5 Best Milk Frothers

If you’re not after an appliance that lives on your countertop, this is the one you want. No really. You can find cheaper versions (as found on this list), but you won’t easily find anything sturdier. Sorry.

Even though this is a small appliance that you’ll tuck into a drawer, you still have a choice of black or red handles. We can appreciate that. And, if you want to pay a little more, you can get a package set that includes those cute little stencils used for shaking cocoa over the foam.

The motor on this is solid and you get a serious 19,000 RPMs, so you know this works quickly whether you use it on cold milk for cappuccinos or hot milk for lattes. You should expect a cup worth of frothy milk in about 30 seconds. And, yet, it’s still remarkably silent. It requires two AA batteries, but the casing is solid and holds the batteries in place well, while still being able to get them in and out without any hassle.

Now, you can’t stick this in the dishwasher as the handle just isn’t built for that. But, you can just run it in a small cup (or a sinkful) of hot, soapy water. That’s not bad, especially since this isn’t going to rust on you.

Of course, we’re prepared to lament the 3-month guarantee because these types of mini appliances tend to wear out just after that time if they’re not going to last for years. Luckily, this seems to be one of the gadgets that does, in fact, stand the test of time.

Operation: Handheld

Powered by: 2x AA batteries

Duration: It takes about 15 to 20 seconds for a mug full of creamy froth. That’s quite amazing when you think about it.

Capacity: Really, you can’t put a capacity to handheld milk frothers. If you have a giant mug, you can fill it about half way (maybe a little less), but the same goes for a small mug. That’s the way it goes.

Material: Stainless steel with a plastic casing on the handle.

Cleaning: Whizz this baby in a cup or mug full of hot water and a drop of soap. Rinse, dry, and pack away.

Cost: This is actually quite expensive for a handheld milk frother. The MSRP is around $45, but it will cost you a little more than $20 on Amazon. Against the automatic frothers, that’s not bad. But for handhelds, it’s the top of the line.

Okay, we know this isn’t as pretty as some of the other electric milk frothers – and, you may be questioning its position as the best frother for entertaining. But, you shouldn’t. For a start, it’s got a decent capacity. Although it’s not the absolute largest on the market, the max of 12 ounces of heated milk is really, really good considering the average of 8 to 8.5 ounces.

And then there’s the ability to put the carafe in the dishwasher; you’re just not going to find that with most frothers. And, as every host/ess knows, fast and easy cleanup is a big part of enjoying the entertaining process.

Now, it does take a few minutes for the milk to heat, which is probably not going to be a big issue if you’re working with an espresso maker in the first place. But, once your milk is hot (or you’ve opted for cold milk), it takes anywhere from 30 to 90 seconds for perfect foam. That’s about average on the timing, but you have to take note of the numbers of users that believe it creates the most perfect foam out there.

There are also three temperature settings, which is a little unusual for the relatively low price you’re paying for this milk frother. They’re not very exact, mind you – just cold, warm, and hot. But, remember that you’re also not paying top end prices.

From the auto-off to the quiet performance, it’s difficult to find something to dislike about this electric milk frother. It really fills a specific area of the market. That said, it’s not the right one if you need something super snazzy or a super basic handheld model.

Operation: Automatic

Powered by: You’ll plug this puppy into a socket; it operates on 120 volts (yes, American standards).

Duration: It can take a few minutes to heat the milk, but frothing takes users anywhere between 30 and 90 seconds. That’s not bad given the capacity.

Capacity: This is a wonderfully large milk frother! You can fit as much as 8 ounces inside if you’re frothing or 12 ounces if you’re just heating your milk. Nice, right?

Material: The black base has stainless steel accents. The milk pitcher and cover are made of plastics.

Cleaning: The removable milk pitcher is dishwasher-safe, which we believe is a massive bonus.

Cost: The MSRP is $75, which is on the higher side, but we don’t see why you’ll pay more than $55 for this milk frother. That’s not the most expensive, but it’s getting there. If you don’t do a lot of frothing or entertaining, you may actually want to opt for a cheaper version.

Before you click on the Amazon link and panic a little when you see the words discontinued, let us put your mind at ease. There are three different Nespresso milk frother options available on the same link. The older, discontinued model is on there – at an amazing price that will make you want to snap it up immediately. But, you should take a look at the black one or the chrome one if you’re looking for a “continued” model.

All three of these share some impressive stats – they do their frothing thing in a little more than a minute. And, they all heat the milk quickly. Let’s face it; they are all rather sexy looking too. But, the model you choose may have more to do with your budget and your needs than appearance.

We’re big fans of the one-button operation on the white and black models, but the chrome version – which is the newest and most expensive – has a couple of operating buttons and has a dishwasher safe carafe. The latter feature is a big plus when you look at competing automatic milk frothers; the former is really a matter of preference.

What we can tell you about all three is that they carry an amazing and world-recognized name. They’re part of gift sets that come with Nespresso coffee makers which should tell you that they are worth it. If only they were a little cheaper, we would give them more points.

Operation: Automatic

Powered by: Mains operated

Duration: It takes about 70 seconds for hot or cold froth. That’s really not bad at all.

Capacity: The froth capacity is 4.1 ounces. If you’re merely looking for hot milk, you can get 8.1 ounces inside.

Material: Stainless steel

Cleaning: As you would expect, this is a hand wash item. You’ll clean the jug by rinsing and wiping it with a cloth or sponge.

Cost: It’s going to cost you nearly $100 for this Nespresso milk frother. If it was a little less expensive we’d move it a little higher on the list. Sadly, it seems you can’t have everything in one product.

We’re not going to lie, this is totally bottom of the line. It just happens to be the best of the bottom, which makes it totally appropriate for people that really need to save their cash (cutting back on the coffee to go and whatnot) as well as sceptics that don’t believe they can make a good cappuccino at home.

If you happen to fall into the above categories, or you’re simply looking for a stocking stuffer for your colleague that can’t stop slurping back the lattes, you don’t really need to look further than this super budget, handheld frother.

It does what it says it is supposed to and it does it well. You have a choice of colours, albeit limited to black and silver, and there is a 60-day money back guarantee that goes with it. You don’t need any sort of instructions to operate this, nor to wash it – as long as you have common sense.

Sadly, the one area that disappoints us, even given the price is that the two AA batteries you need aren’t included. So, if you’re ordering off Amazon, be sure to pick up a couple packs of those as well.

Operation: Handheld

Powered by: 2x AA batteries

Duration: It depends on the thickness of the foam you want, but it doesn’t take long at all.

Capacity: There’s no real capacity, but you don’t want to overfill your mug or you’ll make a real mess in the kitchen.

Material: Stainless steel whip with a plastic body on the handle.

Cleaning: Simply fill a mug with warm, soapy water. Run as usual, then rinse under warm water. You can use a damp cloth to wipe down the body. Dry and pack away.

Cost: The MSRP is $15, and you’ll pay even less than that. At the moment, it’s less than $7 which makes this great as a stocking stuffer for cappuccino lovers – or at any time of the year for those that need their fix.