The UK has become a nation of coffee lovers. We just can’t get enough of cappuccinos, lattes and Cafe Mochas – to name just a few of our favourites. So, it’s no surprise that many of us have taken to recreating the coffee shop experience at home. And, one of the most affordable ways to do this is to buy a milk frother.
These handy little gadgets are a very viable way to create milk-based coffees at home for a fraction of the cost of buying a coffee machine or paying for coffees in Starbucks or Costa every day. In fact, you can pick up a basic unit for as little as £5 – £10 right up to fully featured units which cost around £100 – and everything else in-between. There really is something for everyone.
What is a Milk Frother?
In its simplest form a milk frother is a whisk which can be used to aerate milk into a rich, creamy foam. Some units will heat and foam the milk at the same time for a hands-off experience. Whilst others need to be heated on stoves or in the microwave and then manually frothed to produce a foam.
No matter how the frother you choose prepares the milk, the end result is the same: you’ll have a convenient facility in your home to prepare almost any kind of milk-based coffee for literally pennies each time.
Milk Frother Comparison Table
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Milk Frother Reviews: Your guide to the best 6 in the UK
Lavazza 18200057 Milk Frother
See More ImagesWho said creamy cappuccinos, lattes, mochas, and the rest are beverages you can only enjoy by spending a couple of bucks at your favourite coffee shop? With an automatic milk frother at home, you can enjoy all the cups you want of various specialty coffees. And, after researching what the market has to offer and comparing different products, we have come up with a shortlist of what we believe are some of the best milk frothers available today.
Second on our list is the Lavazza 18200057. This glossy black milk frother with a touch of black and chrome not only looks great but is also an expert at what it does. It operates quietly, lets you know when your frothed milk is ready and can be used to make more than just coffee at a time. To help you familiarize yourself with the Lavazza 18200057 Milk Frother, we delve into its various features below as well as a quick overview on how to get the device up and running.
How to Use the Lavazza 18200057
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One thing to love about the Lavazza 18200057 Milk Frother is that it is designed to be easy to use. It features a very simple design of 3 major components – a lid with a crown-holding slot (which is what Lavazza refers to the stirring/whisk attachments as), a milk container with handle, and a milk frother base with a power cable attached to it. Also included are a couple of accessories (a notched & a smooth crown), which lend the appliance versatile functionality.
The icing on the cake however, is the fact that the Lavazza 1820057 only has one multifunction button that turns the device on & off and prepares your milk in almost anyway you need it! Therefore, whether you are a tech whiz or not, you will have this milk frother mastered in no time.
Setting the 18200057 is also very easy. All you need to do is simply connect the power cable at the base of the appliance to an earthed socket. How you proceed from here will depend on what you want to make…
How Easy is it to Clean?
All parts of the Lavazza 18200057 are removable, so you will have an easy time cleaning the appliance. In fact, the lid, notches, and milk jug are all dishwasher safe. As for the base, wiping with a damp cloth is all that is required to keep it clean.
Is There Anything Else You Need to Know?
Other noteworthy aspects to know about this milk frother include:
What We Think
It’s hard to go wrong when shopping from a renowned brand and the Lavazza 18200057 is a perfect pick for those looking for a reputable electric milk frother manufacturer. Being a Lavazza product, this appliance has the art of frothing mastered down to a perfect consistency. What’s more, it is simple to operate, easy to clean, relatively affordable, and it will even look great on your kitchen counter-top.
As for the product’s downside of being rather small, we believe that firing up the Lavazza 18200057 milk frother several times, will not seem like much of a sacrifice when you and your family, friends, or guests sit down to enjoy a cup of creamy cappuccino, some hot chocolate goodness, or a glorious milkshake. However, if you want something bigger, feel free to peruse the rest of our milk frother reviews.
Aerolatte Milk Frother
See More ImagesInside its unimposing case, a surprising amount of technology has been packed into the Aerolatte frother. This technology helps the Aerolatte to create consistently good foam every time you use it and ensures the appliance lasts for years. Plus, when you couple this with its incredibly low price point, it is easy to see why it is a firm favourite for coffee lovers.
