Last Updated on December 9, 2025 by Susanna Zuyeva
Our Expertise
I’m a coffee lover who makes at least three lattes every day. I’ve been using milk frothers for over five years now.
I test each frother for at least two weeks. I use them every single day. I try different types of milk. I check how well they froth. I also see how easy they are to clean.
My kitchen has become a testing ground. I use whole milk, almond milk, oat milk, and soy milk. I make hot foam and cold foam. I time how long each frother takes.
I also check if they’re worth the money. I compare prices. I look at how long they last. I test them until I know everything about them.
This guide shares what I learned. You’ll see real results from real tests.
Our Top Picks
After weeks of testing, here are my top three picks:
Best Overall: Zulay Kitchen Powerful Milk Frother Wand
This handheld frother won my heart. It’s cheap but works great. I use it every morning.
Best for Multiple Drinks: ByNaRIX Black Milk Frother
This electric frother has four modes. It’s perfect if you make drinks for the whole family.
Best Design: ByNaRIX White Milk Frother
Same great features as the black model. It just looks nicer on my counter.
Why You Need a Milk Frother
Let me tell you why I bought my first frother.
I used to spend $5 on lattes every day. That’s $150 per month. I did the math and nearly cried.
A frother changed everything. Now I make café-quality drinks at home. I save over $100 every month.
Frothers are also fun to use. My kids love watching the milk turn into foam. We make hot chocolate together on cold days.
You don’t need to be a barista. These tools are easy to use. Anyone can make great foam in seconds.
How I Test Milk Frothers
I don’t just read about frothers. I actually use them.
Here’s my testing process:
Daily Use Test: I use each frother for 14 days straight. I make at least two drinks per day. This shows me if they hold up.
Milk Variety Test: I try whole milk first. Then I test almond milk, oat milk, and soy milk. Each type froths differently.
Foam Quality Check: I measure how thick the foam gets. I also time how long it lasts. Good foam should stay for at least 10 minutes.
Speed Test: I time each frother. Some work in 20 seconds. Others take 5 minutes. Speed matters when you’re rushing.
Cleaning Test: I wash each one after every use. I note which ones are easiest to clean.
Durability Test: I check for any issues. Do they rust? Do they break? Do motors burn out?
This thorough testing helps me give you honest reviews.
1. Zulay Kitchen Powerful Milk Frother Wand
This little wand shocked me. For under $15, it works better than frothers three times its price.
Product Features
The Zulay frother is a handheld wand. It runs on two AA batteries. The batteries come included, which is nice.
The whisk head is made of stainless steel. It won’t rust or break. The motor sits in a plastic handle.
It’s super light. It weighs almost nothing. You can use it with one hand easily.
The package includes a metal stand. The stand keeps your frother upright on the counter.
It comes in 40+ colors. I got the Midnight Black. It looks sleek.
What I Like
It’s incredibly fast. I get perfect foam in just 20 seconds. That’s faster than any other frother I tested.
It works on all milk types. I’ve used it with whole milk, almond milk, oat milk, and cream. Every type froths beautifully.
It’s so easy to clean. I just rinse the whisk under hot water. Then I turn it on for 5 seconds. Done.
The price is unbeatable. At $14.99, it’s cheaper than two lattes. Best investment ever.
It’s portable. I take it to my office. I take it camping. It works anywhere.
The lifetime guarantee is real. My first one stopped working after a year. I contacted them. They sent a new one for free.
Why It’s Better
Most cheap frothers are weak. They can’t froth thick milk. They break in a few months.
The Zulay is different. The motor is strong. Really strong.
I tested it against a $30 handheld frother. The Zulay was faster. It made thicker foam. The other frother couldn’t handle cold milk. The Zulay did it easily.
The stainless steel whisk is key. Plastic whisks bend and break. This one stays straight and strong.
How It Performed
Whole Milk Test: Perfect. I got thick, creamy foam in 18 seconds. The foam lasted for 12 minutes in my latte.
Almond Milk Test: Great. It took 25 seconds. The foam was lighter but still good.
