The best milk frother coffee machine for home use is a little bit more special than your standard coffee machine. It's tricky to recreate the smooth microfoam in coffee shop lattes, cappuccinos, hot chocolates, and iced coffees. Whilst there are a plethora of espresso machines, models that come with steam wands or integrated milk frothers are niche. But they do exist. So, if you're aiming for a masterpiece of coffee art, moo-ve over Starbucks, here are the best milk frother coffee machines for your kitchen.
Whether you want your coffee to be a mellow café latte or you want to dip your nose into the rich, creamy foam of a marocchino, there's a whole range of milk-based coffee drinks to discover on your coffee breaks. Jump to the FAQs below to find out more about how steam wands and milk frothers work. Plus, we answer some questions about aerating and texturising plant-based milks. So, If you don't want your flat white to be - flat, scroll on for the lowdown.
Best Milk Frother Coffee Machine At A Glance
• Best milk coffee machine for value: Salter EK4369 Caffé Barista Pro Espresso Machine – View on Amazon UK
• Best small coffee machine with milk wand: De’Longhi Dedica Arte Espresso Machine – View on Delonghi
• Best milk frother coffee machine for Nespresso pods: Sage Creatista Plus – View on Sage Appliances
Expect to pay more for a coffee machine with milk frother functionality. However, models like the Salter EK4369 Caffe Barista Pro are the exception to the rule, retailing at £80 (more on that to follow). Take into account the cost of buying a milk frother separately. They can range from anything from £5.99 for a battery operated milk frother from B&Q to an electric appliance that can also heat milk for £180 from Smeg. If you know you want to perfect a barista-style beverage it makes sense to buy a coffee machine with an integrated milk frother. But, if you don't want all the faff of manual milk texturing Nescafé Dolce Gusto and Tassimo coffee pod machines have compatible milk pods that will essentially turn milk powder into velvety and creamy milk foam.
We've included manual and automatic appliances in this guide to help you find the perfect coffee machine to add oomph to your hot drinks. So you can choose whether you want it to be a performance of your barista skills or a quick caffeine boost.
Best Milk Frother Coffee Machine
Best milk coffee machine for value
Tested
Even if you're new to using an espresso machine, the Salter EK4369 Caffé Barista Pro Espresso Machine is easy to use and can make up to two cups simultaneously. The integrated milk frothing wand enables you to create a range of coffees, including creamy lattes and frothy cappuccinos, with aplomb. The durable stainless steel filter and housing are well made, and with its 1.2-litre detachable water tank, you won't have to refill it every time you make a cup of coffee. Plus, the removable and washable drip tray helps keep your worktops tidy. Across the board, the Salter EK4369 Caffé Barista Pro Espresso Machine is perfect for anyone who wants to enjoy barista-style coffee at home without taking up too much space. It's a great investment that will save you money in the long run and allow you to create delicious coffee drinks that rival those of your favourite café. Also, it's a very reasonable price for a barista-style coffee machine and has the features of high-end models.
Our review: "One of the winning features of this affordable espresso machine is the milk frothing wand. This particular feature really adds value to the appliance and allows you to make real barista-style coffee at home. My experience with the milk frothing wand was a little tricky at first. I am totally new to the latte art world, so I cannot say for sure how easy this would be compared to other models. However, there were no fiddly parts to learn, and I picked up the frothing technique after four or five goes."
Read A Modern Kitchen's full Salter EK4369 Caffé Barista Pro Espresso Machine review
Pros
- Produces barista-style coffee in the comfort of your home
- Possible to make up to two cups at once
- Easy to use and clean
- Durable and long-lasting
- Compact and lightweight
Cons
- The tube in the water tank can be tricky to attach if it falls off
Best small coffee machine with milk wand
Tested
www.johnlewis.com
The De’Longhi Dedica Arte Espresso Machine is a compact manual coffee machine with a steam wand, that gives you the power to brew espresso, black coffee, as well as milk-based drinks like a latte or cappuccino. With a 15-bar pressure gauge, it is on the lower scale of some more powerful coffee machines but still produces quality coffee with a delightful tasting crema. At only 15cm wide, the Dedica is ideal for small kitchens limited in space.
Our review: "The Dedica Art manual espresso maker is a perfect starting point for beginner coffee connoisseurs. For me, the cost is what makes it stand out, a well-built machine with simple features that deliver a perfect espresso for under £250. All without the need for costly coffee capsules, I’d prefer to spend more on a machine like this one from De’Longhi, knowing that I can pick up a bag of great-tasting coffee that will last me for a few weeks."
Read A Modern Kitchen's full De’Longhi Dedica Arte Espresso Machine Review
Pros
- Compact for small kitchens
- Easy-to-use steam wand
- Thick crema
- Short warm-up time
- Can adjust the quantity of shot at the point of brewing
Cons
- Can be very stiff to turn the filter handle in place
Best milk frother coffee machine for Nespresso pods
www.sageappliances.com
The Sage Creatista Plus Nespresso machine is a fantastic option that combines Nespresso coffee extraction with Sage's milk texturing technology. With an easy-to-use LCD screen, users can select from various coffee options and choose from eight texture levels and 11 temperature settings to fully customise your latte or cappuccino. The machine also has a three-second heat-up time for quicker, consistent coffee for your morning brew. If you love Nespresso lattes or cappuccinos, then this coffee pod machine will be your most valuable product in the kitchen.
