Best Milk Frothers 2021: A Coffee Lover's Search for the Perfect Foam

1. The best milk frother I tried: Froth Labs Professional Milk Frother

★ Froth Labs Milk Frother

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What I liked:

1. ✓

   Creates perfectly frothed or steamed milk in 90 seconds

2. ✓

   Incredibly simple to operate

3. ✓

   Hot and cold preset functions

4. ✓

   Whisk spins magnetically without touching the motor

5. ✓

   Froths a wide variety of dairy and non-dairy milks

6. ✓

   Easy to clean & dishwasher safe

What I didn’t like:

1. ✕

   Opaque lid means you can’t see the milk as it’s working

1. ←

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Author’s pick: Ranks #1 out of all milk frothers

Looking back on all of the milk frothers I evaluated, the Froth Labs milk frother is clearly my favorite, and it’s the one that’s still sitting on my kitchen counter, ready for action. Not only did the Froth Labs meet and surpass all of my criteria, but it also has a number of other features that I hadn’t even been expecting. And best of all, it’s incredibly easy to operate and clean, unlike other gadgets that have a steep learning curve or require careful inspection of the instruction manual.

I’m really impressed at how much the Froth Labs can do with just three simple LED buttons. There’s a power button in the center, and a button on either side. The left button is used for creating thick, airy foam for drinks such as cappuccinos -- and you can have either hot or cold foam. Very helpfully, the button is red when it’s making hot foam and blue when it’s making cold foam, so there’s never any confusion. The button on the right is for steaming milk to create smooth, silky microfoam for lattes, or simply for heating up milk or hot chocolate. 

To make the froth, the Froth Labs uses a magnetic whisk that spins around without touching the motor. I really like this design, as it means the motor doesn’t come into contact with any moving pieces. With other milk frothers I’ve used, the whisk has to be pushed onto a metal component, which makes it more likely to break with frequent use. Additionally, the Froth Labs is versatile enough to be able to create both cappuccino foam and steamed milk with a single whisk. I like the convenience of not having to switch back and forth between multiple whisks whenever I want to prepare a different beverage.

No matter which setting I choose, I always get the perfect consistency of frothed or steamed milk in under 90 seconds. The microfoam is so good that I’ve even started experimenting with latte art, and the dry foam for cappuccinos stays put long after I’ve poured it onto my coffee. I’m usually not one to exaggerate, but it really is just like having a mini Starbucks in my own home!

The Froth Labs is very quiet, so there’s no risk of waking anyone up with annoying whirring sounds, unlike a lot of other frothers I’ve used, especially handheld ones. It simply beeps quietly upon completion, which is helpful for letting you know that the milk is ready. The heating unit on the Froth Labs turns off automatically when you remove the pot to pour your milk, which means I never have to worry about leaving it on. Despite how quiet it is, the Froth Labs has a very powerful motor that easily withstands frequent use. 

I love how Froth Labs helps me quickly prepare multiple drinks when I’m entertaining, yet it works just as well when I just want a single latte or cappuccino for myself.  The Froth Labs is a really good size, so I can froth the milk for multiple drinks at once. If you’re simply heating up milk or hot chocolate, or steaming milk for lattes, it can hold up to 10.1 fl oz (300 ml) of liquid. For making cappuccino foam, the capacity is a respectable 5.1 fl oz (150 ml). Regardless of whether you’re pouring milk or foam, the stainless steel pot is ideally designed, with a sizable spout and a comfortable, contoured handle.

As is the case with any milk frother, whole milk definitely creates the most luscious foam, but I’ve also used the Froth Labs very successfully with 2%, 1%, soy, oat, coconut, and other plant-based milks. This is such a relief because my younger daughter is vegan, and it’s wonderful to be able to make her a cappuccino with oat milk or a soy flat white. She was definitely impressed, and said that my creations could give the independent coffee shop in her neighborhood a run for its money!

