4 Ways to Froth Milk at Home
on Dec 08, 2019, Updated May 24, 2022
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Frothing milk at home can transform your latte experience. From French press to automatic milk frother, see how to get cafe-quality froth at home.
Frothing Milk at Home
I make a lot of tea lattes at home but I don’t have a fancy espresso machine to steam milk to get that lovely froth.
To get that gorgeous froth, I’ve tried a few methods:
- French press
FROTH QUALITY: ★★★★★ - Automatic milk frother
FROTH QUALITY: ★★★★★ - Handheld milk frother
FROTH QUALITY: ★★★☆☆ - Immersion blender
FROTH QUALITY: ★★☆☆☆
What to Look for When Frothing Milk
- Microfoam
The best frothed milk creates microfoam, tiny bubbles that are so small you can barely see them. - Rich mouthfeel
Lush, velvety foam adds a rich mouthfeel and smooth texture which elevates the latte experience at home. - Quick & easy to use
The best milk frothers are easy to use and easy to clean.
Frothing Milk in a French Press
FROTH QUALITY: ★★★★★
- The least expensive way to create beautiful froth but the big drawback is the cleanup.
- It doesn’t take too much effort and will froth the warm milk in less than a minute.
- The French press creates great microfoam.
- Milk needs to heated first separately.
HOW TO FROTH MILK IN A FRENCH PRESS
- Heat milk.
STOVETOP: Bring milk to simmer in a saucepan on the stovetop. Stir it occasionally to prevent a thin layer from appearing on top. Turn the heat off once you see steam coming from the milk.
MICROWAVE: Start with 30 seconds, stir, then heat for another 15 seconds until the milk starts to steam. - Pour the heated milk into a French press.
Fill no more than a third of the container. - Put the lid on then pull and push down on the plunger.
Pump until the milk doubles in volume.
MY PICK FOR FRENCH PRESS:
Photo Credit: amazon.com
Frothing Milk in an Automatic Milk Frother
FROTH QUALITY: ★★★★★
- A game-changer! This automatic milk frother creates THE BEST froth at home without having an espresso machine.
- Makes hot- and cold-frothed milk.
- Detachable milk jugs are super easy to clean.
- No need to heat milk separately. This frother heats and froths in one machine.
Tea Sommelier’s Tip: Make quick matcha lattes by frothing a cup of milk and 1 teaspoon of matcha into an automatic milk frother.
HOW TO FROTH MILK IN AN AUTOMATIC FROTHER
- Pour cold milk into frother jug.
- Set the temperature.
Most automatic milk frothers create hot and cold froth using an adjustable temperature setting. - Froths milk to perfection.
MY PICK FOR BEST MILK FROTHER:
Photo Credit: amazon.com
Frothing Milk with a Handheld Milk Frother
FROTH QUALITY: ★★★☆☆
- A handheld milk frother just does an OK job at frothing milk.
- Quick and easy to use and clean but the froth is not ideal.
- The handheld milk frother will increase the volume of the milk but the froth isn’t as smooth and it creates bigger bubbles.
HOW TO FROTH MILK USING A HANDHELD FROTHER
- Heat milk.
STOVETOP: Bring milk to simmer in a saucepan on the stovetop. Stir it occasionally to prevent a thin layer from appearing on top. Turn the heat off once you see steam coming from the milk.
MICROWAVE: Start with 30 seconds, stir, then heat for another 15 seconds until the milk starts to steam. - Put handheld frother into the milk and turn on, moving it around.
- The milk frother will whisk to aerate and increase the volume of the milk.
MY PICK FOR HANDHELD MILK FROTHER:
Photo Credit: amazon.com
Frothing Milk with an Immersion Blender
FROTH QUALITY: ★★☆☆☆
- I wouldn’t recommend the immersion blender since it creates a ton of big bubbles.
- It can make a mess, so be sure to use a tall container.
- It created almost double the volume of milk but no microfoam in sight.
HOW TO FROTH MILK USING AN IMMERSION BLENDER
- Heat milk.
STOVETOP: Bring milk to simmer in a saucepan on the stovetop. Stir it occasionally to prevent a thin layer from appearing on top. Turn the heat off once you see steam coming from the milk.
MICROWAVE: Start with 30 seconds, stir, then heat for another 15 seconds until the milk starts to steam. - Pour milk into a tall container.
- Put immersion blender into the milk and turn on, moving it around.
- The blender will aerate and increase the volume of the milk.
MY PICK FOR IMMERSION BLENDER:
I also love tea latte. I am planning to buy a Breville. Thanks a lot!
Kids loved it. very good and easy recipe, i tried it last night
I was a Virgin to London Fogs until I heard it in a tarot reading. Earl gray has always been one of my favorite teas and now I Love IT more sooo after tasting this drink. Another method to make the Froth at home, is by heating the milk on the stovetop and adding marshmallows; just watch carefully as you would any heating of milk to prevent over boiling. ENJOY! ☕
Hi Lisa, good tip about adding marshmallows!
Great recipe and making an awesome french press.
Keep posting this type of awesome recipe.
Thanks!
I blog often and I genuinely appreciate your information. Your article
has truly peaked my interest. I’m going to book mark your website and keep checking for new information about once per
week. I opted in for your RSS feed as well.
i love the idea. the foam is so good!
Hi Sienna, yes! It makes perfect foam each and every time!
Hi Michele, I usually rinse the French press as soon as I use it so the milk doesn't get dried up so it's easier to wash later.
I agree with you both. And it doesn't look like it'll be a mess to clean up afterward, either.
Hi Georgia, agree, it's a great tip for sure. I do love that the French press is now a multi-functioning equipment in my kitchen.
It's a great tip and means one less piece of equipment for small kitcheners.