Wellness Origin HubThe best milk frothers for lattes at home
The best milk frothers for lattes at home, from a cheap handheld wand to a jug that heats and foams on its own. What each type does well and three we would buy.
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Our picks at a glance
- Best overall: Breville Milk Café Around $150 Check price
- Best compact jug: Nespresso Aeroccino3 Around $100 Check price
- Best handheld: Zulay Original Milk Frother Around $20 Check price
For most people, the best milk frother for lattes at home is an electric jug: you pour in milk, press a button and get hot, foamed milk in a couple of minutes with nothing to watch. A battery handheld wand costs far less and foams well, but you heat the milk separately. A steam wand on an espresso machine gives the silkiest milk of all, but it takes practise and a bigger budget.
The three kinds of milk frother
| Type | How it works | Heats milk? | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Handheld wand | A small battery whisk spins in a cup of milk | No | Cheap, quick foam, matcha and golden milk |
| Electric jug | A magnetic whisk spins while the base heats | Yes | Hands-off lattes, cappuccinos, hot chocolate |
| Steam wand | Steam from an espresso machine stretches the milk | Yes | Silky microfoam and latte art |
A jug frother is the easiest upgrade if you already have a pod machine, a moka pot or a cafetière. A handheld wand is the best small buy if you want foam on a budget, or you make drinks like golden milk and matcha that just need a quick whisk.
What to look for
- Hot and cold settings. Cold foam is useful for iced lattes in summer. Most jugs offer at least one cold option.
- Capacity. Small jugs make enough for one or two drinks. If you make lattes for the household, look for a larger jug or one with a bigger heating mode.
- Cleaning. A non-stick interior wipes clean; a removable, dishwasher-safe jug is easier still. Milk dries hard, so rinse soon after use.
- Plant milk performance. Barista-style oat and soy milks foam well; thin almond and rice milks foam poorly in any frother. Our plant milks compared guide explains why protein and fat matter for foam.
- Temperature control. Some jugs let you choose how hot the milk gets, which helps if you dislike scalded milk.
How we chose
We looked at how each frother works, cleaning, controls, build quality and the reputation of each model over several years. We have not run our own tests or measured foam. Prices change, so check before you buy.
Best overall: Breville Milk Café
Around $150
The one to buy if you make milky coffee every day for more than one person. You choose the temperature and the style of foam, press start and walk away. The jug is big enough for several drinks or for hot chocolate, and it comes off the base for cleaning.
What we like
- Larger jug for several drinks
- Adjustable temperature
- Swap discs for latte or cappuccino foam
- Jug lifts off for cleaning
Keep in mind
- Expensive for a frother
- Takes up counter space
Best compact jug: Nespresso Aeroccino3
Around $100
A small, simple jug that works with any coffee, not only Nespresso pods. One press for hot foam, a longer press for cold. It makes enough for one or two drinks at a time and wipes clean in seconds.
What we like
- Very simple one-button use
- Hot and cold foam
- Small footprint
- Non-stick inside
Keep in mind
- Small capacity
- No temperature control
- Not dishwasher safe
Best handheld: Zulay Original Milk Frother
Around $20
For a small budget, a handheld wand is hard to beat. Heat the milk in a pan or the microwave, then whisk for 15 to 30 seconds. It also mixes matcha and spiced milk drinks without lumps.
What we like
- Cheap
- Fast foam in any cup
- Good for matcha, golden milk and protein drinks
- Stores in a drawer
Keep in mind
- Does not heat the milk
- Foam is airier and less silky than a jug
At a glance
| Frother | Best for | Heats milk | Cold foam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breville Milk Café | Daily lattes for several people | Yes, adjustable | Yes |
| Nespresso Aeroccino3 | One or two drinks, simplicity | Yes | Yes |
| Zulay handheld | Budget, matcha, spiced milk | No | Yes |
How to get better foam
- Start with cold milk straight from the fridge; it foams more easily than warm milk.
- Do not overfill. Jug frothers have two lines, a lower one for foam and a higher one for heated milk only.
- With a handheld wand, hold the whisk just under the surface at first to pull in air, then lower it to make the bubbles smaller.
- Tap the jug or cup on the counter and swirl to break up big bubbles before pouring.
- Rinse straight away, before the milk dries.
Questions people ask
Can I froth oat milk?
Yes. Barista versions of oat milk are made to foam and usually work best. Homemade oat milk foams less well because it has less fat and protein, though our homemade oat milk still makes a decent warm drink.
Is a milk frother worth it without an espresso machine?
Yes. Strong coffee from a moka pot, cafetière or pod machine with frothed milk makes a good latte. A frother is also useful for Mexican hot chocolate and other warm milk drinks.
Why does my milk not foam?
The usual reasons are milk that is too warm to start with, a low-protein plant milk, or a whisk that is not seated properly in a jug frother. Skimmed dairy milk makes stiff foam; whole milk makes softer, creamier foam.
Photograph: AI-generated image
