About this deal
In a traditional steam wand, the texture of the foam is determined by the position of the steam wand’s tip relative to the surface of the milk. The more exposed the tip is, the larger your bubbles will be. Both Nespresso Aeroccino milk frothers have two max indicator lines. The first line marks 4 oz and the second indicator line marks 8 oz. While the brand touts that this frother runs at 19,000 rpm, we found it to be on par with other handheld frothers in terms of speed. However, it does provide a smoother experience in our hands, which enhances usability. Be careful how much you froth at the high level because the milk frother will overflow with a lot of milk at a high setting! Cleaning and Maintenance
Pros: Cafe-quality steamed and frothed milk, compact for what it does, sturdy, high-quality stainless steel components built to last Microfoam is basically thousands or millions of very small bubbles that form through the steaming process. It looks like velvety wet paint. You actually can't even see the bubbles. If you're trying to make microfoam at home, be sure to heat up the milk first, then run the milk frother. It won’t work if it’s not heated up." — Paulo Asi, Director of Training at the Seattle Barista Academy What’s the difference between frothed and steamed milk? The frothing modes have a capacity of 4 ounces of milk, enough for two good-sized espresso drinks, and it took a little over a minute for a heat-and-whisk cycle to complete. If it's only heating milk, the capacity is twice as much, but a cycle takes two and a half minutes—still quite fast. After you press a button, everything is completely automatic, so you can start frothing and then go pull your espresso shots while it does the work. With the machine properly set up, you’re ready to start steaming (or foaming, depending on what you’re making). 2. Add the MilkUnless otherwise specified, you should be able to use any kind of milk in your frother whether dairy or non-dairy. That said, there are differences in texture and taste between milk types, and some are better suited for frothing than others. Asi recommends whole milk above all, but adds that reduced fat milk is a good option too. However, you can always substitute plant-based or low-fat milk if you have dietary restrictions. Just be aware that the less fat the milk contains, the less it will steam up in your Aeroccino. With the Aeroccino set up, you’re ready to add the cold milk to the container. There are two maximum levels on the container, depending on how big of a drink you’re making. Along with the elevated vibe of the Aeroccino 4, we really appreciate the addition of a small spout, as it makes pouring the frothed milk so much easier. Ease of Use – 5/5
Overall, Nespresso Aeroccino 3 has a simpler design. The pitcher is made of stainless steel, but the plastic casing makes it feel less durable. The base is flush with the cylinder and mostly invisible. The frother has a single button that you press to create hot or cold milk froth (it glows red for hot milk and blue for cold milk froth). It does not have a spout, so I had to be more careful when pouring. You can use most kinds of milk and milk alternatives in a frother. While whole milk offers the best body, oat milk, skim milk, almond milk, soy milk, and coconut milk will all produce reasonable results. Another good feature is the time of preparation. In fact, you won’t wait too long, since froth preparation in both modes takes 80 seconds, while hot milk takes 150 seconds. Cleaning Options A manual frother is easy to use, requires no electricity and produces foam in just 30 seconds. The Bodum Latteo looks just like a French press, with a plunger and a glass carafe. You simply push the plunger up and down gently to activate the whisk. Because there is no heating element, the machine produces only cold foam, though you can heat milk in the microwave in the Latteo carafe itself (the glass is heat-resistant), which makes it easier to use than a wand frother, which requires a separate vessel. If you don’t mind a little extra work, this device produces excellent foam with no fuss for a bargain price — it just isn’t as convenient as the electric models and takes up just as much space.
The best manual milk frother: Ninja manual milk frother
In many ways, the Nespresso Aeroccino 4 is a step up from the previous model, but only if those additional features are worth it to you. Being dishwasher-safe is a must for many users, and features like the added hot foam settings and quality chrome finish make this model feel much more premium than the Aeroccino 3. Both the Golde and Subminimal frothers make excellent foam, though it takes a little practice. While the bigger machines tend to produce tufts of stiff foam, the wands produces finer results, more along the lines of steam-wand microfoam. Whether that’s the airy, subtle foam worthy of latte art depends on your ability and willingness to practice and experiment with your technique, but with some effort you should be able to get the desired consistency. Without a heating element, you will also need to preheat your milk if you want warm foam, which is why we don’t think these devices are for everybody. As far as cleaning goes, the Instant Milk Frother is on par with other automatic frothers. The lid and whisk are dishwasher safe, but the inside should be cleaned by hand.