We Tested the Best Milk Frothers for Delicious Drinks at Home

Best Overall: Instant Pot Instant Milk Frother

5

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Our Ratings

• Usability
  5/5
• Design
  5/5
• Performance
  5/5

Whether you want a rich latte or a cozy cup of hot chocolate, the Instant Milk Frother from Instant Brands can get the job done. It ranked highest in performance and overall value out of the roughly two dozen milk frothers tested. All four of the item's settings yielded smooth foam that retained its consistency for a long time. It also worked well with oat milk, making it a viable option for those who prefer milk alternatives. The performance alone makes it a worthwhile purchase, and when you factor in how affordable it is for an automatic milk frother, it’s a great deal.

The machine's four settings are: cold foam, warm thick foam, warm light foam, and hot milk. Such versatility opens up more drink options—cold foam, in particular, is excellent for several iced coffee recipes—and the ability to customize drinks to your preference. Our testers found the settings clearly labeled and easy to alternate between. The frothing is also extremely quiet, so early morning coffee won't wake up others in your household.

As far as cleaning goes, the Instant Milk Frother is on par with other automatic frothers. The lid and whisk are dishwasher safe, but the inside should be cleaned by hand.

Type: Automatic | Capacity: 10 ounces | Heating: Yes | Dimensions: 6.2 x 4.7 x 8.8 inches | Weight: 1.7 pounds | Warranty: One year

Best Budget: ElitaPro Double Whisk Handheld Milk Frother

4.8

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Our Ratings

• Usability
  4.5/5
• Design
  5/5
• Performance
  4.5/5

There are many affordable milk frothers out there, but the ElitaPro Double Whisk Milk Frother offers the best blend of performance and price, making it our top budget pick. The simple handheld tool consistently produced thick foam throughout our testing process. Surprisingly, it frothed oat milk even better than whole milk, giving it small bubbles and a light, fluffy shape that held together well. That said, the whole milk was still really good, too.

Like most handheld frothers, it's lightweight, small enough to easily store away, and cleaning takes seconds since you only have to spin it in soapy water. We found the grip extremely comfortable, as well. One nice detail that sets the ElitaPro frother apart is that it comes with a whisk for eggs, so you can use it for more than just beverages.

Note that the item's simplicity leads to a natural drawback: It's up to the user to adjust foam consistency on their own, unlike automatic frothers that do it with the touch of a button. Again, this is a shortcoming of handheld frothers in general, not specifically the ElitaPro.

Type: Handheld | Heating: Yes | Dimensions: 2.5 x 9 inches | Weight: 5.9 ounces | Batteries: Two AA batteries | Warranty: Lifetime limited

Best for Beginners: Rösle Stainless Steel Dual Speed Frother

4.5

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Our Ratings

• Usability
  4/5
• Design
  5/5
• Performance
  4.5/5

Between perfecting espresso to smoothly blending the milk, making specialty coffee drinks at home often requires some trial and error for those just starting out. The Rösle Stainless Steel Dual Speed Frother simplifies one step of the process and can help start-up baristas stick with their coffee game.

As the item name indicates, the two speed settings set this device apart from many handheld milk frothers by giving it a smidge more versatility. It fared well with both whole and oat milk when we tested and even made light and creamy cold foam. There were large bubbles in the whole milk that popped and deflated quicker than the small bubbles in the oat milk, but the whole milk was sufficient for a latte or cappuccino nonetheless. Once you're done frothing, simply spin the whisk in soapy water and dry.

While the Rösle frother drifts toward the pricier end for a handheld model, it's still a fairly low financial investment, making it further suitable for beginners. Just make sure to keep extra AAA batteries handy, as they will often need to be replaced.

Type: Handheld | Heating: No | Dimensions: 2.4 x 1.5 x 10.5 inches | Weight: 3.6 ounces | Batteries: Two AAA batteries | Warranty: Lifetime

Best Design: Secura Detachable Milk Frother

4

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Our Ratings

• Usability
  4/5
• Design
  4/5
• Performance
  4/5

The standout detail of Secura's Detachable Milk Frother is, naturally, the stainless steel milk jug that can be removed for easy pouring. Our testers found it convenient not only when making drinks, but also for cleaning up after, as the jug is dishwasher safe.