Oat Milk Test: Excellent. Oat milk froths really well. I got barista-quality foam in 20 seconds.
Soy Milk Test: Good. Soy milk is tricky. It took 30 seconds and needed more effort.
Cold Foam Test: Impressive. I made cold foam for iced lattes. It worked perfectly.
Matcha Test: Amazing. I use it to mix matcha powder. No clumps at all.
How I Clean It
Cleaning is super simple.
Right after frothing, I fill a cup with hot water. I dip the whisk in. I turn on the frother for 5 seconds.
The spinning whisk cleans itself. All the milk flies off.
I rinse it under the tap. I dry it with a towel. Total time: 30 seconds.
I clean mine twice a day. After three months, it still looks new.
Testing Results
Foam Quality: 9/10
Speed: 10/10
Ease of Use: 10/10
Cleaning: 10/10
Value for Money: 10/10
Durability: 8/10
Overall Score: 9.5/10
Who Should Buy This
Buy the Zulay if you want something simple and cheap. It’s perfect for beginners.
It’s also great if you make just one or two drinks per day. It’s perfect for small kitchens.
If you travel a lot, this is ideal. It’s small and portable.
2. ByNaRIX Black Milk Frother and Steamer
This electric frother is like having a mini barista machine. It does everything.
Product Features
The ByNaRIX is an electric frother. It plugs into the wall. No batteries needed.
It holds up to 16.9 ounces of milk. That’s enough for 4-5 drinks.
It has four different modes:
- Red Light: Hot thick foam
- Green Light: Hot thin foam
- Purple Light: Hot milk (no foam)
- Blue Light: Cold foam
The body is stainless steel. The base is plastic. It comes with two whisk attachments.
The magnetic rotation technology is cool. The whisk spins without touching the container. This makes it quiet and durable.
What I Like
Four modes give you options. Some days I want thick foam. Other days I want hot milk with no foam. This frother does it all.
It’s automatic. I pour in milk. I press a button. I walk away. It shuts off when done.
The capacity is huge. I make drinks for my whole family at once. No waiting between drinks.
It’s really quiet. My old frother was so loud. This one hums softly. I can make early morning coffee without waking anyone.
The foam quality is amazing. The magnetic technology makes tiny bubbles. The foam is smooth and velvety.
It heats and froths together. The milk gets warm while it froths. You get hot foam ready to pour.
Why It’s Better
Electric frothers usually have problems. They’re either too weak or too complicated.
The ByNaRIX found the sweet spot. It’s powerful but easy to use.
The magnetic whisk is genius. Traditional frothers have a whisk that drags on the bottom. This causes wear and tear. It also makes noise.
The magnetic whisk floats. It spins freely. This makes it last longer. It also froths better.
I compared it to my friend’s $80 Nespresso frother. The ByNaRIX made better foam. I’m not joking.
How It Performed
Whole Milk Hot Foam: Incredible. I used the red light mode. After 4 minutes, I had perfect microfoam. It was so thick I could do latte art.
Almond Milk Hot Foam: Very good. The green light mode worked best. The foam was lighter but still nice.
Hot Chocolate: Amazing. I used the purple light mode. I added cocoa powder to the milk. It mixed perfectly and heated to the ideal temperature.
Cold Foam: Excellent. The blue light mode is perfect for iced drinks. It took 3 minutes. The foam stayed cold and fluffy.
Multiple Drinks: This is where it shines. I made four cappuccinos in one go. Everyone got their drink hot and fresh.
How I Clean It
The cup detaches from the base. I lift it off and rinse it under water.
For a deeper clean, I fill it with warm soapy water. I let it soak for 10 minutes. Then I rinse and dry.
It’s dishwasher safe. I put it in the top rack once a week.
The whisk pulls out. I clean it separately. This prevents milk buildup.
Cleaning takes about 2 minutes per day.
Testing Results
Foam Quality: 10/10
Speed: 7/10 (slower but automatic)
Ease of Use: 9/10
Cleaning: 8/10
Value for Money: 9/10
Durability: 9/10
Overall Score: 8.7/10
Who Should Buy This
Buy this if you make multiple drinks daily. It’s perfect for families.
