Click title for video
Making milk froth for a coffee has puzzled civilisation ever since it discovered how to make a good espresso. I'm open to the possibility that only this house is puzzled, if only it were civilised. At the touch of a button, an automatic bean-to-cup coffee machine can spurt a fine espresso, but frothing milk with it was less easy. Here's a FAQ and some gadgets for milk frothing
Milk froth FAQ
Q) Can I use my cafetiere to froth milk?
A) Yes, convenience and low cost is the main benefit of doing so. See my video below. After you've taken the froth from the milk you can put the cafetiere in the fridge for your next drink. Start with a cup of milk (250ml) and you'll have enough for four cups.
Q) Can I froth semi-skimmed milk?
A) Yes and you can froth whole milk too. Research so far shows that full and semi-skimmed froth well enough for a cappucino. The fat in milk damages the froth - but just a bit. Skimmed milk makes an interesting, especially gloopy foam.
Q) Is there a knack to the plunging action in the cafetiere method?
A) Seemingly no. I froth the froth instead of plunging the whole container. Thirty seconds is enough under ideal conditions. A minute is excess.
Q) How important is waiting a minute or two for the milk to settle?
A) About half the volume is liquid so it's important for an all-froth cappucino. You can, at your own risk, bang the jug down to send milk to the bottom more quickly. For a latte, pour the mix of froth and milk on the coffee.
Q) Does the milk need to be warmed?
A) No. Warm milk will froth just a bit more easily and give you a warmer drink. Cold milk works well and it even makes the drink interesting.
Milk frothing devices
Bodum Latteo £11.50 - Verdict: Brilliant but see next item
Makes fabulous spoonable milk froth that's so thick it's unreal. It takes three minutes in total so have your coffee nearly ready. This Bodum device looks like a regular cafetiere. Add cold skimmed milk to the 250ml line on the jug and microwave for one minute* (hand hot or 50-60 degrees). Replace the lid and move the plunger up and down for at least 30 seconds or until the volume doubles. Lift the plunger and wait a minute for the liquid to settle. Spoon into the centre of your espresso to get a nice brown ring around the white froth.
Regular 4-cup Cafetiere £3.99 from Home Sense Verdict: Still brilliant enough and cheap
Inspired by the Bodum jug above, I used a regular cafetiere to froth milk. Add one cup of skimmed milk (that's 250ml or enough for three or four coffees) to the jug and microwave 1 minute*. The milk is now hand hot but not boiled. Add the plunger and move it up and down for at least 30 seconds or until the volume doubles. Lift the plunger and wait a good minute for the liquid to settle. Spoon into the centre of your espresso to get a nice brown ring around the milk.
Hot chocolate drink that's like a mousse
Add 50ml of kettle hot water to (say) 2-3 spoons of chocolate drink powder and mix to make a slurry in the cup. Add the mixed chocolate to the frothed milk in the cafetiere, gently plunge to mix and pour this back into the cup. Experiment by smearing the chocolate on the inside edge of the cup.
Nespresso Aeroccino Plus: £50 - £70 Verdict: Brilliant and hard to find
Add milk to the line on the device. Switch on. After a minute you'll have enough foam for two coffees. The foam is made effortlessly and almost silently It's a phfaf to clean because it can't simply be dunked in water.
Dualit Lattecino: £50 Verdict: Brilliant and has a steel finish
Has been praised as much as the Aeroccino. See reviews on Amazon. I use and would recommend you consider the Judge / Horwood Milk frother
Frothing nozzle on a bean to cup coffee machine Verdict: Fair and frustrating
Like many machines, the Jura Impressa F90 has a steam spout as in coffee shops. It's not bad but I fail to find the technique to make a froth that can be spooned. You might experiment with skimmed and semi-skimmed milk; or use a cold stainless steel jug; do one thing with the steam nozzle or do that or even do nothing. My result is just a frothy coffee and a paused conversation from the noise of it.
Making milk froth for a coffee has puzzled civilisation ever since it discovered how to make a good espresso. I'm open to the possibility that only this house is puzzled, if only it were civilised. At the touch of a button, an automatic bean-to-cup coffee machine can spurt a fine espresso, but frothing milk with it was less easy. Here's a FAQ and some gadgets for milk frothing
Milk froth FAQ
Q) Can I use my cafetiere to froth milk?
