What Milk Froths Best? Perfect Picks For Your Coffee!

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When it comes to lattes and cappuccinos, frothed milk is important. But there are so many kinds of milk out there you may be wondering what milk froths best?

In general, skim milk creates the best froth out of the dairy milks, and almond milk froths best when it comes to plant-based milks. Their frothing ability is determined mostly by their protein and fat content. While these milks do create a light and airy froth, it’s also dry and lacks creaminess.

Even though skim milk and almond milk create amazing froth, lightness and airiness aren’t the only important factors. Texture, creaminess, and taste also affect the quality of your froth and the ultimate quality of your coffee.

So, to figure out what milk froths best, we tested several different kinds on a number of factors.

Read on to find out which milk was truly the best!

Tools Used:

FrothBlast Electric Whisk

Milks Tested:

What Milk Froths Best?

In terms of pure frothing ability skim milk and almond milk are the best. However, when taking into account as well as texture and creaminess, whole milk and coconut milks were the best overall.

Since non-dairy milks have been growing in popularity, we’ve separated the dairy and plant-based options and summarized the qualities of the different milks.

Which Dairy Milk Froths Best?

Milk	Airiness/Bubble Size	Texture/Creaminess	Froth Stability	Taste
Whole Milk	makes a dense froth with little airiness and small bubbles	creamy	froth is stable and long-lasting	whole milk mellowed out the flavor of the coffee and added richness without overpowering the coffee’s flavor
2% Milk	airy froth with large, thick bubbles	dry foam, but less dry than skim milk	froth is stable and long-lasting	2% milk mellowed out the coffee’s flavor but was less rich and more watery than whole milk
Skim Milk	airy froth with large, thick bubbles	dry foam	froth is stable and long-lasting	skim milk watered down the flavor of the coffee

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Frothing Whole Milk

Whole milk’s high protein content allows stable, medium-sized bubbles to form, and its high-fat content makes the foam dense and velvety.

which milk froths best - whole milk — Frothing whole milk with an electric whisk. The result was a rich, creamy, and dense froth.

Whole milk also has a richer and fuller taste that adds creaminess to your coffee without overpowering the bean’s natural flavor.

what milk froth best? — Whole milk froth was stable and was mixed well with our coffee.

Because of its frothing ability, texture, and taste, whole milk created the best quality froth.

Shop For Related Products ( Milk Frothers)

**Table: related products for frothing milk**

Frothing 2% Milk

Similar to whole milk, 2% milk has a high protein content. However, it has a lower fat content. This means that 2% milk froth will froth easier and have a lighter, dryer texture.

which milk froths best - 2% milk — Frothing 2% reduced-fat milk. Results were a thick and airy froth.

While the froth is thicker and larger, the taste of 2% milk is more watery than whole milk so your coffee won’t taste as rich.

which milk froths best - 2% milk combine — 2% reduced-fat milk created a stable froth that was airy. However, the milk’s flavor was more watery than whole milk.

However, if you want a thick, airy foam that’s not as watery as you’d get with skim milk. Reduced-fat milk is a good choice.

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Frothing Skim Milk

Skim milk created the largest amount of foam, however, it was the dryest of all the dairy milks.

which milk froths best - skimmed milk — ***Skim milk produced a very airy and thick froth***.

After frothing the milk we tried pouring it into our coffee, but the froth was so thick it stuck to the cup. Instead, the liquid portion of the milk poured out.

To add the frothed skim milk to our coffee, we needed to use a spoon.

So, even though skim milk makes the thickest and airiest froth, the fact that it’s not creamy or pourable drops the quality a bit.

Also, the taste of skim milk is extremely watery, so it didn’t add much richness or flavor to the coffee.

If you only care about the size and shape of your froth skim milk is a good choice. But if you prefer a rich, dense, and creamy froth, whole milk is best.

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What’s The Best Non-Dairy Milk For Frothing?

Almond milk creates the largest and thickest froth. However, when taking into account frothing ability, creaminess, and texture, coconut milk was the best overall.

The plant-based milks were more difficult to judge because they each have their own unique flavor and we all have our preferences.

