A milk frother turns ordinary milk into foam for lattes and cappuccinos at home, and there are 2 main types. A handheld wand whisks milk you have already warmed, while an electric jug heats and froths it for you. Read on to work out which type fits your drinks and your mornings, whether you need cold foam as well as hot, and when a cafetière you already own can do the job.
What to look for
01What is the difference between a handheld frother and an electric jug?
A handheld frother is a small battery-powered whisk that aerates milk but doesn't heat it, while an electric milk frother jug heats and froths the milk in one go. With a wand you warm the milk in a pan or the microwave first, then whisk it in a mug or jug. The SOUTHMAN has 3 speeds, a stainless steel stand and a rechargeable battery, and the ELMWAY is rechargeable, with a charging stand or a wall mount holder. An electric jug, such as the Krups or the Vencier, plugs in: you pour milk in, press the button and wait. Most jugs switch off by themselves at the end of the cycle. A wand takes up almost no space in a drawer, and a jug saves you heating the milk separately.
02Which makes better foam for lattes and cappuccinos?
An electric jug gives more consistent foam and heats the milk to the same point every time, which helps if you make the same drink each morning. A cappuccino has a thick layer of foam, while a latte is mostly warm milk with a thin layer on top, and a jug with more than one setting lets you choose. The Daewoo has 4 milk settings, and the Vencier has hot froth, cold froth and heat only. A handheld wand makes lighter, bubblier foam, which works well on a cappuccino but takes practice to get even. Pouring latte art needs the fine, glossy microfoam that a coffee machine's steam wand makes, and most frothers of either type struggle to match it.
03Do you need a frother that makes cold foam?
Choose a jug with a cold setting if you drink iced lattes or iced coffee, because it foams chilled milk without warming it. The Krups, Daewoo, Vencier and Wowteam are all sold for hot and cold foam, and the 600ml 4-in-1 milk warmer and frother makes both too. A handheld wand also works on cold milk, since it only whisks, so one wand covers both kinds of drink. If you switch between hot drinks and iced ones through the year, a jug with both settings means one appliance on the worktop. Cold foam sits on top of an iced drink, so pour the coffee over ice first and spoon the foam on last. The Vencier's heat only setting is also handy for warm milk with no foam, for a child's drink or a bedtime mug.
04How many drinks do you make at once?
If you make drinks for 2 or more people at a time, a larger jug saves running the cycle twice. The 600ml 4-in-1 Electric Milk Warmer and Frother is sold as large capacity, for coffee, lattes, cappuccinos and hot chocolate. Many jugs have separate maximum lines for frothing and for heating, because milk grows in volume as it foams, so the froth line sits well below the heat line. Check both lines rather than the total size of the jug. A handheld wand has no fixed capacity, so you can froth a mug for yourself or a small jug for two. For one drink a day, a compact jug like the Daewoo, which is sold as compact and sleek, or a wand is plenty.
05Can a cafetière froth milk?
Yes, a cafetière can froth milk, and it is a sensible choice if you already own one and only want foam now and then. Warm the milk, pour it into the clean cafetière no more than a third full, then pump the plunger up and down quickly until the milk has roughly doubled. The TBGENIUS 4 Cup Cafetière is sold for filter coffee, loose tea and milk froth, with heat resistant borosilicate glass, a 4 level stainless steel filter and 0.6L capacity. The method works in any cafetière with a mesh filter, such as the 1L VonShef 8 Cup. It takes more effort than a jug and gives coarser foam, and the mesh needs a thorough rinse afterwards so milk doesn't dry in it.
Our top picks
Best for a handheld wand with speed controlSOUTHMAN Milk Frother Handheld Foamer with
SOUTHMAN's handheld frother has 3 speeds, a stainless steel stand and a rechargeable battery, so there are no batteries to replace. A lower speed stops warm milk splashing out of a mug, and a higher one builds more foam. It suits a single latte or cappuccino drinker.
Best for hot, cold and heat onlyVencier Electric Milk Frother and Warmer
The Vencier heats and froths in one jug, with hot froth, cold froth and heat only, all on one-touch control. The jug has a non-stick coating, and it is sold as quiet, which helps if you make coffee while others are asleep. Lattes, cappuccinos and hot chocolate are all covered.
Best for a straightforward hot and cold jugKrups Electric Milk Frother
Krups keeps this one simple: an electric milk frother that makes hot and cold foam in a non-stick jug. It suits someone who wants one jug for hot and iced drinks, with a non-stick surface that wipes clean.
Best for making several drinks at onceElectric Milk Warmer and Frother
This 4-in-1 milk warmer and frother holds 600ml and makes hot and cold foam as well as warm milk. The larger capacity suits a couple or a household that makes 2 or more drinks together. It is black and sold for coffee, lattes, cappuccinos and hot chocolate.
Best for frothing without a plugTBGENIUS 4 Cup Cafetiere Coffee Press
The TBGENIUS 4 cup cafetière makes filter coffee and loose tea and froths milk by hand. It holds 0.6L, with heat resistant borosilicate glass and a 4 level stainless steel filter. Choose it if you want the occasional frothy coffee without another electric gadget on the worktop.
Frequently asked
Do I need a Nespresso milk frother, or will any frother work?
Any milk frother works with coffee from a Nespresso or any other pod machine, because the frother heats and foams the milk separately. Make the coffee as usual, then pour or spoon the milk on top. A jug like the Vencier or Krups gets you closest to a café-style milky coffee without changing your machine.
Should I buy a coffee machine with a milk frother or a separate frother?
If your coffee maker already suits you, a separate frother is the simpler upgrade, and it works with pods, a cafetière or instant coffee. A coffee machine with a built-in milk frother makes sense if you are replacing the machine anyway and want espresso drinks from one appliance. Built-in steam wands take practice, while a standalone jug only needs filling and switching on.
Can you froth oat milk or other plant milks?
Yes. Oat and soya milk froth well, and barista versions of plant milks are made to foam and hold up in hot coffee. Almond and coconut drinks can give thinner foam that collapses sooner. Shake the carton well first, as the ingredients settle.
What temperature should frothed milk be?
Around 55°C to 65°C, which is hot enough to drink straight away without the milk tasting cooked. Much above 70°C the milk starts to scald and the foam breaks down faster. An electric jug stops at its own set point, so you don't need a thermometer; with a wand, heat the milk until it steams but stop before it bubbles at the edges.
Can I use a milk frother for hot chocolate or matcha?
Yes. Handheld wands are good at mixing powder into milk: the POWSAF lists matcha and hot chocolate, and the ELMWAY lists matcha. Some jugs, including the Vencier and the 600ml 4-in-1, also list hot chocolate. Read the jug's manual before adding powder, as it can stick to the base or the whisk.