Prices from Amazon AU, updated daily. Swipe or use the arrows for more.
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Quick summary8 picks
- Entry PickMilk Frother about$50
- Stylora Electric Milk Frother and Steamer about$69500W.
- Bialetti Tuttocrema Milk Frother in Black… about$70
- Sunbeam Café Creamy Automatic Milk Frother… about$76
- Subminimal NanoFoamer Lithium Handheld Milk… about$82
- Lavazza A Modo Mio MilkUp Electric Milk… about$84
- Breville LMF200PSS the Choc & Cino Milk… about$118
- Most PremiumBreville BMF600BSS the Milk Café Frother about$215
What a milk frother does, and what it doesn't
A milk frother heats milk and whips air into it at the same time, so you get the warm, foamy milk that sits on a cappuccino or a latte. It's not the same as a steam wand. A steam wand on a coffee machine injects steam, which heats the milk and makes a fine, glossy foam you can pour. A frother spins a whisk or a disc in the milk while a heater warms it, and the foam is usually lighter and a bit stiffer. For most people at home, it's close enough, and a lot easier.
I've picked five here, from $50 to $215 at time of writing. Three are jugs that sit on a powered base and do the whole job at the press of a button: the Puldoum 4-in-1, the Lavazza MilkUp and Breville's Choc and Cino. One is Breville's Milk Cafe, the biggest of the five, which heats by induction. The fifth is the Subminimal NanoFoamer Lithium, a rechargeable handheld foamer that whips milk you've already warmed. They're ranked from #11 to #48 in Amazon AU's Milk Frothers and Accessories category.
I left out coffee machines with frothers built in, since they're a different purchase covered in other guides, and a Breville milkshake maker that turns up in frother searches. I also left out a frother whose listing gives temperatures in Fahrenheit and describes itself as a US-based brand, since I couldn't tell from the listing which plug or voltage the Australian unit ships with.
If you're mostly making one coffee a day with a pod machine, a small frother jug is all you need. If you're making three or four milk drinks at once for the household, capacity matters more than anything else, and that's where the bigger jugs earn their price. I'll come back to capacity, because the numbers on these listings aren't as simple as they look.
Induction against a heated jug
There are two ways these jugs heat milk, and it decides how you clean them. Most of the lower-priced frothers have a heating element built into the base of the jug itself, with a set of electrical contacts underneath that sit on the powered base, like a cordless kettle. The Puldoum's listing names a Strix temperature control system, which is the same family of thermostat used in a lot of kettles. The jug has the element and the contacts, so it can't go in the dishwasher, and the listing says so.
Induction frothers work differently. The base has a coil that makes a magnetic field, and that field heats the steel jug directly, so there's no element or wiring in the jug at all. The Breville Milk Cafe's listing says it's induction heated, and because the jug is just steel, the listing says it can go straight into the dishwasher. The Lavazza MilkUp is also described as an induction frother, though its listing doesn't mention the dishwasher.
Induction also heats more evenly, and the Breville listing makes the point that gentle, even heat helps make fine bubbles. A heated jug warms from one hot plate at the bottom, which is why milk catches on the base if you don't clean it straight away. That doesn't make the heated jugs bad. It means the base needs a wipe after every use, and the non-stick coating does a lot of the work.
The Breville Choc and Cino's listing describes a magnetic disc drive and a dishwasher-safe 700ml stainless steel jug, but it doesn't say how the milk is heated, so I can't tell you from the listing whether it's induction or an element. The dishwasher-safe jug suggests there's nothing electrical in it, but check the manual before you put it in the machine.
Capacity: the froth line and the heat line
Frother capacity is quoted two ways, and the bigger number is usually the one on the box. Milk roughly doubles in volume or more when it froths, so every frother has a lower line for frothing and a higher line for just heating. The Puldoum's listing is clear about it: up to 350ml of milk for heating, but up to 160ml for frothing. That's enough foam for one big cappuccino or two small ones, not three lattes.
