Do you dream of sipping the kind of frothy coffees served up by your favourite café, but in the comfort of your own home? Are you desperate to upgrade your hot chocolates or add some oomph to your lattes? The gadgets we’re about to explore can do all of these things and more, and with the nation’s craving for coffee at an all-time high, there’s no better time to dive into the best milk frothers.
But first, a little advice from the pros – in this case Esther-Hope Gibbs, founder of Hope Espresso. “Most milk frothers are designed for whole milk,” says Esther. “Due to the high content of fat, they’re much easier to texturise, and the heat and the foam will always hold better for longer periods of time. With skimmed and alternative milks, it’s harder to get a nice texture, so it’s often worth investing a bit of extra money. For plant milks, always buy the barista-style milks, as they have added proteins and fats which allow them to hold the texture better. Regular plant milks won't give you the same result and will often curdle in your coffee too.”
As for the key points to consider? Controls on a corded base are generally more accessible, although frothers with controls on a removable main jug can be ideal for those short on space. I prefer whisks that are removable, simply for hygiene reasons, and the majority of those I tested had whisks attached to the base of the jug, often secured via magnets. That said, it’s worth nothing that all frothers can be cleaned following use by simply adding a drop of washing up liquid and activating the frothing cycle – this will clean both the whisk and the jug, although it’s also important to give your jug regular deeper cleans, either in the dishwasher or by hand. I recommend looking for a motor with a minimum power of 400W, and a capacity of at least 200ml, while your frother should be capable of heating your milk to at least 75C. Obviously the latter points don’t apply to handheld frothers (I’ve included two in my lineup), although don’t discount these entirely – they’re perfect for weekends away or simply those short on space.
Read more: 19 best coffee machines for 2026, tried and tested for barista-quality cups
The best milk frothers for 2026 are:
- Best overall – Hotel Chocolat velvetiser: £119.96, Hotelchocolat.com
- Best budget buy – La Cafetiere drinks frother stainless steel: £7.99, Robertdyas.co.uk
- Best for ease of use – Salter the chocolatier EK5134: £34.99, Amazon.co.uk
- Best handheld design – Bodum x Moma schiuma: £15, Selfridges.com
- Best for quick frothing – Melitta cremio: £42.99, Amazon.co.uk
- Best for aestestics – Daewoo 200ml electric milk frother warmer: £29.99, Amazon.co.uk
How I tested
I spent hours in the kitchen, whipping up everything from cloud-like cappuccinos to the creamiest of hot chocolates. I used every milk frother with at least two types of milk (including one dairy and one plant-based), preparing hot and chilled drinks, and I didn’t just consider how they performed on the frothiness scale, but how practical they were to use, how easy it was to get to grips with the controls, and how easy they were to clean. You can read more about my in-depth testing process at the end of this guide.
Read more: I tested the £35 alternative to Hotel Chocolat’s £150 velvetiser – here’s how it compares
Hotel Chocolat velvetiser
Best: milk frother overall
Capacity: 220ml
Motor: 500w
Why we love it
- Looks great
- Incredibly easy to clean and operate
Take note
- High price point
Hotel Chocolat’s new and improved velvetiser is a thing of beauty – a sleek milk-frothing mean machine available in three gorgeous Farrow and Ball-like shades (I opted for Chalk). There’s no shortage of accessories, and in addition to the main unit and removable whisk, there’s a glass, cup and 10 sachets of drinking chocolate (at this point I’ll point out that the salted caramel is to die for). Five sachets are for hot drinks and five are for cold – a reminder of the velvetiser’s versatility.
The process is simple – simply fill the velvetiser with milk up to the clearly marked line on the removable whisk, turn the dial to the right or left depending on whether you prefer you’re craving a hot or cold drink, and press the button. It took 2.5 minutes to produce the creamiest hot chocolate of my life (heated to 70C), although I was equally impressed with the oat milk hot chocolate produced, as well as the smoothness of the cold drinks. I also loved the low noise levels, as well as how easy the velvetiser was to clean – the whisk stays in place with the help of a magnet, but it’s easy to remove, which means no fixed, fiddly parts to clean around, minimising concerns about cleanliness. After all, nobody wants their hot chocolate with a side order of salmonella.
