Coffee maker accessories Milk frothers

Milk frothers like the Aeroccino or Latteccino are popular for making cappuccinos

Standalone milk frothers can be used to make frothy milk for cappuccinos or heating milk for lattes. But how well do they work and is it worth buying one?

It can be tricky to achieve perfectly heated and aerated milk using the steam pipe or wand usually (though not always) found on a coffee maker. Our step-by-step guide to making a cappuccino has some helpful hints on how to get it right – or alternatively, you could invest in a separate milk frother.

Milk frothers explained

Milk frothers like the Nespresso Aeroccino, Dualit Latteccino or Gordon Ramsay Professional Hot and Cold are button-operated automatic milk frothers and heaters. 

All you need to do is fill up the container with milk, secure the lid and then wait around a minute for it to work. Automatic milk frothers are priced between £40 and £60. Sometimes you'll get a separate milk frother when you buy a coffee maker without a steam pipe, such as the Magimix 11300UK CitiZ coffee maker, which we've lab tested.

Alternatively, you can also buy a whisk-style handheld milk frother from brands including Aerolatte to froth up hot or cold milk in a glass. These are usually battery-operated, with prices starting from around £5.

Do milk frothers work?

We asked an expert coffee tester to give us his verdict. Our expert thought the cappuccinos made with milk from a milk frother were, overall, very good in terms of taste and frothiness. 

However, some coffee drinkers may find the froth slightly dense and foamy. This foaminess makes for a slightly unusual appearance, too.

Search for a Best Buy coffee maker to suit your taste - filter our coffee maker reviews by the type of coffee you prefer, and take a look at our espresso coffee makers video buying guide.

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