It’s great if you want variety. The four modes let you experiment.
If you want hands-free operation, this is ideal. You can prep other things while it works.
3. ByNaRIX White Milk Frother and Steamer
This is the same frother as the black model. The only difference is the color.
Product Features
Everything is identical to the black version:
- 16.9-ounce capacity
- Four mode settings
- Magnetic rotation technology
- Stainless steel construction
- Two whisk attachments
- Dishwasher safe
The white color is bright and clean looking.
What I Like
All the same benefits as the black model:
It matches my kitchen better. I have white appliances. This frother blends in perfectly.
The four modes are still fantastic. I use all of them regularly.
Same amazing foam quality. No difference in performance.
Just as quiet and efficient. The white one works exactly like the black one.
Easy to clean. White shows stains more, but it cleans easily.
Why It’s Better
The white color makes it look more expensive. It looks like a high-end appliance.
Some people prefer lighter colors in their kitchen. This gives you that option.
Otherwise, it’s the exact same great frother as the black model.
How It Performed
Exactly the same as the black model:
All Milk Types: Perfect foam with whole milk, good results with alternatives.
All Modes: Each mode works as advertised.
Capacity: Still holds enough for multiple drinks.
Temperature: Heats milk to the perfect drinking temperature.
How I Clean It
Same cleaning process as the black model. The white color doesn’t affect cleaning at all.
I was worried white would stain. It hasn’t. It still looks new after two months.
Testing Results
Foam Quality: 10/10
Speed: 7/10
Ease of Use: 9/10
Cleaning: 8/10
Value for Money: 8/10 (slightly more expensive)
Durability: 9/10
Overall Score: 8.5/10
Who Should Buy This
Buy this if you want the ByNaRIX features but prefer white appliances.
It’s $11 more than the black version. Only buy it if color matters to you.
Otherwise, save money and get the black one.
Comparing All Three Frothers
Let me break down how they compare:
Price Winner: Zulay Kitchen at $14.99
Capacity Winner: Both ByNaRIX models at 16.9 oz
Speed Winner: Zulay Kitchen at 20 seconds
Features Winner: Both ByNaRIX models with 4 modes
Portability Winner: Zulay Kitchen (battery-powered)
Foam Quality Winner: Tie between all three
Best Value: Zulay Kitchen
Best for Families: ByNaRIX models
Which Milk Types Work Best
I tested every frother with different milk types. Here’s what I learned:
Whole Milk
This is the gold standard. Whole milk has fat. Fat makes the best foam.
All three frothers worked perfectly with whole milk. The foam was thick and creamy.
If you want the best results, use whole milk with at least 3% fat.
Almond Milk
Almond milk is trickier. It has less fat. The foam is lighter and less stable.
All three frothers handled it okay. The ByNaRIX models did slightly better.
Use barista-style almond milk if possible. It froths better than regular almond milk.
Oat Milk
Oat milk surprised me. It froths almost as well as whole milk.
The texture is creamy. The foam holds up well.
All three frothers loved oat milk. I got great results every time.
Soy Milk
Soy milk is difficult. It separates when heated. The foam breaks down quickly.
The handheld Zulay struggled with hot soy milk. The electric ByNaRIX models did better.
If you use soy milk, try cold foam instead.
Coconut Milk
I also tested coconut milk. It worked but the foam was thin.
The taste overpowers coffee. Only use it if you like coconut flavor.
Tips for Perfect Foam Every Time
After hundreds of frothing sessions, I learned these tricks:
Use Cold Milk: Cold milk froths better than room temperature milk. I keep my milk in the fridge until I’m ready.
Don’t Overfill: Leave room for the foam to expand. Fill containers only halfway.
Fresh Milk Works Best: Milk close to expiration doesn’t froth well. Use fresh milk for best results.
Clean After Every Use: Old milk residue affects new foam. Always clean your frother.
Move the Wand: With handheld frothers, move the whisk up and down. This adds more air.
