Milk Frother Vs Steamer | Key Differences You Need To Know

Milk Frother Vs Steamer is one of the common coffee terms most confused by people. Essentially, both milk frother and milk steamer intend to produce foamy milk to go with your coffee.

Sounds similar but they are not the same! 

In my early barista days, I too am guilty of thinking milk frother and steamer are essentially the same thing. 

With research and experience behind the coffee bar, I’ve quickly learned how to differentiate a milk frother from a milk steamer. 

In this blog post, I aim to share and clear up the confusion between milk frother vs steamer. And if you intend to get one yourself, I’ve also made a little list of decent milk frothers and steamers to bring you a step closer to good coffee. 

Piqued your interest? Read on! 

Disclosure

Some of the links here are affiliate links, and I may earn if you click on them, AT NO EXTRA cost to you. I hope you find the information here useful! Thanks!

At a glance: Milk Frother Vs Steamer – Barista Explains

What Is A Milk Frother?

A milk frother is basically a device used to aerate milk by introducing air into the liquid milk volume. The final result will be frothy milk that pairs extremely well with coffee. 

Milk frothers are not exactly foreign to most people as the number of people starting to make coffee at home has steadily grown over the years. Naturally, there is a demand to froth milk at home without buying an espresso machine. 

That said, milk frothers come in quite a number of varieties. 

The first type is a handheld milk frother. The device has a tip with a propeller powered by a simple motor at the handle. Submerging the tip under the surface of the milk whips air into the milk; Works pretty much like a hand mixer, but is more delicate. 

So the handheld milk frother disadvantage is that the procedure is tedious and pretty much hands-on. Hence, companies developed the second most common milk frother; the electrical milk frothing device. With this, you just have to pour milk into the container and with a single button, it will froth up the milk. 

The best part? It even heats up the milk!

Bonus Point! Do you know that you can make silky smooth frothed milk with a French Press?

What Is A Milk Steamer?

A milk steamer also aerates milk by folding air into the milk to create foamy milk. 

See why this confuses the mass majority?

The key difference here is that a milk steamer typically involves the use of a steam wand which is usually part of an espresso machine. Essentially, a steam wand heats up the milk with steam and also aerates the milk at the same time!

Within an espresso machine, there is a compartment with a boiler that heats up water into steam and keeps it in a high pressure condition. 

Flipping the steam wand lever on the espresso machine releases high pressure steam via the steam wand. With correct technique and technical skills, baristas are able to create silky smooth and velvety milk that no handheld and electrical milk frothers can achieve. 

That said, I was not joking when I mentioned steaming milk with a steam wand requires some technical skills, patience, and lots of practice. 

This is especially daunting for new baristas. If you are a home brewer and do not care much about the technicalities of your steamed milk, milk frothers are your best friends. 

But of course, keep in mind that the milk texture and foam quality are still inferior to well-steamed milk with a steam wand. 

Want to know why? Read on!

Milk Frother Vs Steamer: Key Differences

Both milk frother and steamer produce frothy milk but with clear distinct differences which are the approach, milk texture, foam quality, and temperature.

1. Approach

The first obvious difference between both milk frother and steamer is the approach to foam up the milk. 

Let’s look at the step-by-step guide to foam milk using a milk frother and a steamer. 

Steps To Using A Milk Frother To Foam Milk

The only step which requires more effort is the part where you need to heat up the milk. It is fairly easy to burn your milk with a microwave or stovetop.

Optimally, you would want your milk to be around 55°C and 65°C (139–149°F) as in this temperature range, milk tastes the sweetest! Interested to understand why milk tastes the sweetest at this temperature, check out this blog post that we have published too!

Steps To Using A Steam Wand (Steamer) To Foam Milk

Notice the key difference? 

Milk frothers (handheld) require you to manually heat up your milk with no control over the temperature. Unless you monitor it with a thermometer of course. 

2. Milk Texture

There are basically two kinds of milk frother, hand-held and electrical. Both adopt a similar concept where a mechanical propeller is used to fold air into the milk.

However, this method is crude and will often result in very foamy milk with large irregular bubbles. 

A milk steamer on the other hand aerates milk by injecting steam into the milk. However, this requires a certain technique as described above to ensure the milk will be silky smooth. A mistake will ruin the milk and result in bubbly and separated foamy milk. And trust me, you can’t pour decent latte art with this.

In doing so, the air bubbles are incorporated and well mixed in the milk. 

Pro tip! To verify that your steamed milk is perfect for latte art, swirl your steamed milk around a couple of times. You should notice that the surface has a glossy paint-like finish and the milk volume moves as a single fluid (no distinct layer of foam separated from the liquid).

3. Foam Quality

The foam quality is perhaps the biggest distinctive feature that distinguishes milk frothers from milk steamers. 

If you use milk frothers (both handheld or electrical), the resulting foam is rough, frothy, and made of huge bubbles. 