After use, cleaning the Froth Labs is a breeze. I just remove the pot from the base, take out the whisk, and put it in the dishwasher, or wash it in the sink in just a few seconds. It really couldn’t be any easier. Stainless steel is a naturally non-stick surface, and it’s completely non-toxic. The entire appliance is BPA-free, too.

The matte black stainless steel is very attractive and would seamlessly match the decor of any kitchen, no matter your personal style. I have mine permanently set up on my countertop. Even though the milk jug has a decent capacity, the Froth Labs doesn’t take up much space. It’s a very solidly-built appliance that doesn’t wobble, and it has rubber matting on the bottom for extra grip and stability. That being said, it’s certainly not heavy and I can lift it easily. There’s also a velcro strap that makes the power cable especially manageable and unobtrusive.

The Froth Labs did exactly what I was hoping for, with no fuss and no mess, and at a surprisingly affordable price for such a well-made appliance. Even more impressively, it outperformed its competitors in terms of both froth volume and froth quality. The Froth Labs is FDA-approved and comes with a 12-month manufacturer warranty, which certainly put my mind at ease about making the purchase. I haven’t needed to use it, but it’s good to know that I would be able to get a replacement if anything ever goes wrong. 

2. The Runner-Up: HadinEEon

HadinEEon

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What I liked:

1. ✓

   Looks futuristic and cool

2. ✓

   Large capacity (Up to 10.1 fl oz)

3. ✓

   Works quickly and fairly quietly

4. ✓

   Interchangeable whisks for frothing and heating

What I didn’t like:

1. ✕

   Has to be cleaned by hand (not dishwasher-safe)

2. ✕

   Milk sometimes scalds or froths inconsistently

3. ✕

   Flimsy base

For the most part, I had a very positive experience with the HadinEEon (strange name!). I would probably still be using it if I hadn’t discovered the Froth Labs. Overall, I was pleased with how straightforward it was to operate and the quality of the froth it produced. 

The HadinEEon has a very distinctive look that will undoubtedly appeal to some people. Its futuristic appearance would best suit a modern kitchen full of high-tech appliances, rather than a more traditional-looking space.

The HadinEEon is quite large, with a capacity of 10.1 fl oz (300 ml) for heating milk and 4.4 fl oz (130 ml) for frothing. The HadinEEon comes with two interchangeable whisks (and replacements) -- one for frothing and one for heating and aerating. These are fairly easy to snap on and off, although not quite as seamlessly as the magnetic whisks on some other milk frothers. The HadinEEon functions a lot like an electric kettle, and the spout makes it easy to pour. In general, it does a good job heating up milk or hot chocolate quickly, and producing either hot or cold foam in under two minutes. It’s also fairly quiet and it shuts off automatically.

Unfortunately, there were a few aspects of the HadinEEon that didn’t impress me. First of all, the interior of the jug has a non-stick coating, rather than being solid stainless steel like the Froth Labs. The HadinEEon is also a lot less sturdy than some of its competitors. The base is especially flimsy, and doesn’t lay flat on the countertop unless the jug is sitting on top of it. 

A bigger problem is that it’s somewhat unreliable, at least in my experience. There were a few occasions when it actually scalded the milk during the frothing process. Due to its design, this type of milk frother has to be cleaned by hand, and trying to remove the scalded milk residue was rather frustrating, especially when compared to how easy the dishwasher-friendly Froth Labs is to clean. It’s also necessary to be careful not to get the base or the outside of the HadinEEon wet, as this could damage the electrical components. Although a cleaning sponge is provided, there have been a few instances when I wished I could just throw the jug into the dishwasher.

It doesn’t scald the milk every time, but I’ve noticed that the more I use it, the more inconsistently the HadinEEon seems to create foam. Sometimes it simply produces hot milk with a thin layer of bubbles on top, even with the correct frothing whisk in place. The milk has to be extremely fresh and thoroughly chilled in order to guarantee that I will get froth. In this regard, I have a lot more flexibility and leeway with the Froth Labs, which is also far superior at frothing alternative milks. The HadinEEon does a pretty decent job with soy milk, which was a pleasant surprise, but definitely not enough of a plus to put it on the top of my list.