Customer review: "It is very easy to use by selecting what type of coffee you want and very easy to adjust the settings for each option. You can select how much froth you'd like on your milk, how hot you want and the strength of coffee by varying the water content per pod. Once you have your preferred settings you never really touch it again. The steam wand is very easy to clean as it runs a clean cycle after every use which is nice to see and the catch tank in the base holds quite a bit of waste water until you need to empty it."
Pros
- Dense milk froth
- LCD screen to select your coffee type
- It offers eight texture levels and 11 temperature settings
- Three-second heat up
- Compact and easy to store
Cons
- Limited to using Nespresso pods
Best high-end milk frother coffee machine
www.sageappliances.com
The Sage Barista Pro is an extremely popular and versatile coffee machine that provides barista-level control and ease of use at great value for money. With its adjustable grind size and dosing, water temperature, and easy-to-use LCD screen, the Barista Pro puts the variables of making espresso in your hands. The machine also features a powerful steam wand that can texture milk like a pro, although it may take some time to get going. Overall, the Sage Barista Pro is an excellent choice for coffee enthusiasts who want to craft professional-quality coffee at home and enjoy the whole experience from bean-to-cup.
Customer review: "Very easy to set up, beautiful design, videos explaining how to use it available online plus what’s most important – perfect coffee. Powerful steam wand allows foaming the milk and making delicious creamy cappuccino. Loads of settings available – grind size, one ore two cup in one go, steam power or if I have no time before work – quick espresso function. I really like that machine is tall and I can make coffee in high thermo-mug to take away with me."
Pros
- Easy to use
- Allows users to adjust the dose, grind size, and water temperature with a twist of a dial or push of a button
- Weighs the portafilter and adjusts the length of time
- LCD screen shows settings
Cons
- Milk frother occasionally takes a little while to get going
Best for easy frothy coffee
www.lavazza.co.uk
No more queuing at the coffee shop, we recommend this updated Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie and Milk, complete with a built-in milk frother. A Modo Mio Jolie and Milk is ideal for your morning coffee - enabling you to make delicious milky recipes in no time at all. Using 10-bar pressure, this machine extracts a perfect crema-topped single or double espresso from one of Lavazza’s capsules at the push of a button. As well as its pre-set feature, the Jolie Plus also has programmable settings. This is the best model that Lavazza has to offer; it's a versatile coffee machine with a wide variety of flavours. Not only that, but it's super easy to use, and all removable parts are dishwasher-safe. Convenient, this model is stylish, compact and quiet - ideal if you're short on space.
Customer review: "A brilliant pod machine which is easy to use and easy to clean, the coffee is impeccable and the milk frother is sublime. The pods are quite expensive but worth it, a good selection is available for different strengths.
Only criticism is the milk levels in the milk frother is hard to see as the marks are embossed on the side."
Pros
- 10-bar pressure
- Plenty of variety
- Pre-set options
Cons
- Smaller water capacity
Best luxury coffee machine with milk frother
www.johnlewis.com
The Smeg BCC02 automatic machine features a milk frothing and steaming function which is ideal for milk-based drinks like lattes, cappuccinos, latte macchiatos and flat whites. It also has three different settings for your espresso, long coffee or ristretto coffee. On top of the initial coffee options, it also offers a normal or a “light” version of each depending on your preferred strength. This bean-to-cup machine is a great mid-range appliance which includes features like a sophisticated thermo-block heating system to allow faster switch-on times and precise water temperature control for brewing, steam and hot water.
Read A Modern Kitchen's full SMEG BCC02 Bean To Cup Coffee Machine Review
Pros
- Stylish and compact
- Quick change between making coffee and steam
- Removable drip tray
Cons
- Indicator lights are not easy to see
Best alternative to a steam wand milk frother
This is an unusual alternative to creating frothy milk. Prepare your favourite latte at the touch of a button with the Lattissima. It's small and neat - ideal for one-person households or a small office. There are some special features on this machine: the milk container is detachable and can be stored in the fridge. Also, the milk froth can be tailored to your taste with the milk froth knob.
Customer review: "With this De'Longhi machine, it's so much better. The separate milk container system can be unplugged from the main body of the machine and stored in the fridge. The milk does NOT get heated in the container, so no need to throw away unused milk. Just leave the container in the fridge and make another coffee whenever you want to."
Pros
- Compact
- Easy to clean
- One-touch pre-set coffees
Cons
- Makes some noise when in use
Best coffee machine for milk pods
Here's a slightly different option for you latte lovers - if you want convenience and ease of use - this Tassimo coffee pod machine might just be the one for you. It’s ultra-simple to use, just press one button, and that’s it. We also love how it automatically cleans between each coffee, so there will be no mixing of flavours. The Tassimo by Bosch, Suny 'Special Edition' is also ideal for a smaller kitchen as it’s sleek and compact. Additionally, for creating your own milky coffees with minimal mess, you can buy milk pod creamers directly from Tassimo or on Amazon. Also, you can personalise your drink’s temperature, volume and intensity, with up to four ‘profiles’ that can be stored in the machine’s memory function. Tassimo has over 70 pods to choose from, including Cadbury’s hot chocolate. With one, easy button operation, this coffee machine is a great choice.
