Top 5 compared
The best milk frothers
Thick, creamy foam for a latte or a hot chocolate, made at home in a minute or two.
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The top 5 at a glance
A milk frother whips air into milk for the foam on a latte or cappuccino, and it stirs in cocoa for a hot chocolate too. Handheld frothers are small whisks that froth milk you’ve already warmed, right in the mug; pitcher frothers sit on a heated base and warm and froth the milk together at the press of a button.
Every handheld here charges over USB, so there are no AA batteries to buy. A pitcher costs more and takes up counter space, but it can make cold foam for iced coffee and switches itself off when the milk is ready, while a handheld is small enough to keep in a drawer.
What matters
- More than one speed, for milk foam and whipped cream.
- A stand or a whisk cover, for the counter or a bag.
- Settings for hot or just warm milk, on a pitcher.
- A pitcher that goes in the dishwasher.
#1CIRCLE JOY 3-Speed Rechargeable Milk Frother with Stand and 3 Whisks (black)
$20–$30
One wand with three speeds and three steel heads, so it covers more than the morning latte. A dual-layer spring makes silky milk foam on low, a balloon whisk whips cream to peaks on high, and a straight whisk blends batters and sauces. If milk is all that needs frothing, CIRCLE JOY’s one-speed wand costs less and sits above it on rating; the extra whisks put this one in front.
What owners say: Owners like having three speeds to choose from and say the battery goes a long way between charges; views on the extra heads are mixed, and a few units gave up after only a handful of uses.
A closer look: Rinse the heads under the faucet or wipe them, but keep water off the body, as the maker warns it can get inside; for the same reason, don’t stand it upside down while a head is still wet. The case holds the frother and the spare heads for the office or a trip.
- Balloon whisk whips cream
- Straight whisk for batters
- Spring head for milk foam
- Keep water off the body
Best for: Lattes, cream and baking
- Type
- Handheld
- Power
- USB rechargeable
- Speeds or settings
- 3
- Heats milk
- No
- Capacity
- Any cup (handheld)
- Cleaning
- Heads detach to rinse
- Extras
- 3 speeds, 3 whisks, stand, case
#2CIRCLE JOY Rechargeable Milk Frother with Stand (black)
$10–$20
For lattes alone, at a lower price than the 3-speed: a slim rechargeable wand with a double-ring whisk that turns warm milk into dense foam in seconds, with hardly any splashing. It stands upright on its own steel stand by the coffee maker, so it’s always within reach.
What owners say: Owners find it froths well and feels well made at a fair price, the battery holds up well between charges, and it rinses clean in seconds; they like the steel stand too, and nobody raises a recurring fault.
A closer look: For the thickest foam, tilt the cup a little and keep the whisk near the top of warm milk. To clean it, dip the whisk in warm water and run it for a couple of seconds, then stand it back up to dry. The USB cable is in the box but the plug isn’t, so charge it from a phone charger.
- Double-ring steel whisk
- Hardly any splashing
- USB cable, no plug
- 1-year warranty
Best for: Frothing milk and nothing else
- Type
- Handheld
- Power
- USB rechargeable
- Speeds or settings
- 1
- Heats milk
- No
- Capacity
- Any cup (handheld)
- Cleaning
- Run the whisk in water
- Extras
- Steel stand
#3New England Stories Rechargeable Milk Frother (black)
$10–$20
A rechargeable wand with a dual-spring whisk that whips dairy or oat milk into thick, velvety foam in seconds. The whisk has its own cover, so it can travel to the office in a bag, and it cleans itself when you run it in a cup of water.
What owners say: Owners like how quickly it froths and find it handy for beating an egg too, and the design goes down well; the complaints are about lifespan, with some giving up within three months, and views on power, battery life and value are split.
A closer look: Start with the whisk near the bottom of warm milk and lift it slowly toward the top as the foam builds. A tall mug or pitcher filled no more than a third of the way gives the foam room to grow without spilling over.
- Dual-spring whisk
- Dairy and plant milks
- One-button use
Best for: Coffee on the go
- Type
- Handheld
- Power
- USB rechargeable
- Speeds or settings
- 1
- Heats milk
- No
- Capacity
- Any cup (handheld)
- Cleaning
- Run the whisk in water
- Extras
- Whisk cover
#4Breville Milk Café Milk Frother (BMF600XL)
$150–$200
A brushed steel pitcher that heats milk by induction, so it warms gently and evenly, to the temperature you set on the dial. Two discs swap in for silky latte milk or a taller cappuccino foam, it does cold froth for iced drinks, and it makes up to three cups at a time.