A) Yes, convenience and low cost is the main benefit of doing so. See my video below. After you've taken the froth from the milk you can put the cafetiere in the fridge for your next drink. Start with a cup of milk (250ml) and you'll have enough for four cups.
Q) Can I froth semi-skimmed milk?
A) Yes and you can froth whole milk too. Research so far shows that full and semi-skimmed froth well enough for a cappucino. The fat in milk damages the froth - but just a bit. Skimmed milk makes an interesting, especially gloopy foam.
Q) Is there a knack to the plunging action in the cafetiere method?
A) Seemingly no. I froth the froth instead of plunging the whole container. Thirty seconds is enough under ideal conditions. A minute is excess.
Q) How important is waiting a minute or two for the milk to settle?
A) About half the volume is liquid so it's important for an all-froth cappucino. You can, at your own risk, bang the jug down to send milk to the bottom more quickly. For a latte, pour the mix of froth and milk on the coffee.
Q) Does the milk need to be warmed?
A) No. Warm milk will froth just a bit more easily and give you a warmer drink. Cold milk works well and it even makes the drink interesting.
Milk frothing devices
Bodum Latteo £11.50 - Verdict: Brilliant but see next item
Makes fabulous spoonable milk froth that's so thick it's unreal. It takes three minutes in total so have your coffee nearly ready. This Bodum device looks like a regular cafetiere. Add cold skimmed milk to the 250ml line on the jug and microwave for one minute* (hand hot or 50-60 degrees). Replace the lid and move the plunger up and down for at least 30 seconds or until the volume doubles. Lift the plunger and wait a minute for the liquid to settle. Spoon into the centre of your espresso to get a nice brown ring around the white froth.
Regular 4-cup Cafetiere £3.99 from Home Sense Verdict: Still brilliant enough and cheap
Inspired by the Bodum jug above, I used a regular cafetiere to froth milk. Add one cup of skimmed milk (that's 250ml or enough for three or four coffees) to the jug and microwave 1 minute*. The milk is now hand hot but not boiled. Add the plunger and move it up and down for at least 30 seconds or until the volume doubles. Lift the plunger and wait a good minute for the liquid to settle. Spoon into the centre of your espresso to get a nice brown ring around the milk.
Hot chocolate drink that's like a mousse
Add 50ml of kettle hot water to (say) 2-3 spoons of chocolate drink powder and mix to make a slurry in the cup. Add the mixed chocolate to the frothed milk in the cafetiere, gently plunge to mix and pour this back into the cup. Experiment by smearing the chocolate on the inside edge of the cup.
Nespresso Aeroccino Plus: £50 - £70 Verdict: Brilliant and hard to find
Add milk to the line on the device. Switch on. After a minute you'll have enough foam for two coffees. The foam is made effortlessly and almost silently It's a phfaf to clean because it can't simply be dunked in water.
Dualit Lattecino: £50 Verdict: Brilliant and has a steel finish
Has been praised as much as the Aeroccino. See reviews on Amazon. I use and would recommend you consider the Judge / Horwood Milk frother
Frothing nozzle on a bean to cup coffee machine Verdict: Fair and frustrating
Like many machines, the Jura Impressa F90 has a steam spout as in coffee shops. It's not bad but I fail to find the technique to make a froth that can be spooned. You might experiment with skimmed and semi-skimmed milk; or use a cold stainless steel jug; do one thing with the steam nozzle or do that or even do nothing. My result is just a frothy coffee and a paused conversation from the noise of it.
2 comments:
Great frothing devices! I just want also to share this handheld battery operated stainless steel Milk Frother which I always use in frothing milk and making delicious coffee. It's also a great device in making lasting foam.You can buy it at amazon http://www.amazon.com/Cafe-Luxe-Frother-Latte-Maker/dp/B00RM2C4SA/ref=sr_1_19?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1442147771&sr=1-19&keywords=milk+frother and it's very helpful indeed. Been using this for a long time already.
Post a Comment