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Valuable tips for making the perfect milk froth yourself for delicious milk coffee or cappuccino. The choice of the right milk and temperature is crucial, while the methods for frothing milk are versatile.

Tips for making milk foam yourself

Anyone who likes to drink milk coffee or cappuccino knows how important good milk froth is. Because the perfect milk froth rounds off your favorite drink. And really good coffee always tastes best when prepared the Italian way, using frothed milk instead of regular milk. However, good and solid foam can only be achieved if you follow a few rules. Therefore, we have collected the most important tricks for preparing frothed milk. These help you to enjoy a creamy coffee even without a practical fully automatic coffee machine or espresso machine.

Which milk to use for frothing milk?

To froth the milk for a coffee specialty such as cappuccino, latte macchiato, or milk coffee, you should definitely use milk with a fat content of at least 3.5% – no skimmed milk. Protein content of 3.1 – 3.5% is also ideal for making milk froth. Fresh milk from the farmer is best, as it contains even more fat.

Methods for making milk foam

After you have chosen the right milk with your favorite flavor, you can start frothing the milk. Now you have to heat the milk so that the froth stays firm and stable. You will also need various tools, depending on the type of foam preparation you choose. We have an overview of the three most common ways to make milk foam yourself:

Note the temperature of the milk

The milk for milk froth should never be heated above 80 degrees. About 70 degrees is ideal. If the milk and milk froth gets too hot, the milk molecules will be destroyed and the firmness of the milk froth will be reduced dramatically.

1) Use an electric milk frother

An electric milk frother is easy to use, inexpensive and effective. To do this, heat the milk in a saucepan or in the microwave. Then insert the whisk at the end of the frother into the milk and froth it up. This works well with smaller amounts of milk. The SEVERIN milk frother stick is battery-operated and easy to clean, making it a practical help in the kitchen.

2) Make milk froth yourself with a manual frother

You can also froth your milk manually. Use a manual frother for this. Because it’s easy to make milk foam yourself. Consequently, heat milk and put it in the manual device. Then take the lid on which a kind of sieve is attached. Now you can froth the milk with up and down movements and create a perfect milk coffee or cappuccino.

3) Froth milk with induction frother

Another way to conveniently produce delicious milk froth is to use an induction milk frother. This has the advantage that you can heat the milk directly in the vessel. The milk is then frothed automatically.
Make milk froth in a disposable glass

If you don’t have one of these devices at home, you can use a disposable glass. To do this, put the milk in the glass, close it tightly and shake well. Then put the jar in the microwave for about 30 to 45 seconds. The milk should now be a little frothy. Not perfect, but still.

Frequently asked questions and answers

  • What must be considered when frothing milk?
    The fat content, which should be at least 3.5%, is important in the preparation. And the protein content should ideally be between 3.1 and 3.5%. It is also important to heat the milk a little beforehand so that it remains firm and stable.
  • Which milk is suitable for making milk froth?
    Milk froth works best with (lactose-free) cow’s milk, oat milk, or soy milk. You can also use goat milk or hazelnut milk. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work with coconut, almond, or rice milk.
  • How can you make milk foam yourself?
    To prepare the frothed milk, use an electric or manual milk frother. In addition, an induction frother is very helpful for making milk froth yourself.

Many love it: the milk froth on your coffee from the coffee machine. The consistency of the milk froth has a major impact on the taste. But how do you make the perfect milk froth? With or without a coffee machine? And which milk is best for milk froth? What should you watch out for when frothing milk?

As a rule, the milk froth should be creamy. Milk foam that is much too firm actually has no place on the coffee from the coffee machine and is therefore also affectionately called construction foam. Nevertheless, there are certainly coffee drinkers who prefer this type of foam. Here you can find out how you can froth milk and thus create the perfect milk froth – with or without a coffee machine.

How is milk froth formed in the first place?

When frothing, air is lifted under the milk. The protein and fat molecules are mixed up and then enclose small air bubbles. Depending on the type of froth and duration, the milk froth will be creamier or firmer. The milk you use for the milk froth also plays a role. For a creamy and airy milk froth, both the fat and protein content are crucial. The milk should come cold out of the fridge before frothing. During heating, the milk should not reach more than 60 degrees, otherwise the proteins will curdle. As a result, the foam collapses very quickly. Your coffee machine knows this special feature, which is why it always prepares perfect milk froth that stays creamy for a long time.

What tools can you use to make milk froth? – From coffee machines to whisks

The selection of aids for frothing milk is large and very different. Some tools are easy to use, others require skill, practice and a little effort before you can create good milk froth.

