The best milk frothers for creamy coffee: Top 8 picks

You deserve to treat yourself. That’s why we suggest buying a not-so-necessary but still important kitchen gadget, such as the handy milk frother. After all, we deserve to have a delicious, rich latte or flat white in the comfort of our homes.

Or, if making coffee and espresso isn’t your cup of tea, a nice, creamy hot chocolate. If you have zero knowledge of what to look for in a milk frother or how they work, we’re here to help. Ahead is our roundup of the best milk frothers to buy.

Best overall milk Frother: Miroco Stainless Steel Milk Steamer

This automatic frother from Microco is excellent all around. It has straightforward controls for hot and cold frothed and steamed milk. It’s whisper quiet and gives you lovely, thick-frothed milk in under 2 minutes, and it has an auto shut-off feature, so you don’t scorch your milk. Additionally, the dishwasher-safe stainless steel jug is easy to clean and reuse.

Best handheld milk frother: Zulay Original Milk Frother Handheld Foam Maker

If you don’t mind heating your own milk, this hand frother from Zulay is an excellent option. You control the duration and thickness of your foam. Handheld milk frothers like these are also great for homemade milkshakes and smoothies. Cleanup is easy by sticking the wand in some soapy water, turning it on, and rinsing. Zulay offers this frother in 27 different colorways, so you should be able to find one that matches your kitchen’s color scheme.

Best manual milk frother: Bodum Latteo Manual Milk Frother

Bodum is known for its high-quality coffee products. This manual frother has the same design as the brand’s famous French press. Plunge the frother 60-90 times and then enjoy the fruits of your labors. The borosilicate glass is microwave-safe, so if you want your foam warm, just pop it in the microwave.

Best single button milk frother: Nespresso Aeroccino3 Milk Frother

If you like simplicity, this automatic milk frother from Nespresso is perfect. Just one button controls all four settings. For a hot preparation, briefly press the button. For cold milk froth, keep the button pressed for approximately 2 seconds.

Best retro milk frother: Smeg Milk Frother

Did automatic milk frothers even exist in the ’50s and ’60s? We’re not sure, but if they did, they probably would look something like this Smeg milk frother. Smeg’s niche is people who long for a time once passed. If you fall into this category, this is the frother for you. Plus, it’s also a really great frother. It has a hidden cord wrap feature and has seven preset options: hot chocolate, hot milk, hot froth, light, hot froth, thick, cold froth. light, cold froth, thick, and manual.

Best travel milk frother: Basecent Travel Milk Frother

This Basecent travel milk frother is excellent for coffee snobs on the go. What makes this one different from a regular handheld milk frother is its handy cover and rechargeable battery that can plug into any USB power source.

Best stylish milk frother: Phillips Baristina Milk Frother

If you love your kitchen devices to look sleek and stylish, look to the Philips Baristina Milk Frother. This stylish device is both aesthetically pleasing and powerful. Ideal for creating fine, stiff foam, this frother is also perfect if you’re experimenting with making exciting latte art.

Best rechargeable milk frother: Subminimal NanoFoamer V2 Lithium Rechargeable

The ultra-powerful Subminimal NanoFoamer V2 makes it easy to experiment with premium cafe-quality microfoam milk for latte art at home. It makes the perfect foam for your cappuccino, cafe latte, or flat white, and this rechargeable device also includes a free Latte Art MasterClass with your purchase.

With its cutting-edge technology and sleek design, the Nanofoamer revolutionizes how you enjoy your favorite coffee drinks at home. It is also offered in a battery-powered variety for those who don’t want the rechargeable variety. Beyond the functionality of this best milk frother, its sleek design also makes it an attractive gift for the coffee lovers in your social circle.

Types of milk frothers

There are various types of milk frothers on the market, which have different uses depending on your needs in a milk frother.

Steam wands

Steam wands are the best ones out there because the steam infusion makes the richest, creamiest frothed milk. You can adjust the level of foam for different coffee drinks. Unfortunately, steam wands are always attached to espresso machines. So, unless you’re ready to throw down a serious chunk of change on one, these are out of the question.

Automatic frothers

The next best thing to a steam wand is an automatic frother. Auto-frothers vary in their features, but for the most part, all do the same three things: They froth hot milk, froth cold milk, and steam milk. Automatic milk frothers give you a thicker foam than handheld, but there’s more cleanup on the back end.

Handheld frothers

Handhelds have their advantages, like being light, transportable, and easy to clean. Some disadvantages are they don’t heat the milk, the froth is typically more delicate (great for cappuccinos), and they go through a lot of batteries.

Which type of milk frother is best?

Since steam wands only exist on espresso makers, the next best thing in our opinion is an easy-to-use carafe-style frother. These milk frothers heat your milk to its optimal temperature and hold it there for later use. They are also foolproof and you won’t risk the mess that handheld milk frothers pose.

What can I do with a milk frother?

Although most milk frothers are designed only to heat and froth milk, that doesn’t mean you can’t experiment on your own. As we mentioned, milk frothers are great for making a velvety and delicious cup of hot chocolate. But, don’t stop there. Handheld milk frothers and carafe versions can be used to mix up delicious cocktails (sans ice, obviously), especially ones that call for egg whites in the ingredients.