The Breville Milk Cafe quotes a 740ml capacity and says it makes up to three cups at a time, the most of the five picks. The Choc and Cino quotes a 700ml jug. Neither listing splits that into a froth line and a heat line, so I'd expect the froth line to be lower, the way it is on every frother. The Lavazza listing doesn't state capacity at all, so check the jug's markings when it arrives.
The handheld NanoFoamer has no capacity, because it froths whatever's in your jug or cup. The listing says to churn warm milk for about 30 seconds, so it's as big or small as the jug you use. That makes it the most flexible for a big household, but it can't heat anything, so you're warming the milk on the stove or in the microwave first and then frothing it.
Overfilling is the most common reason frothers make a mess. Fill past the froth line and the foam rises out under the lid, onto the base and into the contacts underneath. Stick to the lines, use chilled milk, and the Puldoum's listing adds that higher fat milk holds its froth better. That matches what most people find with full cream against skim.
Temperature and settings
Milk tastes best warm rather than boiling. Most frothers stop well short of a boil, and the Puldoum's listing gives its shut-off temperature, 65 degrees give or take two, with a digital display that shows the temperature as it heats. It's the one pick of the five that shows you a number. It's in the range most cafes aim for, warm enough for a latte and well short of the point where milk starts to taste cooked.
The Breville Milk Cafe has four settings, Cold Stir, Warm, Optimum Temperature and Hot, and switches itself off once the milk reaches the temperature you chose. The Choc and Cino has four presets for latte, cappuccino, hot chocolate and cold. The Lavazza has one multifunction button for warming or frothing, hot or cold. More settings aren't better on their own, but a cold setting matters if you make iced coffee or cold foam in summer.
Cold froth is worth a mention, because it's the setting people use most in an Australian summer. The Milk Cafe's Cold Stir mode froths without heating, for iced coffee and milkshakes, according to the listing. The Puldoum and the Lavazza both list cold froth too. The handheld foamer works cold as well, since it only whips. Cold milk froths more slowly and holds less air, so expect a looser foam than the hot setting gives.
Non-stick coatings and how they wear
The heated jugs rely on a non-stick coating inside, because milk protein sticks to a hot surface and browns. The Puldoum's listing describes a non-stick coating and says to clean it with a soft brush and soapy water after each use, and not to put it in the dishwasher. Follow that and the coating lasts. Scrub it with a scourer or a metal spoon and it scratches, and once it's scratched, milk sticks in the scratches, and it gets worse every week.
A scratched non-stick jug isn't dangerous on its own, but it's the beginning of the end for the frother. Milk catches on the scratches, the base runs hotter to get through the stuck layer, and the thermostat cuts out early or late. If the inside of the jug has gone dull and rough, and milk sticks after every use, that's wear, not a fault you can fix with more scrubbing.
Stainless jugs are tougher. The Breville Milk Cafe and Choc and Cino both use stainless steel jugs, and the Lavazza's listing describes a stainless steel container with an ABS coating on the outside. Stainless won't scratch the way non-stick does, and it can take a firmer brush, though milk still sticks to a hot steel base if it sits. Soak it in warm water straight after use and it wipes clean.
Whatever the jug, clean it while it's warm. Milk dried on overnight sets like glue, and the effort to scrape it off does more damage than a week of normal use. A quick rinse and a soft brush straight after the last coffee of the morning takes 30 seconds and keeps the coating, the whisk and the seal in good condition for years.
Whisks, discs and the lid seal
Most frother jugs use a small whisk or disc that sits on a magnetic post in the base of the jug. A magnet under the jug spins it, so there's no hole through the jug for a shaft, and no shaft seal to leak. The Breville Choc and Cino has two interchangeable discs and stores them on board magnetically, which is a small thing that matters, because these discs are tiny and they're the part people lose first. The Milk Cafe includes a variety of frothing discs.
The Puldoum uses a spring whisk, and its listing says to remove the spring if you want to heat milk without frothing. It also notes the small coil inside the frother cup has to be connected properly or it won't froth. That coil is the spring itself, and if it's bent or not seated on its post, the whisk wobbles and the froth is poor. The Lavazza's lid has whisk storage built in, according to its title.