Make milk foam with a whisk: If you don’t have a milk frother at home, you can simply use a whisk. To do this, first heat the milk. Attention: not warmer than 60 degrees. Then pour the milk into a large container and whip it with a whisk – similar to cream. If you do everything right, after a few minutes you will have great milk froth for cappuccino, latte macchiato and co.
Make milk froth with hand milk frother: The hand milk frother works similar to the whisk method. The cold milk is poured into the milk frother and heated on the stove. The milk is then foamed with the help of the existing sieve and by moving it up and down. The advantage of this milk frother is that you only need this one vessel.
Making milk froth with a battery-powered milk frother: If you use a hand-held milk frother to make milk froth, you start by heating the milk. Then you fill it in a glass or other tall container. Now dip the milk frother into the milk and froth it with up and down movements. With a little practice, you can easily create fluffy milk froth. The advantage of the battery-powered milk frother is that you can easily adjust the amount of milk to be whipped as needed.
Making milk froth with an electric milk frother: If you want to make milk froth with an electric frother, you don’t actually have to do much. Simply pour milk into the milk frother up to the mark and you’re ready to go. This is just as convenient as making milk froth with a coffee machine. The great thing: In addition to warm milk froth, some devices can also produce cold milk froth or simply heat the milk, e.g. for cocoa or a delicious children’s cocoa cappuccino.
Make milk froth with a coffee machine: If you want to treat yourself to a little luxury, you can afford a fully automatic machine. Most of these coffee machines can produce milk froth fully automatically. However, you actually choose a coffee drink, which the fully automatic machine prepares at the push of a button. So the fully automatic machines can make a great latte macchiato with three layers without you having to worry about anything.
Making milk froth with a steam nozzle: If you have a portafilter, you usually also have a steam nozzle or steam lance. When frothing milk, practice and perseverance are the main requirements. Although there are countless instructions and videos on the net, in the end you simply have to try and test it. Once you get the hang of the steam nozzle, you can always look forward to great, creamy milk froth.

Which types of milk are best suited for milk froth with the coffee machine?

Making milk froth with whole milk: Whole milk does not froth better than other types, but thanks to the high fat content it enhances the taste of the coffee or espresso.
Making milk froth with low-fat milk:: Low-fat milk can also be frothed well. However, since it contains less fat, it does not carry the coffee taste quite as well.
Make milk froth with fat-free milk:: It can also be frothed up, but here it is an absolute matter of taste whether you like the coffee afterwards.
Make milk foam with soy milk: Contrary to what is often claimed, soy milk is also suitable for foaming. However, it may well be that one variety foams better than another variety. Therefore simply test soy milk from different manufacturers.
Make milk froth with lactose-free milk: Anyone who suffers from lactose intolerance can also use lactose-free milk to conjure up super milk froth for cappuccino and the like.
Making milk foam with coconut and almond milk: Coconut milk and almond milk cannot be foamed. This is because the protein or protein content is too low. Although there are now frothable versions of these types of milk, fats and proteins have been added to them later. Everyone has to decide for themselves whether they want to drink these varieties.
Making milk froth with oat milk: Another way to make vegan milk froth is with oat milk. Because it is precisely here that many manufacturers have developed a barista version that makes it easy to create milk froth with and without a coffee machine.

However, if you have the feeling that your milk does not froth well, it is advisable to simply try a different brand. It may well be that the fat content of both milk products is the same, but the protein content is different. So you don’t have to bury your head in the sand immediately if you didn’t get the desired milk froth on the first try.

Latte art and how to decorate coffee from the coffee machine with milk froth

It’s all the rage, trendy cafés can’t do without it, and there are countless videos on the subject on YouTube: we’re talking about latte art – that’s the name of the design of coffee from the coffee machine with creamy milk froth.

It is an important discipline, especially for baristas, because it allows you to make a name for yourself and set yourself apart from the competition. Every year, baristas compete to see who can make the best latte art. Now some question marks will appear? Designing milk froth – please what? This type of design is part and parcel of trendy drinks such as the Flat White. Patterns also look great on a cappuccino.

What are the Latte Art Techniques?

The original variant of latte art is the artful pouring of milk froth into a cup of espresso. The milk froth should still be liquid and easy to pour. With the right technique you can create leaves, trees and hearts.

As with frothing milk itself, it also takes a little time to get the hang of the pouring technique. Once you have developed a knack for it, you can experiment and create imaginative patterns.

Another variant of latte art is the decoration with chocolate sauce. It starts frothing the milk. The milk froth is poured back into an espresso, but without a special pouring technique. Now chocolate sauce, toothpicks, stencils and other little helpers are used. You can also use caramel sauce if you like. Simply pour the sauce onto the milk froth and use the tools to decorate as desired. The imagination knows no limits. Just look on the internet for inspiration.

Can I make latte art myself?

Now, of course, the question arises whether you can do it too? Yes, with the right tools, anyone can become a latte artist at home. You need a milk jug, a coffee cup, espresso and of course milk froth. If you don’t want to pour, just decorate, you still need chocolate or caramel sauce and toothpicks.

If you have a portafilter with a steam wand, you will need some skill and practice to froth milk, but then you can create wonderfully creamy milk froth.

If you own a fully automatic machine, you can use the coffee machine to make the milk froth right away and then start your latte art project straight away.

With other types of froth, you need to test something that is the perfect consistency for latte art. And always remember: for latte art we need creamy and liquid milk foam, not foam!

And then it can start. Look around the internet, there are numerous videos and descriptions that are great for beginners. Try it out!

Creamy and yet fluffy – that’s how the perfect milk froth for a cappuccino or latte macchiato should be. Hobby baristas are currently trying their hand at creating their own works of art, such as hearts on their specialty coffees. But with which milk is the milk froth perfect? EAT SMARTER tells you.

