Best milk frothers for perfect coffee and hot chocolate

The best milk frothers give you voluminous, creamy froth for barista-style coffee in minutes – and some can make an indulgent, velvety hot chocolate.

We've tested popular milk frothers and hot chocolate makers, including models from Dualit, Lavazza, Salter, and Swan, as well as Hotel Chocolat's latest Velvetiser. We rate how easy they are to use and clean and, most importantly, what ends up in your mug – the quality of the froth and, for hot chocolate makers, the drink itself.

Two models impressed us so much they’ve earned a Best Buy for both frothing milk and making hot chocolate; ideal if you want one machine that handles your morning cappuccino and your evening cocoa equally well.

Hot chocolate fans also have a third Best Buy to choose from, and we’ve found Great Value picks for milk frothers and hot chocolate makers that perform well beyond their price.

The milk frothers we tested

All of the milk frothers we tested are listed below.

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All the milk frothers we tested are listed in alphabetical order below.

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ARIETE Cappuccino 2878 Vintage Milk Frother

Max capacity 140ml for frothing, 250ml for mixing/heating

Functions Hot froth, cold froth, hot drink mixing, cold drink mixing

Need to know Weighs 0.87kg, single-button operation, two whisks, non-stick interior

DUALIT 84150 Electric Milk Frother Max

Max capacity 540ml frothing, 580ml heating

Functions Adjustable hot froth, cold froth, heated milk, hot chocolate

Need to know Weighs 1.1kg, 500W, cordless jug, removable magnetic whisk, non-stick interior, cool-touch body, dishwasher-safe attachments, one-year guarantee

Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser 2.0

Max capacity 220ml

Functions Hot mode, cold mode

Need to know Weighs 1.15kg, two-year guarantee, podcup and podglass are dishwasher safe

Lakeland Milk and Hot Chocolate Frother

Max capacity 450ml

Functions Hot milk froth, hot milk, chocolate milk, cold froth

Need to know Weighs 0.75kg, three-year guarantee 

Lavazza Milk Easy Plus Frother

Max capacity 120ml for frothing, 180ml for heating

Function Hot cappuccino, cold cappuccino, foamed milk, hot milk

Need to know Weighs 1kg, four settings, single backlit button, removable magnetic whisk, transparent lid, whisk and lid are dishwasher safe

Make café-quality coffee at home with a Best Buy coffee machine

Melitta Creamio II Milk Frother

Max capacity 150ml for frothing, 300ml for heating 

Functions Hot froth, heated milk

Need to know Weighs 0.9kg, two-year warranty, lid with whisk is dishwasher safe

Morphy Richards Brew & Blend Milk Frother

Max capacity 150ml for frothing, 300ml for heating

Functions Thick hot froth, light hot froth, hot milk, cold froth

Need to know Weighs 0.85kg, 550W, 360-degree cordless base, LED function button, automatic switch off, two-year warranty with an extra year available on registration

QUEST 34189 Electric Milk Frother

Max capacity 150ml for frothing, 300ml for heating

Functions Hot froth, cold froth, heated milk

Need to know Weighs 0.89kg, 500W, stainless steel body, non-stick interior, cool-touch handle, automatic switch off, one-year guarantee

Salter The Chocolatier Milk Frother & Hot Chocolate Maker

Max capacity 115ml for frothing, 240 ml for heating

Functions Cold, thick, and light froth settings

Need to know Weighs 0.78kg, one-year guarantee

SMEG MFF02RDUK Milk Frother 

Max capacity 120ml frothing, 180ml heating

Functions Hot milk, hot milk foam, cold milk foam

Need to know Weighs 0.86kg, 500W, ceramic non-stick interior, removable whisk, automatic switch-off

SMEG MFF11PBUK Electric Milk Frother

Max capacity 250ml for frothing, 600ml for heating

Function Hot milk, light hot froth, dense hot froth, light cold froth, dense cold froth, hot chocolate, manual hot and manual cold

Need to know Weighs 1.78kg, induction heating, removable dishwasher-safe stainless steel jug, automatic switch-off, two whisks included

Swan Automatic Milk Frother

Max capacity 115ml for frothing, 240ml for heating

Functions Hot froth, cold froth, heated milk

Need to know Weighs 0.7kg, two-year guarantee

Hot chocolate makers we tested

A number of milk frothers can make hot chocolate directly in the jug, so we put them to the test to see if any could rival Hotel Chocolat’s redesigned Velvetiser 2.0.

