You can become a barista extraordinaire in the comfort of your own home. All you need is a little tutorial on how to froth milk and one of three tools. One of them you probably already have on hand! This skill will revolutionize your home coffee and tea experience: you can make drinks like the latte, cappuccino, macchiato, and more.
How to froth milk: important tips:
Do not skip this section! This info is important for getting the best foam on your latte. There are a few things to know before you start.
**Most importantly: use fresh milk! Fresh milk is key to getting the best foam. If your milk has been in the fridge for a few weeks, it might not foam! (Trust us, we had this issue.) The best way to ensure good foam is milk that’s as fresh as possible.
Whole milk works best, because it has the highest milkfat. 2% also works. You can also use non-dairy milk like oat milk, but it’s the hardest to froth because it has less fat.
Heat the milk to scalding first. No matter your method, heating the milk makes for the best results. Place the milk in a saucepan and heat it to scalding or 150 degrees Fahrenheit (measure using a food thermometer). This is hot to the touch, but not simmering.
Customize the foam bubbles to your drink. For a latte you’ll want smaller bubbles and thicker milk. For a cappuccino or macchiato you want larger bubbles; this will take slightly longer for froth.
Method 1: How to froth milk with a milk frother:
Once you’ve read those general tips, you’re ready to froth! Got a Handheld Milk Frother? Pros of this method: it very easy to use and results in the best foamy bubbles. Another perk: you can use less milk at a time and it works well for non-dairy milk like oat milk. Cons: it costs $10. (To us, it’s worth it!) Here’s how to froth milk with a milk frother:
Heat the milk to scalding (see above).
Place the milk in a tall container. Hold the container at an angle and turn on the frother.
Move the frother up and down until foamy bubbles form, about 20 seconds or so. Tap the container on the counter to break down any large bubbles.
Important: For a latte, don’t go too far: you want the milk to mix in with the coffee so you don’t need too much froth. (For a cappuccino or macchiato you’ll want lots of foam!) For a latte, let the foam rest for 30 seconds to 1 minute to get the foam to incorporate into the milk and separate slightly.
Method 2: How to froth milk with a French press:
The next best method for how to froth milk? Using a French press! Perhaps you already have a French press for making coffee? You can use it to make foam too. This method works very well, but it’s not as quick and easy as the frother. It also can be a little temperamental, especially with non-dairy milk. If you’re using oat milk, you’ll need to be careful you don’t overwhip it.
Here’s how to froth milk with a French press:
Heat the milk to scalding (see above). Note that you’ll get best results with 1 cup of milk with this method — so it may make more than 1 drink depending on the recipe.
Add the scalding milk to the French press. Pump using quick, short plunges until foamy bubbles form, about 30 seconds. If you’re using oat milk, pump only about 25 times because the foam can deflate when overwhipped.
Pour into a pitcher and tap it on the counter to break down large bubbles.
Method 3: How to froth milk with a whisk:
Don’t have any special tools? You can use a whisk to froth milk. But here’s the thing: it takes longer and the foam is not nearly as lusciously bubbly. You’ll also get a little less foam than with the other methods. But if you don’t mind (most of the time we don’t!), then it’s a great method because you don’t have to buy anything special.
Here’s how to froth milk with a whisk:
Heat the milk to scalding (see above).
Use a whisk to vigorously whisk it until foamy bubbles form*.
Pour into a pitcher and tap it on the counter to break down large bubbles.
Try these techniques for yourself at home and watch your Barista IQ go up!
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