HOW TO USE A MILK FROTHER: 3 WAYS TO FROTH MILK FOR A LATTE

Perfectly frothed milk for your latte or cappuccino is easy. All you need is a milk frother and this guide!

There are three types of milk frothers, and unless you have an espresso machine with a steam wand, you’ll need to use one of them to enjoy a frothy cappuccino or silky latte at home. Fortunately, none are particularly difficult, especially with my expert guidance.

Learn how to froth milk and make all your favorite cafe-style coffee drinks at home with this easy step-by-step guide. I’ll even give you a few tips and tricks you won’t find anywhere else.

Your Guide to Frothing Milk

While testing and researching the best milk frothers, I divided them into three categories, and this article will cover how to use all three. 

There are automatic electric frothers, handheld frothing wands, and plunger-style manual milk frothers. You’ll need one of the three to follow along. If your frother doesn’t have a built-in heater, you’ll also need a way to heat the milk, like a stovetop or microwave.

Remember that frothing and steaming are two different things. If you’re using a steam wand on an espresso machine, check out my separate guide on how to steam milk.

How Much Milk Do You Need?

The exact quantity of milk you need depends on your drink of choice. The quantity above is for a typical 12-ounce latte, which is very different than a small macchiato. Keep in mind that it’s challenging to froth less than 6 ounces of milk. If you need less than that, consider making a second drink to share with a friend.

What Is The Best Kind Of Milk For Frothing?

I prefer to froth 2% or whole milk, which provides a nice balance between foam structure and creamy mouthfeel. Lower-fat milk, like 1% or skim milk, produces a stiffer milk froth, while higher-fat options, like half-and-half, produce a creamier thick foam.

If you want to froth non-dairy milk, it’s best to look for one that is labeled “barista style.” These are specially formulated with the proper ratio of fats and proteins to mimic dairy milk for frothing. I prefer oat milk and almond milk for their neutral flavor.

Does The Milk Frother Heat The Milk?

Most electric milk frothers include a heating element, but if you’re using a French press or handheld frother wand, you’ll need to warm your milk separately. You can use a microwave or a saucepan over low heat.

You don’t necessarily need a thermometer, but it is helpful to know the precise temperature of your milk, especially as a milk-frothing beginner. You might also want to use a frothing pitcher if you hope to pour latte art (1).

How To Froth Milk: Step-By-Step

Making frothed milk is very straightforward, with only a few variations depending on your equipment. In this section, I’ll walk you through how to froth milk using three different tools:

• An electric milk frother.
• A handheld frothing wand.
• A manual milk frother, which is essentially a French press.

If you make many milky drinks, you may find it more convenient to invest in a machine built for the job. Check out Home Brews Coffee guides for the best latte coffee machine and the best cappuccino maker.

Step 1: Choose A Milk Temperature

The ideal temperature for frothed milk is between 140 and 155 ℉. If you’re taking your drink to go, you can push it a little hotter, as high as 160 to 165 ℉. The most important thing is not to scald your milk (over 180 ℉), which will totally change its flavor (2).

An electric frother likely hits this temperature window automatically or might provide adjustable temperature options.

Otherwise, heat your milk gently in a saucepan over low heat or microwave it in 10-second intervals. The most reliable way to achieve the correct temperature is to use a thermometer, especially if you haven’t frothed milk before. As you get more experienced, you’ll develop an intuition for the timing and feel. 

Pro tip: If you dip your finger in the milk, the correct temperature should feel hot to the touch but not painful.

Can you froth cold milk?

Yes, you can froth cold milk! The nice thing about using a frother rather than a steam wand is it gives you the option of frothing cold or hot milk – perfect for making cold foam for your iced coffee or cold brew.

Pro tip: If you’re making cold milk foam, it’s a good idea to chill your frothing pitcher as well. This ensures your milk stays cool and makes it easier for the milk to foam. 

Step 2: Froth The Milk

I’m going to break this step down into three parts depending on which device you are using to froth your milk.

How To Use An Electric Milk Frother

An electric frother is the simplest method. A good frother, like my favorite, the Breville Milk Cafe, essentially does the work for you. Most even include built-in heaters that allow you to set your desired milk temperature. 

Just add the milk to the chamber, put the lid on, set the desired milk temperature, and press start. Some also give you the option of choosing the milk texture. 

Pro tip: For a latte, you want a surprisingly dense and creamy foam, something that resembles house paint. For a cappuccino, you want an airy froth that you can dollop on top.

How To Use A Handheld Frothing Wand

Handheld milk frother wands are small battery-powered whisks, sometimes with more than one speed setting. 

All you need to do is stick the wand in your milk and turn on the frother, but it’s important to get it at the correct depth in the milk.

If your handheld milk frother is at the perfect depth, you should see a steady swirling whirlpool of milk. If it’s too close to the surface of the milk, you’ll end up with large bubbles and splashing. If it’s too deep, you’ll see minimal movement. Once you get the whirlpool motion, it only takes about 30 seconds to complete.

Pro tip: If you want to practice art, froth your milk in a frothing pitcher so that it is easy to pour. But if aesthetics aren’t a priority, you can froth milk directly in your mug and save dishes.

How To Use A Manual Milk Frother (Or French Press)

A French press-style or other plunger-based system is sometimes called a manual milk frother because you do have to do the work by hand. No batteries or outlets are needed.

To froth in a manual milk frother, add hot or cold milk, then move the plunger rapidly up and down. This incorporates air into the milk, gradually turning it from a liquid to a foam. The longer you do it, the more air is added and the frothier it becomes.

Pro tip: If you’re buying a French press for this purpose, consider its material. I prefer a glass model so I can monitor the frothing progress, even if it’s a bit less insulating than double-wall stainless steel.

Step 3: Clean Up

This might seem self-evident. You should clean up after doing anything in your kitchen, but it is particularly important in this case. Leftover frothy milk hardens and becomes unhygienic and difficult to scrub off your milk frother as it dries. 

When you’re done frothing, soak anything with milk on it in water until you have time to clean it properly with soapy water.

Final Thoughts

Learning how to froth your milk is well worth the effort if you want to enjoy milky drinks without the expense of a coffee shop or espresso machine. 

With the right tools and this handy set of instructions, creating perfect frothed milk at home is quick and easy. So why not give it a try? You have nothing to lose and a lot of delicious drinks to gain!