Depending on your specific needs and budget, there are many excellent milk frother options to consider, but our pick for the best overall is Nespresso’s Aeroccino4 Milk Frother, which delivers ease of use and high quality for a median price. Below you’ll find all the best milk frothers to buy for 2024.
Pros
- Speed
- Quality
- Runs silently
- Unique stainless steel design
Cons
- Difficult to read min and max fill lines in the kettle chamber
- Unusual design compared with others
This was my favorite among milk frothers for a variety of reasons. It was easy to use and had intuitive controls, runs nearly silently and quickly, and delivers excellent quality on every setting. Those with a facility for latte art will appreciate its light foam setting which delivers pourable, more incorporated microfoam.
As a matter of reference for its speed especially, some models took as long as 5 minutes to deliver quality foam -- and rarely silently -- and the Aeroccino4 took only about 1 minute and 15 seconds. As the primary brand in pod coffee makers, it follows that Nespresso should offer a milk frother model that makes its pod machines even more desirable. While it is on the slightly higher side in price, it is not the most expensive option, and I believe its price is warranted.
Pros
- Versatility of options
- Dishwasher safe
- Magnetic tip holder for switching functions
- Good value
Cons
- Slow cycle
- Requires a minimum of 8 ounces of milk for many functions; may not be appropriate for small households
The DREO BaristaMaker Milk Frother is relatively new to the market and represents next-generation milk frothers, with a digital display that allows for a selection between five specific drink types and six milk types, plus desired temperature. Most frothers delivered foam that was between 135 and 150 degrees Fahrenheit, so this model is also ideal for those who desire extra hot lattes and cappuccinos.
A distinctive impeller blade is included for especially fine microfoam, and the chamber indicates a max volume line specifically for latte art. The detachable kettle makes it easy to pour for those attempting latte creations. Unique among all the models here, the display also shows a timer so you know when to expect your completed foam, though the cycle is on the long side at three and a half minutes. With only a $99 price tag, it is among the least expensive options for milk frothers that offer the widest variety of different settings.
Pros
- Excellent value
- Intuitive controls
- Cancel button
- Runs silently
- Cool touch design; no exposed hot plate
Cons
- Difficult to read min and max fill lines in the kettle chamber
There are many elements to recommend the Instant 4-in-1 Milk Frother and Steamer, not the least of which is its price. At only about $25, there are handheld and manual models that cost more than this versatile electric one.
Like the most highly-rated option, it runs nearly silently and offers four settings for your hot and cold beverage needs. I found it to do especially well with the oat milk, though the nuance between all the models is slight where alternative milks are concerned. It runs between 2 and 3 minutes, depending on which cycle you’re using, and delivers milk that is slightly on the hot side, though this might be a bonus for some. I like that its buttons include a “cancel” feature, which was uncommon among the models I tested.
Pros
- Quality build
- Ergonomic
- Good design
- Immediacy of results
Cons
- On the expensive side for handheld models
- Noisy
Golde offers a handheld frother to accompany its line of beverage powders, and it is the best of the bunch. It is rechargeable via a USB cord, has an ergonomically sound design with the button right where your thumb would be to hold it and offers two different speeds. Cold or already warmed milk became foamy in mere seconds with its rapid whisk technology. Its built-in case offers easy portability and storage, a rarity among the handheld models I tested.
Pros
- Glass pitcher
- Microwave safe
- Dishwasher safe
- Easy to operate
Cons
- The pitcher is large in size, but still recommends a relatively small amount of milk
Manual milk frothers are those which resemble a French press. Cold or already warmed milk is added to the pitcher, and then you manually pump air into the milk. The foam quality isn’t what you can achieve either with a kettle model or a handheld electric or battery-operated frother, but you can still achieve quality results in less than a minute.
The Bodum Latteo Manual Milk Frother is elegant, easy to operate, and inexpensive. Its glass pitcher not only allows you to observe the froth in process, which is a major plus compared to stainless steel models with similar functionality, but it is microwave safe, allowing you to warm the milk in the same vessel.
Pros
- Extremely simple to operate
- Good results
- Fast cycle
Cons
- No pour spout
- Shuts off automatically, but the switch must be toggled back to the off position manually between uses
Among the electric milk frothers that offer just a single functionality -- hot, frothed milk -- the Bodum Bistro Electric Milk Frother was the best of the bunch. This is an ideal choice for those looking to save money and don’t require cold foam options, warming and stirring functions, or additional settings beyond the basic one. This frother delivered very good results in less than 90 seconds, at an ideal temperature for cappuccino foam. I also found it to produce above-average results for the oat milk. It’s a little on the louder side among milk frothers, but this is forgivable for a simple-to-use, inexpensive option with a small footprint.
Pros
- Large capacity
- Cycle end indicator
- Temperature control
Cons
- This was the only model to have included styrofoam packaging
- On the louder side
- Expensive
Most available electric milk frothers top out at 8 ounces, which provides foam for about two cappuccino drinks. The Breville Milk Cafe Frother offers twice that much and still delivers an excellent foam/milk ratio when maxed out. Despite its volume capabilities, it still requires onla minimum of six ounces of milk, making it also appropriate for just making a single drink.
It's one of few models to offer specific temperature control, and I found that it consistently delivers according to the set temperature. This model also has a beep for indicating the end of the cycle, an unusual and appreciated feature among models. It has a larger footprint than most, owing to its capacity, but that is to be expected with an appliance that can serve a larger household.