3. Secura

Secura

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What I liked:

1. ✓

   Extra large capacity, good for multiple drinks

2. ✓

   Magnetic heating and frothing disks

3. ✓

   Stainless steel jug is dishwasher safe

What I didn’t like:

1. ✕

   Makes a loud squealing noise when in use

2. ✕

   Produces less froth after repeated use

3. ✕

   Too large for making just a small amount of froth

The Secura milk frother has a number of great features to recommend it, and for a while it was my favorite, until its frothing capability began to let me down.

The Secura is larger than most of the milk frothers I evaluated, and it can turn 8.4 fl oz (250 ml) of liquid into foam, which is great when you need frothy milk for several cappuccinos at once. It also makes a sizable amount of hot chocolate, which is a big improvement over individually heating up mugs in the microwave or potentially burning a pot of hot chocolate on the stove. On the other hand, because of the Secura’s large volume, you need to use at least 5.1 fl oz (150 ml) of liquid or it won’t work properly. This is less than ideal if you want to make a small amount of foam for a single macchiato, for instance. Sadly, there were a few mornings when I had to dump out unused froth, which was a big waste!

With a simple yet effective design, the Secura is a professional-looking appliance, and it’s unobtrusive enough to sit out on a countertop. It’s sturdy and well-made, without being overly heavy. The milk jug is made from non-scratch stainless steel, so there’s no toxic teflon coating that could disintegrate into the jug. I was pleased to find out that the milk jug is dishwasher safe, and it can easily be removed from the heating base. The Secura doesn’t typically scald the milk or leave burnt-on residue, so I’ve found that it’s just as easy to give it a quick rinse with warm soapy water.

The Secura has an auto-turn off function, so I don’t have to manually shut it off when it’s done heating or frothing. It also gives a pleasant little “ding” when it’s finished, which is useful when I’m on the other side of the kitchen. According to the instructions, the Secura will also shut down if it starts to overheat, although I haven’t had to deal with this. 

The Secura comes with two plastic disks, one for frothing and one for heating milk. Whichever disk isn’t in use can be magnetically stored under the base, which is a nifty design feature. I would have preferred metal whisks, but at least the disks are BPA-free, which is a plus.

When I first used the Secura, the frothing disk did an excellent job creating thick, creamy froth in just a few minutes. However, after multiple uses, I began noticing that the quality of the froth had deteriorated. Now, instead of turning the entire contents of the jug into froth, it’s more like a layer of foam on top of a layer of heated milk. If you’re not particularly bothered about the consistency of the froth for your drinks, this probably won’t make a difference, but if you want to achieve the proper foam for making a cappuccino (rather than a latte or a cafe au lait), it’s more of a problem. 

The other significant downside of the Secura is that it’s much noisier than I would have liked. It makes a constant squealing sound pretty much whenever it’s in operation. This seems to be caused by the plastic disk (which is held magnetically inside the jug) spinning around. The noise is pretty annoying, but since it’s not actually detrimental, I haven’t seriously considered returning the frother. 

4. VAVA

VAVA

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What I liked:

1. ✓

   Easy-to-understand minimum and maximum level markings

2. ✓

   Additional set of whisks provided

3. ✓

   Fairly quiet when in use

What I didn’t like:

1. ✕

   Heating element is unreliable

2. ✕

   Interior has non-stick coating rather than stainless steel

3. ✕

   Tendency to overflow (must be cleaned by hand)

4. ✕

   Handle wobbles

Overall, the VAVA milk frother is a decent product, and it’s slightly less expensive than its competitors, but in many ways it’s a “you get what you pay for'' kind of appliance. The biggest drawback is that it has a frustrating tendency to heat very inconsistently. This has happened while using fresh, cold whole milk, as well as other types of milk, so I know that the milk itself isn’t the problem. Although the frothing whisk does a good job of creating, the heating element leaves a lot to be desired. Sometimes it works fine, but at other times I’m left with a jug full of lukewarm frothy milk. Furthermore, the VAVA almost  always leaves a film of milk on the bottom of the jug. This is more frustrating than it might otherwise be, since the pitcher has to be cleaned by hand. It can’t be put in the dishwasher or fully submerged in water due to the electric element. 