The lid seal is the part that gets missed. Every jug has a rubber or silicone ring in the lid, and froth gets under it every time you use it. Leave it and that milk goes sour, then black, and it smells. Pull the seal out once a week if your lid allows it, wash it separately and let it dry before refitting. The Breville Milk Cafe also comes with a measuring cap, which lets you add cocoa or sugar while it's mixing.
If a frother stops frothing but still heats, the whisk is the first thing to check. A disc that's sitting crooked, has a cracked magnet or has been swapped for the wrong one won't spin at speed. Spares for the bigger brands are usually easy to find, and a new whisk is a lot less than a new frother.
Which frother suits your kitchen
For one or two coffees a day on a tight spend, the Puldoum does the job well and has the best category rank of the five at #11. Treat the non-stick gently and don't let it near the dishwasher. If you make coffee with an espresso machine under $500 that already has a wand, the NanoFoamer gives you finer foam from milk you've steamed or heated, and it suits latte art practice. The Lavazza MilkUp is a tidy induction frother for an A Modo Mio household.
For a family making several drinks at once, or anyone who'd like to put the jug in the dishwasher, the Breville Milk Cafe is the pick. It's the biggest jug of the five picks, it's induction heated, it has four settings and it's the one pick of the five that quotes its wattage, 500W. The Choc and Cino sits between, with a 700ml dishwasher-safe jug, four presets and on-board disc storage, at a little more than half the Milk Cafe's price.
Your coffee matters more than the froth. A good frother can't fix stale beans or a poor grind, so if your coffee tastes flat, a burr grinder is the better place to spend money. Get the coffee right first, then the milk, and a frother at any of these prices makes a decent cafe-style drink at home.
Making a frother last
Keep the base dry. On the heated jugs, the contacts under the jug and on the base carry mains power, and spilled milk on them is how they corrode and arc. The Puldoum's listing says not to rinse the outside of the jug under the tap, and that's the reason. Wipe the base with a damp cloth and dry it, never run it under water, and if milk has boiled over into the contacts, unplug it and let it dry fully before using it again.
The handheld foamer has its own care. The NanoFoamer's listing says it's waterproof to level IP4, which covers splashes, so rinse the head under running water after each use, but don't submerge the body. It charges by USB-C from a lithium battery, and charging it from a poor USB charger is the quickest way to wear that battery out. A good phone charger is fine.
Most frothers that come into our Erina workshop have one of three faults: a base that's stopped heating after milk got into the contacts, a whisk or magnet that's worn and won't spin, or a thermostat that cuts out early. A jug that's simply stopped frothing is often the whisk. A base that's dead after a boil-over usually needs drying and cleaning first, and a check before anything else.
The 5 picks, $50 to $215
Prices are Amazon AU at time of writing (2026-11-09) and move week to week. Ranks are Amazon AU category sales ranks, checked the same day.
Puldoum 4-in-1 Electric Milk Frother and Steamer EMF-002, 350ml (Black)
ASIN B0DHVHZ2JT • $49.99 • Sold by Puldoum on Amazon AU
The Puldoum 4-in-1 Electric Milk Frother is the lowest-priced pick at $49.99 at time of writing, sold by Puldoum, and it has the best category rank of the five at #11 in Amazon AU's Milk Frothers and Accessories category, and #496 overall. The model is EMF-002, in black, and the white listing is the same frother at the same price. It's a heated jug on a powered base, with a non-stick coating inside. It's the one I'd pick for one or two coffees a day, a pod machine or a plunger, and someone who wants proper hot froth without spending much on the gadget that makes it. It's small enough to live beside the kettle.
It does four jobs: warm airy froth, thick froth, cold froth and plain heating, which you get by taking the spring whisk out. The listing says it heats up to 350ml of milk, or up to 160ml for frothing, and takes about two minutes. It uses a Strix temperature control system and shuts itself off at 65 degrees, give or take two, and a digital display shows the milk temperature as it heats. It's the one pick of the five that shows you a number. The listing's tips are good ones: don't overfill, use chilled milk, seat the spring properly, and use higher fat milk for a foam that holds.