How we tested milk frothers
The 13 models I tested were initially selected among best selling, highly rated or previously well-reviewed models, plus a few that were new to the market or from well-regarded coffee brands.
I tested every model by frothing both whole organic milk and oat milk on its primary setting -- some models only have one, so this is the baseline functionality. Where additional settings were available, cold foam was tested with skim milk and the non-foam heating/stirring function if available was tested with low-fat milk and conventional hot chocolate mix. (I found the difference in quality for the heat/stir function among models to be unremarkable, so not much of a determining factor for recommendations.)
I evaluated the quality of the microfoam, the resulting temperature of the milk, ease of use and intuitiveness of controls, and ease of cleaning. I considered each model's average price against its available functions and overall functionality as a measure of value.
Other milk frothers we tested
Capresso Froth Pro Milk Frother: The Capresso Froth Pro Milk Frother offers fine foam and was among the options to produce the hottest outcome -- 160 degrees -- compared with other models, for those who prefer a steamier mug. I also give it massive credit for having the easiest to read markings inside the pitcher to indicate min and max fill lines. (This is a shocking problem among milk frothers, in my experience, as many of them have black lines on a black background, which is not ideal for those with poor eyesight or dim kitchens.) It is easy to clean and has a median price tag, but I found the controls to be unintuitive for a model that has only three buttons. (Cold foam is easy enough to interpret, but between foaming and heating, I had to look it up.) At 4 minutes, it also had one of the longest cycles of the bunch.
Illy Stainless Steel Electric Milk Frother: As a trusted brand name in coffee, there was nothing especially wrong with Illy's Stainless Steel Electric Milk Frother, but it was unremarkable compared with other models given its price tag and a cycle that's on the long side. If style is an important factor for you, however, the Illy gives a classic, mid-century Italian cafe vibe in a cream-colored hue, and its functionality is sound.
Aerolatte Original Steam Free Milk Frother: The Aerolatte Original Steam Free Milk Fther performed well for a handheld model and has no red flags in its functionality. Unlike the Golde Superwhisk, above, it relies on batteries, has only one speed and doesn't include any sort of handy storage mechanism other than the box it is packaged in.
L'Or Barista Milk Frother and Steamer: The functionality is high with the L'Or Barista Milk Frother and Steamer, with four cycle options and a quick run time, if on the loud side among milk frother models. My primary criticism is with the price: at $90 there are much more sophisticated models available. For that outlay, I'd really be looking for at least a pour spout to make possible latte art.
Elita Pro Ultra High Speed Milk Frother: The Elita pro is about the least expensive investment you can make to dabble in a milk frother. It's a handheld model that also comes with its own stand for easy storage, a nice touch among models in this category. The whisk attachment was not easy to secure on its base, however, meaning that I was largely unsuccessful at producing foam. At only $7, though, it is extremely low risk, to hope that the unit I received was an anomaly.
HIC Fino Milk Frother: A stainless steel manual model, the HIC Fino Milk Frother is a good look in a small footprint. It is much smaller than the Bodum Latteo above but accommodates the same amount of milk. It is easy to use, but my preference for a manual frother was simply for one where you could see the foam in process.
Milk frother buying advice
Bodum Bistro Electric Milk Frother
Type of milk frothers: Pitcher, wand, and manual
Wand frothers will make foam but won't do much to heat milk.
Milk frothers generally belong to one of three categories: electric countertop appliances that look and work like small pitchers or kettles to both froth and heat the milk; handheld or "wand" models that may be battery or electrically powered that provide foam but not heat; and manual models that look like a french press and which are simply used to pump air into the milk.
Electric countertop milk frothers are typically one of two varieties: those that have a separate pitcher that sits atop an exposed hot plate base, and those where the heating mechanism is contained within the kettle unit. The latter provides an additional measure of safety, which may be an important consideration if you have children in your household, but are marginally more difficult to clean. Some of the models that have a pitcher that's separate from the heating unit are dishwasher safe.
Cost of milk frothers
Depending on the style of milk frother you choose, there is a wide variation in price, which isn't always directly related to the sophistication of the device, in my experience. Countertop milk frothers are generally between $30 and $160, with a few more expensive outliers that can cost as much as $250. Handheld milk frothers can be as inexpensive as $7 and as expensive as $90, and manual milk frothers typically run between $15 and $90.
Nespresso Aeroccino4 Milk Frother
Other milk frother considerations: ease of use and cleaning, temperature control
Most milk frothers are straightforward to set up and operate right outside of the box. Those that just have an on switch or power button and provide one function are especially easy. There are no standard icons to indicate different kinds of functions: cold foam, light foam, etc., which did make for occasional confusion, so the recommended models here represented those that were easiest to use and interpret.
Several of the models with separate pitchers are dishwasher safe, but the exposed hot plate of those models are potentially more hazardous. Those that have the heating unit contained within the kettle have an additional measure of safety but must be cleaned carefully.
Only a few models have specific temperature settings that you can control, otherwise the outcome of the milk/foam component ranged between 135 to 160 degrees Fahrenheit depending on the model.
Milk frother FAQs
How do milk frothers work?
What can you make with a milk frother?
Frothers can be great for espresso lattes or matcha lattes.