To minimize our taste bias, we tried to focus mostly on the froth’s size, texture, and durability. But we did note how prominent the milk’s flavor was when added to the coffee.

Check out a summary of our results in the table below.

Best Milk For Frothing (non dairy)

Milk	Airiness/Bubble Size	Texture/Creaminess	Froth Stability	Taste
Coconut milk	dense, medium-sized bubbles	creamy texture	stable and long-lasting froth	the flavor of the coconut was notable but not prominent
Oat milk	dense, small bubbles	creamy texture	froth was thin but stable	the flavor was subtle and the least noticeable
Almond milk	large, thick bubbles	dry texture	stable and long-lasting	overpowered the coffee’s flavor
Soy milk	large, thin bubbles	bubbles were so large and thin they did not add texture	froth was unstable	the soy’s flavor was about as strong as the coffee’s
Rice milk	A very small amount of bubbles	not enough bubbles to create texture	A very small amount of bubbles	rice milk’s flavor was nearly as strong as the coffee’s

Best non dairy milk for frothing (results)

Frothing Coconut Milk

Because of its high-fat content, coconut milk created a dense and creamy froth that was somewhat similar to whole milk.

which milk froths best - coconut milk — ***Coconut milk made a dense froth made of small bubbles.***

Coconut milk created the highest quality froth and its unique flavor was noticeable but did not overpower the coffee.

Based on our experience, coconut milk makes the highest quality froth out of all the non-dairy milks.

Frothing Oat Milk

Oat milk does create foam, but it’s a very thin foam with small bubbles.

which milk froths best -Oat milk — ***Oat milk made a thin froth with small bubbles.***

Even though it wasn’t the frothiest, oat milk was one of my favorites because it had the subtlest flavor and had the least impact on the coffee’s taste. (The brand we used here was Silk Oat Milk – Extra Creamy)

If you’re less concerned about froth and just want plant-based milk that won’t overpower your coffee, we’d recommend trying oat milk.

Frothing Rice Milk

Rice has no protein and very little fat, so it didn’t create any real froth.

which milk froths best - rice milk — ***Rice milk didn’t really froth. Although few bubbles formed due to the milk being agitated.***

There were some small bubbles created, due to the movement of the milk, but they quickly disappeared and didn’t add any texture to the coffee.

Also, the rice milk we purchased (Rice Dream) had a dominant taste that detracted from the coffee’s flavor profile.

Because of its inability to foam, I wouldn’t recommend rice milk for frothing.

Frothing Almond Milk

Out of all the plant-based milks, almond milk created the most froth. It was a thick and dry froth which we found surprising considering it has more fat than protein.

which milk froths best - almond milk — ***Almond milk created the thickest froth out of all the non-dairy milks***

Similar to skim milk, almond milk froth did not pour easily. Instead, only the liquid portion of the milk was poured while the froth remained in the cup.

In the end, we needed to spoon the froth into our coffee.

The almond milk froth remained very stable and showed no signs of breaking apart. However, we felt that the flavor of the milk (our brand was Simply Almond) overpowered the coffee way too much.

If you only care about the size and shape of the froth, almond milk is a good choice.

Frothing Soy Milk

Soy milk also didn’t make a great froth. The bubbles were large but there were very few of them and overall the foam was very weak and transparent.

which milk froths best - soy milk — ***Soy milk frothed into small transparent bubbles***

The froth survived being poured into the coffee. However, over time the foam became weaker and I believe it would have eventually disappeared completely.

The taste of soy milk also had a strong effect on the flavor of our coffee.

Because of how it froths and how its flavor affects the coffee, I wouldn’t recommend soy milk as the best milk for frothing.

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How To Froth Milk?

As a general rule, the process of frothing milk requires heat and agitation. A common method of frothing milk is to heat it in the microwave to a temperature of around 140 to 150ºF (60-65ºC) and then agitate it with a handheld electric whisk.

However, not everyone has an electric whisk and there are several other ways to froth milk including:

using a french press ( see on Amazon)
using a milk frother machine (see on Amazon)
using a shaker bottle or mason jar (see on Amazon)

Let’s briefly talk about each method to see how they work.

