How to Froth Milk: Everything You Need to Know for Creamy Milk Foam at Home

What Does Frothing Milk Do?

When you froth milk, you pump or add air bubbles into it. This makes the milk bigger in volume and gives it an airy and creamy texture. You can froth cold or warm milk. Use warm milk for cappuccino, latte, or espresso macchiato. And cold milk for iced drinks like iced coffee or iced latte.

If you warm milk before frothing, it also gets a bit sweeter. Why? Because lactose (milk sugar) melts when you heat it.

Now, let’s talk about the tools for frothing milk at home.

Easy Tools for Frothing Milk at Home

Want to learn how to froth milk at home? It all starts with the right tools. Here are three simple milk frothers we tested that gave us the best foamed milk:

• French Press: Yes, a French press can be useful for both making espresso and foaming milk.
• Handheld Milk Frother (battery-powered or rechargeable): Frothing milk with a hand frother is great to foam milk at home in just a few minutes. It’s also easy to carry and doesn’t take up much space. So many pros to using a frother!
• Jar with Lid: You can make decent foam with a jar. It’s a great frother alternative, but the bubbles are bigger and disappear quickly. If you have a choice, it’s better to go for a French press or handheld milk frother.

Now, pick whichever tool works best for you.

Choosing the Right Milk

So, how to make milk foam? First, pick the right milk for frothing. Choose milk with 2.5–3.5% fat and at least 3.0% protein to make foamy milk. That’s the best choice to froth milk at home! And the best milk to froth for espresso macchiato or cappuccino. Or to make latte froth.

Whole milk works best but skip powdered, boiled, or hot milk—these won’t froth well. Don’t try to froth milk you’ve already frothed once. It doesn’t work.

If you want to froth cold milk for cold drinks like iced latte or iced coffee with milk, check out our blog post on how to froth cold milk. Get all the tips on choosing the best milk for cold milk frothing and the techniques. 

Temperature

Does milk need to be warm to froth? If you’re making frothed milk for warm drinks like cappuccino, latte, or milk coffee, your milk needs to be warm. The best way to steam milk at home is to warm it on the stove before frothing. But if you’re using an espresso machine, its frothing wand steams and froths the milk at the same time. So, using an espresso machine, you don’t need to warm your milk beforehand.

The best milk frothing temperature for warm coffee or tea drinks is 55–60°C or around 140°F. This is the milk steaming temperature you get when you use a steam wand on espresso machines. 

No fancy steam wand or espresso machine at home? Simply warm your milk on the stove in a deep pot. If you don’t have a thermometer and aren’t sure how to get the milk to 60°C (140°F), there’s an easy way to do it. Test the milk—it should feel warm but not boiling. That’s how you get the right temperature without fancy tools at home. Avoid scalding. Scalding milk that’s too hot and won’t froth well.

You can froth your milk once you get the ideal temperature for steamed milk. Then, add the frothed milk to your coffee. Or top your favorite drink with delicious cappuccino foam. The right temperature is not only important for frothing but also for the taste and feel of the drink. Remember, you’ll add hot espresso or coffee to the frothed milk. This will make the drink even hotter. That’s why aim for a good temperature for warm but still drinkable milk.

Keep the milk cold for cold drinks like iced lattes or iced coffee. Don’t warm it up before frothing. Check our post on how to froth cold milk. 

How to Froth Milk: Best Methods & Techniques

Let’s discuss the best way to froth milk at home—and the best tools you can use. We tested different ways to make frothed milk. And found that the best tools are a French press or handheld milk frother. Use the glass jar only if you don’t have other equipment. 

How to Froth Milk with a Hand Frother

Want to know how to froth milk with a frother? It’s compact, easy to use, and travel-friendly! Here’s how to use a milk frother:

1. Heat your milk to 60°C or 140°F.
2. Tilt the frother slightly, place it in the center, and froth.
3. Then, using a milk frother, work through the milk until it turns into thick, creamy foam.

Doesn’t that look great? Now pour the milk foam over your coffee and enjoy!

