WiseGeek’s “Wisest Buys” Awards: Top 3 Milk Frothers of 2021
When it comes to comparing options for making an important purchase, the sheer amount of choice can be overwhelming. With hundreds of conflicting Amazon reviews for every product and review websites that offer competing advice about which products actually work, it can feel like an uphill battle to find reliable information on which to base your purchase decision.
Here at WiseGeek, we’d like to make this process a little easier by presenting our annual Wisest Buys Awards. Each year, we select our favorite products in a number of popular categories.
Our team of reviewers has tested the most popular milk frothers, coming to our own conclusions about which product is the absolute best for your kitchen.
To decide on our award winner in the milk frothers category, we considered the following criteria:
- Creates long-lasting foam for lattes and cappuccinos
- Works with both hot and cold milk
- Durable motor that won’t break
- Easy to clean and user friendly
- Works quickly and quietly
2021 Wisest Buy Award Winner: Best Milk Frother
#1 Froth Labs Milk Frother
★★★★★
Top features:
- Creates excellent hot and cold foam and steamed milk
- Can prepare up to 10.1 fl oz in 90 seconds
- Works well with different types of milk
After trying out milk frothers of all shapes and sizes, the one that met all of our criteria (and our coffee needs!) was undoubtedly the Froth Labs Milk Frother. This is a fantastic appliance that any coffee lover would be pleased to own.
It’s very simple and intuitive to use, with just three small buttons on the front. It can easily make hot or cold foam for cappuccinos, steamed milk for lattes, or heated milk for hot chocolate. With a maximum volume of 10.1 fl oz (300 ml), it works fine for preparing drinks for a small group, but just as well for a single beverage.
In only 90 seconds, the Froth Labs can turn any type of milk into the desired froth consistency. Although it works best with whole milk, we successfully tried it with 2%, 1%, and even plant-based milks such as oat, almond, coconut, and soy.
It’s a fairly quiet appliance, and it looks very attractive on a countertop, thanks to the matte black finish. The stainless steel construction means that it’s naturally non-toxic and BPA free. All of the moving parts seem to be well-made sturdy, and it’s held up to constant use. There’s also a 12-month manufacturer warranty, so customers are covered in case a problem does arise.
Cleaning the Froth Labs is extremely straightforward. The jug is dishwasher safe, and the only additional component is a magnetic whisk that can be rinsed off in seconds.
Other Milk Frothers We Like:
#2 GRUNEN WOLKEN
★★★★
Top features:
- Froths enough whole or 2% milk for one drink
- Powerful motor works quickly
- Small and easy to store
If you’re looking for something simple, easy to use, and very affordable, the GRUNEN WOLKEN is a good choice.
Although it’s not comparable to a large-capacity milk frother that also heats liquid, the GRUNEN WOLKEN is a useful little gadget that works well for frothing milk for a single drink. It has a surprisingly powerful battery-operated motor that can froth milk quickly, either in your coffee mug or a larger container. It only has one speed, but that’s sufficient for creating pretty decent froth in a matter of seconds.
The GRUNEN WOLKEN works best with whole milk or 2% milk, but it can be used with skim or alternative milks with somewhat variable results. Besides frothing milk, the GRUNEN WOLKEN can also be used for whipping cream and preparing matcha or hot cocoa.
It’s available in a variety of attractive colors and comes with a little metal stand, which is useful for discreet storage. It even comes with a few stencils for making fun latte art, if you’re so inclined.
#3 HadinEEon
★★★★
Top features:
- Kettle-like design makes it easy to pour
- Ultra-modern appearance
- Comes with two Interchangeable frothing disks
Our team enjoyed using the HadinEEon milk frother, which looks and functions a lot like an electric kettle. The futuristic design seems very modern, and the handle and spout make it easy to pour without mess. This milk frother comes with two interchangeable disks that snap on and off -- one for heating/aerating and one for frothing. To create the thickest froth, the HadinEEon works best with fresh, cold milk -- ideally whole or 2%, although we had some success with other milks, too.
Although this appliance is very lightweight, the HadinEEon heats milk quickly and fairly quietly. It can heat up to 10 fl oz (300 ml) of milk and froth up to 4.4 fl oz (130 ml). It isn’t dishwasher safe, but it comes with a purpose-made sponge that makes it quick to clean.