You Can Froth Milk With An Electric Whisk

A handheld electric whisk is a battery-powered wand that vibrates at the push of a button. The whisk, that we used in the images above is the FrothBlast Electric Whisk.

The benefits of electric whisks are that they’re

small and don’t take up much space,
quick and easy to use
versatile (you can use them for more than just frothing milk!)
easy to clean

If you want to froth your milk without the long cleanup, I’d definitely go with an electric whisk.

Use a French Press

A French Press can froth milk amazingly well. In fact, it’s what I used most often before we bought our electric whisk.

To use this method, heat your milk up and pour it into the french press. (Make sure you have enough milk to cover the filter). Pull and push the plunger vigorously and you’ll have a thick foam within seconds.

Use a Milk Frother Machine

These machines are usually the size of a kettle or large coffee grinder, so they do take up some kitchen space. But the advantage here is that most models can produce various textures of foamed milk.

For example, the Secura Milk Frother( you can see it on Amazon) makes cold or hot milk froth for cappuccinos. It also heats the milk so you don’t have to do it yourself in the microwave or on the stove.

Use a Shaker Bottle or Sealed Container

If you don’t want to buy a special machine to froth your milk, that’s ok! As long as you’ve got a shaker bottle or mason jar,( see it on Amazon) you can froth your milk.

This is how to do it – warm your milk, pour it into your bottle or mason jar, and shake until you’ve introduced enough air.

Keep in mind, that the froth might not be super aerated as you’d get with a french press or electric whisk, but it’ll get the job done.

Why Won’t My Milk Froth?

In general, older milk is less likely to froth. So, if you’re doing everything right but your milk just won’t froth, it’s most likely because your milk is too old.

The reason is that fresh, whole milk is full of triglycerides, which are made up of glycerol and fatty acids. As the milk ages, the triglycerides break down and the glycerol goes rogue.

It’s this glycerol that is responsible for weakening the bubbles. So, more glycerol means less stable foam.

This is why fresh milk is best for frothing!

Why Does Milk Foam or Froth?

Milk froth is a product of heat and agitation. Heat causes the milk’s proteins to unwind and form spheres. Agitation introduces air into the milk. When those two factors are combined, the milk proteins will form spheres around the air, creating foam bubbles.

How Hot Should Milk Be To Froth?

The best temperature is between 140 and 150ºF (60-65ºC).

When milk is too cold, the proteins are balled into little bundles. So they won’t unfold into the spheres required for froth.

On the other hand, if your milk gets too hot, the proteins will break down completely and that won’t froth either.

So, when you’re ready to create that luscious latte foam, be sure to heat your milk to between 140 and 150ºF (60-65ºC).

How Does Milk Fat Affect Froth?

In general, fat prevents froth bubbles from getting too big. So, the more fat your milk contains, the smaller and creamier the foam tends to be.

Why does it work like this? Well, without getting too technical, remember those protein spheres that build the milk froth?

One end of the sphere is hydrophobic (repelled by water). The other end is hydrophilic (attracted to water).

The end that’s repelled by water will grab hold of air or fat (whichever’s available).

If there’s no fat, the proteins grab nothing but air, which means bigger bubbles.

If there is fat available, the proteins will grab onto both fat and air. This means smaller air bubbles, but a creamier foam texture.

Key Takeaways

Skim milk and almond milk make the thickest and dryest froth bubbles
Whole milk and coconut make a creamy froth
There are multiple ways to froth milk, but the quickest and easiest is with an electric whisk
If your milk won’t froth, there’s a good chance that it’s too old

Cheers Coffee Lovers!

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Idalmis Holmes

Idalmis is co-owner of Coffee Break Lovers. She is a Cuban coffee enthusiast that is passionate about coffee and coffee culture.

Brand	Specifications	Image
BIZEWO Milk Frother, 4 IN 1 Automatic	Stainless steel, best for macchiatos, hot chocolate,
Zulay Handheld Milk Frother	Works great to prepare matcha and any coffee drink
Secura Detachable Milk Frother	Creates thick and rich froth in Lattes, cappuccinos, and hot chocolate
Maestri House Milk Frother	Variable froth thickness and temperature. Best to prepare lattes and capucchinos