The jug can't go in the dishwasher, and the listing says not to rinse the outside under the tap, because the element and contacts are in the jug. Clean the non-stick with a soft brush, never a scourer. The 160ml froth line suits one or two drinks, not a household. It's sold by Puldoum, a marketplace seller, and the listing mentions a 6-month return policy but no warranty. Plug and voltage aren't stated, so check the plug on arrival. Replace the spring whisk if it bends. For a single cup, it's hard to fault.
Honest caveats: It isn't dishwasher safe, and the outside of the jug can't go under the tap. The non-stick coating scratches if scrubbed. It froths up to 160ml, enough for one or two drinks. No warranty is stated, only a 6-month return policy. Plug and voltage aren't on the listing.
Best for: One or two coffees a day, where a small heated jug with a temperature display is all you need.
Type: Heated jug frother, spring whisk • Capacity: 350ml heating, 160ml frothing • Shut-off: 65 degrees, plus or minus 2 • Modes: Warm froth, thick froth, cold froth, heat • Display: Digital temperature • Dishwasher: No • Model: EMF-002 • Seller: Puldoum • Rank: #11 in Milk Frothers & Accessories (Amazon AU)
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Subminimal NanoFoamer Lithium Handheld Milk Foamer NF-03-LI, USB-C
ASIN B0B5LMQXXH • $82.00 • Sold by Subminimal on Amazon AU
The Subminimal NanoFoamer Lithium is $82 at time of writing, sold by Subminimal, and it's ranked #23 in Amazon AU's Milk Frothers and Accessories category and #1,511 overall. The model is NF-03-LI. It's a handheld foamer, not a jug: a motor in the handle spins an impeller behind a fine screen at the tip of a stainless steel shaft. It doesn't heat milk. You warm the milk first, then churn it for about 30 seconds. It's the one I'd pick for someone who already has a way to heat milk and wants a finer, pourable foam for latte art, or who makes drinks for several people at once in one big jug.
The screen is the clever part. The listing calls it a patented NanoScreen, and it breaks the air into much smaller bubbles than an open whisk does, which is what gives a foam you can pour into a pattern rather than spoon on top. The screens click on and off, so you can take them off and use it as a plain stirrer for matcha or a protein shake. The impeller is replaceable, which is the part that wears. It has a dual-speed digital switch, a battery level indicator and a USB-C rechargeable lithium battery, so there's no cable or base on the kitchen bench. It packs into a drawer.
It can't heat milk, so it's a second step after the microwave, the stove or a wand. The listing says it's waterproof to IP4, which covers splashes, so rinse the head but don't submerge the body. Battery life isn't stated. The warranty is listed only as a manufacturer guarantee. It's sold by Subminimal, a marketplace seller. Charge it from a decent phone charger, and don't leave it on charge for days at a time. Pop the screen off and rinse behind it after each use, since milk hides there. Keep a spare impeller in mind once the foam goes coarse. For latte art practice, it's the pick.
Honest caveats: It doesn't heat milk, so you need another way to warm it. It's rated IP4 for splashes, not for submerging. Battery life isn't stated, and the warranty is listed only as a manufacturer guarantee. The lithium battery wears like any other. It's sold by Subminimal, not Amazon AU.
Best for: Latte art practice and big batches, for anyone who already heats milk another way.
Type: Handheld foamer, no heating • Power: USB-C rechargeable lithium battery • Speeds: 2, digital switch • Water: IP4 (rinse, don't submerge) • Parts: Replaceable impeller, click-on NanoScreens • Model: NF-03-LI • Seller: Subminimal • Rank: #23 in Milk Frothers & Accessories (Amazon AU)
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Lavazza A Modo Mio MilkUp Induction Milk Frother (Black)
ASIN B09SGNL5LS • $84.00 • Ships from Amazon AU
The Lavazza A Modo Mio MilkUp is $84 at time of writing, sold by Amazon AU, and it's ranked #34 in Amazon AU's Milk Frothers and Accessories category and #2,053 overall. The part number is 18200074, in black. Its listing describes it as an induction milk frother that warms and mixes milk for hot drinks and froths hot or cold milk. That makes it the lowest-priced induction pick here, below the Breville Milk Cafe by more than $130. It's the one I'd pick for a Lavazza A Modo Mio pod household that wants a matching frother, or anyone who'd rather have induction than a heated element without paying for the bigger Breville.