Although its capacity is nowhere near that of the giant Secura jug, tha VAVA is supposed to be able to heat up to 8.1 fl oz (240 ml) of milk and froth up to 3.9 fl oz (115 ml), which should be plenty for my morning coffee fix. On the positive side, the VAVA has easy-to-understand markings that make it clear about the minimum and maximum amounts of milk that should be added for heating vs. frothing. However, in practice, I always put less milk into the carafe than the maximum line, because I’ve had several bad experiences in which hot milk has spilled out, even though I hadn’t overfilled it. The VAVA’s lid doesn’t have a vacuum seal, so it won’t help to prevent overflowing. 

I was also disappointed to see that the VAVA has a non-stick coating, rather than being made entirely of stainless steel like the Froth Labs or the Secura, or even ceramic like the Aeroccino. Although the VAVA’s packaging asserts that it won’t leave any “trace elements” in the milk, this is still a concern, as I have no way to find out about the manufacturing standards for this product. The VAVA is one of the cheaper milk frothers I evaluated, and as with the HadinEEon, it seems like the manufacturer decided to cut corners with the materials used in the carafe.

On a more positive note, the VAVA’s spout is nicely designed and sufficiently wide, so I’ve never had any problems with spills when pouring heated or frothed milk into my coffee cup, although the handle does tend to wobble. It’s also relatively quiet when in use, so I haven’t had any of the “squealing” problems that I did with the Secura.

Swapping the frothing and heating whisks is fairly straightforward, and an extra set of whisks is provided with each purchase. This is actually a very nice touch -- having to purchase additional whisks or contacting the manufacturer can be a big inconvenience, so it’s nice to know that I have extras if I ever need them.

5. Miroco

Miroco

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What I liked:

1. ✓

   Large, dishwasher-safe, stainless steel jug

2. ✓

   Easy to operate with a single button

What I didn’t like:

1. ✕

   Too big for individual use

2. ✕

   Takes longer to work than other frothers

3. ✕

   Doesn’t mix hot cocoa smoothly

In most ways, the Miroco milk frother is very similar to the Secura, but I found it to be marginally less successful at doing the same functions. It’s much quieter, though, and it doesn’t have the annoying squealing noise that really turned me off from the Secura. 

Although I was initially a bit wary of the seemingly complicated (and poorly translated) instruction manual, the Miroco is actually very simple to operate, with just a single button needed to select one of the appliance’s four settings (hot foam, cold foam, hot milk, or hot chocolate). It starts working right away and it doesn’t make any strange noises. The Miroco will automatically turn on at the setting for the last drink you made, which is nice if you have a frequent favorite, or you can press the button again to select another setting. Due to its large capacity, the Miroco takes a bit longer to heat up than some of the other milk frothers I tried. Four or five minutes isn’t all that long to wait, unless you’re in a hurry in the morning.

Like the Secura and the Froth Labs, the Miroco includes a food-grade stainless steel jug, and I’m appreciative of the fact that it doesn’t have a potentially toxic non-stick coating. It’s such a bonus to be able to put the jug in the dishwasher, or to clean it by hand without any concerns about the coating flaking off. The Miroco can hold up to 8.5 fl oz (250 ml) of hot or cold foam, and 16.9 fl oz (500 ml) of heated milk or hot chocolate. This makes it an ideal appliance for making multiple drinks at once, but unnecessarily large if you just want a single serving, as you need to use at least 4 fl oz (120 ml) of liquid at a minimum. The Miroco has a Strix temperature control and will turn off automatically if it reaches 212°F (100°C). This safety function seems to be reliable, as far as I could tell, although I think it would have been better if the auto-turn off was at a slightly lower temperature.

