A cappuccino or latte would never be complete without the frothy milk on it. Thanks to the milk frother, you can whip up a great-tasting cup of latte easily. A milk frother aerates the milk and creates a thick and heavy foam. The milk texture becomes lighter and increases in volume because of this trusty utensil. Read on and let us learn to master how to use this coffee-making essential.
How to use a milk frother?
Here are the steps on how to use a manual and an automatic milk frother:
Manual milk frother
1. First, do the initial preparations.
Prepare the milk that you will need for the process. If you opt for cold foam, you can pour the milk directly into the frother’s carafe. If you choose hot foam, heat the milk to 140-155 degrees Fahrenheit before you pour it into the carafe. A manual milk frother usually has a marking to indicate the maximum amount of milk that you can add.
Next, attach the lid securely. Lids have an opening that matches the carafe’s spout and you must see to it that the lid and spout are not aligned when you begin to use the plunger.
2. Perform a test run.
Once you put everything in place, do a test run on the milk frother. Push the plunger a couple of times to make sure that everything is working and that there are no leaks. This will also give you an idea of the extent of force that you will use since being too forceful could damage the plunger or carafe. Most milk frother users prefer glass carafes since they can see the milk and the changes in volume.
3. Next, froth the milk.
Start to froth the milk by holding the plunger with one hand and the carafe with the other. Move the handle up and down for 30 seconds and be prepared to handle some resistance from the plunger. The milk begins to aerate as the plunger moves and frothed milk may provide more resistance to the plunger.
Add more pressure with every movement and after a while, you will notice that the volume of milk will nearly double. Once this happens, it is your cue to stop.
4. Finally, check the milk foam.
After 30 seconds, check the foam and see how the frothing went. At this time, you should see good microfoam ready to be collected. If it does not have the desired consistency and quality, start to plunge again until you get the desired results. Make sure not to go beyond a few seconds and do not overdo the frothing.
Once the right consistency is achieved, transfer the foam to another vessel or container. You can also scoop the frothed milk directly into the coffee cup.
Manual milk frothers are very similar to the French Press. You could even interchange them and still get similar results. The difference is minimal and manual frothers use the plunger style or hand pump style for frothing. The manual effort is minimal but the first few seconds could be intense.
Automatic milk frother
1. First, do the necessary preparations and basic steps.
While there is not much to check when it comes to using an automatic milk frother, just make sure that you stay below the marking for maximum volume when you pour the milk into the carafe.
2. Check the control settings of the frother.
Be sure to check the control settings and see if they are on the desired levels. An automatic milk frother allows you to choose whether you will have cold froth or use a hot temperature for hot milk frothing. There are also additional settings and you may opt to heat the milk without frothing them.
3. Next, make sure to check the froth.
Once you switch on the automatic frother, it works quickly to get the right temperature for the milk. The frothing process is also very quick and finished in a matter of seconds. The result is a velvety microfoam and should there be some big bubbles it is easily handled by minimal grooming.
Automatic milk frothers produce high-quality microfoam but they are more expensive compared to other frothing choices like manual and handheld frothers.
How To Use A Milk Frother Wand?
Here are the steps on how to use a milk frother wand:
- First, heat the milk in the microwave or saucepan until the temperature is 130 to 155 degrees, the optimal temperature for frothing.
- Submerge the whisk underneath the milk’s surface to avoid excess mess.
- To minimize splashing, start slow and work to a higher speed using the adjustable speed option.
- Once the whisk is at full speed, gently raise it to the milk’s surface to increase the produced volume of froth. Also, this is to ensure that you will get plenty of smooth and delicious foam for your beverage.
- Next, turn off the wand.
- Finally, pour the milk into your latte or cappuccino and serve.
A milk frother wand is one of the quickest ways to froth milk and it is compact and handheld which makes it easy to operate. It contains a battery in a stainless steel compartment that powers a coil whisk. Also, it only requires a touch to the power button to operate the whisk.
Recommended milk frothers
Here are our recommended milk frothers:
Conclusion
A milk frother is a coffee-making essential since your favorite latte or cappuccino won’t be complete without it. To use a milk frother, follow the procedures indicated above to come up with smooth and foamy milk that adds flavor and visual appeal to your cup of joe.
Image: istockphoto.com / Norasit Kaewsai