A few months ago, my wife asked for a latte. We don’t have an espresso machine. What we do have is instant coffee and a milk frother I bought on impulse from Amazon.
I made her a fake latte that she said was “actually really good.” Now I’m the household barista, armed with a $20 gadget that spins really fast.
Here’s everything I’ve learned about milk frothers—which ones work, which ones don’t, and how to use them properly.
Types of Milk Frothers
Before we get into specific models, let’s talk about what’s out there:
Handheld frothers are battery-powered wands that spin a small whisk. They’re cheap ($10-20), portable, and work surprisingly well for basic foam. Downside: you need to heat your milk separately.
Electric jug frothers heat and froth milk automatically. Pour in cold milk, press a button, get hot frothed milk in a minute or two. More expensive ($30-80) but more convenient.
Manual frothers are basically glorified French presses—you pump a plunger up and down to create foam. They work but require effort and don’t heat the milk.
Steam wands on espresso machines are the gold standard, but we’re not talking about those here. If you have an espresso machine, you probably don’t need this article.
Best Handheld: Zulay Original Milk Frother
Price: ~$15
This is the frother I bought on impulse, and it’s earned permanent kitchen-drawer status.
It’s simple: a battery-powered wand with a small whisk at the end. Stick it in warm milk, turn it on, move it up and down for 15-20 seconds, and you get decent foam.
The foam isn’t microfoam—it’s more like what you’d get from a French press. Small to medium bubbles, decent texture, good enough for lattes at home. Cappuccino foam is harder to achieve, but possible with technique.
Build quality is acceptable for the price. I’ve had mine for over a year with daily use and it still works fine. The whisk pops off for easy cleaning.
Tips for better results:
- Heat your milk first (microwave works fine, aim for 150°F)
- Use a tall, narrow container to contain splashing
- Keep the whisk just below the surface for more foam
- Whole milk froths better than skim
Best for: Budget-conscious latte lovers who don’t mind a small extra step.
Best Electric Jug: Breville BMF600XL Milk Cafe
Price: ~$130
This is the expensive option, and it shows in the results.
The Breville produces genuine microfoam—the silky, velvety texture you get at good coffee shops. It has multiple discs for different foam densities: one for cappuccino (thick foam), one for lattes (thin, integrated foam), and one for hot chocolate (no foam, just heating).
Operation is dead simple. Pour in milk, select your temperature and foam type, press start. Three minutes later, you have perfectly heated, perfectly frothed milk.
The carafe holds up to 24 oz, which is enough for multiple drinks. It’s dishwasher safe, and the induction heating means no hot bottom element to burn milk onto.
Downsides: The price. The size (it takes up counter space). And honestly, it might be overkill unless you’re making multiple milk drinks daily.
Best for: Serious home baristas or households where multiple people want lattes every day.
Best Mid-Range: Nespresso Aeroccino 4
Price: ~$80
You don’t need a Nespresso machine to use this. It’s a standalone milk frother that happens to have Nespresso branding.
The Aeroccino 4 offers four options: hot dense foam, hot light foam, hot milk (no foam), and cold foam for iced drinks. The cold foam option is actually great for iced lattes.
Foam quality is good—not quite Breville level, but close. It heats and froths in about a minute, which is faster than most competitors.
The stainless steel carafe is easy to clean and looks nice on a counter. Capacity is smaller than the Breville (about 8 oz for frothing, 4 oz for cappuccino foam).
Downsides: Limited capacity. Can only make enough foam for 1-2 drinks at a time.
Best for: Single coffee drinkers or couples who want good foam without the Breville price tag.
Best Budget Electric: Miroco Milk Frother
Price: ~$35
If you want electric frothing without spending Aeroccino money, the Miroco is the sweet spot.
It heats and froths milk automatically with four settings: hot dense foam, hot airy foam, warm milk, cold foam. The results are good—better than handheld frothers, though not as refined as the Nespresso or Breville.
Build quality is plastic-heavy but functional. The non-stick interior cleans easily. It’s quiet enough that you can use it early without waking people up.
The foam is more airy than silky. Fine for everyday lattes, not ideal if you’re trying to do latte art.
Downsides: Foam quality is the weakest of the electric options. Small capacity.
Best for: Budget-conscious buyers who want hands-off operation.
Skip the Manual Frothers
I tested two manual pump frothers (the Bodum and a generic Amazon version). They work, technically. You can create foam by pumping the plunger vigorously for 60-90 seconds.
But here’s the thing: by the time you’ve heated milk separately and then pumped for a minute, you’ve spent more effort than using a handheld frother. And the foam quality isn’t meaningfully better.
Manual frothers made sense before cheap electric options existed. Now they’re just exercise equipment disguised as coffee tools.
Milk Frothing Tips That Actually Matter
Temperature is crucial. Milk froths best between 140-155°F. Above 160°F, the proteins denature and you get thin, unstable foam. Below 130°F, the foam won’t hold.
Fat content matters. Whole milk creates the creamiest, most stable foam. 2% is a good compromise. Skim milk creates foam that’s voluminous but thin and disappears quickly.
Fresh milk froths better. Milk that’s been open for a week produces worse foam than fresh. Not sure why, but it’s consistent.
Plant milks are tricky. Oat milk froths surprisingly well—barista versions are specifically formulated for frothing. Almond milk creates foam but it’s thin and separates. Soy depends heavily on the brand. Coconut milk barely froths at all.
Cold frothing works. For iced lattes, froth cold milk and pour it over espresso and ice. It won’t be as dense as hot foam, but it adds a nice texture.
What I Use Daily
Honestly? The Zulay handheld. It takes 30 extra seconds to heat milk in the microwave, but the results are good enough for my weekday lattes. I save the fancy coffee shop visits for weekends when I want real espresso and actual microfoam.
If I were making lattes for multiple people daily, I’d upgrade to the Aeroccino or Breville. For solo use, the handheld gets the job done at a fraction of the cost.
