Do you love a good cappuccino or latte? Wouldn’t it be great if you could get the same great quality at home, without needing to pay out a good few hundred dollars for an espresso maker or kidnapping a barista?
You can get similar results at home without paying a fortune or committing a felony by investing in a milk steamer. In this post, we are going to have a look at your top options in this area so that you can make coffee like a pro in no time.
Shouldn’t I Look for a Frother?
Milk frothers have become pretty popular over the last few years. They offer a convenient way for you to create a creamy topping for your coffee.
The problem with frothers is that all they do is to whisk the milk up very fast. If you want your coffee to be hot when you drink it, you’ll need to heat the milk up first and then froth it. It’s a pain.
That’s why it is a lot better to simply start off by using a steamer from the outset. A steamer will both heat the milk and get it all frothy. You get your coffee and milk piping hot and nice and creamy.
Are you ready to look at the best options?
Quick Comparison: The Best Milk Steamer for Home Use
| Brand | Cost | Maximum Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| #1. SimpleTaste Our Best Pick  Check Price | Hot | Average |
#2. Epica Check Price | Hot | On the high side |
#3. Secura Check Price | Tepid | Average |
#4. Nespresso Aeroccino 3 Check Price | Scalding | On the high side |
1. Epica
This elegantly designed carafe gives you the best of both worlds – it can steam and froth the milk or do either function individually. It is made of stainless steel and has a vacuum-insulated inner container that keeps the milk at the perfect temperature.
You will need to look through the manual just to get an idea of how it operates, but it doesn’t take long to learn to use it. You can use up to 4.25 ounces of milk if you are going to froth it or up to 8.5 ounces of milk if you just want to heat it.
This is going to be just enough for a couple of cappuccinos or one latte at a time, but it does heat up quickly, so this shouldn’t be too much of a problem. The carafe feels sturdy without being too heavy. It lifts off the base easily to facilitate pouring.
Also, with this machine, while the milk is kept at the perfect temperature, it is advisable to rinse it out as soon as you are done to make cleaning easier. If the milk gets a chance to bake in, it can be difficult to remove.
This is a good option if you are single or in a two-person household. If you need to make a fair amount of coffee, this might not be the best option.
It also came in as the most expensive model of those reviewed.
2. Secura
Again, if you are looking for something that can froth or steam, or do both, this is a good alternative for you.
It is similar to the Epica in that it is made of stainless steel and also makes use of a vacuum-sealed interior compartment to keep the milk warm. Its capacity is also the same, so it is a better option for a smaller household.
It has two very distinct advantages over the Epica – the price is a lot lower, and the interior has a non-stick finish that makes cleanup a breeze.
It is pretty easy to get the hang of with simple operating instructions. It lifts off the base easily when it comes to pouring. It has an attractive design and is very easy to clean. A brush is also provided to help you get any dregs out.
On the downside, it is set to heat the milk at 110 F. This means that the milk is always slightly tepid rather than boiling. Most steamers will heat the milk to 140 F as this is the best temperature.
Considering the price, though, this is still worthwhile unless you prefer your coffee to be extremely hot.
Overall, this is a good device for the amount that you will be paying for it.
3. Nespresso Aeroccino 3
If you like contemporary designs, this is a great option. It will have people asking you what it does – it certainly doesn’t look like a steamer. It has a slightly smaller capacity than the two models we have already talked about but its design makes it perfect for a bachelor pad.
Nespresso is a trusted name in the coffee-making industry, and this little device is a perfect example of their great engineering. It is simple to use with one-button operation. It heats the milk to a scalding 150 F, so you never need to worry about drinking cold coffee again.
The big plus here is how fast it heats up.
Cleaning it is relatively easy.
This was not quite as pricey as the Epica, but it is still quite a bit more than the other two models reviewed.
4. SimpleTaste
This is another option if you like a simple, more futuristic design. This model features a silicone outer casing to keep it cool to the touch. It has a patented design that uses magnets to attach the whisk. This reduces the number of nooks and crannies inside the machine that the milk can get stuck in.
This, in addition to the ceramic coated interior, makes cleanup very simple.
Operating it is very simple, and it works nicely to heat up the milk. The frothing could be better, but it does a pretty good job.
The price point here is pretty good, considering the features and how well it works.
Final Verdict
Overall, in choosing the best steamer, it came down to a toss-up between the Nespresso and the Simple Taste. While the Nespresso produced a better quality of froth, the Simple Taste comes in at a much lower price point and is a lot easier to clean.
As a result, the Simple Taste won by a hair in this analysis.