Customer review: "This is ideal for a small household. I'm the only one that drinks coffee and it holds enough water in the tank for two cups of coffee and a machine clean afterwards. Bought in the sale for a great price."
Pros
- Convenient
- Intelligent brewing
- Compact
Cons
- Noisy
Best Nespresso accessory
Tested
www.nespresso.com
Nespresso is a coffee legend and now you can grab its 'Aeroccinos' – a range of barista frothing devices that usually comes as an add-on with the machine. You can buy them individually to froth hot and cold milk of your choosing with your choice of the coffee machine. Additionally, it can simply heat your milk through for the perfect latte at the press of a button.
Our review: "My Nespresso milk frother came as part of a package with my Nespresso Pod Machine, but I'm glad I added it on as an extra because it finishes off my coffee perfectly. It is well designed and does it's job, I think my favourite part is that it does both hot and cold froth, so in the summer when I want an iced latte I can still get my froth."
Pros
- Nespresso is a coffee brand leader
- Simple to use
- Easy to clean
- It's a standalone accessory, so you don't necessarily need a Nespresso coffee machine
Cons
- Another gadget taking up space
Our Verdict: Best Milk Frother Coffee Machine
We choose the Sage Barista Pro. Yes, it's expensive, but it does provide professional quality coffee and the full process from bean-to-cup. Create true microfoam milk with 130 degrees Celsius steam. It's a manual wand so you are in complete control of your latte art. The Barista Pro has been extremely well-reviewed and a top choice for rich and indulgent coffees in the comfort of your own home.
FAQs: Best Milk Frother Coffee Machine
What to consider when buying a milk frother coffee machine
Before we dive in, let's just define the types of coffee machines we're looking at. These are domestic countertop appliances, therefore they're a lot smaller than your ginormous metal coffee shop machines. This means they have small water tank that's great for a couple of coffees but will need refilling after use. Bear this in mind if you're planning a coffee morning with lots of friends.
Look at the temperature range for heating milk and see if you can set, adjust and control the temperature. Also, notice the range of milk texturing levels. You'll appreciate the creativity this gives you for creating a whole host of dense milk foam and creamy drinks.
Finally, it's worth pointing out that steam wands need cleaning after every use to prevent milk spoiling on them. Lots of coffee machines have automatic cleaning functions, but because steam wands are a slightly separate entity they need additional cleaning.
How does a milk frother work?
There are different types of milk frothers, but they all do the job of incorporating air into milk, which results in creamy foam. In addition, some frothers heat the milk. There are handheld, electric, and manual milk frothers, as well as steam wands, that are incorporated into coffee machines. The handheld gadgets are generally a battery-operated whisk. Manual milk frothers look like cafetieres with a plunger to create the froth. Freestanding electric milk frothers generally have a heating element so you can make hot milk in them too. The Nespresso Aeroccino3 is a great electric milk frother for creating elaborate milk foam at the touch of a button.
How does a steam wand work?
A steam wand is a metal attachment that hangs off a coffee machine. Pressurised steam is released through a thin pipe directly into the milk. The steam heats the milk and adds texture which makes the dense froth that we add to lattes and cappuccinos.
Is a milk frother coffee machine worth the money?
If you're partial to popping to a coffee shop every single day for a treat, definitely. You only need to make around 20 milky coffees at home to get the cost of the machine back. Those who own a bean-to-cup coffee machine may not need to buy a milk frother, as many of the machines have a milk frother wand.
Can you use plant-based milk in milk frother coffee machines?
Yes and no. According to Nespresso, soy milk is a good dairy-free alternative that will foam, albeit with a bit of extra care taken over the temperature. Coconut and rice milk cannot be frothed as they don't contain enough of the proteins that enable milk to form a stable foam.
Delving a bit deeper, plant milk consists of nuts and grains that are ground and mixed with water. This is strained and results in a milky liquid. Commercially produced plant milks contain added preservatives, thickeners and sweeteners. With homemade plant milk, you're in control of the ingredients. Check out our review of the Salter Plant M!lk Maker to find out how to make nut-based milk.
Dairy milk contains proteins and fats that enable it to be aerated and stay stable much more easily than plant milk. But with more and more people making the switch to plant-based milk for dietary and environmental reasons, it's good to know that you can still make a decent latte without the lactose.
There are commercially produced barista-style plant milk from brands like Oatly and Alpro that are suitable for frothing. They contain added stabilisers to enable a luxurious foam and get the right mouthfeel. However, don't be disappointed if you don't master the art of foaming dairy-free milk to begin with; plant milk gets hot very quickly so you have to be a bit more gentle with the temperature of a steam wand.
Natalie Knowles is a Homes & Garden Product Writer for A Modern Kitchen, specialising in kitchen appliances. When she's not testing coffee machines, she flexes her creative flair as an artist.