The key difference and probably the most important one is that by using a steam wand to steam your milk, you will be able to create a silky smooth and velvety microfoam. You can definitely feel the light creaminess of the latte if the milk is steamed well with a steam wand. 

4. Temperature

If you have gone through the steps to prepare foamed milk with a milk frother and a milk steamer, we did mention that temperature is easier to control for milk steaming.

This is because the barista can stop the milk steaming process when the temperature reaches the milk optimal temperature range of 55-60 degrees Celsius. Perfect temperature palatable by the human tongue senses. 

On the other hand, heating up milk with the microwave requires your experience with your microwave. One mistake in timing will cause you to scald and overcook the milk.

You definitely do not want to burn your milk as this will certainly ruin your latte or cortado overall drinking experience. 

With a steam wand, barista steam milk with one hand in contact with the milk pitcher surface. Experienced baristas will know the exact point to stop the steaming by just feeling the pitcher, listening to the sound of milk steaming and monitoring the texture of the milk. 

Barista trainees will often steam milk with a thermometer in the milk pitcher. So barista’s gain experience, they will eventually “feel” the point at which the milk has reached the 55^oC-60^oC temperature range.

Barista tip! The temperature at which it feels like 55^oC-60^oC is at the point where the milk pitcher surface becomes too hot for your hands. 

Milk Frother Vs Steamer: Which To Choose?

Now that we have understood what sets apart the milk frother and a milk steamer, which one suits you best?

To help you make a decision between a milk frother and a milk steamer, I’ve narrowed down four factors to help you make the choice; convenience, price, quality, preference, and maintenance. 

1. Convenience

Convenience is the biggest factor to consider when deciding if you need a milk frother or a milk steamer. 

Milk frothers are small, light, and portable which makes them pretty convenient to carry around the coffee bar or bring along outdoors.

Milk steamers require you to have an espresso machine. For a simple cup of latte, you would need to wait for your coffee machine to warm up, brew an espresso shot, froth your milk with a steam wand and finally clean up the coffee station.

2. Price

When it comes to price, milk steamers would require you to get an espresso machine. And, this is no doubt a hefty investment.

So if the price is your limiting factor, a milk frother will be the one to go for as milk frothers are relatively cheap.

3. Quality Preference

Most people do not really care what their coffee is like as long as “morning coffee” reaches their system in order to function in the morning. Or it’s merely a beverage to have over meetings. 

If that is you, yes, a milk frother would suffice. Low cost and minimal hassle to produce foamy milk to go with your coffee.

But if you do mind about the quality of your foamed milk, then a milk steamer will certainly elevate your milk-based coffee beverage to a different level.

4. Maintenance

Milk frothers would generally require way less maintenance care. If needed, it can be easily rectified or if it’s too much of a hassle, replace it with a new unit! 

A steam wand, which is a part of an espresso machine, is certainly much of a hassle to maintain. With so many parts, you will most likely have to return to your supplier for a fix if there’s any fault in your espresso machine.

Furthermore, a defect will certainly set you back a few hundred dollars. Expensive!

Therefore, in terms of maintenance requirements, milk frothers are the better choice.

Does Type Of Milk Matters?

So, we have made an exhaustive list discussing the key differences on Milk Frother Vs Steamer. The next question is, does the type of milk changes anything?

The short answer is yes! The type of milk matters a lot when it comes to milk frothing. In fact, it is one of the main deciding factors if the milk can be frothed well into a smooth velvety texture. 

But, why is that? 

The main compound that made all the difference is the fat content of the milk. When you heat up milk, these little globules of milk fat react and stabilize foam formation by encapsulating little air bubbles. Without them, the layer of foam on your cappuccino will quickly sink and disperse.

For quick reference, below are the fat content for different types of milk. 

• Full Cream Milk: 8g 
• Skim Milk: 0g
• Soy Milk: 4g
• Almond Milk: 3g
• Coconut Milk: 5g

The next time when you enter a cafe, order a latte with regular milk and a latte made with skim milk. Notice that the foam on the latte with skim milk disperses and breaks apart way quicker. 

The topic of milk and coffee requires a whole new post. So, to address this in greater detail, we will discuss this in a separate post.

CaffeineDojo Recommends: Milk Frothers

1. Nanofoamer

Nanofoamer is a recent Kickstarter project that has garnered some serious support by the coffee community. 

Unlike regular commercial milk frothers, Nanofoamer is equipped with a Nanoscreen to break down huge bubbles into smaller fine bubbles. This in turn has the potential to create smooth velvety micro foamed milk on par with a milk steamer.

They have demonstrated that it is indeed possible to even pour fairly decent latte art with the milk frothed by a Nanofoamer.

What I Like:

• 1. Produces very decent foamed milk. Good enough to pour latte art!
• 2. The price point is fairly decent for what you get.
• 3. Portable.

