The best milk frothers for creamy lattes and cafe-quality cappuccinos, tried and tested

Score: 95/100

Consistent and versatile, this milk frother was a strong all-rounder in testing. It scored full marks when frothing cow’s milk, delivering velvety, thick foam that was stable for over five minutes. It excelled at cold froth too. While there was a slight variation in the size of the bubbles, it still produced one of the best cold froths out of all the models in this list.

Each programme was easy to operate, with just two buttons needed – one for heating and one for frothing – and it worked quietly, too. The light-coloured interior is a nice touch, making it easier to see the min and max fill lines, a detail most models overlook.

Score: 94/100

With an intuitive dial for operation, we quickly got to grips with this milk frother. Dualit’s VortecS technology and magnetic whisk basket proved effective at frothing and ensured all the chocolate was fully mixed and dissolved in our hot cocoa.

Speaking of which, this milk frother really shone in the hot chocolate test, scoring full marks for delivering a smooth, creamy drink in under two minutes. It can also make cold chocolate drinks, if you prefer. Best of all, you can just break up squares of your favourite chocolate and add it to the frother to make your drink (pure chocolate only, though).

Although the milk exceeded the desired temperature during regular frothing, our cappuccino didn’t taste sour at all. This model was also fantastic at creating latte foam, if that’s your drink of choice.

Score: 94/100

Creating cold micro foam with a velvety texture, this should be your go-to model for thick, cold foam on top of your iced coffee. It excelled at hot froth too, if cold isn’t your thing, producing stable, creamy foam. Just make sure to tap the jug before pouring the milk to remove any big bubbles.

We noticed this frother was noisier than others in this list, rattling a little when the whisk was moving round, and the stainless-steel jug was slightly trickier to clean, requiring a soak or a wipe with a sponge to remove any remaining milk. But, as the jug is removable, this is pretty straightforward. It’s also lightweight and well-balanced so pouring is easy and the curved lip ensures you won’t spill a drop.

Score: 93/100

With a small capacity and quick one-minute frothing times, we’d opt for the Aeroccino 4 every time if we were making coffee for one. The milk had a velvety texture, remained stable for over five minutes, and combined well with our coffee, ticking all the boxes for a fantastic cappuccino. Plant-based milk drinkers will be pleased to hear that it frothed this well too, although there were some slightly larger bubbles in the mix.

Its latte foam was also excellent, although it broke down a little during the five-minute window, plus we found it difficult to tell the difference between the light and thick foam settings from the symbols on the frother. Those are minor niggles though – this is a sleek, speedy frother for those who just want one delicious cup at a time.

Score: 92/100

Smeg is known for its stylish, retro-looking appliances and its milk frother is no exception. Available in pastel green, blue, red, white, black and cream, there’s something to suit every kitchen. It’s compact too, making it easy to squeeze into a cupboard or small enough to have out on your countertop.

In testing, it frothed both cow’s and plant-based milk consistently well, delivering a creamy, velvety texture that combined well with our coffee. It performed even better with cold foam, earning full marks for its perfect texture after just a minute of frothing. Just note that its rounded lip meant that milk dribbled down the side when we poured.

Score: 89/100

If you’re short on storage space, a handheld milk frother could be a good choice. This battery-powered device is lightweight and easy to use, with one switch on the side to turn the whisk on. Unlike others on this list, it can’t heat milk, so you’ll need to do that separately before getting to work.

It impressed when frothing both cow’s and plant-based milk, delivering stable foam that combined well with coffee. It also achieved a delicious hot chocolate in just over a minute, although the milk wasn’t as velvety smooth as it was when we frothed it on its own. It didn’t froth cold foam well, producing larger bubbles, which dissipated quickly. But overall, this budget pick is a smart choice for quick, simple frothing.

Score: 86/100

This Salter milk frother is a great option for everyday users who want fuss-free froth at an affordable price. The silver finish gives it a sleek, modern look and the design has been well thought out to deliver a straightforward user experience, from one-touch operation to the light-coloured interior, which makes it easy to see the minimum and max markings.

It performed best when frothing cow’s milk, creating a good consistency once we’d tapped some of the larger bubbles out. Its plant-based milk froth had impressive stability too and combined well with the coffee. Both the light foam and cold foam settings were less effective though, with some separation between the foam and the milk. Our hot chocolate took over two minutes to make as well, but it was deliciously creamy.

Score: 86/100

Coffee lovers can rely on this great value milk frother for thick, velvety hot foam every time. The controls couldn’t be simpler thanks to the one-button operation and all you need to do to switch from foam to heated milk is remove the whisk attachment.

Our plant-based milk frothed in under a minute, combining well with coffee, with a creamy consistency. Regular cow’s milk had good stability too, but we noticed some residue around the edge of the jug after heating.

Score: 84/100

This compact milk frother performed best when heating milk (minus any foam). It didn’t scorch or leave any residue in the bottom of the jug. When it came to frothing, it produced a thick, stable foam with only a small amount of separation from the milk – a quick stir sorted that out though.

Our cold foam had some larger bubbles, which made it less stable than we’d have liked, but it still lasted for three minutes and combined well with the rest of the drink. Overall, this is a sleek-looking milk frother with a considered design, intuitive controls and detailed instructions.

Score: 81/100

A versatile choice, this milk frother has four preset functions – warm milk, thick froth, light froth, and cold froth – making it very straightforward to use. When frothing cow’s milk, it produced mainly small, thick bubbles, which created a creamy texture that combined beautifully with our coffee. That said, we did notice some spitting during frothing, despite only filing the milk to the max marker. The same issue cropped up when making hot chocolate, with some milk dripping down the sides.

This is one of the few models in our list to also make cold chocolate drinks and milkshakes – and it was impressive on test. All the powder was well combined, and it had a smooth, creamy finish. Again, a small amount of spitting occurred, so we recommend filling to just below the maximum capacity for the best results.

Score: 77/100

This bigger capacity milk frother is a good value option for large families. The controls are intuitive, and we appreciated the audible beep that tells you when the programme’s finished.

Frothing cow’s milk produced thick, velvety foam with good stability, and both our regular and plant-based hot chocolates impressed, with all the chocolate dissolving and combining nicely. As there’s no spout, it was tricky to pour the drinks without making a mess and we often found the temperature ran too high, risking scorching and a sour taste. The milk frother was noisy in use too – we were able to hear it over the radio.

Despite these niggles, the lid prevents any spitting or splashing when frothing, and the magnetic whisk is easy to remove and can be popped in the dishwasher for a quick clean.