How to Froth Milk Without a Frother

But what if you don’t have a frother at home? How to make frothy milk? The best ways to do it are with a French press or a glass jar.

French Press

First, you can froth milk without a frother using a French press. This classic coffee maker is also amazing for frothing milk!

1. Heat your milk to around 60°C (140°F) and pour it into the press.
2. Place the plunger in and start pumping. Start at the surface and watch the foam form!
3. Then, go deeper and froth through all the milk. Keep going until you see big bubbles. 
4. Froth at the surface again. That’s how to froth for smooth foam with tiny bubbles.
5. Give the milk froth a quick mix with a spoon and let it sit for 1-2 minutes for the perfect frothy consistency!

Important tip: Put a dish towel under the French press while frothing. French press may move a little while you froth. You don’t want it to scratch your kitchen surface.

Jar with Lid or Milk Carton

But how to froth milk at home without a frother? If you don’t have fancy tools, you can use a DIY milk frother: a glass jar or even a milk carton! How do you froth milk in a jar or carton? It’s simple:

1. Fill a glass jar or carton halfway with milk.
2. Close the lid tightly and shake it for about a minute. Keep shaking until you see air bubbles forming.
3. That’s it! This method won’t give you frothy milk as thick as the French press or a handheld frother, but it still works!

Now you know how to froth milk with or without a frother. Like a barista, you can foam milk at home for coffee with frothed milk! So convenient!

How Long to Froth Milk?

How long does it take to froth milk? It depends on the tool or equipment you use.

• To froth milk in a French press, it takes 1-2 minutes. Plus, 2 minutes to let it sit.
• With a handheld milk frother, it takes 1-2 minutes. Plus, let it sit for a few minutes to thicken after you mix the foam with a spoon.
• In a jar, it takes 1 minute.

You don’t need a stopwatch. You’ll notice when the foam reaches the right consistency for your milk when you see airy bubbles. 

How to Steam Milk at Home?

Steaming and frothing milk are often used to mean the same thing. But there’s a difference. When you steam milk, you add steam to milk through a steam wand on an espresso machine. And create small, airy bubbles. When you froth, you add air into the milk without warming it at the same time with steam. You can use tools like a French press or a milk frother for this. The milk becomes airy, too, but it has more volume. And the bubbles are larger compared to steaming.

Want to make warm or hot coffee drinks with milk foam whenever you’re in the mood? Then you need to know how to make steamed milk at home. Espresso machines have a steam wand that does both frothing and steaming milk at the same time. 

But, if you don’t have an espresso steamer, how to make steamed milk without a steamer? There is a simple milk-steaming technique you can use at home. Warm your milk on the stove. As mentioned before, it should be warm, not hot. Then, use one of the techniques mentioned earlier to froth—either a French press or a milk frother. 

We think, that the best way to steam milk for a latte or cappuccino at home is to warm the milk on the stove and then froth it in a French press. The milk foam turns out sweet and creamy with tiny bubbles. Check the milk frothing techniques for the French press above. Use the same method to steam milk for a cappuccino or coffee with milk foam.

Now you know how to make steamed milk without any expensive equipment! Enjoy your homemade froth on coffee. Quick and delicious!

Blender, Mixer, or Whisk: Do They Work?

Can you froth milk with an immersion blender? How to froth milk with a whisk? Or a hand mixer? For sure, you already asked yourself all these questions! That’s why we tested all kinds of mixers, blenders, and whisks. While they do froth milk a bit, they don’t give great results. 

The best methods for frothing milk for coffee, cappuccino, or latte are the French press or milk frother. So, stick with one of these methods for the best foam. No mixer or whisk can froth as well as they do. A hand mixer whisk is designed to mix liquids, not froth them.

If you want to froth cold milk, we’ve got you covered! Check out our blog post on that. And don’t miss our tutorial on making the perfect iced coffee with milk at home!

How to Froth Non-Dairy Milk

You’re probably wondering how to froth almond milk, oat milk, or even coconut milk. Use the methods we mentioned above for dairy milk. They work for these non-dairy options, too. You can froth all these types of milk with a milk frother. If you don’t have one, you can use a French press or a glass jar, as described above.

