The 12 Best Milk Frothers for Perfect Foams and Blended Coffees

Milk frothers are invaluable to coffee enthusiasts who enjoy a little steamed milk with their coffees, lattes, and other specialty drinks. The commercial frothers used by coffee shops and restaurants may cost a small fortune, but the average person doesn’t need something that expensive. Many milk frothers are designed explicitly for small-scale home use and have a much more affordable price tag. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about the best milk frother and how to choose the right one for your needs.

How to Choose the Milk Frother to Make Great Drinks at Home

As you can see from the list above, there are a diverse range of milk frothers to explore on the market today. There is something in almost every price range, including a selection of affordable options for home use. Buying your milk frother is all about determining the type of device or appliance that you prefer, and finding one that delivers quality, consistent results for your coffee drinks.

All of the frothers listed above can provide great foams and froths, and many of them can be used for other mixing and blending needs, giving you a multipurpose kitchen tool and the chance to play barista at the same time. Read on to learn more about frothers and how to choose the best model for your coffee treats.

What Does a Frother Do?

Everyone understands the idea of putting steamed milk into a latte or other drink, but they don't know what it is that the frother does. This is the device that aerates the milk or cream, giving it the bubbles that create the foam on top of drinks and the delicious creamy steamed milk that is mixed into various coffee drinks. The frother creates volume and texture, giving your favorite coffee drinks that perfect creamy texture.

The amount of foam and its texture will depend on how long you froth the milk or mix it, but you want to be careful not to over-mix, as you could end up letting all of the air out and turning your froth into a runny mess. The foam or froth that is added to coffee drinks will taper the sharp flavor of the actual coffee, which some people don't enjoy. Plus, it just adds a better flavor, and if you're into foam art, it can be a fun hobby to create drinks that look as good as they taste.

Handheld vs. Carafe Frothers 

One of the biggest decisions for those looking to invest in a milk frother is to determine whether they want a handheld immersion-style frother or if they prefer a carafe that they can use to steam and/or froth milk at the same time. Each has its pros and cons to consider. The carafe style might better serve those who are exclusively interested in a frother or warmer. Some more experienced coffee drink makers may also enjoy the added control of manual foaming devices, giving them the ability to create the exact perfect amount and type of foam for every drink. 

Handheld frothers are typically designed like smaller immersion blenders, featuring a stainless-steel whisk that blends the milk or cream to create the perfect foam. There are a variety of whisk styles, including some that have dual-layer options that will allow for better or faster frothing abilities. Some of the handheld mixers will also come with multiple whisk heads so that you can use them for a variety of other blending needs, as well.

The handheld options typically come either in a rechargeable style or with disposable batteries required for operation. There are still some that have cords, but usually these small frothers only need a little battery power to run. The portability is part of the convenience factor, so that's a big selling point for a lot of people. While many of the carafes need to be plugged in, the handheld milk frothers typically have alternative power so that you can use them anywhere and even take them when you travel or to the office.

Ultimately, the decision will depend on which elements matter most to you. The handheld models are great for portability, but the carafes have their perks to consider, as well. Now that you know a little more, it should be easier for you to choose. If nothing else, you can try both styles and decide for yourself which works best.

Warming and Frothing in One?

As many frothers offer the option of heating and frothing in the same tool, it’s important to understand the benefits here. Not only does it cut a step out of the process, but when you warm the frother with the milk, you’ll often get more consistent results in your foams and froths. This is often seen in the carafe-style frothers that hold a small amount of milk and allow you to steam while you froth. You may have seen these in coffee houses in larger commercial incarnations, but they are also available in home-use styles.

Manual vs. Electric Milk Frothers

Manual milk frothers, also referred to as hand pump frothers, are typically sold with an included cup or carafe. They consist of a plunger attached to a set of mesh screens, pushed up and down in the cup through the milk or cream to create the foam. The motion of the screens aerates the liquid in a very precise manner and can generate great foams and froths in 30 to 60 seconds with most of the models that are on the market.

Hand pump frothers are ideal for those who are only making a drink or two here or there. They can be cumbersome for people who use them frequently. Of course, they can also be an ideal choice for those who are more experienced or looking to get creative with their frothing. These manual frothers can allow you to create the perfect level of foam or froth right down to the last pump, giving you total control that you won’t get from an electric frother.

Electric milk frothers, on the other hand, take all of the work out of the process. They are typically designed either in handheld devices or as a carafe or cup that is somewhat reminiscent of a food processor. These are great for making a lot of drinks at once, because they are quick and efficient, but they are also going to be slightly more expensive than manual models. Some of the electric models that include a cup or carafe will also offer a heating function, as mentioned above, giving you another feature to consider.

Handheld electric frothers are just as efficient as the processor style, and they can usually be used for mixing other liquids as well. Not all handheld models are capable of this, though, so make sure that you don’t use them against the manufacturer’s instructions in the provided manual. The one drawback of the handheld electric style is that it could scratch the inside of cups with the high-powered stainless-steel whisks.

Using a manual frother is a great way to get more control over your foams, as mentioned, as well as a way to avoid using batteries or having to recharge your device to make the drinks that you want. However, the convenience of electric milk frothers definitely can’t be overlooked. For beginners, an electric model might be the best way to get started, but again, it all comes down to what you’re comfortable with.

Quality Over Cost

The final consideration that needs to be discussed is quality. While everyone has their ideas about budgets and what they want to spend on the best milk frothers on the market today, the price has very little to do with what you are getting. Therefore, your priority when shopping for a milk frother should always be the quality of the product and how well it works. Consider the features, the construction of the frother, and whether it comes with any kind of warranty against damage, defects, or breakage over time. 

Check out user reviews, as this is where you will find plenty of information about the quality of milk frothers and how well they function in day-to-day use. It's going to be much easier to get the facts about a product from people who have used it. Remember to take these reviews with a grain of salt, of course, but there may be some valuable information that can help you make your final decision.

When it comes to milk frothers, quality concerns are usually found in factors such as the longevity of the electric motors, the durability of the housing, and the fragility of any glass components. Of course, there are any number of other factors you might want to consider, too, so be sure to look at anything that crosses your mind so that you can find the best quality milk frother, no matter how much you have to spend on this investment.

Conclusion