The best milk frothers for creamy lattes and cafe-quality cappuccinos, tried and tested

Score: 93/100

This great value milk frother impressed us in the lab by delivering beautifully frothed cow's milk with small, dense bubbles and excellent stability that lasted over five minutes. Plant-based milk frothed well, too, though was slightly less velvety and stable than dairy.

Cold foam was also a major win – it scored a flawless 10/10 – while it made delicious hot chocolates with both normal and plant-based milk. It even transformed simple hot chocolate powder and water into a rich, bubbly treat.

We love how easy it is to use, and the helpful beeps let you know when it's finished. Better still, it does it all without making too much noise, blending into the general background noise of our testing lab.

Score: 93/100

With a small capacity and one-minute frothing times, this is a great model for making a quick coffee for one. Dairy milk had a velvety texture, remained stable for over five minutes, and combined well with our coffee, ticking all the boxes for a fantastic cappuccino. Plant-based milk drinkers will be pleased to hear that it frothed this well, although there were some slightly larger bubbles in the mix.

Its latte foam was also excellent, although it broke down a little during the five-minute window, plus we found it difficult to tell the difference between the light and thick foam settings from the symbols on the frother. Those are minor niggles though – this is a sleek, speedy frother for those who just want one delicious cup at a time.

Score: 92/100

Smeg is known for its stylish, retro-looking appliances and this mini milk frother is no exception. Available in pastel green, blue, red, white, black and cream, there’s something to suit every kitchen. It’s also compact, making it easy to squeeze into a cupboard or small enough to have out on your countertop.

In testing, it impressed us with how well it frothed plant-based milk, delivering a creamy, velvety texture that combined well with our coffee. Dairy milk was just as good, too.

Cold foam was another standout, where this model earned full marks for its perfect texture after just a minute of frothing. Just note that its rounded lip meant that milk dribbled down the side when we poured.

Score: 90/100

If you love experimenting with your hot drinks (and maybe even harbour ambitions about latte swans), this milk frother gives you plenty of versatility. You can choose between three foam textures, two speeds and six heat levels (including cold), or use mix mode for lump-free matcha or protein powder. “I love how all the settings allow me to customise my drink exactly how I like it,” our tester said.

It excelled at making creamy, velvety microfoam with cow’s milk, which stayed stable for five minutes – perfect for latte art. The results with plant milk were similarly impressive, although the bubbles were slightly larger in this test. Its cold foam was less stable, dissipating in two minutes, but it had a lovely creamy texture.

Although the controls are clear and intuitive, the array of functions can feel a little daunting for beginners and the instructions would benefit from clearer guidance on which settings to use for different drinks. But if you love the idea of making a different beverage every day, it’s worth the learning curve.

Score: 89/100

If you’re short on storage space, a handheld milk frother could be a good choice. This battery-powered device is lightweight and easy to use, with one switch on the side to turn the whisk on. Unlike others on this list, it can’t heat milk, so you’ll need to do that separately before getting to work.

It seriously impressed when frothing both cow’s and plant-based milk, delivering creamy and stable foam that combined smoothly with coffee. It also achieved a delicious hot chocolate in just over a minute, although the milk wasn’t as velvety smooth as it was when we frothed it on its own. It didn’t froth cold foam well, producing larger bubbles, which dissipated quickly. But overall, this budget pick is a smart choice for quick, simple frothing.

Score: 86/100

This Salter milk frother is a great option for everyday users who want fuss-free froth at an affordable price. The silver finish gives it a sleek, modern look and the design has been well thought out to deliver a straightforward user experience, from one-touch operation to the light-coloured interior, which makes it easy to see the minimum and max markings.

It performed best when frothing cow’s milk, creating a good consistency once we’d tapped some of the larger bubbles out. Its plant-based milk froth had impressive stability too and combined well with the coffee. Both the light foam and cold foam settings were less effective though, with some separation between the foam and the milk. Our hot chocolate took over two minutes to make as well, but it was deliciously creamy.

Score: 86/100

Cappuccino lovers can rely on this straightforward milk frother for thick, velvety hot foam every time. The controls couldn’t be simpler thanks to the one-button operation – and to switch from foam to straightforward heated milk, all you need to do is remove the whisk attachment.

Our plant-based milk frothed in under a minute, with a creamy consistency that combined smoothly with coffee. Regular cow’s milk had good texture and stability, too. Just note that this milk frother always heats the milk, so you can't make cold foam – and our milk often dribbled down the side when pouring. Overall, though, it's a competent, simple pick.

86/100

With just four clearly-labelled options to choose from, this compact milk frother is a great choice for making single servings with little fuss. “I loved how simple and consistent this milk frother was,” our tester said. "I'd recommend it for beginners – the magnetic whisk and minimal steps make it really easy to use."

The foamed milk setting created consistently velvety foam from both cow’s and plant-based milk. But it was the cappuccino setting that stood out, creating a thick, glossy semi-foam that remained beautifully stable. The cold foam dissipated more quickly but had a great texture while it lasted.

It’s also quiet and easy to clean, but the milk reached around 70°C in testing (above our preferred range), so take care when it's initially frothed. The lack of lip also meant milk dripped down the side every time we poured. But overall, this milk frother is a straightforward, dependable pick.

Score: 84/100

This compact milk frother produced a thick, stable foam from cow's milk, with only a small amount of separation from the milk – nothing a quick stir didn't sort. It was less strong with plant-based milk, where the froth had slightly larger bubbles which weren't as stable as dairy. It excelled at straightforward hot milk, with no scorching and zero residue in the bottom of the jug.

Our cold foam had some larger bubbles, which made it less stable than we’d have liked, but it still lasted for three minutes and combined well with the rest of the drink. Overall, this is a sleek-looking milk frother with a considered design, easy one-button controls and detailed instructions.

Score: 81/100

A versatile choice, this milk frother has four preset functions – warm milk, thick froth, light froth, and cold froth – making it very straightforward to use. When frothing cow’s milk, it produced mainly small, thick bubbles, which created a creamy texture that combined beautifully with our coffee. Plant-based foam was also good, though we noticed a film of cooked milk formed at the bottom of the jug.

We did notice some spitting during frothing, despite keeping the milk level at the maximum mark. The same issue cropped up when making hot chocolate, with some milk dripping down the sides.

This is one of the few models in our list to also make cold chocolate drinks and milkshakes – and it was impressive on test. All the powder was well combined, and it had a smooth, creamy finish. Again, a small amount of spitting occurred, so we recommend filling to just below the maximum capacity for the best results.

Score: 77/100

This bigger capacity milk frother is a good value option for large families. The controls are intuitive, and we appreciated the audible beep that tells you when the programme is finished.

Frothing cow’s milk produced thick, velvety foam with good stability, though plant-based milk was thinner and less stable with some scorching, too – best to stick to dairy with this model. Hot chocolates made with both regular and plant-based milk impressed us, with all the chocolate dissolving and combining nicely.

As there’s no spout, it was tricky to pour the drinks without making a mess and we often found the temperature ran higher than ideal. The milk frother was noisy in use, too – we were able to hear it over the radio. Despite these niggles, the lid prevents any spitting or splashing when frothing, and the magnetic whisk is easy to remove and can be popped in the dishwasher for a quick clean.