.

To pick the best Manual Frother for your coffee, refer to this guide here.

Frothing Creamer using Manual Milk Frother

To froth creamer using a Manual Milk frother, add the creamer to the Milk carafe. For the quantity follow the markings. The minimum quantity should be at least so much that the mesh screen gets covered.

Pump the plunger up and down for around 60 seconds. This process may take a little longer depending on individual frothers. Once frothy and bubbly add the creamer to your coffee.

What Are Some Other Methods To Froth Creamer Without A Milk Frother – 9 Ways

If you do not have a professional Milk frother, you can still froth the creamer or milk using other methods. These methods involve using equipment that is easily available in our kitchen. Here are 9 ways to froth coffee creamer at home without a milk frother

1. Frothing coffee creamer with a glass jar or a shaker

Using a glass jar or a shaker bottle is the easiest method to froth coffee creamer without a milk frother. The process is really simple, fill the jar with coffee creamer. The quantity of the coffee creamer should be around two-thirds of the jar, not more than that. Now shake the jar vigorously.

As you begin shaking the jar, bubbles will start to appear, the more you shake the more air will get incorporated, and the frothier the coffee creamer will become. Once you are done with the process you can pour it over your coffee. You can also create the foam first and then pop the jar in the microwave for around thirty seconds, heating the creamer helps stabilize the foam.

2. Frothing coffee creamer using a french press

Using a french press to froth coffee creamer is similar to using a manual coffee creamer frother. A french press comes with a plunger and a built-in filter that has tiny holes in them. It is used to filter coffee grounds and separate them from the water.

Surprisingly a french press can be used as an excellent coffee creamer frother. The process involved in frothing coffee creamer is similar to the manual coffee creamer frother. Put warm coffee creamer in the french press, the quantity of the coffee creamer should not be more than one-third of the equipment.

Now, take the plunger and pump it up and down continuously. The longer you continue pumping the frothier the coffee creamer will become. In about 60 seconds you should have a good frothy coffee creamer consistency, now you can use it for your coffee!

3. Frothing coffee creamer using an electric baking mixer

An electric baking mixer is commonly used for mixing cake batters or for whipping cream. Therefore we tried frothing coffee creamer using an electric mixer. The good thing about using an electric device is that it does not require a lot of manual energy, therefore, making the whole process quicker.

To froth coffee creamer using an electric mixer, pour warm coffee creamer into a bowl, dip the whisk attachments of the mixer in the bowl, and switch on the device. You can either hold it in its place or swirl the whisk around. While doing this make sure not to spill the coffee creamer around as it is warm.

Repeat the process, just as you would while whipping cream. This process can froth coffee creamer within 40 to 60 seconds, however, it creates larger bubbles and so the foam isn’t very smooth. But, it is much better than hand-whisked froth so it is worth a try!

4. Frothing coffee creamer using an electric food processor

Yes, you heard that right, you can froth coffee creamer using an electric food processor. It is one of our favorite methods for making iced coffee or cold coffee. It is an excellent way to create cold foam.

Pour ice and coffee creamer, you can also use plain cold coffee creamer. The quantity of the coffee creamer should not be more than half of the equipment. Now switch on the machine and let it churn. If you’re using ice the ice is going to crush and add to the volume of the coffee creamer making it creamy and frothy.

Run the food processor for around 60 seconds and if you feel you need more foam, blend it again. After you are done frothing, transfer the coffee creamer to a glass and enjoy your favorite iced beverage.

Using a food processor creates amazing thick and creamy coffee creamer foam. You should try this method if you haven’t already.

5. Frothing coffee creamer using a hand blender

Using an immersion blender is another way you can froth coffee creamer. It is most commonly used for blending soup or gravy. While this may seem like an easy method, it can create a huge mess in your kitchen if not done carefully.

To begin with, take warm coffee creamer in a pot or a coffee creamer jug, immerse the hand blender in the coffee creamer and switch it on. Let it blend for around 60 to 120 seconds to get foam on your coffee creamer. Be sure to be very careful while blending the coffee creamer as the consistency of the coffee creamer is lighter than any soup or gravy, hence it can splatter all over while blending.

