The best milk frothers of 2025 for barista-level coffee at home

Telegraph

a day ago

The products or services listed have been independently tested by our journalists. We earn a commission from the affiliate links in this article. Read more >
In the UK, we drink around 98 million cups of coffee every day, with many of us opting for a milky cappuccino or latte to get the day started. While the best coffee machines often include an integrated milk steamer, for those using a coffee pod machine or stove-top coffee maker, a standalone milk frother is the most effective way to create barista-quality foam.
The best milk frother machines are generally quite compact and able to heat and froth milk in as little as 90 seconds. Prices range from £14.99 for a battery-operated, handheld frother from Salter to premium models from Nespresso and SMEG that can cost closer to £200.
Milk frothers are generally quick and easy to clean. Some models are fully dishwasher safe while others just need a quick rinse; however, care should be taken to clean the jugs immediately after use as milk residue can build up on the base with regular use. I've tested the best on the market and you can read my reviews below, followed by the answers to some frequently asked questions. But if you're in a hurry, here's a quick look at my top five:
The best milk frothers: At a glance
How to choose the best milk frother
Traditional milk steamers work by injecting pressurised steam into the milk via a wand to create dense and silky microfoam, but they generally require skill and practice to perfect the technique. In contrast, the milk frothers we've put to the test here are incredibly user-friendly, with most models capable of delivering great results at the touch of a button. They work by warming the milk from the base upwards while agitating the milk with a whisk to produce a light and airy foam.
The right model for you will depend on whether you're purely interested in frothing milk to pour over coffee or would like to create a wider range of drinks, such as hot chocolate or matcha latte. Some machines have cold settings for iced coffees and pricier models offer a range of temperatures and foam densities that can rival the thick microfoam of the traditional, but labour-intensive, steamer. Most are suitable for any type of milk, including plant-based options.
How we test milk frothers
As a Telegraph food writer, I've reviewed the best coffee machines and written guides to perfecting your iced latte. Testing milk frothers is the final step in helping you make the best hot and cold drinks. I tried each machine several times with a range of milks, including plant-based varieties, to see how well they performed on each frother setting. I considered the quality and appearance of each machine versus the price point. The capacity of the jug was also taken into account, as well as practicalities such as how easy they were to pour from and clean after use.
Speed and ease-of-use are key factors here, so I timed how long each machine took to complete a heat-and-froth cycle while noting how noisy they were. The machines were also scored on the range of programmes and settings offered. Most importantly, I evaluated the temperature, taste and texture of the resulting foam.
Why you can trust Telegraph Recommended
Our thorough, real-world tests will always help you find the best product. No manufacturer ever sees Telegraph Recommended reviews before publication and we don't accept payment in exchange for favourable reviews, nor do we allow brands to pay for placement in our articles.
All opinions are based on independent expert opinion and our hands-on testing. Visit our Who We Are page to learn more.
The best milk frothers of 2025
1. Best Buy Milk Frother: Instant Milk Frother Station
This milk frother has an oval base station that is somewhat larger than the stainless steel jug it accommodates. However, it also serves as the control hub and provides a stable platform when in use. The jug, wire whisk and transparent lid are all fully dishwasher safe.
In my experience, Instant's appliances are consistently among the most user-friendly and that proved to be the case here too. This model scored highly for the simplicity of the controls, which offer a choice of three temperature settings, including cold and three froth options, ranging from blend through to thick foam. After a quick read of the instructions, I was able to whip up a luxurious iced latte virtually straight from the box. There's also an online recipe booklet if you'd like to try making a strawberry latte or turmeric-infused Golden Goddess.
I was particularly impressed with the quality of the microfoam created with both cold and plant-based milk. Plus, with a 500ml capacity for milk warming and 200ml for thick foam, this frother is able to cope with larger quantities than many other machines. Given the high quality of the construction and the excellent results, it offers good value for the price tag.
Key specifications
2. Best Value Milk Frother: Drew & Cole Barista Frothiere
The Barista Frothiere is a great little machine. It has an attractive brushed metal finish and while it uses a classic-looking coiled wire whisk, it sits at an angle within the jug rather than adhering to the base with a magnet like most other models tested. There are two whisk attachments, letting you choose from foamy or smooth textures. Attaching them is a little bit fiddly, but it becomes easier after a couple of uses. The foam created was even and voluminous with all the types of milk I tried and I was particularly impressed with the smoothness of the oat milk foam.
