What exactly is a Milk frother and what is the buzz about? Do I even need one and is it worth it?
If you have had questions like these and you are confused about what good a milk frother does to your morning coffee, we are answering all of them.
In this article, we will talk about what is a milk frother, what are the types of milk frother and why you need one!
What Is A Milk Frother?
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, macchiato, etc.
The process of frothing milk involves incorporating air into the milk until it becomes light and foamy.
Most Electric and handheld frothers have spiral whisk attachments that whisk or stir the milk this is done to introduce air in the milk. Doing this causes the milk to create spheres around the milk and then the protein in the milk stabilizes the air bubbles, that is the foam.
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 is 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℉.
Types of Milk Frother
There are mainly 3 types of Milk frother – Electric, Handheld, and Manual Frother.
1. Electric Milk Frothers
Electric Milk Frothers are definitely the most famous option if you want to get high-quality foam within seconds. Most electric frothers also serve as a Milk steamer.
They come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The capacity of frothing milk can vary from 115ml of milk to 250ml. Electric devices are great for non-dairy milk like almond milk, oat milk, etc.
Most electric frothers have an auto-off feature which means after you pour the milk and turn on the machine, you can completely walk away while the frother is doing its thing.
Whether the device is dishwasher safe or not would vary on different brands and their style. Select from the 6 best electric milk frothers for making coffee!
Let’s see the good and bad of electric Milk frothers-
The Good
- Fully automatic
- Multifunctional
- Convenient
- Easy to use
- High-Quality foam
The Bad
- Can be noisy while frothing
- Expensive
- Not every model is dishwasher safe
- Not portable
Best Electric Milk Frother – Breville BMF600XL Milk Cafe Milk Frother
- Latté frothing disc for smooth and silky milk; Please review the product videos under the images before use
- Cappucino frothing disk for thick and creamy froth
- Hot chocolate maker, by simply adding drinking chocolate powder, flakes or syrup to the warming milk
- On board disc storage; Voltage: 110 to 120 volts
- Product uses induction heating, you can simply place the jug in the dishwasher for easy cleaning
The Breville Milk frother tops our list for Electric Milk frothers as it comes with amazing benefits and features. It is more on the expensive side of equipment but we feel the price is totally justified for the service it offers.
Special Features:
- It offers adjustable temperature settings.
- It is a fully automatic device
- The Milk jug is dishwasher safe, which makes it super easy to clean.
2. Handheld Milk Frothers
A handheld milk frother is the most commonly used milk frother. They are a battery-operated frother wand. 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. Find our recommendation of the 10 best handheld milk frothers here.
Here are the advantages and disadvantages of handheld milk frothers-
The Good
- Reasonable Price
- Lightweight and portable
- Easy to clean
The Bad
- Requires changing battery
- Does not create the best quality foam
Best Handheld Milk Frother – Powerlix Milk Frother
The Powerlix milk frother is number one on our handheld milk frothers list for a reason. It is made of good quality stainless steel which means the product would not break easily. It has a really powerful motor that gives 19000 rotations per minute which means it can create creamy foam within seconds!
Special Features :
- It is made of stainless steel which ensures durability
- A powerful Motor can foam milk within seconds
- Easy to use and clean
3. Manual Milk Frothers
A 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. Here are the 8 best manual milk frothers for home use!
Here are the Good and Bad points about Manual Milk frothers-
The Good
- No battery or electricity required
- Durable
- Affordable
- Easy to use
The Bad
- Manual effort required
- Does not work great with non-dairy milk
Best Manual Milk Frother – Fino Milk Creamer Frother
- Fino’s Milk Frother creates a frothy rich foam to top delectable hot or cold beverages in 60 seconds or less, without electricity or batteries
- Made from 18/8 stainless steel and nylon; lid had built-in double-mesh aerator and easy-grip handle; durable and versatile; 14-ounce capacity
The Fino Milk Frother is a stainless steel frother that ensures durability. The product includes a frothing pitcher and a lid. The lid comes with a built-in double mesh aerator which helps in frothing the milk efficiently.
One of the great features of this milk frother is that it is dishwasher safe thus making it easy to clean. You can also heat milk on the stovetop in the pitcher
Special Features:
- Made of stainless steel
- Can be heated on the stove
- It is Dishwasher safe
Why Do You Need A Milk Frother?
By now we have explained what exactly a Milk Frother is, how milk foam is created, what are the different types of frothers and our best-recommended product. But the question remains: why do I need a Milk frother? What is its purpose?
Let’s talk about some of the reasons why we think a Milk frother is a must-have:
1. To elevate your coffee-making skills
The first and foremost reason has to be to elevate your coffee-making skills. Using a professional Milk frother to prepare your coffee is a whole new experience. If you enjoy having coffee on a regular basis, a Milk Frother is a must-buy.
2. Convenience
How convenient would it be if you could make your favorite cup of coffee at home? You do not have to drive to the coffee shop every day, you do not have to spend money every day. Plus, you get to learn new skills. We think it’s a win-win situation.