The sturdy design and stainless steel jug make the Miroco look like a premium appliance, and it’s likely to fit in with the decor in any kitchen. As a domestic appliance, it’s a little big for my taste, but it would be ideal for an office breakroom.

The Miroco comes with what is described as a “unique chocolate protective cover,” although I haven’t quite figured out what’s so unique about a plastic lid. I’ve only tried to make hot cocoa once in the Miroco, but it was a bit disappointing -- the cocoa didn’t get fully mixed, and I was left with some clumps of cocoa powder at the end. I’ve had better results on the stove, or with some of the other milk frothers, such as the Froth Labs. 

Other than that, the only major design flaw that I noticed has to do with the magnetic frothing whisk -- it’s held in place by a long metal pin that isn’t very secure and could fall out as you’re pouring your drink. This is far from ideal when you’re dealing with hot liquid, but luckily it only happened to me once.

6. Nespresso Aeroccino 4

Nespresso

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What I liked:

1. ✓

   Updated ceramic interior won’t flake off like teflon

2. ✓

   Dishwasher safe

What I didn’t like:

1. ✕

   Far more expensive than its competitors

2. ✕

   Tends to burn milk or overflow 

3. ✕

   No indicator to tell you when frothing is complete

4. ✕

   Produces a weaker foam than other, cheaper frothers

The Nespresso Aeroccino is one of the best-known milk frothers on the market, and it’s one that I’ve come across a few times over the years, mostly in offices.

I was initially deterred by the high price tag, but I decided to give it a try to see whether it lived up to its reputation. The Aeroccino 4 is the latest version of the signature Nespresso milk frother, and it seems to be superior to the earlier models. Arguably the biggest improvement is that the jug now has a ceramic interior, rather than a non-stick teflon coating that might flake off during cleaning.

The black-and-chrome design of the Aeroccino 4 is very modern-looking, which may appeal to some people, but I actually think it looks like a gigantic soup can. It’s just not my style. Beyond its appearance, though, the Aeroccino does have some definite flaws in terms of function. First of all, the base is very wide and is likely to take up too much room on your countertop, especially if you have somewhat limited space. However, the cylinder itself is extremely narrow, which makes it difficult to reach into (unless you have very petite hands), or even to see the level of the liquid inside. 

On the plus side, the Aeroccino 4 is dishwasher safe, which is a clear improvement over previous models, so cleaning it by hand is less of a necessity, but it’s still awkward to deal with such a tall and narrow container. However, if the Aeroccino burns the milk (which unfortunately happens on a fairly regular basis), some degree of soaking and scrubbing by hand is needed before it can go in the dishwasher. 

The Aeroccino 4 only has one whisk, so you don’t have to worry about using the correct attachment to create the milk texture you want. Instead, it has four buttons on the base for achieving the desired milk warmth and consistency. Although it’s not possible to precisely control the temperature, you can reliably heat milk or hot chocolate, create hot latte or cappuccino froth, or make cold foam. The froth that the Aeroccino creates is generally fine, but I’ve noticed that it’s not nearly as thick or dense as the froth  that some of the other milk frothers have produced. It tends to fall apart quickly, too, and it was far less successful with plant-based and low-fat milk. 

Furthermore, I found it very frustrating that there isn’t any indicator to tell you when it’s ready, so you basically need to watch for when the buttons stop flashing to know that it’s finished. This isn’t ideal when you’re dealing with a dozen other things in the kitchen, especially on a busy morning.

Another drawback that I wish I had known about before using the device is that it’s really only capable of heating about 4 ounces of milk, despite the “Max” line being at 8 ounces. Even when simply heating, rather than frothing, adding more than 4 ounces is likely to cause the liquid to overflow and spill everywhere. It was a bit disappointing that for such a hefty price, I wasn’t able to heat up enough milk for multiple lattes at the same time.