What I Dislike:

• 1. Like all milk frothers, we still need to go through the hassle to heat the milk separately.
• 2. The ergonomics of the Nanofoamer need to be tweaked a little to make it easier to use. 

2. Nespresso Aeroccino3 Milk Frother

Nespresso has certainly stepped up its game and understood what the mass consumers want. With a single button, the Nespresso Aeroccino3 Milk Frother is able to foam up milk both hot and cold.

Of course, milk texture and foam quality is not cafe quality but it is good enough for most consumers.

The build is simple and overall aesthetically pleasing to be on top of a kitchen counter. 

What I Like:

• 1. Ease of use and beginner friendly.
• 2. Able to foam milk for both cold and warm mode. 

What We Dislike:

• 1. Needs to be cleaned after every use. 
• 2. Foam is not smooth and velvety enough for latte art. 
• 3. Could not regulate the temperature of the milk.

3. Keurig K-Cafe

The Keurig K-Cafe is a budget all-in-one coffee kit compared to a Nespresso. It has a main compartment to place coffee pods to extract your coffee and also a little milk container on the side.

The bottom of the container is fitted with a magnetic spinner which will froth up your milk and activate. And of course, heats up the milk at the same time.

What I Like:

• 1. Very convenient all-in-one coffee kit.
• 2. Decent budget coffee machine for a quick coffee fix.

What I Dislike:

• 1. Coffee quality and milk foam aren’t the best. If you are willing to spend more, Nespresso Creatista will be a better upgrade.
• 2. Huge and bulky.

CaffeineDojo Recommends: Milk Steamers

Before reading on, if you can own an espresso machine equipped with a steam wand, it will beat my recommendations below. 

If you are looking for an alternative, read on.

1. Welhome Pro MS-130T Milk Steamer

If you do not want to commit to an espresso machine but still want velvety smooth-frothed milk for your coffee, Welhome Pro got you covered. The MS-130T Milk Steamer is a standalone unit with a boiler and a steam wand; think espresso machine but just the steam wand part.

What I like:

• 1. You can produce velvety smooth milk just like a regular steam wand.
• 2. Decent built-in functions like flushing and cleaning to help maintain your machine.

What I Dislike:

• 1. Price is pretty steep
• 2. Like a regular steam wand, this is not beginner friendly. 

2.  Bellman Stovetop Espresso Maker & Steamer

The Bellman Stovetop Espresso Maker & Steamer is a strong contender for the next best alternative if you do not want to commit to an espresso machine. Also, it is portable and you can bring it outdoors!

This awesome little device is able to generate powerful steam to steam milk which is decent enough to pour latte arts. The ability to be able to pull espresso shots (although not the best) is an added bonus.   

What I like:

• 1. Versatile equipment that can even be brought outdoors. I.e. camping trips. 
• 2. Can also make espresso, although do not expect espresso machine quality extraction.
• 3. Compatible with all heating sources; stove top, induction, ceramic heaters. 

What I Dislike:

• 1. Lots to clean up after a cup of coffee.
• 2. Requires a little practice and experience to get the hang of it.

FAQ On Milk Frother Vs Steamer

Which is better milk frother or steamer?

With the right technical skills and experience, both provide good quality milk froth. However, milk steaming with a steam wand produces silk smooth and velvety foam way quicker and easier than milk frothers. Milk frothers are known to produce rough frothy foam which is not suitable for latte art pouring.

Are a milk frother and a milk steamer the same thing?

Both milk frother and milk steamer’s intents are to produce foamy milk. The main distinguishing factor between these items is the resulting milk foam texture. Milk frothers create rough airy milk with large bubbles while milk steamers produce smooth velvety micro-foamed milk. If you want to pour latte art, a milk steamer is a preferred choice.

Do you really need a milk frother?

If you’re looking to stick to traditional ways of making some coffee drinks, then a milk frother is a must. With a milk frother, you can further elevate your coffee drinking experience on par with a cafe at a much lower cost. Rather than just coffee with milk, your coffee menu can expand to the likes of latte and cappuccino.  

What are the differences between steamed and froth milk?

Steam milk and frothed milk can be easily distinguished by judging the milk texture. Frothed milk has more volume, with significant amounts of foam. Steamed milk is heated and more delicately aerated, producing small amounts of microfoam. With steamed milk, you can pour latte art while frothed milk will result in a huge foamy layer on your coffee surface. 

Milk Frother Vs Steamer: Conclusion

There we have it, I have pretty much covered all you need to know on Milk Frother Vs Steamer. I know this isn’t a blog post about coffee, but milk has been and will always be a perfect companion to coffee.

Knowing the type of foamed milk that each of the equipment produces is essential to understanding its effect on the coffee drinking experience. If you would like to go further down the rabbit hole about coffee and milk, check out our other blog post about milk and its natural sweetness. 

I hope you now leave this post a more informed consumer and also have an appreciation for the thoughts and effort that goes on in the coffee industry.