How to froth milk without a coffee machine

For many coffee lovers, quality milk foam is an indispensable element of their favourite cup. But what if you don't have a coffee machine that has an automatic milk frother built in? No problem! We'll show you how simple and effective methods can whip milk perfectly without a coffee machine.

Cold or warm milk? Plant or animal milk?

You may be wondering how to whip milk as best as possible and whether the dog is buried in its temperature. We can dispel that myth right away. If you'd rather have a refreshing cup, for example on hot summer days, take the milk out of the fridge and start frothing. But if you're a fan of a serving of hot and fragrant coffee, heat the milk to 60-65°C. A food thermometer will help you reach the exact temperature. It should never be overcooked, it might not do you much good.

The best milk for frothing is fresh whole milk with a solids content of 3.5-5%. This contains a lot of protein and allows you to conjure up a fluffy and rich cap. However, if you're avoiding dairy, reach for alternative plant sources such as oat or almond. You'll do just as well frothing milk.

How to froth milk using different methods

Don't count on frothing a few millilitres of milk for one cup of afternoon coffee and putting the rest of the bottle back in the fridge. Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way. You'll make milk froth from at least a half-full pot, which means about 150 ml.

French press and milk foam

Yes, you see right. The French press isn't just for making coffee, you can use it straight away to make a milk cap, for a cappuccino for example.

• Fill the container with milk and keep an eye on its temperature,
• start pumping the plunger up and down,
• continue until a silky soft foam is formed.

Handheld Milk Frother

A manual milk frother works on the same principle. Using squeezing, it froths milk in the shortest time of all possible ways, without using a steam nozzle. The milk frother can quickly and easily create a thick and creamy foam.

Spiral Milk Frother

The most inexpensive method for those who crave a proper caffe latte is a battery-powered milk frother, which you can get for a few hundred and still do a good job.

• Fill 1/3 of the stainless steel pot with the milk of your choice,
• submerge the milk frother below the surface and bring it diagonally to the wall,
• when you start whisking, a whirlpool will form on the surface,
• after whipping, tap the kettle to expel large bubbles from the foam.

Electric Milk Frother

Do you like to make milk froth with almost no work? Simply pour cold milk into the electric frother and cover it with the lid. The machine does all the work for you. It heats the milk to the ideal temperature and whips it into a perfectly smooth froth. The Electric Milk Frother is ideal for those who enjoy a hot cup of coffee multiple times a day.

Milk frother

If you choose to whip milk with a steam nozzle, a milk frother made of stainless steel is required. Milk frothing itself is not an easy process, however; you need to get it right.

• Before whipping milk, check the nozzle and run steam through it to clean it.
• The milk jug should be one-third filled with chilled milk.
• Submerge the nozzle about an inch below the surface and turn the steam on full.
• You can achieve the thickest foam by moving the teapot gradually downwards.
• When the milk jug becomes too hot, turn off the nozzle and pull it out.
• Tap the teapot to expel air bubbles.
• After frothing the milk, clean the nozzle (let the steam out) to prevent dirt and milk residue from clinging to it.

Rich foam is the first step to latte art

Rich and smooth milk foam is the basis for creating the stunning images on the coffee surface known as latte art. But enjoy your coffee as soon as possible - latte art lasts in perfect condition for only a few moments, gradually its sharp features begin to fade and blend. On the surface you can create lighter patterns such as a tulip, a rosette or a heart. However, the more experienced baristas can absolutely stun with, for example, a teddy bear, a spider web or a swan, in short, pieces that are almost indistinguishable from their real form. Practice makes perfect! So don't despair and try even the most basic latte art repeatedly to get under its skin and master the important basics that go hand in hand with more elaborate images.

• The foundation is properly frothed milk. You simply can't do without it.
• To create basic, let alone more complex, images, you need a stainless steel milk frothing jug with a tip that allows the froth to flow in thin strands.
• For beginners, it's ideal to play around with foam in a wider cup that has a large enough surface area.

Solid hands are essential

Grasp the cup in the palm of your hand and steady your hands. Start pouring the frothed milk into the middle of the cup, trying to keep the coffee level brown.

Filling the cup

To make espresso, pour the milk froth to about halfway through the cup. From this point on, it's time to start creating the right latte art. If you broke the dark level earlier, the image would not be easily recognizable.

The perfect barista job

There are given procedures for creating latte art that vary from image to image. You finish your creation by bringing the milk foam pot close to the surface of the coffee and slowly easing the slope. The cup should be filled literally to the brim.

So, have you got a craving for a delicious cup of cappuccino too? Well, hooray for that! We believe that with our tips on how to make a delicious creamy froth, you'll be able to make it in no time at all.