The machine also has a good selection of pre-programmed options, including cold milk, hot froth (60C), hot chocolate (70C) and matcha (80C) – even more impressive considering the £39.99 price point. My only other criticism is that the illuminated icons are not easy to decipher, but I anticipate you'd soon get used to them.
Key specifications
3. Best Milk Frother for Silky Foam: Lavazza A Modo Mio MilkEasy
Like the Nespresso Aeroccino3 (below), this is a simple and functional milk frother. It's easy to use with a single button – one click for frothy milk, two for warm milk and three for cold.
The coiled wire whisk, as with most other models tested, attaches magnetically to the base. However, the plastic pronged cage that sits over the whisk may be the key to the wonderfully silky and extremely uniform microfoam this little machine creates. There's so much air incorporated that the milk roughly doubles in size. There's little separation in the fluffy texture either, so there's no need to dig around the bottom of the jug with a spoon in order to find the thickest layer.
This frother operates quickly and stays virtually silent, apart from the beeps at the beginning and end of the cycle. On the downside, there are no markings to indicate how much milk to add. There's no spout or handle either, so it's not the easiest to pour from, but the whisk stayed in place when fully upended.
Key specifications
4. Best Milk Frother for Hot Chocolate: Nespresso Barista
This is an attractive model that offers the most high-tech design of all the frothers we tested. Made with an elegantly tapered base, the Nespresso Barista boasts a sturdy stainless steel jug that lifts from the base for smooth and easy pouring. The jug, whisk and lid are fully dishwasher safe.
The whisk itself is large and consists of a magnetic base and pole, which attaches to the base of the jug and a separate fluted disk. Slotted together, they offer an enormous range of textured foams, from light and airy for a cappuccino to dense and velvety for lattes. Be warned – the whisk will fall out if you fully upend the jug in order to reach the last drops of milk, so you'll need to hold it in place as you pour.
Unlike other models that simply froth milk, this will also blend recipes within the jug, including iced options and hot chocolate, made using chunks of chocolate rather than cocoa powder. The screen allows you to scroll and select from 13 different recipes, such as a flat white and iced frappé, though you will need to refer to the accompanying recipe booklet or the app to establish the quantities needed for each.
The maximum capacity of 250ml is a little on the small side and it's half that if making hot chocolate.
Key specifications
5. Best Small Milk Frother: Nespresso Aeroccino3
This is a straightforward machine that performs well. It's small, quick and quiet to use. Operated by a single button, it speedily whizzes up warm milk with a short press or cold milk foam with a longer press – the light switches from red to blue so there's no confusion. There is a third option for removing the wire coil from the whisk to create warm milk without too much foam, but detaching the coil is a little too fiddly to bother with for just warming milk.
If you're simply after a frothy milky coffee or some cold foam for an iced latte, this machine does a decent job. The foam is airy and fluffy but not quite as dense and velvety as with some of the other machines tested.
There is no spout or handle so it's not the easiest to pour from. However, it is a solid and well-made piece of equipment and is compact, making it suited to a small space.
Key specifications
6. Best Handheld Milk Frother: Salter Handheld Milk Frother
If you're looking for the smallest, cheapest option for a barista-quality brew, hand-held milk frothers are a great choice. This one by Salter is more attractive than many and its bullet-shaped handle is comfortable to hold. Operated by batteries, it has a single, large, soft-press button that's held down during use.
There are no heating capabilities, so you will need to warm the milk first for hot drinks. It's also good for frothing milkshakes, iced lattes and other chilled drinks – it did a brilliant job of whipping up a creamy head on my icy espresso martini in just a few seconds.
While it might be small, this gadget is effective thanks to its double-layered coiled whisk positioned on the end of a wire spoke. The resulting foam, while maybe not as luxurious as a high-end electric frother, was incredibly fluffy and voluminous, though it dissipates more quickly than others.
