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How To Froth Milk With A French Press? This Is The Right Method

Most people use a french press to brew coffee, but did you know it could also be used to froth milk? In this guide, you’re about to learn how to froth milk using a french press.

Cappuccino

We will be breaking down this article into how a french press works, how milk foam is created, and a step-by-step guide on how to use a french press to create milk foam

If you follow the exact strategies, you’ll be able to make some really good foamy milk for your coffee. 

What Is Frothed Milk?

‘frothed milk’ is the process of incorporating air into milk in order to create tiny bubbles which then turn into a light and foamy texture, which is then used as a topping on delicious coffee beverages like cappuccinos or lattes.

You can either use a milk frother to create these delicious cloud-like textures or also use other techniques and equipment which are usually easily available at your home. To understand best how milk froths and what mistakes you could be making during the process, it is imperative for you to understand the science behind frothing milk.

Why Does Milk Foam? The Science Behind Frothing Milk

Every ingredient that you use in your kitchen, reacts a certain way due to some reason or the other. There is a whole science behind why milk reacts to air and heat the way it does and how it foams. 

The process of foaming milk involves incorporating air into the milk while heating it. This causes the milk to create spheres around the air and then the protein in the milk stabilizes the bubbles that are the milk foam. Let’s look at the main factors responsible for the soft creamy foam on your cappuccino and latte.

Milk Nutrients

Milk is a complex liquid and consists of several chemical compounds. Any kind of milk will have three basic macronutrients Protein, Fats, and Carbohydrates. The protein in the milk is one of the most important contributing factors that result in foamy milk. 

When frothing milk air is incorporated into the milk, during this process the protein in the milk forms spheres around the milk and stabilizes the bubbles in the form of milk foam. The fats in the milk impact the quality of the milk more than the quantity of foam in the milk. All forms of milk can foam regardless of their fat content. 

The underlying difference here is that milk with higher fat content such as whole milk will create a more soft and creamy foam. While milk with less or no fat content such as skim milk will create dry foam. 

Temperature

The temperature at which the milk is steamed or frothed can adversely affect the milk foam. If you foam milk at a lower temperature than the one recommended the foam will be thin and the bubbles will not be stable. 

If you overheat the milk while frothing the protein will unwind and also result in unstable milk foam. Therefore to achieve the perfect foam, the heating temperature of milk makes a huge difference. The ideal temperature when frothing whole milk is between 139℉ to 150℉.

How Does A French Press Work?

Anatomy of a French Press Illustration

The body of a french press is called a beaker. Where you pour your coffee grounds and hot water. On the bottom of the equipment, there is a base like a stand for the beaker. 

Then comes the filter, the plunger, and the lid. The process of brewing coffee in a french press involves steeping water and coffee grounds together. It is also called immersion brewing. 

A french press uses a metal mesh filter that contains really tiny holes in them. The filter is used to push down the coffee and water mixture separating the grounds from the coffee. Doing this allows the natural oils in the coffee to pass through giving the coffee a thick body.

The same plunger and mesh screen are helpful in frothing milk. The plunger helps incorporate air into the milk and the beaker gives milk enough space to froth properly.

How To Make Frothed Milk Using A French Press?

Frothing Milk In A French Press

Let’s understand how to froth milk with a french press and what you need for the process. To Froth milk using a french press, you will need-

  1. French Press
  2. Full Fat Milk
  3. Kitchen Thermometer (Optional)
  4. Boiling Pan
What do you need for creating Milk foam using a French press- infographic

How To Froth Milk With A French Press? Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Heating the Milk

Begin with heating the milk to around150 degrees Fahrenheit, you can use a professional thermometer for accurate measuring.

Step 2: Pour the milk and secure the lid

Carefully pour the hot milk into a french press and secure the lid properly. It is very important to close the lid of the french press properly to avoid any burns in case the milk spills.

Step 3: Start plunging

Now, the pumping part of the plunger might take a little bit of practice. So start with 3-4 strong plunges to incorporate the initial air and then pump with a high speed continuously for around 30 to 40 seconds until you see the milk almost double in volume.