Buy now £119.95, Hotelchocolat.com
La Cafetiere drinks frother stainless steel
Best: budget handheld frother
Capacity: N/A
Motor: N/A – battery powered
Why we love it
- Great value
- Slimline
Take note
- Battery-powered – would have preferred USB
Another great option for campers, La Cafetiere’s battery-powered stainless steel frother, for which you’ll need AAA batteries, surprised me with its power, adding a pleasantly aerated foam to my coffee and upgrading my hot chocolate with a silk consistency.
The downside of its slimline size is that it’s obviously never going to rival larger, standalone units, but if you’re short on space and looking for a compact device which will instantly upgrade your coffees and hot chocolates, this might just be the perfect tool for the job.
Buy now £7.99, Robertdyas.co.uk
Melitta cremio
Best: for quick frothing
Capcity: 250ml
Motor: 500w
Why we love it
- Incredibly simple to use
Take note
- Limited settings
- Whisk attached to lid
The cremio milk frother does exactly what it says on the tin, with minimal fuss and impressively quickly. I was impressed by how simple it was to use – simply pour in your milk up to the clearly marked lines on the inside of the jug, which detaches from its corded base, and select whether you want warm or cold froth, or simply to heat milk. I found the cremio to be one of the noisier frothers, although the results were impressive – a fabulously frothy cappuccino followed by a cloud-like hot chocolate and a perfectly-chilled frappe, all of which were prepared in just under two minutes.
I used the cremio with a range of milks, including oat milk, semi-skimmed and whole, and the results were impressively consistent. One minor gripe was how the whisk was attached to the lid, which meant it wasn’t possible to observe my drink’s progress (although then again, perhaps this says more about my impatience than it does about the machine).
Buy now £42.99, Amazon.co.uk
Daewoo 200ml electric milk frother warmer
Best: milk frother for aesthetics
Capacity: 200ml
Motor: 600w
Why we love it
- Great value
- An impressive 600w of power
Take note
- Lower capacity
Don’t be deceived by the name – this frother produces cold drinks, as well as hot ones, and does so incredibly quickly. Its compact design makes this perfect for frothing on the go (think camping holidays, hotel getaways and road trips) and it’s also incredibly quiet.
The controls are simple and clear, and the froth quality was unexpectedly high, irrespective of whether I was using oat, soy or dairy milk (and I used all three to produce hot and cold tipples). I’d love to have seen a removable whisk – this one was fixed to the bottom of the unit, and the narrow design of the jug made cleaning around it tricky - but I loved how the transparent lid made it easy to watch the whisk do its thing.
Buy now £24.99, Amazon.co.uk
Bodum x Moma schiuma
Best: handheld frother
Capcity: N/A
Motor: N/A battery powered (requires 2 x AA batteries)
Why we love it
- Powerful
- Ergonomic
Take note
- Won’t heat or chill your drinks
Bodum has achieved what I thought was impossible – the brand has made a handheld frother look positively stunning in an era when stainless steel and black seem to be the go-to shades. What’s more, this is a seriously powerful handheld frother. No it won’t (for obvious reasons) heat or chill your milk-based drinks, but it will create surprisingly thick foam in less than 40 seconds, and it makes light work of blending chocolate flakes too – especially when the milk has been pre-heated.
I was also smitten with its ergonomic design – it feels secure and tactile in the hand, the button’s position at the end of the frother ensure easy access, and the rubber base meant more stability when it came to storing it or putting it to one side between frothing sessions – call me a germaphobe, but I hate the thought of lying handheld frothers flat on kitchen counters.
Buy now £15, Selfridges.com
Salter the chocolatier EK5134
Best: milk frother for ease of use
Capacity: 240ml
Motor: 500w
Why we love it
- Great value
- Large capacity - 240ml
Take note
- Noisy
This was one of the noisier frothers but, this minor gripe aside, I loved the simplicity of the controls, as well as the use of audio cues to let me know when the desired frothiness had been achieved. The whisk (which is removable for easy cleaning) did its thing incredibly quickly, and I produced a perfect frothy coffee in under two minutes, and was taken aback by how quickly the whisk worked its magic on my oat milk. Plus, the froth had impressive staying power.
I also appreciated the sturdiness of the design, including the thick rubber padding on the base (which has a 360-degree design perfect for left-handed users) and the ultra-bright controls. The control panel was clock-style, with one central button doubling as the on/off control but which could also be used to toggle through the four settings.