How Does The Aerolatte Work?
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The Aerolatte’s specially designed motor helps ensure the perfect foam every time
The Aerolatte uses specially designed technology designed to help ensure perfect foam and longevity.
The first notable piece of technology is the ‘dry’ rotation speed and torque motor. This might sound a bit confusing and a bit like techno-babble. But, the end result of this improved motor is that you get a better foam using this device when compared to many other battery powered milk frothers. One of the reasons the speed of the motor is important is because, if it spins too quickly or not fast enough, a foam is produced which is a bit like of bubble bath or you end up with foam so dense you need a spoon to eat it. Secondly, the torque is also important because if it is incorrectly set it places excessive demand on the motor, which greatly reduces the life span of the appliance. The Aerolatte overcomes both of these problems ensuring a perfect foam every-time and gives you a reliable frother you’ll be able to depend on for years to come.
How Easy Is It To Clean?
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Cleaning is an important consideration for any milk frother and you really don’t get devices much simpler to clean than this. A quick wash under the tap is all that is required to get it spick and span. Every now and then it is recommended to stick the whisk into some hot, soapy water to clean it thoroughly. Drying is equally as simple: switch on for 10 – 15 seconds and the Aerolatte will spin itself dry!
Is There Anything Else I Need To Know?
The construction of this frother has been designed to withstand daily kitchen life. The screws are rust resistant and the battery contacts are nickel coated (which also prevents rust). The case itself is made from ABS. A tough plastic which is used in everything from car bumpers to protective head-gear. So, this device should last for quite some time. Even if it gets more than its fair share of bumps and knocks.
Of course, the downside of owning a battery powered frother it just that; it runs on batteries. So, if you think you’re going to use it a lot, and don’t want it to run out juice half-way through frothing your milk, you may want to invest in rechargeable batteries or buy a mains powered milk frother.
What We Think
If you’re an occasional coffee drinker then this frother is for you. It is priced incredibly low, is easy to clean and engineered to last for years. We believe this handy gadget is worth getting if you don’t want to splash out on some of the pricier units and just want something to try out making milky coffees at home.
Jura 24029
See More ImagesWhen looking for a milk frother that will allow you to enjoy an instant, pleasingly rich creamy cup of coffee (or 2!), the Jura 24029 should definitely be a top contender to include in your list.
We found this Jura milk frother to be similar to the Lavazza 18200057 in many ways. Both units come from reputable brands plus they are stylish, easy to use, offer multiple functionality, and deliver hot or cold frothed milk at the push of a button. Of course, there are some differences between the two appliances. So, read on to find out what the Jura 24029 has to offer.
How to Use the Jura 24029
One of the appealing aspects we noticed right away about this milk frother is that it has a smart yet simple design. This machine allows you to prepare milk to make everything from caffè lattes and mochas, to hot chocolate and milkshakes. Making it incredibly versatile.
The 24029 comes with a black base and a stainless steel pitcher in chrome finish. An innovative magnetic drive allows the pitcher to stick onto the base while a single button (located at the bottom of the base) activates the different functions of the milk frother.
This appliance also comes with 3 ‘disks’ (these are essentially the whisk and stirring attachments). Two are for frothing (hot & cold) purposes and the last one simply stirrs the milk whilst it is being heated. Between the multi-function button and the 3 disks, using this appliance is pretty straightforward. These 5 simple steps are all you need to follow when frothing or heating your milk.
The only thing you need to master is how many times to press the setting button that activates various functions. For cold frothed milk, press the button once, twice for warm milk, and three times for hot frothed milk. A pictogram representing the mode you have selected will light up.
After selecting your desired mode, its corresponding symbol on the control panel flashes three times. This machine starts and stops itself automatically, so there is no need to time the frothing duration or worry about scorching the milk. Once it stops running, the illuminated mode on the control panel also goes off, indicating that your milk is ready to serve.
How Easy is it to Clean?
Another great feature to like about the Jura 24029 is that in addition to offering you a quick and zero-mess way of making frothed milk for your drinks, it is also easy to clean. Thanks to the magnet drive between the appliance’s base and milk pitcher, the stainless steel container easily detaches away, allowing you to carry it over to the sink for a quick wash and rinse.