But what’s important is to use the right milk. Opt for a barista blend, which is specially designed to create froth for coffee drinks. We love using oat barista blend for cappuccino milk. And our favorite method for frothing it is the French press.

How to Froth Milk for Latte, Cappuccino, and Coffee Drinks

If you want to know how to make cappuccino foam or are curious about frothing milk for a latte, it’s quite simple. Use the tools and techniques mentioned above—French press, milk frother, or glass jar to froth milk. If you’re using non-dairy milk, go for a barista blend—they froth the best.

A cappuccino or latte is espresso with frothed milk, while coffee is simply coffee and frothed milk. Do you want to know how much milk to froth for a latte or cappuccino? Or how much froth in coffee makes the perfect cup? The amount of milk you need depends on the drink:

• For cappuccino: You’ll need one espresso shot (30-40 g) and 120-150 g of warm milk. Start by frothing the milk for the cappuccino. Add milk to a cup, then pour the espresso over the cappuccino froth. Finally, add foam to the cappuccino. Your extra frothy cappuccino is ready!
• For latte: You’ll need around 200–250 g of milk. How hot to steam milk for a latte? Around 60°C (140°F). It’s the same temperature as for cappuccinos or milk coffee. Froth the warmed milk and pour one espresso shot over it Or two if you prefer a stronger latte. It all depends on your taste! Top it with foam, and your latte is ready!
• For coffee: To froth milk for coffee, use about 120-150g of milk per serving. How to make froth for coffee? It’s simple! Warm the milk and use a French press or milk frother, as described earlier. Pour the milk into your cup and add regular coffee if you want a milk coffee. Top with foam. Alternatively, you can simply top your coffee with froth for a simple, delicious, frothy coffee.
• Espresso with milk foam: You’ll need around 20-40g of milk for a frothy espresso topping. How to make espresso foam? To froth and steam milk for espresso without a espresso machine, warm it up on the stove. Then froth it. Since you can’t froth such a small amount of milk in a French press, use a milk frother. It’s a better option. The best milk for espresso frothing is whole milk (as described above in the milk section). Or a dairy-free barista blend.

Helpful Tip: Use a pour pitcher to pour the milk into your glass. Frothing thickens the milk, and the pitcher helps you pour smoothly. You can also use it to pour espresso into coffee drinks. The spout lets you pour precisely. You can create nice espresso, milk, and foam layers.

And that’s it! Milk frothing at home is easy. Now you know three different ways to do it. So grab your coffee, froth some milk, and treat yourself to a relaxing and energizing drink at home.

More Delicious Coffee, Milk, and Dessert Recipes

Now you know how to make milk froth for warm drinks. But if you’re in the middle of a hot summer, you’ll need cold milk froth for refreshing cold drinks. Check our post on how to froth cold milk. We explain how to froth cold milk with a hand frother and without. And the best technique you can use. If you love iced coffee, check out our iced coffee with milk post. We explain how to avoid making it watery, which often happens when you add ice to coffee drinks.

In winter, treat yourself to a cozy drink. We have cinnamon milk for that! Learn to infuse milk with cinnamon and remove the grounds for a smooth, flavorful drink. You can also froth warm cinnamon milk. And add a bit of honey or vanilla flavor. 

Cinnamon pairs wonderfully with coffee. Check our guide on how to add cinnamon to coffee without residue. We show different methods. So you can pick your favorite. 

Do you know what makes your latte with foam even more delicious? White chocolate syrup! It’s easy to make with just a few ingredients. And the best part is you can make a big batch and store it in the fridge for later.

Pair your espresso with steamed milk for a smooth, creamy drink. Add a delicious cake — how about carrot cake with cream cheese frosting? It’s soft, crunchy, full of flavor, and you only need a baking sheet to make a four-layer cake. What could be simpler than that? Check out our recipe and treat yourself! Or, if you need something quick, try a chocolate mousse dessert. No dairy, no eggs—just a few ingredients. It’s rich in chocolate flavor, airy, and so delicious!