You can use the blender for longer if you feel you have not gotten the desired result. This process creates a very light and airy foam on top of the coffee creamer and air bubbles are usually larger but it works if you’re looking for lightly foamed coffee creamer.

6. Frothing coffee creamer using a whisk

Frothing coffee creamer using a hand whisk is similar to using an electric baking mixer, the only difference is that it requires manual effort. The quantity of foam created will be light and airy.

Pour warm coffee creamer into a mug or bowl and start whisking the coffee creamer. Use it in the same motion if you were whisking the cream. This process could take longer. So continue whisking if you do not see results within the first few seconds. Continue to whisk until about 1-2 minutes. 

Once the coffee creamer is frothed you can pour your coffee into the mug. This is a rather time-consuming method and also requires a lot of manual effort. The foam created may not turn out to be very smooth. Hence, use this only if you cannot work with the other mentioned methods.

7. Frothing coffee creamer using a blender

Using a blender to froth coffee creamer is one of the easiest and most effective ways to get creamy foam on coffee creamer. If you have ever noticed before when you make a milkshake in a blender, once you’re done blending it forms small bubbles on top. This is how we get frothy coffee creamer only using the coffee creamer at the correct temperature.

Pour warm coffee creamer into a blender and blend it at high speed for around 60 seconds. After 60 seconds bubbles will start to appear, if you need more foam on top blend it again for a few seconds. Make sure the coffee creamer is warm and be careful while blending it. Cover the lid properly and use a dish towel to hold the jar since it can be warm.

8. Frothing coffee creamer using a microwave

To froth coffee creamer using a microwave involves two steps:

1. Take a glass jar or microwavable jar and fill the half jar with coffee creamer. Close the lid tightly and shake the coffee creamer in the jar vigorously. 
2. After shaking the coffee creamer for around 1 to 2 minutes bubbles will start to appear and the coffee creamer will become frothy. Now pop the jar in the microwave for about 30 to 60 seconds.

This will give you soft and airy foam for your cappuccino! This method was a lot similar to the jar method mentioned in the beginning. The only difference was we used the microwave to stabilize the foam on the top, so it holds the foam for a longer period.

9. Frothing coffee creamer on the stovetop

Frothing coffee creamer using the stove is another very interesting method we came up with. It gets you a pretty decent foam.

Pour coffee creamer into a pan on medium-low heat and let it get warm for about 30 seconds, after that whisk the coffee creamer continuously either using a hand whisk or electric whisk.

We prefer using an electric whisk as it gets the work done faster. Remove from heat when you see your coffee creamer foam.

What Is The Best Way To Froth Coffee Creamer?

While all the above methods are tried and tested and can create good quality foam without using a coffee creamer frother, We think there are 2 absolute best methods if you want to quickly froth coffee creamer at home.

If you’re looking to make a warm cup of cappuccino, latte, or macchiato the best way to get foamy coffee creamer is using a french press. It is a lot similar to using a manual coffee creamer frother and creates. The french press method makes a velvety, rich, and dense foam compared to other methods.

If you want to make some iced coffee or velvety frappuccino, using a food processor to create thick and creamy cold foam it’s the best way to go. It is our go-to method for iced coffee!

What Is The Right Temperature For Froth Coffee Creamer?

You can froth coffee creamer at both warm and cold temperatures. For warm coffee creamer, the ideal temperature to froth the coffee creamer should be between 140 to 155 degrees Fahrenheit since coffee creamer protein tends to break down and burn at around 170 degrees. 

The whole purpose of frothing coffee creamer is to get sweet creamy foam on top and to get the perfect sweet foam you need to heat the coffee creamer at the ideal temperature which can be measured using a thermometer.

Final Thoughts

Just as we discussed above, you can add creamer to your Milk frother. Not just that, the process of frothing creamer is also very simple. Try the above methods out to make your favorite coffee drink and enjoy your cup of joe!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)