Buy now £34.99, Amazon.co.uk
ProCook milk frother and hot chocolate maker
Best: milk frother for a robost design
Capacity: 400ml
Motor: 550w
Why we love it
- Good value
- Large capacity - 400ml
Take note
- Slightly on the heavy side – weighs 1.3kg
I’ve lost count of the hours I’ve spent squinting at lines which are ridiculously faint or simply too thin, so one of my favourite features about Pro Cook’s milk frother was the clear measurement lines on the inside of the metal jug.
It was also one of the few frothers with a fully removable jug, and I can’t help but wonder why more frothers don’t have this design – cleaning the others requires wrangling cords out the way, but with this one my fears of accidentally blowing up my kitchen because I got water in the socket were allayed. Ultra-bright controls, enhanced with audible alerts, made it easy to toggle between the four settings (three for hot drinks, one for cold) and I was impressed by the frothing power of the built-in whisk (I’d had initial concerns due to its smaller size). It’s currently out of stock but you can sign up to be notified via e-mail when it’s back.
Buy now £69, Procook.co.uk
Caso Design cappulatte milk frother & hot chocolate maker
Best: milk frother for multiple options
Capacity: 400ml
Motor: 600w
Why we love it
- Sleek monochrome look
- Fully transparent jug
- An impressive 600w of power
Take note
- Overly complicated controls
- Lack of information on the website
This milk frother’s dishwasher-safe glass jug made it easier to clean, but in reality I was reminded that for me, a jug with a non-stick finish (which appears to be the norm in the world of frothers) is preferable. In reality, it’s just not practical to clean the frother in a dishwasher after every use. That said, I loved the larger capacity. I can’t help but feel the controls have been over-engineered somewhat – I had to use one button to scroll through the settings before pressing a separate “go” button to start the process. Why not simply use the symbols as buttons?
One final point – Caso is missing a trick with the lack of information listed on the website. There basically isn’t any, and even the technical specifications page is depressingly sparse, with only the weight and size listed. Yes, it came with a rather chunky manual, but Caso could do a much better job of shouting about the various pros (the larger capacity, and the powerful motor) for those who haven’t yet committed to a purchase.
Buy now £59.99, Amazon.co.uk
Graef glass induction milk frother
Best: frother for alternative milks
Capacity: 200ml (for frothing)
Motor: 500w
Why we love it
- Easily accessible controls
- Six programmes to choose from
Take note
- Slightly noisy
Finicky about your froth? With six settings you’re well and truly covered. Options include voluminous or creamy for hot and cold drinks, and the custom-made coffee of my dreams was made a reality thanks to the temperature controls, which enabled me to crank up the heat in 5C increments. Impressively, the max temperature comes in at 85C, which is one of the highest offered by any of the models I tested (most came in around the 78C mark).
The position of the control panel on a protruding base station unit made the controls incredibly accessible and eliminated the risk of coffee drips obscuring the illuminated symbols. Its ability to whip my oat milk into a rich creamy foam was a sight to behold, and although it’s a frother that errs on the noisier side, the sheer power of the whisk, which sits on the base of the jug but is easy to remove, made the extra audio more than worth it.
Buy now £110, Graefshop.co.uk
Smeg mini milk frother
Best: milk frother for retro styling
Capacity: 180ml
Motor: 500w
Why we love it
- Looks great
Take note
- Low capacity
- Expensive
Yes, this offering from Smeg looks absolutely gorgeous, but I’m pleased to report that the mini milk frother isn’t a case of style over substance – although I’d have loved to see a larger capacity (its maximum is just 120ml). It took next to no time to whip up my daily oat milk cappuccino, and it produced the creamiest hot and cold chocolates (I made versions with both almond milk and full fat milk) in a similarly impressive time.
Simplicity is the name of the game here – there are just three settings (hot milk, hot milk foam, and cold milk foam), and toggling through these options was ridiculously simple, involving a light touch of the single button. And, while the jet-black, high-gloss finish didn’t improve the quality of our hot tipples, it certainly gave our kitchen an aesthetic upgrade.