Is There Anything Else You Should Know?
When it comes to build-quality, we found the Jura 24029 to be quite impressive. It has the kind of features that you would only find in quality milk frothing machines. These include:
Compact Build: You will not have to worry about where to store the accessories that come with this milk frother. Thanks to a clever design, the power cord along with 2 disks can be conveniently stored at the bottom of the base unit. The third disk goes inside the pitcher when not in use, allowing you to keep all parts of the Jura 24029 together.
Portable Design: Weighing about 1 kg and standing no taller than 21cm, this Jura milk frother is easily portable, allowing you to take the pitcher to your table and share with friends and family. This coupled with the fact that it powers up with an AC converter or car cigarette lighter means you can take your Jura milk frother on long road trips as well as camping adventures if you wish.
Large Capacity: The MIN & MAX measurement markings on the pitcher are 8oz (236ml) and 12oz (354ml) respectively. Therefore, you can easily make drinks for 2-3 people in one go.
Dual Automatic Shut-off: The milk frother shuts off automatically when done frothing. As an added precaution, you can interrupt the process yourself at any time by simply pressing the device’s button or lifting the milk pitcher from the base.
What We Think
The Jura 24029 does what it is advertised to do. It delivers velvety soft frothed milk with perfect consistency. So, you can easily make luscious Starbucks-like beverages from the comfort of your own home. The possibility of making an endless list of other recipes makes it an even more attractive product.
However, you should know that this appliance takes a minute longer than some other machines to froth milk. But this is the only minor drawback we could find in this well-balanced unit.
Dualit 84145
See More ImagesOne of the first milk frothers we tested was the Dualit 84145. It impressed us with its high-quality build, near silent operation and ease of use. And, despite it not being the most modern unit around, it is still a best seller with a plethora of positive reviews to back it up.
Fitting a profile common to most mid-range milk frothers the 84145 features a base plate on top of which sits a detachable jug. The base of the jug is home to the whisk motor and heating mechanism which is used to prepare the milk poured into the top half. Once the frothing/heating cycle is complete the jug can be removed from the base plate for serving.
How Does It Work?
During our tests, we found that this frother could prepare about 2 decent sized cups of coffee in one frothing cycle – which is about average for a machine of this type. Using the device is very straightforward – simply pour some milk to the fill line, secure the plastic lid to the top and press the button located at the base of the unit once. Then in about 2 minutes you’ll have your hot, frothed milk!
In total there are 3 different modes you can use to prepare your milk. Above I mentioned that a single button press with heat and froth the milk however, the Dualit 84145 has two other modes. The second mode is activated by pressing the button twice. This will cause the indicator light to flash red and, in this mode, it will heat and stir the milk but NOT froth it. To access the final mode you need to press and hold the button for about 2-3 seconds. This causes the indicator light to glow blue and it will froth the milk but NOT heat it.
Inside the jug, there are handy fill lines which prevent you from over or under filling the device. The whisk mechanism is also marked with fill lines. This makes it very easy to see if you have too much milk in the machine and should stop any accidents where the device overflows.
Most milk frothers hold the whisk in place using a spigot in the bottom of the machine. In the Dualit 84145 a magnet very cleverly locks the whisk in place and spins it. This makes just that bit easier to clean because the entire inside of the jug is smooth with no protruding parts to clean around.
What We Think
Whist there are cheaper alternative you could pick over this Dualit frother it still represents good value for money. It’s small, stylish and prepares milk in only 2 minutes making it ideal for any coffee lover who wants a no-frills, simple machine to make their favourite coffees anytime they want.
Severin SM9688
See More ImagesNot many people outside of Germany are too familiar with Severin products, but their range of milk frothers are causing quite a stir for coffee enthusiasts as more of us take to making our favourite coffee shop drinks at home.
The SM9688 currently represents their flagship frothing product – and it is easy to see why. Its sleek case and compact footprint (measuring around 18cm at the base and 25 cm high) allows it to fit snugly in virtually any kitchen.