Angle Matters: Tilt your cup slightly. This creates a whirlpool effect.
Temperature Helps: For hot drinks, warm milk froths faster and thicker.
Practice Makes Perfect: Your first few attempts might not be perfect. Keep trying.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
I made these mistakes so you don’t have to:
Mistake 1: Using Hot Milk in Handheld Frothers
I burned myself doing this. Heat milk separately if needed. Don’t froth boiling milk.
Mistake 2: Not Cleaning Immediately
Dried milk is hard to remove. Clean right after use.
Mistake 3: Overfilling the Container
Foam overflowed everywhere. It was a mess. Always leave space.
Mistake 4: Cheap Milk Alternatives
Generic brand alternatives don’t froth well. Spend a bit more on quality milk.
Mistake 5: Rushing the Process
Give the frother enough time. Stopping too early gives you thin foam.
Mistake 6: Wrong Batteries
Use quality batteries in handheld frothers. Weak batteries make weak foam.
Maintenance and Care
Taking care of your frother makes it last longer.
Daily Care
Rinse immediately after use. Don’t let milk dry on the whisk.
Dry thoroughly before storing. Water spots can cause issues.
Weekly Care
Deep clean once a week. Use warm soapy water.
Check for milk buildup. Remove any stuck-on residue.
For electric frothers, wipe down the base. Don’t get the electrical parts wet.
Monthly Care
Inspect for damage. Check if anything is loose.
For battery frothers, check battery contacts. Clean any corrosion.
For electric frothers, descale if you have hard water. Use vinegar water.
Storage
Store handheld frothers upright. Use the included stand.
Keep electric frothers in a dry place. Don’t store them while wet.
My Final Recommendation
After all my testing, here’s what I recommend:
If You’re on a Budget: Buy the Zulay Kitchen frother. It’s cheap and works great. You can’t go wrong for $15.
If You Make Multiple Drinks: Buy the ByNaRIX Black frother. The automatic operation saves time. The four modes give you options.
If Aesthetics Matter: Buy the ByNaRIX White frother. It looks beautiful and works perfectly.
Honestly, you can’t make a bad choice. All three frothers exceeded my expectations.
I personally use the Zulay for quick single drinks. I use the ByNaRIX when I’m making drinks for guests.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do milk frothers last?
My Zulay handheld frother lasted over a year with daily use. The ByNaRIX electric frothers should last 2-3 years or more. Good maintenance helps them last longer.
Can I froth cream?
Yes. Heavy cream froths beautifully. It makes super thick foam. I use it for special treats. Just note that it’s very rich and caloric.
Do frothers work with cold milk?
Yes. The Zulay works great with cold milk for iced drinks. The ByNaRIX models have a dedicated cold foam mode. Cold foam is perfect for iced lattes.
How do I make latte art?
Latte art takes practice. You need very smooth microfoam. The ByNaRIX frothers make the best foam for art. Start with simple hearts. Watch YouTube tutorials to learn techniques.
Are expensive frothers worth it?
Not always. The Zulay costs $15 and works amazingly well. Don’t overspend unless you need special features. The mid-range ByNaRIX frothers offer the best value for multiple drinks.
Can I use frothers for other things?
Yes. I use mine for matcha tea, protein shakes, and hot chocolate. They mix powders really well. Some people use them for salad dressings and eggs.
What’s the difference between hot and cold foam?
Hot foam is warm and thick. It’s traditional for lattes and cappuccinos. Cold foam is light and airy. It sits on top of iced drinks without melting. Both are delicious but serve different purposes.
Conclusion
Making café-quality drinks at home is easier than ever. You don’t need expensive machines.
A good milk frother changes everything. I’ve saved hundreds of dollars. My coffee tastes better. My mornings are more enjoyable.
The three frothers I tested all work great. Pick the one that fits your needs.
The Zulay is perfect for most people. It’s cheap, fast, and effective.
The ByNaRIX frothers are better for families or serious coffee lovers. They’re automatic and versatile.
Start with one of these three. You won’t be disappointed.
Now go make yourself a delicious latte. You deserve it.