It's simple to use. One multifunction button warms or froths, for hot or cold drinks, so there's nothing to set. The container is stainless steel, which won't scratch the way a non-stick jug does, and the listing says the outside has an ABS coating suited to everyday use. The lid has whisk storage built in, according to the title, which means the whisk has a home when it's not in the jug. It suits cappuccino, hot chocolate and milky coffee. I like a frother with nothing to configure for a kitchen where several people make their own drinks, since there's no setting for someone to change and forget.
The listing is thin. It doesn't state capacity, wattage, temperature, a warranty or whether the jug is dishwasher safe, so check the manual for each before you rely on them. One button means no temperature choice. Its rank is the second lowest of the five. Wash the jug and whisk while they're warm, and keep the base dry. Fill it below the marked line the first few times until you know where the froth stops. Keep the whisk in its lid storage so it doesn't go missing. It's sold by Amazon AU, which makes a return simple if it isn't right. For a simple induction frother, it's the sensible pick.
Honest caveats: The listing doesn't state capacity, wattage, temperature, warranty or whether it's dishwasher safe. One button means no temperature choice. Its rank is the second lowest of the five. Check the manual for the froth line before you fill it, and keep the whisk in the lid when it's not in use.
Best for: Lavazza A Modo Mio households and anyone who wants a simple induction frother with one button.
Type: Induction frother • Jug: Stainless steel, ABS outer coating • Controls: One multifunction button • Modes: Warm or froth, hot or cold • Storage: Whisk storage in the lid • Part number: 18200074 • Seller: Amazon AU • Rank: #34 in Milk Frothers & Accessories (Amazon AU)
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Breville LMF200 the Choc and Cino Milk Frother, Polished Stainless Steel
ASIN B09HH3QD78 • $118.00 • Ships from Amazon AU
The Breville Choc and Cino Milk Frother is $118 at time of writing, sold by Amazon AU, and it's ranked #48 in Amazon AU's Milk Frothers and Accessories category and #3,392 overall. The model is LMF200, in polished stainless steel. It has a large 700ml removable stainless steel jug that the listing says is dishwasher safe, which puts it a step up from the small heated jugs on capacity and cleaning. It's sold by Amazon AU. It's the one I'd pick for a couple or a small family making two or three milk drinks in a morning, who'd like the jug in the dishwasher and doesn't need the full Milk Cafe.
It uses what Breville calls a Magnetic Disc Drive System, which the listing says allows more precise frothing and stirring. There are four preset settings: latte, cappuccino, hot chocolate and cold, so you pick the drink rather than a temperature. It comes with two interchangeable discs, one for frothing and one for mixing, and the base has magnetic on-board storage for the disc you're not using. That's the small detail I like most, because frother discs are tiny and they're the first part that goes missing in a busy kitchen drawer. The hot chocolate preset is the one kids tend to use most, and it's a fair reason to buy one on its own.
The listing doesn't say how it heats or give wattage, temperature or a warranty, so check the manual and the box. Its rank is the lowest of the five. A 700ml jug won't froth 700ml of milk, so follow the froth line marked inside. Rinse the disc after each use, and check underneath it for dried milk. Store the spare disc on the base, not loose in a drawer. Keep the base dry, and wipe it if froth runs down the jug. For two or three drinks at once, it's a good middle pick.
Honest caveats: The listing doesn't state the heating method, wattage, temperature or warranty. Its rank is the lowest of the five. The 700ml figure is the jug size; the froth line inside will be lower. The discs are small and easy to lose without the on-board storage.
Best for: Couples and small families making two or three milk drinks at once, who want a dishwasher-safe jug.