Aesthetics aside we were curious to see why so many people are enamored with this unit. Let’s take a look at just what this device can offer.
How Does It Work?
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The SM9688 comes with 2 interchangeable whisking/stirring heads and a high quality removable mug for easy serving
One of the things that sets the Severin frother apart from the competition is just how flexible it can be when preparing your milk.
Not only does it come with two interchangeable whisking heads (one for frothing and one for stirring milk) it can also prepare your milk at a range of temperatures. In fact, it can prepare milk cold right up to 65 degrees Celsius.
Whilst this may seem somewhat trivial it does allow you to prepare things such as milkshakes and also get a hotter frothed milk for your coffee. Which is great if, like me, you aren’t partial to the luke-warm cappuccinos you can sometimes get at the coffee shops.
To prepare the milk all you need to do is fill the stainless steel mug to one of two embossed fill lines – one denotes the fill level for frothed milk and the other for simply stirring the milk – and press power button to begin frothing. The supplied plastic lid clips firmly over the mug to prevent any spillages whilst the device is operating.
Once the frothing/stirring cycle is complete the SM9688 emits a series of beeps to let you know your milk is ready and the power button flashes blue.
How Easy Is It To Clean?
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A problem with heating milk in a pan is that the direct heat can sometimes cause the milk to burn and stick to the pan – unless you continuously stir throughout the heating process.
To prevent this the SM9688 uses an induction heating system which ensures direct heat is never applied to the stainless steel mug, preventing burning and making the device much easier to clean. In fact, both the stainless steel mug and plastic lid are dishwasher safe and completely removable which makes tidying up afterwards a breeze.
What We Think
Naturally, with so many useful features and intuitive functions, the SM9688 isn’t the cheapest frother available. But, if you’re looking for a well-built device which is not only easy to clean but can also prepare a lot of your other favourite drinks such as hot chocolate and milk-shakes we believe the SM9688 definitely won’t disappoint.
Bialetti Tuttocrema Milk Frother
See More ImagesSimplicity and sturdiness is the order of the day when it comes to the Bialetti Tuttocrema frother. It’s no fuss, robust design and lack of electronics means it is reliable, and very low maintenance. However, it does come with one major drawback: it does not automatically heat the milk.
If this hasn’t put you off, and you don’t mind manually heating your milk. Let’s see what this frother has to offer.
How Does It Work?
Because you’ll need to heat this on your hob (it’s made of aluminium and can’t go in the microwave) the Tuttocrema is designed to work on a variety of stovetops from gas or electric to ceramic. It also features a non-stick interior which is easy to wipe clean – great if you accidentally scorch the milk a little whilst heating – and it dishwasher safe making it one of the easiest frothers to clean. You can literally bung the entire frother into your dishwasher!
The lack of automation in this device means there are fewer things which could go wrong and the entirety of the device can be used to foam milk because no room is reserved for heating elements or motors. In fact, you can prepare up to 500ml of milk in the Bialetti Tuttocrema. Which should prepare up to six cups of your favourite coffee. This is by far one of the largest capacity frothers we’ve seen.
An increase in the amount of foam you can create at any one time is not the only advantage the manually operated Tuttocrema brings. Because you heat the milk yourself you can get it to the exact temperature of your liking and because you manually froth the milk using the pump handle you can also prepare this to your preferred consistency.
What We Think
There’s not a lot wrong with this Tuttocrema, it’s cheap, should last for years and is easy to clean. Plus the Tuttocrema gives you greater control over how the milk is prepared. So, if you don’t mind doing a bit of work to get your frothed milk this device should suit you. However, if you DO want a hands-off device that does everything for you we recommend you check out one of the electric milk frothers in our comparison table.
Your Guide To The Different Kinds Of Milk Frother
If you’ve read our milk frother reviews above you’ll know they come in all shapes and sizes. Here’s our guide to the main types available along with their pros and cons.
Handheld
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Inexpensive, but has some drawbacks
Handheld frothers are invariably battery operated and consist of small handheld unit with a small round whisk protruding from one end.