Step 4: Serve and enjoy!

Pour the frothed milk over your coffee and there you have it, frothed milk using a french press! Pretty simple, isn’t it.

How to froth milk using a french press- Infographic
How to froth milk using a french press infographic

Quick Tips

  1. Do not overfill the french press with milk. Since the milk will require room to expand and double in volume. Use around ⅓ milk of the size of the french press.
  2. Do not overheat or boil the milk. Heat it to the point you see tiny bubbles on the side of the pan.

Expert Tip

With most french presses the plunger is the filter end of it does not touch the base of the beaker. While the above method works just perfectly fine, what you can also try is a little trick here.

First, take the plunger out of the beaker and disassemble all the parts of the plunger that are the lid, the rod, and the filter. After that remove the lid and reassemble the plunger. This way your plunger will be able to touch the base of the beaker and it will help you froth the milk better.

However, with this method be careful not to splash milk on your hands as there is no lid to cover the top of the beaker.

How To Make Latte Art Using A French Press?

Now, you’ve probably been wanting to figure out how to make latte art using a french press. So can you make a latte art by foaming milk on a french press? The short answer is Yes, you can! 

The long answer is that the latte art will probably be more bubbly than the ones you get at the cafe because we are not using a steam wand here. Okay so how do you do it?

To create a latte art using a French Press follow the exact steps mentioned above to create a milk foam, next transfer your milk into a frothing pitcher and now you need to polish the milk foam.

Tap the pitcher and swirl the milk around, repeat this for a few seconds this is done to eliminate the larger air bubbles in milk foam so it flows smoothly to your cup.

Now hold your coffee mug in one hand and tilt it a little, begin pouring the latte art in a swirling motion slowly, and there you have it your latte art using a French press!

Why Is My Milk Not Frothing?

Whether you are using a french press or a handheld milk frother, there could be many reasons why your milk is not frothing. Some of these include-

1. Not Heating The Milk

2. Not Using Fresh Milk

3. Not Frothing Long Enough

4. Heating The Milk Too Much

5. Not Using The Correct Type Of Milk

If you are in a similar situation, check our guide on all the possible reasons your milk is not frothing and how you can fix it!

Drinks That Require Milk Foam

CoffeeProportions
Cappuccino1 part espresso, 1 part steamed milk, 1 part milk foam
MacchiatoA shot of espresso topped with foamed milk
LatteMade of ⅓ espresso, ⅔ steamed milk, and a small layer of milk foam.

Other Methods To Froth Milk Without A Milk Frother

While french press is a great way to get some frothed milk, why limit yourself to it? Here are 9 other ways to froth milk at home without a milk frother.

Final thoughts

We discussed how to foam milk using a simple french press. Now that looks like a lot of steps, but it is really easy and it only takes a couple of minutes. If you’re trying to create latte art using a French press, remember it takes a lot of practice and patience to get there.

The result from the above guide is you can create delicious cups of coffee or hot cocoa in minutes within your home.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can you froth cold milk in a French Press?

Yes, you can create cold foam using a french press. Simply take chilled milk and repeat the instructions given above. It might take a little longer than frothing hot milk as heat helps stabilize the bubbles.


Can I use non-dairy milk to froth?

Yes, you can. But, the foam created with non-dairy milk may not be as stable when using whole milk. As the protein structures of such milk do not support the air bubbles completely.

Can I make a latte from frothing milk using a french press?

The milk in the latte is steamed and very thick and creamy, the milk created by a french press on the other hand is very light and airy. Although you can create a latte art using the above method you will need a stainless steel carafe to transfer the milk onto your cup. This method however is more suitable for making cappuccinos and hot cocoa.

What is the best french press for this process?

Although there are a lot of good french press coffee makers available in the market. The Bodum Chambord French press is quite famous amongst coffee enthusiasts.

How to froth milk without a milk frother?

Using a french press to froth milk is an excellent method to create milk foam. You can also check this post from us where we discussed 9 other ways to froth milk without a milk frother.