Type: Jug frother, magnetic disc drive • Jug: 700ml stainless steel, dishwasher safe • Presets: Latte, cappuccino, hot choc, cold • Discs: 2 interchangeable, magnetic on-board storage • Heating: Not stated on the listing • Model: LMF200 • Seller: Amazon AU • Rank: #48 in Milk Frothers & Accessories (Amazon AU)
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Breville BMF600 the Milk Cafe Induction Frother, Brushed Stainless Steel
ASIN B075RYPMZ4 • $215.20 • Ships from Amazon AU
The Breville Milk Cafe Frother is the most expensive pick at $215.20 at time of writing, sold by Amazon AU, and it's ranked #16 in Amazon AU's Milk Frothers and Accessories category and #960 overall, the best overall rank of the Amazon AU-sold picks. The model is BMF600, in brushed stainless steel. It heats by induction, it's rated at 500W on 220 to 240 volts, and its jug holds 740ml, which the listing says makes up to three cups at a time. It's the one I'd pick for a household making several milk drinks each morning, where one cup at a time would hold everyone up. Its rank says plenty of people agree.
Induction is why it's easy to live with. The base heats the steel jug directly, so there's nothing electrical in the jug, and the listing says you can put it straight in the dishwasher. The heat is gentle and even, which helps make fine bubbles. There are four settings, Cold Stir, Warm, Optimum Temperature and Hot, and it switches itself off once the milk reaches the temperature you chose. Cold Stir froths without heating, for iced coffee and milkshakes. It comes with a variety of frothing discs and a measuring cap, so you can add cocoa or sugar while it's already mixing. The warranty is a 12-month replacement, according to the listing, which means a swap rather than a repair.
It costs nearly twice the Choc and Cino, and it takes more bench space. A 740ml jug froths less than that, so follow the line inside. At 500W for a few minutes, it uses about a cent of power a go at roughly 33c/kWh. Keep the discs together, since there are several, and store the ones you don't use in a container near the base. Dry the base after a spill, and never run the base under the tap. Wash the lid seal separately once a week. For a busy household, it's the one I'd buy.
Honest caveats: It's the most expensive pick and the biggest on the kitchen bench. The 740ml figure is the jug size, not the froth volume. The warranty is a 12-month replacement, according to the listing. Several small discs are easy to lose. It's more frother than a single-cup kitchen needs.
Best for: Households making several milk drinks each morning who want induction heating and a dishwasher-safe jug.
Type: Induction frother • Capacity: 740ml, up to 3 cups • Power: 500W, 220-240V • Settings: Cold Stir, Warm, Optimum, Hot • Dishwasher: Jug yes • Warranty: 12-month replacement • Model: BMF600 • Seller: Amazon AU • Rank: #16 in Milk Frothers & Accessories (Amazon AU)
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What we see fail in the workshop: milk frothers
Milk frothers are small, inexpensive to make and used every single morning, so the faults are predictable. Nearly all of them come back to milk getting where it shouldn't, or a small moving part wearing out. Here's what usually goes wrong and what you can check yourself before you give up on one and buy another. Most of these are a five-minute fix.
Won't heat after a boil-over
On a heated jug, the contacts under the jug and on the base carry mains power. When froth spills over the top, milk runs down into those contacts, dries into a crust and stops the connection. Worse, wet milk can track across them and trip the safety switch. Unplug it, let it dry fully, then clean the contacts gently with a dry brush. If the base still won't heat, the thermostat or thermal fuse may have cut out, and that's a job for someone with a meter, not a screwdriver.
Heats but won't froth
This is almost always the whisk. A spring whisk that's bent or not seated on its post wobbles instead of spinning, and a disc with a cracked magnet slips. A disc swapped for the wrong one, such as a mixing disc where a frothing disc should be, also gives flat milk. Check it's the right part, that it's clean underneath, and that it spins freely when you flick it. Milk dried under the disc slows it too, so a soak in warm water is worth trying before buying a spare.