The perfect milk froth

In order for the milk froth on cappuccino or latte macchiato to be perfect, the protein and fat content of the milk must be right. Both are responsible for enclosing the air bubbles that have been beaten in when whipping so that the popular foamy milk is created. “The protein makes the milk foam stable, the fat content ensures the creaminess,” explains nutrition expert Susanne Moritz to the Bavarian consumer center.

The right milk

If you love milk foam like in Italy, you should use whole milk – firm foam is achieved by using low-fat milk of at least 1.5 percent. As a rule of thumb, the higher the fat content, the creamier the foam will be.

The temperature also plays an important role when preparing milk froth: lukewarm or cold milk is best. However, if it is heated to over 60 degrees, the milk froth collapses and is no longer usable for a creamy coffee specialty.

Coffee is so healthy

Coffee in its pure form is calorie-free, has a diuretic effect, and slightly suppresses the appetite. It’s also rich in niacin and antioxidants that help the body neutralize free radicals and protect cells. However, most coffee drinkers love the drink because of its stimulating effect: caffeine has a performance-enhancing effect and stimulates brain activity.

Whether on coffee, cocoa or chai latte: frothed milk is part of it. Here you can find out which methods you can use to froth milk.

There are countless ways you can froth milk – from whisks to fully automatic milk frothers. The reason why you can whip the milk at all is mainly due to the natural protein content in milk. It is around three and a half percent. However, how good the froth is depends on the temperature of the milk: about 60 to 70 degrees is ideal, but you can also produce milk froth from cold milk.

Finally, the waiting time also has an effect on the milk froth: it is creamy immediately after frothing, a little later some of the milk becomes liquid again and solid, coarse-pored froth settles on top. Depending on how you like the milk best, you can use it straight away or wait a moment before mixing it with your drink.

Frothing milk – with which accessories?

There are different types of milk frothers on the market. You will find electric or mechanical hand milk frothers, fully automatic devices or cups with a movable sieve insert. But you can also use some household items to froth milk.

Froth milk with a hand blender

Almost everyone has a hand blender in their house. Have you ever used it to whip creamy soup? You can also use it to froth milk.

Since the milk squirts quickly, you should pour it into a tall, narrow container.
Note that the volume of the milk can almost double when frothed. Fill the container only half full with milk.
You can either froth the milk cold or warm it up beforehand on the stove or in the microwave. If it’s steaming but not yet boiling, it’s at a good temperature.

Froth milk by shaking

You can get by without electricity if you fill the milk in a screw-top glass and shake it vigorously for 30 to 60 seconds. Again, you should not fill the glass more than half full. Accordingly, this method is more suitable if you only want to froth a small amount of milk. If you want to heat the milk in the glass before or after frothing it in the microwave, the glass must be microwaveable.

Froth milk with a whisk or hand milk frother

Frothing milk with a whisk takes some strength and practice. You’ll get better and easier frothed milk if you use a hand-held milk frother instead. There are both electrically operated and mechanical variants. You can buy them for just a few euros, but they sometimes differ greatly in the quality of the milk froth. You can froth both small and large amounts of milk.

Mechanical milk frother for the stove

From around 15 euros you can get milk frothers made of glass or stainless steel. They usually come with strainers that you slide up and down to create foam. With a little practice you will get very good milk froth in this way.

Depending on the capacity of the vessel, you can froth different amounts of milk. A disadvantage is that most stovetops have a larger diameter than the milk frother and therefore some of the energy is lost during heating. You can also froth the milk cold or heat it up in a saucepan and then decant it. When buying such a milk frother, you should make sure that the sieve insert can be cleaned easily

Warm up and froth milk with an electric milk frother

Electric milk frothers are the most convenient option: they not only froth the milk, but also heat it to the right temperature. This works either by induction or by a concealed heating coil at the bottom of the vessel.

Stiftung Warentest tested milk frothers in 2017 and found that most electric milk frothers produce much better froth than you can with a hand blender or hand-held milk frother. However, the test also showed that really good devices are comparatively expensive at at least 50 euros.

From an environmental point of view, it is difficult to say whether electric milk frothers have a higher consumption than heating milk on the stove or in the microwave. There are milk frothers that consume more or less. However, electric milk frothers are more resource-intensive to produce than, for example, a screw-top glass. So before you buy it, you should think twice about whether you will really use the milk frother on a regular basis.

Which milk is the best to froth?

When shopping in the supermarket you will find a large variety of animal milks and plant-based milk alternatives. Since the latter usually have a lower protein content than cow’s milk, they do not froth as well. Of the plant-based milk alternatives, soy milk is the best for frothing.

In the meantime, however, you can also find oat milk in stores that has been enriched with proteins so that it foams better. However, it is cheaper if you make your own plant-based milk with a suitable protein content.

In principle, the fat content of the milk is irrelevant for frothing. However, the fat makes the foam creamier and also serves as a flavor carrier. The same applies to the degree of freshness of the milk: You can froth both long-life milk and fresh milk, but you will get the better taste result with the latter.