3. Experimenting
Experimenting is one of the biggest reasons people try out new things. There are so many things you can try with a milk frother and learn during the process. You can try out different drinks like cappuccino, macchiato, mocha, hot chocolate, etc. You can also practice your latte art skills
Drinks That Require Milk Foam
| Coffee | Proportions |
| Cappuccino | 1 part espresso, 1 part steamed milk, 1 part milk foam |
| Macchiato | A shot of espresso topped with foamed milk |
| Latte | Made of ⅓ espresso, ⅔ steamed milk, and a small layer of milk foam. |
Milk Frother Based On Different Milk Types Of Milk
1. Best Milk Frothers For Almond Milk
Almond Milk pairs wonderfully with your coffee, it is light, creamy, delicious, and does not feel heavy on the stomach like regular dairy. If you are someone who loves their Almond Milk Latte, you need to look into our recommendations of Milk Frothers, they are going to save you a lot of money and trips to coffee shops!
Find the 8 best milk frothers for almond milk here!
2. Best Milk Frothers For Oat Milk
Love cappuccino with Oat Milk? We love it too! One of the most important elements of coffee drinks like cappuccino is the process of steaming and frothing milk. As a matter of fact, Cappuccino consists of ⅓ part Milk Foam, and Latte consists of ⅔ part Steamed Milk. If you are a coffee lover you must have tried making these drinks at home, but it is really difficult to get cafe-like consistency for your coffee especially if you are using Oat Milk.
Here are the 8 best milk frothers for oat milk
3. Best Milk Frothers For Soy Milk
Made froth the goodness of soybeans, Soy Milk has gained quite a lot of traction in recent times. With the diverse nutrients and benefits, it offers, you do not need a reason to replace cow’s milk with soy milk. When replacing soy milk in your coffee, you must also want to replicate the exact texture that dairy offers when made with coffee. If you are on the lookout for milk frothers for soy milk that can help you make cappuccino, latter, or any other of your favorite coffee – you are at the right place!
Here are the 8 best milk frothers for soy milk
4. Best Milk Frothers For Coconut Milk
Coconut Milk seems to be the new go-to milk alternative. Loved by vegans and non-vegan across the world coconut milk pairs perfectly with coffee and matcha lattes. Whether you’re making a cappuccino, matcha latte, or hot chocolate, undoubtedly, the most important ingredient is good quality frothy milk. Therefore, it is extremely important to use a good-quality Milk frother for your coconut milk beverages.
Here are the 10 best milk frothers for coconut milk
Difference Between Milk Frother And Steamer
The main difference between a Milk frother and a Milk steamer is that frothing milk creates very light and airy milk foam while steaming milk heats the milk and slightly aerates it resulting in microfoam which creates a shiny velvety texture.
Key Differences:
To understand how frothed Milk is different from steamed Milk, let’s discuss some key differential points:
1. Process
The process of steaming milk is a little more complicated than frothing milk. During the process of steaming the milk is heated and milk is exposed to steam. Due to the high pressure of the steamer, the fats in the milk expand and create foam.
While with frothing milk, the air is incorporated into the milk which creates larger air bubbles in the milk resulting in light and airy foam.
2. Texture
Frothed Milk has a light and airy structure. It is more suitable for drinks like cappuccino as it requires milk foam in larger quantities. When frothing milk it doubles in volume and creates larger air bubbles and milk foam.
On the other hand, the texture of steamed milk is thick and velvety. The process of exposing steam to the milk creates smaller bubbles in the milk so it does not double in volume. Steamed milk is perfect for drinks like a latte or flat white.
3. Temperature
With frothed Milk, there can be both cold as well as hot milk froth. But, with steamed milk, it is always hot.
Learn all the differences between a milk frother and steamer and what they can be best used for.
How To Clean A Milk Frother?
Everyone who uses a milk frother or coffee maker knows that milk is the hardest substance to clean. Milk tends to burn easily, and build up residue, especially if the milk is overheated. Warm and moist environments are breeding grounds for germs.
An unclean gear can develop harmful bacteria and spoil the taste of your morning cup of coffee. Hence, it is extremely crucial to clean any such equipment properly. While Coffee makers and Milk frothers are an excellent addition to your kitchen equipment, they can be a little difficult to clean since a lot of these gears are usually not dishwasher safe.
Read our guide on the step-by-step process of how to clean different types of milk frothers. We have explained how you can clean difficult types of milk frothers easily.
Questions Regarding Milk Frother – Answered!
1. Can You Put Matcha Powder In A Milk Frother?
Matcha latte tastes delicious and refreshing. But can you put matcha powder in a milk frother? If this is a question you have had when making matcha at home – here is your answer!
2. Can You Make Hot Chocolate In A Milk Frother?
While milk frother does a great job at frothing milk for coffee. Can you also make hot chocolate with a milk frother? If so, how? Find your answer here!
3. How To Make Latte At Home With A Milk Frother?
You got the perfect milk frother, but how do you perfect your latte-making skills? To make a perfect latte at home using a milk frother, it’s important to know these tips! This blog post was just what you needed!
4. Can You Put Coffee Creamer In A Milk Frother?
Do you prefer your coffee with coffee creamers? Wondering if you can add coffee creamer to your milk frother? Read this article to find out.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, by now you have understood how much of a difference having a good Milk Frother can make to your coffee. With that being said and done, Making your own coffee at home is an experience you’ll truly enjoy.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Does a Milk Frother Heat Milk?
Most electric frothers have the option of creating both hot and cold foam, or just steam milk. But, with Manual and handheld Milk frother the user will have to heat milk after or before frothing the milk.
How to froth milk without a frother?
If you really need good quality froth you need to invest in a good milk frother. With that said, there are other ways through which you can foam milk. Here’s our article on 9 ways to froth milk without a frother.