Cuts out early, or sour smells
A frother that switches off before the milk's warm usually has milk baked onto the base of the jug, so the thermostat reads hot while the milk is still cool. Scrubbing a non-stick jug to fix it makes it worse, so soak it instead. A sour or musty smell is milk trapped under the lid seal or in the whisk post. Pull the seal out and wash it on its own. A smell of hot plastic or a flicker on the base, though, means stop using it and get it checked.
Decision tree: which one should you actually buy?
- One or two coffees a day, on a small spend? → The Puldoum 4-in-1 at $49.99, with a 160ml froth line, a 65 degree shut-off and a temperature display.
- Want pourable foam for latte art, or big batches? → The Subminimal NanoFoamer Lithium at $82, a USB-C handheld foamer for milk you've already heated.
- Want induction without paying for the big Breville? → The Lavazza A Modo Mio MilkUp at $84, an induction frother with a stainless container and one button.
- Two or three drinks at once, and a jug for the dishwasher? → The Breville Choc and Cino at $118, with a 700ml dishwasher-safe jug, four presets and on-board disc storage.
- A busy household making several milk drinks each morning? → The Breville Milk Cafe at $215.20, induction heated, 740ml and up to three cups, with a dishwasher-safe jug.
- Frother stopped heating or frothing? → It's usually milk in the contacts, a worn whisk or a thermostat cutting out. Bring it into our Erina workshop and we'll tell you what's wrong and whether it's worth fixing before you spend anything.
Frequently asked questions
Is an induction milk frother better?
It's easier to clean, and it heats more evenly. An induction base heats the steel jug directly, so there's no element or wiring in the jug, which is why the Breville Milk Cafe's jug can go in the dishwasher. Heated-jug frothers like the Puldoum have the element and contacts in the jug, so they can't. Both make good froth. Induction mostly earns its price in a household that uses the frother several times a day.
Can you put a milk frother in the dishwasher?
Only if the listing or manual says so. The Breville Milk Cafe and the Breville Choc and Cino both have dishwasher-safe jugs, according to their listings. The Puldoum's listing says not to put it in the dishwasher and not to rinse the outside under the tap, because the element and electrical contacts are in the jug. The Lavazza MilkUp's listing doesn't say either way, so check its manual first. Wash any lid seal by hand either way.
How much milk can a frother froth?
Less than the jug size. Milk roughly doubles in volume when it froths, so frothers have a lower froth line and a higher heating line. The Puldoum heats up to 350ml but froths up to 160ml. The Breville Milk Cafe quotes 740ml and up to three cups, and the Choc and Cino a 700ml jug, but expect their froth lines to be lower. Filling past the froth line is the most common cause of spills.
What temperature should a milk frother heat to?
Around 60 to 65 degrees suits most milk drinks, warm enough for a latte without the milk tasting cooked. The Puldoum's listing gives its shut-off as 65 degrees, give or take two, and shows the temperature on a display. The Breville Milk Cafe lets you choose between Warm, Optimum Temperature and Hot. Most frothers stop well short of boiling, so the milk won't scorch if the jug is clean. Use chilled milk for the best froth.
Is a handheld milk frother any good?
A good one is, but it only froths. The Subminimal NanoFoamer Lithium spins an impeller behind a fine screen, which gives a smaller bubble and a pourable foam that suits latte art. It doesn't heat milk, so you warm it first in a microwave, on the stove or with a steam wand. Basic battery whisks give a looser, drier foam. The NanoFoamer charges by USB-C, so treat its battery like a phone's.
Why has my milk frother stopped working?
If it heats but won't froth, check the whisk or disc is the right one, seated properly and spinning freely. If it won't heat at all, milk may have boiled over into the contacts under the jug, so unplug it and let it dry fully before cleaning them. If it cuts out early, milk baked onto the base is usually fooling the thermostat. A smell of hot plastic means stop using it and get it checked.
Related buying guides
Frother stopped heating or frothing?
Most milk frother faults we see come down to milk in the base contacts after a boil-over, a whisk or magnet that's worn, or a thermostat fooled by milk baked onto the jug. Bring it into our Erina workshop and we'll check what's actually wrong and tell you whether it's worth fixing before you spend anything.
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