How to Froth Milk: Tools & Steps for the Perfect Froth

Frothed milk is essential to making certain types of coffee, with many favourites such as the cappuccino, latte, flat white, macchiato, and the newly popularised whipped coffee recipe being but some examples. But what exactly is frothed milk, and how can you make the perfect batch of frothed milk right in the comforts of your home? Well, to put it simply, frothed milk is milk that has been aerated to achieve a unique texture that adds a creamy, airy mouthful to espresso drinks and more. High-quality frothed milk should be dense and fluffy, providing complexity and texture to whatever drink they top. 

Milk Frothing Jugs as Essential Tools

Otherwise known as a frothing pitcher, a milk frother jug is one of the most important tools you need to make your own frothed milk at home. Frothing jugs come in different shapes and sizes, but they all have one common goal: to aerate milk evenly and create that perfect texture. While you can technically use any type of container to froth milk, using a frothing jug will make the process much easier and produce more consistent results. 

The De’Longhi Stainless Steel Milk Frothing Jug, for example, features polished stainless steel to ensure that your milk frothing pitcher is not only durable but food and dishwasher-safe. It is also designed with a thin milk spout for greater control and precision when pouring your frothed milk such that you can indulge in more creative latte art designs. 

The Best Ways to Froth Milk

Now that you know what frothed milk is and why you need a good quality milk frothing jug, it’s time to get down to the nitty-gritty of how to froth milk. In fact, most fully automatic coffee machines already come with milk frothing capabilities, allowing you to get perfect frothed milk from just the push of a button. However, those who do not have one at home can still employ other methods to make their own frothed milk:

Milk Frothing with a Manual Steam Wand

If your espresso machine comes with a steam wand, such as in the De’Longhi La Specialista Arte, then you’re in luck! Using a steam wand on a pump espresso machine is probably the easiest way to get started with making your own frothed milk without a fully automatic coffee maker.

The first thing you want to do is pour some cold milk into your stainless steel milk frothing pitcher and place it underneath the steam wand of your coffee machine. Insert the steam wand into the milk, ensuring that it goes just below the surface, before engaging the steam output dial on your coffee machine for a steady stream of steam. 

Keep the tip of your steam wand near the side of your milk frother jug, and you’ll notice that a vortex of sorts is created in your milk. Gently move your pitcher up, down, and around the wand to better incorporate air into your milk and to break up the larger bubbles that have formed. The bubbles in your frothing milk should progressively get smaller. 

Once your milk reaches the desired volume (about twice its initial size for a cappuccino and 1½ times for a latte), close the dial and remove your milk frother from the coffee machine’s steam wand. The texture of your frothed milk should be akin to that of melted ice cream. Immediately pour your frothed milk into your coffee beverage, leaving some excess in your milk frother jug if you want to indulge in some latte art. Finally, enjoy your well-deserved cup of goodness that is now topped with gourmet-worthy frothed milk! 

Using a French Press to Froth Milk

Not everyone has an espresso machine with a steam wand at home, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy frothed milk in your coffee. If you have a French press, you can use this handy kitchen tool to make some pretty good frothed milk as well. 

Start by heating up your milk on the stove until it reaches between 60 to 80 degrees Celsius; any higher and you risk scalding the milk. Once the milk is heated, pour it into the French press and put the lid on top without plunging it down. Just like using a manual steam wand, fill your French press no more than halfway to leave some room for expansion.

Now, simply pump the handle of the French press up and down rapidly. You should see the milk starts to froth and bubble after about 30 seconds to a minute of pumping. Once you’re happy with the consistency, simply press down on the plunger to stop the process, and you’ll have a batch of frothed milk you can use to top your caffeinated drink of choice. 

Frothing Milk with Just a Whisk

Don’t worry if you don’t have a French press or an espresso machine with a steam wand, for you can still make frothed milk using nothing more than a whisk! 

Once again, to start off, heat up your milk on the stove until it reaches between 60 to 80 degrees Celsius, pouring it into the bowl once it has been heated. Likewise, fill the bowl no more than halfway to leave room for expansion, and start whisking the heated milk rapidly. 

You should see the milk starts to froth and bubble after about a minute of whisking. This method takes longer than the previous two, especially if you’re whisking manually rather than using an electric mixer or the like, so be patient if you don’t see the milk frothing just as quickly as you expect. 

Continue whisking until you’re happy with the consistency of your frothed milk, then pour the milk froth into a mug and enjoy it with your coffee once you’re satisfied!

Shop De’Longhi for Everything You Need for Perfect Frothed Milk and More

Whatever barista tool you need for milk frothing and more, we have it here at De’Longhi Singapore. Shop our extensive line-up of different barista tools and premium coffee beans to enrich your coffee-making experience at home, and whip up the perfect frothed milk with our electric coffee maker appliances and nifty barista tools!