Several rose to the challenge, as we found three models that we recognise as Best Buys (two of which are also Best Buys as milk frothers). We even found a cheaper model that we've named a Great Value.

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DUALIT 84150 Electric Milk Frother Max

Max capacity 540ml frothing, 580ml heating

Functions Adjustable hot froth, cold froth, heated milk, hot chocolate

Need to know  Weighs 1.1kg, 500W, cordless jug, removable magnetic whisk, non-stick interior, cool-touch body, dishwasher-safe attachments, one-year guarantee

Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser 2.0

Max capacity 220ml

Functions Hot mode, cold mode

Need to know Weighs 1.15kg, a two-year guarantee, podcup and podglass are dishwasher safe

Lakeland Milk and Hot Chocolate Frother

Max capacity 450ml

Functions Hot milk froth, hot milk, chocolate milk, cold froth

Need to know Weighs 0.75kg, three-year guarantee 

Lavazza Milk Easy Plus Frother

Max capacity 120ml for frothing, 180ml for heating

Function Hot cappuccino, cold cappuccino, foamed milk, hot milk

Need to know Weighs 1kg, four settings, single backlit button, removable magnetic whisk, transparent lid, whisk and lid are dishwasher safe

Melitta Creamio II Milk Frother

Max capacity 150ml for frothing, 300ml for heating 

Functions Hot froth, heated milk

Need to know Weighs 0.9kg, two-year warranty, lid with whisk is dishwasher safe

Morphy Richards Brew & Blend Milk Frother

Max capacity 150ml for frothing, 300ml for heating

Functions Thick hot froth, light hot froth, hot milk, cold froth

Need to know Weighs 0.85kg, 550W, 360-degree cordless base, LED function button, automatic switch off, two-year warranty with an extra year available on registration

Salter The Chocolatier Milk Frother & Hot Chocolate Maker

Max capacity 115ml for frothing, 240 ml for heating

Functions Cold, thick, and light froth settings

Need to know Weighs 0.78kg, one-year guarantee

SMEG MFF11PBUK Electric Milk Frother

Max capacity 250ml for frothing, 600ml for heating

Function Hot milk, light hot froth, dense hot froth, light cold froth, dense cold froth, hot chocolate, manual hot and manual cold

Need to know Weighs 1.78kg, induction heating, removable dishwasher-safe stainless steel jug, automatic switch-off, two whisks included

How we test milk frothers and hot chocolate makers

Many free-to-access websites review milk frothers and hot chocolate makers using just one tester, basing scores on their preferences. These sites may also receive milk frothers or hot chocolate makers free of charge, directly from manufacturers.

Which? tests are different. Our test scores are based on measurements and ratings, and brands cannot buy their way into our testing. We select the most-searched milk frothers and hot chocolate makers, and we pay for every single one we test.

We also regularly revisit the milk frothers and hot chocolate makers on sale to see if there are any more popular models that need testing.

Milk mouthfeel: is it smooth and well integrated with the coffee?

• We make a cappuccino with every milk frother, using both whole and oat milk, before handing the drinks over to our tasting panel.
• They assess the milk's texture and, crucially, how well it integrates with the espresso. After all, nobody wants to spend the first few sips battling through a mountain of froth before finally reaching the coffee.
• The best frothers strike a delicate balance. The foam and espresso come together in every sip, while the milk underneath is whipped into a smooth, creamy texture. The worst produce bloated, bitty froth that hogs the top of the cup and barely lets the espresso get a look-in.