I have a couple of points of recommendation. Use a larger vessel than you think, as your milk will froth up quickly and I had more than one spill-over during testing. Secondly, make sure you immerse the whisk in the milk before turning it on.
Key specifications
7. Best Large Milk Frother: Dualit Milk Frother Max
With the largest capacity of all the frothers tested, this model is a great choice for those who wish to make enough for two warm drinks in one go. The frother has a whisk that's recommended for use with lattes, including matcha and chai, as well as the classic barista-style coffees such as flat white and cappuccino. A basket attachment (near-identical to the one which Bird & Blend, below, uses for matcha) is recommended here solely for use with chocolate-based drinks.
A simple dial control lets you select the cold setting or choose from six different foam levels. You will, at least initially, need to refer to the guidelines to ensure the volume of milk you're adding corresponds with the foam level selected for each drink – for example, 250ml milk and level three foam for a latte and 175ml and level five foam for a cappuccino. This may sound easy, but it takes a little getting used to; all worth it for good results.
There is no option to adapt the foam level for cold milk and it didn't produce as thick a cool foam as I would have liked. When running this frother operates quietly. The wipe-clean body should be rinsed out immediately after use, while the whisk, basket and lid are dishwasher safe.
Key specifications
8. Best Milk Frother for Matcha Lattes: Bird & Blend Matcha Latte Magic Whisk
This milk frother from tea specialists Bird & Blend has been designed specifically for making creamy matcha lattes far quicker than the traditional way using a bamboo whisk.
It's a classic design with a magnetic whisk and basket that's near-identical to that used by Dualit for making hot chocolate. Available in a creamy bamboo gloss or brushed stainless steel finish, the machine has a single button for warming and foaming. Simply pour the warm latte over ice and top up with cold milk, if you want a chilled drink.
The company makes a range of delicious matcha latte flavours, including Honey Bunny and Tutti Frutti, which I used for testing. Once the milk is added, the machine is activated. After a couple of seconds, half a teaspoon of matcha powder is added to the spinning milk (this is to prevent the matcha blocking the whisk). The resulting matcha latte is smooth and creamy with a foam that remains stable right through to the bottom of the drink.
While this machine is geared towards matcha-lovers, it can be used in any milky drink where foamy warm milk is required, such as a chai latte or hot chocolate.
Key specifications
9. Best-looking Milk Frother: SMEG Multi Milk Frother
An attractive machine with a hefty base, this frother is available in a range of colours, including cream, pastel blue and red. It comes equipped with a removable stainless steel jug that's dishwasher safe. The whisk itself is made from coiled plastic, rather than the wire favoured by most other frothers and is surprisingly small, especially considering the size of the jug and the large volumes this machine can handle. There are six pre-set programmes, plus a manual function and two whisks allow milk to be heated with or without foam.
The frothing takes around three minutes, so there's plenty of time to make your espresso while the milk is preparing. Testing with oat milk proved disappointing and resulted in mostly flat milk with a small layer of foam. It fared better with regular milk, but the texture was still a little watery with an airy foam, so this machine is better suited to making cappuccinos than lattes.
Key specifications
10. Best Milk Frother for Iced Latte: Illy Milk Frother
This is an attractive milk frother with a pared-back, classic design. At £75, it sits in the middle of the price range. A tall, round base houses the heating plate and controls, with two spare whisks handily tucked beneath. A stainless steel, dishwasher-safe jug sits snugly on top. A plastic, toothed whisk is responsible for the aerating and there's an additional flat disc for when blending without foam.
There are three settings: hot milk, hot chocolate (recommended for use with chocolate powder) and cold milk. Each setting has a suggested milk, for example, skimmed milk for the chilled.
The hot milk takes a long time to heat and froth. At close to five minutes, this was significantly longer than any other model tested and left my espresso rapidly cooling. It was noisy too and, sadly, the resulting foam was flat. I had to reach to the bottom of the jug to find foam thick enough to offer satisfaction.
However, this machine redeemed itself when it came to cold froth. It was quicker (one to three minutes, depending on volume of milk) and the resulting foam, while still not the thickest, was smooth, settling over my glass of iced espresso to form an enjoyable, creamy top layer.
Key specifications
Milk frother FAQ