The Simple Gadgets To Froth Milk For Your Coffee Without Steam
Sipping a perfectly-frothed cappuccino or latte in the morning is one of life's simple pleasures. Coffee drinkers might assume that this luxury is reserved for when you make the trip to your favorite coffee shop or cafe, but there are some simple ways to froth milk for your coffee to make the best possible cup right at home. There are fancy at-home espresso machines and milk frothers that use steam, but there are also other kitchen gadgets and even simple solutions that use the coffee maker you already have to froth your milk, no steam or expensive espresso machines necessary.
Frothed milk is nothing more than milk that's aerated (and often warmed), and that air is what creates the foamy texture. Steam is not the only way to introduce air into the milk, so that means you don't need a steamer to make yourself a frothy latte. If you're looking for a way to make creamy, frothy coffee drinks in your own kitchen, a simple pump frother or even a French press will do the trick without too much fuss or the need for fancy steamers.
Use a pump frother
Pump frothers are kitchen gadgets made for frothing milk and usually don't require batteries or electricity. They are simple to use and produce delicious foam for coffee beverages that you make in your own kitchen. They use a small pitcher paired with a plunger-like insert with a mesh bottom that aerates the milk and makes it frothy.
Using a handheld pump frother is simple. Add the milk to the line indicated on the pitcher, then place the plunger inside the pitcher and secure the lid. You'll use a pumping or plunging action by lifting the mesh plunger in and out of the milk for a minute or two while holding down the lid with your other hand until the milk has frothed to your liking.
Unlike milk steamers and steam wands on espresso machines, most pump frothers can make hot or cold-frothed milk. But the disadvantage to pump frothers is that it's one more item that will take up space on your counter or in your cabinets, and these gadgets are limited to one primary use: frothing milk. And, while a pump frother is much cheaper than an espresso machine or making daily coffee runs, they still aren't free.
The French press method
If you thought the description of a pump frother sounded a little familiar in design, you're not wrong. If you glanced at a pump frother, you could easily mistake it for a French press coffee maker. The two devices are quite similar, both using a pitcher and a plunger with a mesh screen. What that means is that you can just as easily use your French press to make frothy milk for your coffee at home without a pump frother taking up extra space on the shelves.
You'll want to ensure your French press is cleaned after making coffee before you froth your milk in it. French press coffee makers are designed to hold hot liquid, so you can use hot or cold milk for this frothing method. One main difference with the French press as compared to the milk-specific pump frother is that your coffee pot is unlikely to have a line that indicates the maximum amount of milk you can add. Remember that the milk will nearly double in size when you froth it, so make sure you'll have enough room in the pitcher before you start frothing.
Then, the method is the same as a pump frother: Hold the lid in place and pump the plunger for anywhere from a few seconds to a minute or two until you reach your desired level of frothiness. Pour the milk into your coffee and spoon any extra foam on top.