Buy now £99, Johnlewis.com
Bodum ottoni milk frother
Best: powerful milk frother
Capacity: 400ml
Motor: 600w
Why we love it
- Looks great
- Large capacity
Take note
- On the heavy side – 1.11kg
There’s a sculpture-like quality to this milk frother, which uses a powerful 600W motor to turn hot chocolates, coffees and cold drinks into foamy cups of gorgeousness. I was surprised by its sturdiness and loved how, on lazy days, I could simply detach and drink from the main mixing mug, which has an ergonomic handle that minimises the risk of accidental burns – a godsend for those prone to overfilling (or, as I did, simply underestimating the volume of the froth this gizmo produced).
The three programs were easy to select and identify (a red light for hot frothing and heating, white for hot chocolate, and blue for cold frothing) and I scrolled between these by pressing the power button one, two or three times. I achieved similarly impressive results with each setting. Love reading? You’re in for a treat with this frother, because the instruction manual is the largest I came across, but as the saying goes, knowledge is power…
Buy now £119.9, Bodum.com
Dualit milk frother max
Best: compact corded milk frother
Capacity: 480ml
Motor: 500w
Why we love it
- Clear controls
- Large capacity
- Powerful whisk
Take note
- Expensive (but absolutely worth it, in our opinion)
Dualit appears to be rather proud of its trademarked VortecS technology, which apparently results in superior frothing and blending, and it appears this is more than marketing spin – this particular frother excelled at blending when I whipped up a creamy hot chocolate, and the whisk also did a fantastic job of aerating soy milk.
I loved the way a quick crank of the dial ramped up the froth level, and there was nothing the hot chocolate function couldn’t handle – while certain frothers slowed down when used with chunkier flakes, this one made light work of flakes, powder and chocolate buttons. The jug was incredibly well designed – most frothers have what’s referred to as a non-drip lid but the frother max’s one truly was, and the sturdy rubber feet did a great job of keeping it in place.
Buy now £99, Boots.com
Nespresso nanofoamer
Best: slimline milk frother
Capacity: N/A
Motor: N/A
Why we love it
- Compact size
Take note
- Requires a little more muscle power
First things first – this frother is a case of badge engineering – in other words, Nespresso and Subliminal (£39, Bellabarista.co.uk) produce exactly the same product, sticking their own brand name onto identical frothers. Which, to be clear, isn’t a bad thing – it’s just important to realise that the Nespresso and Subliminal frothers are one and the same. Available as a battery-powered or lithium (USB chargeable) version, this frother is perfect for camping holidays, hotel escapes and simply for some on-the-go frothing if you don’t have a larger device to hand.
When it comes to Subliminal, it’s another case where the information on the website is depressingly sparse (read: non-existent) but I can report that this frother does what it says on the tin – no, it won’t whip up the frothiest cappuccino of your life, but it will add adequate froth to your milk-based drinks in under two minutes, whether you’re on a boat, hiking up Mount Snowdon or spending a night under canvas.
I appreciated the slimline design, as well as the snugly fitting cover and the ease with which the whisk could be washed. I tested the battery-powered version, and accessing the battery compartment (you’ll need AA batteries) was a breeze. An unexpected extra which came with Subliminal’s packaging was the access, via a link on the packaging, to an online latte art masterclass. Sadly the splodge-like star I attempted to add to my cappuccino was major fail, but hey, it’s the thought that counts.
Buy now £40, Nespresso.com
Your questions about the best milk frothers answered
What is the best milk frother?
I entered this process unsure whether Hotel Chocolat's velvetiser would truly live up to the hype surrounding it, but it exceeded expectations, frothing up a storm no matter what I put in it – whether it was some seriously chunky chocolate flakes or mypreferred oat milk brand. Bodum’s schiuma frother is now a camping essential thanks its compact design and ease of use, while Daewoo’s electric milk frother warmer, which costs just £24.99, offers brilliant value for money alongside a host of features traditionally associated with premium models. Let the frothing commence!
How I tested milk frothers
During my testing process, I paid attention to the following criteria:
Can milk frothers whip cream?
No, while a heated milk frother does use a whisking mechanism, it’s not suitable for whipping cream. However, a handheld milk frother – without a warming element – will work for this, and costs just £7.99 (Amazon.co.uk).
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
Tamara Hinson has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to testing household items for IndyBest. From paper shedders to the best kettles, she’s tried them all. Like the milk frothers, all the products she reviews are experienced in a real-life environment, and only the ones she believes to be worth your money have made it onto this list.
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