5 Best Milk for Frothing

Milk steaming and frothing is a crucial stage of making milk-based coffee drinks like lattes, mochas, and cappuccinos. And besides knowing how to do it right, another crucial thing you need to understand is how to choose the best milk for frothing.

While it is true different coffee lovers have their preferred milk for making different kinds of beverages, the kind of milk you use will affect the taste, texture, and quality of the final drink, and so you cannot afford to go wrong with your choice.

Both dairy and non-dairy milk can still work well for frothing, but each type will have its positive and negative aspects. Here, we provide the top 5 milk for frothing reviews and highlight what each has to offer to help you decide which one will work best for you.

1. Soy Milk

Soy milk is one of the best non-dairy milk for frothing, and it has been used as a milk alternative by both professional baristas and regular coffee drinkers for a long time. What makes it very popular is the fact that besides being more affordable, it is also one of the most widely accessible non-dairy milk in most places.

With soy milk, you will get a smoother and creamier texture which is what many milk-based coffee lovers seem to prefer. Also, the taste is relatively neutral which means it will not overwhelm your coffee, and so you will still get the richness and boldness on your brew. And many coffee lovers will also love that it will not leave any significant aftertaste.

Because soy milk has a good stretch, it will be perfect for forming milk foam, and in the hands of an experienced barista, this milk can provide a foam that is as good if not better than dairy milk.

But soy milk also has its fair share of drawbacks like the fact that some types tend to curdle when they come into contact with the acidity in the coffee and the high temperatures. However, you will not need to worry about curdling if you buy good quality one like the Silk 025293600898 Unsweetened Organic Soymilk as it is one of the best soy milk for frothing.

2. Almond Milk

Almond is another highly popular non-dairy milk fondly used for frothing when making different milk-based beverages, but it is still not as popular as soy milk. What many people love most about it is that it produces a nice rich foam, and it is one of the best milk for lattes as it can create some nice art.

Because almond milk tends to have a higher fat content than many other non-dairy milk types, it will froth up well almost like dairy milk. But, to get that perfect froth, you will still need to practice a little bit as it is not that easy. Also, almond milk will be available in sweetened and unsweetened versions and in several flavors to ensure it caters to all kinds of coffee lovers.

And like soy milk, almond milk can curdle in your coffee because of the acidity and high temperatures, and so you should ensure you do not pour very cold almond milk on your hot coffee.

When it comes to the reaction to the acidity in the coffee, it will largely depend on the specific almond milk you choose as they are made differently. Silk Barista Collection Almond Original is one of the best almond milk for frothing as it will hardly ever curdle and also has an amazing flavor.

3. Coconut Milk

There are some milk types like coconut milk that always seem to make everything taste better, and so even before you froth them for your coffee, you can almost be certain they will give it an amazing flavor.

While it might not be as popular for frothing as the two non-dairy milk above, coconut milk is treasured for the more exotic flavor and thicker texture which is just what some cappuccino and latte lovers are always looking for in their milk. Adding it to your coffee will also give it a nice tropical twist, and because it has a dense consistency, it will not water down or dilute the brew.

Although many coffee lovers will find the sweet and distinctive coconut flavor irresistible, some purist coffee lovers will not like its strength as they feel like it overpowers their coffee significantly. Also, coconut milk seems to create froth that is relatively less dense and also has significantly larger bubbles than dairy milk.

If you want to enjoy that exotic coconut flavor, Vita Coco PR-COM-RT-X1049786 Original Coconut Milk is one of the best coconut milk for lattes, cappuccinos and most other milk-based coffee drinks.

4. Whole Milk

There is no doubt that whole milk is one of the best milk for frothing, hate it or love it. Even with the many dairy and non-dairy alternatives out there, nothing will give you the same foam quality, texture and authentic taste that you would get from whole milk.

Whole milk will have the perfect balance of proteins, sugar, fats, and water to ensure you always get the finest milk froth. This milk can easily give you a smooth microfoam, and you do not have to be a professional barista to achieve it as it is the easiest to froth even without a sophisticated milk frother.

Better yet, whole milk will hardly ever be too creamy for your liking because when steamed and frothed, it creates a smooth and soothing froth with just enough creamy consistency. And to crown it all, whole milk is also inexpensive and widely available in most places.

However, for health-conscious coffee lovers, whole milk packs a lot of calories and fat, and if you take a lot of lattes and cappuccinos, it can be one of the main reasons you pack in the extra pounds. Also, note that both the molecular composition and taste of whole milk largely depend on the type of cow it comes from and also what the cow is fed.

5. Skimmed Milk

If you want that authentic taste and creaminess in your lattes and cappuccinos but don’t like whole milk, skimmed milk is the next best thing. Skimmed milk will contain around 3.4% protein which is significantly more than the 3.2% that you get in whole milk, but it will have less fat and carbohydrate than then latter.

The difference in protein content also means you will get a different kind of froth. Unlike whole milk that will provide thicker and creamier froth, skimmed milk will give you foamier froth with relatively larger air bubbles. The absence of high amounts of fat in skimmed milk is also one of the reasons why you get light and airy froth.

Skimmed milk is one of the easiest to froth and will hence be good even for the beginners. But the lack of fat also means that it will be lacking in flavor. Hence, while you will get some fantastic foam with skimmed milk, it will not be as rich and flavorful as whole milk.

Conclusion

The kind of milk you use for your lattes, cappuccinos and other milk-based coffee beverages will have a huge effect on the texture, taste, and quality of beverage that you get.

And while there are still many other milk types like oat, rice and cashew milk that you can use, the 5 above are by far the best milk for frothing as they provide a superior quality froth and an excellent flavor.

If you do not already have a favorite among the 5 options, the best idea would be to try out all of them and settle for what gives you the best froths.