This is not the only detachable milk frother on the market, so why does it stand out enough for us to recommend it ahead of the others? One reason is its frothing power. It created such fine foam with whole milk that we could scoop it with a spoon and still retain its shape. Another advantage is that it has four frothing modes, all accessed by the touch of a button. There's a setting for hot milk foam, cold foam, and hot chocolate, and a separate whisk attachment for plain hot milk.

Unfortunately, the hot chocolate and cold foam functions aren't as effective as general frothing. The cold foam was suitable, but didn't hold its shape as long as those made by other devices. Our testing team also noted that the hot chocolate powder didn't fully mix. Overall, this is a reliable and reasonably priced milk frother that's worth purchasing; it just comes with a couple caveats.

Type: Automatic | Capacity: 8.5 ounces for frothing; 17 ounces for heating | Heating: Yes | Dimensions: 6.6 x 5 x 7.4 inches | Weight: 2.79 pounds | Warranty: Two-year limited

Best for Advanced Baristas: Nespresso Aeroccino 4 Milk Frother

4.2

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Our Ratings

• Usability
  4/5
• Design
  4/5
• Performance
  4.5/5

For coffee lovers who prefer their milk foam a specific way, the Nespresso Aeroccino4 Milk Frother is an excellent choice. This top-rated device offers a wide range of options for your next latte, cappuccino, and more. It has settings for cold foam, hot milk, hot medium foam, and hot dense foam. We tested each setting and were impressed all around. The foam was rich and had small bubbles that held up for several minutes—longer than the majority of milk frothers tested.

The main downside to the Aeroccino4 is its hefty price tag. It's one of the most expensive that we tested. That said, the performance justifies the price in the end. There are some convenient touches that make it a worthwhile purchase, too, starting with the fact that the jug is dishwasher safe. The grip is ergonomic and sturdy, and the spout pours smoothly. It's also quiet when frothing.

Type: Automatic | Capacity: 8 ounces if heating and 4 ounces if frothing | Heating: Yes | Dimensions: 7.1 x 7.1 x 8.3 inches | Weight: 2 pounds | Warranty: Two years

Best Countertop: Bodum Bistro Electric Milk Frother

4.5

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Our Ratings

• Usability
  4/5
• Design
  5/5
• Performance
  4.5/5

The Bodum Bistro Electric Milk Frother is compact at roughly 4 inches in diameter and simple thanks to the lone power button. But don't let that fool you: The device is sturdy enough to withstand daily use for the coffee lover who makes multiple drinks a day, which is why it earns a spot as our favorite countertop frother.

All you have to do for quick and easy milk foam is hit the power button and you're good to go. The milk heats up as it froths, so users can seamlessly pour it over espresso for delicious lattes and cappuccinos. The frother holds a maximum of 13.5 ounces, but 8 ounces is recommended for best results; there are clear markings inside to indicate proper fill levels

It performed well with both dairy and non-dairy milk, and our testers also said it made excellent cold foam and hot chocolate. When you're done, just pop the top part of the frother in the dishwasher for easy cleaning. One of the only criticisms we have is that it's louder than many other electric frothers that we tested.

Type: Automatic | Capacity: 13.5 ounces | Heating: Yes | Dimensions: 4.21 x 8.46 inches | Weight: 1.8 pounds | Warranty: One-year limited

Best Manual: HIC Fino Milk Frother

4.8

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Our Ratings

• Usability
  4/5
• Design
  5/5
• Performance
  5/5

Even though manual milk frothers take a little more effort than electric alternatives, the HIC Fino Milk Frother plunged smoothly and created rich, long-lasting foam for our testers in just under 60 seconds. It's also cheaper than most electric counterparts (although, there are many electric handheld frothers at a similar or lower price). And since it's lightweight and doesn't require electricity, it's portable enough to take with you when traveling or camping.

The pitcher has a 14-ounce capacity, which is fairly large, although you shouldn't fill it up all the way or it will overflow when frothing. The lid has a built-in double mesh aerator that easily creates foam, and the carafe has an easy-grip handle. It holds up to 14 ounces. It's also top-rack dishwasher safe.

The stainless steel parts make it fairly loud, though not terrible. Another small downside to consider before purchasing is that you can't see the milk while frothing it, so you may have to stop and peek to get the foam to your preference.

Type: Manual | Capacity: 14 ounces | Heating: No | Dimensions: 5.25 x 3.625 x 4.25 inches | Weight: 0.7 pounds | Warranty: One year