What owners say: Owners say it makes fine, thick foam with ordinary 2% milk and with almond milk too, the temperature control is easy to use and it cleans up quickly; the price is where opinions split.
A closer look: Pour in the milk, pick a disc and a temperature, and press start; it stops on its own at that temperature. Spoon chocolate or chai in through the measuring cap once it’s spinning. It suits a household making several milky drinks a day, where a handheld would mean frothing cup after cup.
- Stops at the set temperature
- Measuring cap for adding chocolate
- Brushed stainless steel
- 1-year warranty
Best for: Café drinks every day
- Type
- Pitcher
- Power
- Corded, 500W
- Speeds or settings
- 2 discs, adjustable temperature
- Heats milk
- Adjustable, or cold froth
- Capacity
- 740 mL (25 fl oz), 3 cups
- Cleaning
- Dishwasher-safe pitcher
- Extras
- 2 discs, induction
#5Nespresso Aeroccino 3 Milk Frother (black)
$75–$100
A compact one-button pitcher: a one-second press warms milk or makes hot froth, two seconds makes cold froth for iced coffee, and it switches itself off when it’s done. It heats milk to between 71 and 77°C (160 and 170°F), froths up to about 120 mL (4 fl oz) or warms 240 mL (8 fl oz), and the non-stick pitcher rinses clean under running water.
What owners say: No learning curve and quick to wash, by most accounts, and owners rate the build; the froth and foam, how hot the milk gets and the price all divide them, some delighted and others less so.
Heads up: The pitcher isn’t dishwasher safe: rinse it under running water and wipe the non-stick lining with a soft cloth.
A closer look: Nespresso suggests cold whole or low-fat milk at 4 to 6°C (39 to 43°F), straight from the fridge, and milk that has been frozen won’t froth at all. If the foam comes out thin, check that the right whisk is fitted and the pitcher is clean. It suits one or two drinks at a time, where the Breville makes three.
- Non-stick pitcher
- Switches itself off
- Press 2 seconds for cold
- Use fridge-cold milk
- Frozen milk won’t froth
Best for: A cup or two, hot or iced
- Type
- Pitcher
- Power
- Corded, 550W
- Speeds or settings
- 1 button: hot milk, hot or cold froth
- Heats milk
- 71–77°C (160–170°F), or cold froth
- Capacity
- 240 mL (8 fl oz); froths 120 mL (4 fl oz)
- Cleaning
- Rinse by hand, not dishwasher-safe
- Extras
- Hot or cold froth, one button
How they compare
Swipe sideways or rotate device to see all 5.
| Feature | #1CIRCLE JOY 3-speed | #2CIRCLE JOY | #3New England Stories | #4Breville Milk Café | #5Nespresso Aeroccino 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best value | Best pitcher | |||
| Picked Rating | 8.7 | 9.3 | 8.6 | 8.6 | 8.4 |
| Price | $20–$30 | $10–$20 | $10–$20 | $150–$200 | $75–$100 |
| Type | Handheld | Handheld | Handheld | Pitcher | Pitcher |
| Power | USB rechargeable | USB rechargeable | USB rechargeable | Corded, 500W | Corded, 550W |
| Speeds or settings | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 discs, adjustable temperature | 1 button: hot milk, hot or cold froth |
| Heats milk | No | No | No | Adjustable, or cold froth | 71–77°C (160–170°F), or cold froth |
| Capacity | Any cup (handheld) | Any cup (handheld) | Any cup (handheld) | 740 mL (25 fl oz), 3 cups | 240 mL (8 fl oz); froths 120 mL (4 fl oz) |
| Cleaning | Heads detach to rinse | Run the whisk in water | Run the whisk in water | Dishwasher-safe pitcher | Rinse by hand, not dishwasher-safe |
| Extras | 3 speeds, 3 whisks, stand, case | Steel stand | Whisk cover | 2 discs, induction | Hot or cold froth, one button |
| Best for | Lattes, cream and baking | Frothing milk and nothing else | Coffee on the go | Café drinks every day | A cup or two, hot or iced |
| Buy now | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
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