The whisk is held in a jug of milk and manually frothed until it reaches your desired consistency. Some people heat the milk before frothing, although cold milk is generally agreed to produce a better froth.
There is a second kind you can buy which looks like a glass jar with a whisk built into the lid. We recommend you avoid these because they are prone to breaking and often do not have enough power to adequately froth the milk.
Stove Top
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Prepares the most ‘customized’ drinks – but involves some effort on your part
Stove tops frothers consist of a metal jug and frothing pump attached to the top. The jug is partially filled with milk and placed on your stove until the milk has been heated through. The final step is to place the lid on the jug and pump the handle to produce the foam.
Some people favour these because of their simplicity. There are no electrical components and the manual element to preparing the milk provides much more customization than some other types of frother.
They are also generally very easy to clean and most can be placed in a dishwasher.
Electric Milk Frother
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Very convenient, but some lack options to customize the foam & temperature
Electric frothers come in a variety of different styles and shapes. However, generally many look like small kettles and require nothing more than button press to heat and froth milk into a rich foam ready to make Cappuccinos and Lattes.
This kind of frother is the most variable you can buy. Some will only heat the milk to one temperature whilst others will heat it to a wide range of temperatures. You can even use some to prepare a multitude of different things from soups to milkshakes and hot chocolates, whilst others can only be used with milk.
Despite there wide range of varying functionality, one key point remains the same: they are, by far, the easiest and most convenient frother to use.
Buyers Guide – What to Consider Before Buying
Here are the top 3 points we think you should consider when buying…
Use
How often do you plan on using your milk frother? Do you want to use it earlier in the morning before work or more in your leisure time? Do you want something that’s hands-off or don’t you mind preparing the milk a bit yourself?
These are the sort of questions you need to ask yourself before you buy because they will help you identify a type of frother which will meet your needs.
If you buy a frother purely because it is the cheapest available, but then realise you need a more automated unit because it takes too long to prepare a coffee before work, it will probably end up being tucked away in a kitchen drawer never to be used again.
However, if you buy a top-end unit but then don’t use half of its functions because you just needed something simple, you will have paid out for features you’ll never use.
Try to think about what you genuinely need and how often you really think you’ll use it. This will prevent impulse buying based on dazzling features or price and make sure you don’t waste your money.
Cleaning
Ah, yes. Cleaning. A subject most of us are not keen on. Most milk frothers are very easy to clean these days. Some can simply be run under a tap whilst others need to carefully rinsed out and others still can be washed effortlessly in a dishwasher.
The more often you use your milk frother the more often you need to clean it. If you want something hassle-free then a handheld unit or one which is dishwasher safe would probably be right for you.
Again, making sure how you clean your frother suits you will ensure it does not become tucked away in kitchen cupboard because nobody can be bothered to clean it after it has been used.
Price
Price is something of a misnomer. However, it is important.
Most people know their budgets so I won’t insult your intelligence by saying only buy what you can afford etc. What I will say is that price can sometimes tie into features but, the most expensive device does not always mean it comes with the best features for you.
Shop around a bit. Can you find a device that offers everything you need at a cheaper price or by a less expensive brand? Our list covers most major milk frothers and a variety of prices but it is by no means exhaustive if you can’t find what you need, try browsing a full range of milk frothers here.
Summary
With so much choice it can be difficult to know what to buy and what you can expect from your milk frother. We hope this guide has helped demystify the jargon and make purchasing one that bit easier.
If you’re unsure what milk frother might be right for you we recommend:
- Looking at the [amazon link=”B0001RT2C4″ title=”Aerolatte” link_class=”link_blue” /] if you want something simple and cost-effective to get you started – but don’t mind the fact it cannot heat the milk and requires some manual effort
- Considering the [amazon link=”B075JNFYC9″ title=”Jura 24029″ link_class=”link_blue” /] if you want something more automated, that is simple to clean and is still gentle on your finances.
- However, if you want a milk frother that provides complete automation and is customisable, in addition to being simple to clean the [amazon link=”B00AQV7QFU” title=”Severin SM9688″ link_class=”link_blue” /] is definitely worth a look.