Froth quality: is it producing microfoam or macrofoam?

• Great cappuccino froth is packed with tiny bubbles, otherwise known as microfoam. Larger bubbles don’t hold liquid as well, so the milk drains out of the foam and settles at the bottom. You can end up with watery milk underneath and dry, airy foam on top, rather than one cohesive, creamy drink.
• To see what’s really going on, we put samples of froth under a microscope and inspected the size and consistency of the bubbles. We found an interesting pattern: the frothers producing the smallest, most consistent bubbles (known as 'microfoam') were also generally the ones our tasting panel preferred.
• The best microfoam was so fine that individual bubbles were difficult to make out, even under the microscope. At the other end of the scale, we saw an unruly mixture of bubble sizes, with some popping before our eyes.

Speed to froth: how long will you be waiting?

• This one is as simple as it sounds. We get the stopwatch out, add the milk, and time how long each frother takes to complete its programme.
• The quickest finish the job in under a minute. The slowest take well over two minutes, which can feel surprisingly long when there’s a cappuccino waiting at the finish line.
• For models that can make hot chocolate, we also time how long that programme takes. Hot chocolate generally requires a little more patience, but some frothers keep you waiting much longer than others.

Hot chocolate taste: is it creamy and rich?

• Many milk frothers can also make hot chocolate, so we put selected models through a separate test.
• We use the same hot chocolate recipe for each one before asking our panel to assess the finished drink, looking at how well the chocolate and milk are mixed and the overall taste and texture.
• The best produce rich, creamy and properly indulgent hot chocolate. The worst struggle to mix everything together, leaving behind bits of chocolate and milk that lack that smooth, luxurious texture.

General use: is it easy to operate and pour?

• By the end of our testing, we're very well acquainted with every milk frother. We try the different settings, press the buttons, check the lights, and see how obvious everything is to operate.
• Great froth isn’t much use if half of it ends up on the worktop. We pour from each frother into a narrow glass, checking how easy it is to control the stream and whether any milk spills along the way.
• A well-designed spout can make pouring much more precise and give budding latte artists a fighting chance at producing something recognisable. The trickiest frothers combine poor pouring control with a heavy or awkward design, making delicate latte art considerably more ambitious.

Cleaning: how easy is it to clean?

• Making this many cappuccinos means doing our fair share of washing up. We clean every frother and assess how straightforward the job is, including whether there are awkward areas that are difficult to reach.
• The easiest models need little more than a quick clean and a few rinses. Wide openings also make it easier to get a sponge and your hand inside.
• Others require considerably more persuasion, with narrow openings, awkward attachments or stubborn milk residue turning a quick rinse into another job for the washing up list.

How we choose milk frothers and hot chocolate makers

To keep our reviews 100% independent, we never accept free product samples from manufacturers or brands. Instead, we buy each milk frother and hot chocolate maker we test.

They span a range of prices, from £30 to more than £170. This means we can showcase premium models like Hotel Chocolat's Velvetiser alongside machines hoping to punch above their price tag. 

How does a battery-powered milk frother compare?

If you don't want to pay for an electric milk frother, you can get battery-powered whisks that claim to do a similar job for much less. 

We tried out a handheld whisk to see how it compared. And we weren't blown away. 

It can do the job and will froth the milk, but our panel wasn’t that impressed with the results. Even the more average milk frother produced a better experience. 

Our taste testers commented that it lacked creaminess and had poor foam structure.

Get excellent coffee to go with your frothed milk with the best pod coffee machines

How to froth milk without a frother

If you're undecided about buying a milk frother, you can still get frothy cappuccino milk with a cafetiere. We tested it out. 

To do this you have to:

• Heat the milk beforehand
• Then plunge the filter up and down until the milk looks as though it's grown significantly in volume. 

The result? Voluminous, frothy milk that scored slightly higher than our electric whisk for foam formation and taste. Don't expect perfectly dense foam, but if you want a quick and easy alternative in the kitchen, then we'd pick a cafetiere over a handheld whisk.