How To Use A Nespresso Milk Frother (Do This!)

Nespresso machines are famous for making tasty espresso coffee. But seeing as most now come with milk frothers as well, you can make frothy, creamy foam for lattes, cappuccinos, and other specialty drinks in less than a minute! 

But how can you get perfect milk from your frother every time?

To use a Nespresso milk frother follow these steps, or jump to the specific instructions for your Aeroccino 3. Aeroccino 4, Barista Recipe Maker, or Lattissima Pro frother.

1. Place the whisk in the jug.
2. Fill the frother up to one of the max level indicators.
3. Cover with the lid and plug the frother into the base.
4. Select your preferred button.
5. Pour the froth into your cup and collect the foam using a non-metal spoon.

In this blog, we’ll cover everything you need to know to get started with your frother, including step-by-step instructions for creating a thick and creamy foam. We’ll also cover how to clean your frother so it works well into the future.

First, A Word On The Milk.

Not all milk is created equal.

In fact, 90% of the time people are struggling with their frother, it’s due to the milk.

The best milk for frothing is whole milk. It contains around 3.25% fat and 3.3% protein. This duo produces a thick and stable foam, with a melt-in-your-mouth texture. 

For dairy-free alternatives, soy, almond, and oat yield better results. They have binding gums–gellan, xanthan, guar, added to them to produce abundant foam.

MILK TYPE	RANKING (BEST TO WORST)	NOTES
Whole Milk (3.5% or greater)	1	Best option for frothing
2% Milk (reduced fat)	2
Oat Milk	3	Read our oat milk frothing guide
Soy Milk	4	Read our soy milk frothing guide
Almond Milk	5	Read our almond milk frothing guide
Macadamia Milk	6
Coconut Milk	7	Easy to burn
Skim Milk (<0.5% Fat)	8	Far more difficult to froth than reduced fat milk
Rice Milk	9

Learn more: You can read more on the best milk for frothing in this article

The Different Types Of Milk Frothers (And Which Is Best?) 

Nespresso has made it easier for coffee lovers to prepare a decent cappuccino or latte. Whether you’re looking for a frother integrated with your coffee maker or a stand-alone one, the brand has you covered. 

Below are the primary units offered by Nespresso.

Built-in Espresso machine milk wand 

Some espresso machines come with a built-in milk frother. This feature allows you to brew and froth your milk in a single unit. One of the renowned Nespresso lines to offer this convenience is the Latissima Pro. 

Latissima Pro – The Best All-In-One Machine

Latissima Pro is ideal for lattes and cappuccinos. You insert the milk wand into the container of cold milk, turn the machine on, and the heat and steam from the machine will froth the milk. 

The frother has a capacity of 16oz (473 ml) of milk and is preset with 6 recipes to add versatility to your morning brew. 

Jug Frothers 

If you’re using a different Nespresso machine or a different coffee maker altogether, having a jug frother is an excellent choice. 

Nespresso offers three jug frothers: Aeroccino 3 and 4 and the barista maker. Here’s a closer look at each of these. 

Aeroccino 3 milk frother 

Aeroccino 3 allows you to froth up to 120 ml of milk by pressing a single button. To froth a cold foam, press the power button twice until it illuminates blue. 

For a creamier, lush froth, you can use the whisk. The frother shuts off automatically when the process is complete. For best results, use full-fat or semi-skimmed milk.

Aeroccino 4 milk frother – Our Favorite Stand Alone Milk Frother

Aeroccino 4 is very similar to its predecessor, only it has one more hot milk froth texture for a cappuccino. The functions include.

• Hot foam
• Hot milk
• Cold foam. 

The device also has a single whisk for all your frothing needs and effectively froths 8oz (234 ml) of hot milk and 4oz (118 ml) of cold milk. It also has an auto-off feature that shuts the machine off after 9 minutes of nonuse. 

To harness the potential of the frother, it’s best to use whole or semi-skimmed milk refrigerated at 39-43 °F (4-6°C).

Barista recipe maker 

If you’re a professional home barista, the barista recipe maker is worth having. This automatic milk frother connects to the Nespresso app and froths over 20 recipes. 

It produces a perfect, velvety texture at the ideal temperature, making it suitable to prepare your cappuccino, latte, or macchiato. 

It has a frothing capacity of 250ml (8 oz), which is enough for 2 cups of coffee that you can enjoy within 4 minutes. 

What Is The Best Nespresso Milk Frother 

The table below summarizes the performance of Nespresso frothers to help you make an informed decision about which to buy.

	Latissima Pro	Aeroccino 3	Aeroccino 4	Barista
Foam Quality	Dense and creamy	Rich	Thick and creamy	Velvety
Frothing Time	30 seconds to a minute	Approximately 70 seconds	Approximately 70 seconds	Approximately 80 seconds
Milk Capacity	16oz (473 ml)	4.1 oz (120 ml)	8oz (234 ml) of hot milk and 4oz (118 ml) of cold milk	8 oz (250ml)

How To Use Nespresso Frother Step-By-Step 

Follow the steps below to use a Nespresso frother.

How To Use The Lattissima Pro Frother

1. Fill the milk container with your preferred quantity of milk.
2. Close the milk container. 
3. Open the steam connector and connect it to the cappuccino system.
4. Allow the machine to heat up.
5. Lift the lever and insert the capsule.
6. Close the lever and place your cappuccino cup or latte glass under the coffee outlet.
7. Adjust the milk spout and milk froth regulator according to your desired froth volume.
8. Press the cappuccino or latte button.
9. Once your cup is filled, lift and close the lever to eject the capsule into the used capsule container.

Using The Aeroccino 3 

The Aeroccino 3 is easily the best budget milk frother on the market. It can be bought as an addition to most Nespresso machines (like the Citiz) or a freestanding version can be bought separately for less than $100.

Here’s how to use your Aeroccino 3:

1. Attach the relevant whisk.
2. Pour the desired amount of milk–ensuring you don’t exceed the second max line. 
3. Place the milk jug on the base.
4. For hot milk foam, press the start button once. For cold milk froth, press the button for 2 seconds.
5. Pour the froth onto your beverage.

The video below explains these steps in more detail

Using The Aeroccino 4 

1. Place the whisk in the jug.
2. Fill the frother up to one of the max level indicators.
3. Cover with the lid and plug the frother into the base.
4. Select your preferred button.
5. Pour the froth into your cup and collect the foam using a non-metal spoon.

This video from Nespresso demos how to make a cappuccino with the Aerocino 4:

Using The Barista Recipe Maker 

1. Fill the jug with milk up to the min. or max level.
2. Close the jug with the lid. 
3. Select the recipe of your choice via the app or scroll to the recipe by pressing the arrows on the screen. 
4. To froth, press start.

NOTE: You can add ice cubes or chocolate into the jug before frothing. 

This video from Nespresso shows these steps in more detail:

How To Clean A Nespresso Milk Frother 

Nespresso recommends you clean your frother after every use. Here’s how to clean each of the models. 

How To Clean The Lattissima Pro Frother

1. Place a container under the milk spout.
2. Rotate the milk regulator knob to the CLEAN position. (Rinsing takes about 15 seconds and the machine shuts off automatically when the process is complete.)
3. Turn the froth regulator knob back in the milk position.
4. Disassemble and wash the Rapid Cappuccino System in the dishwasher.

Cleaning The Aeroccino 3 

1. Switch off the frother.
2. Remove the jug from the base and take out the whisk.
3. Remove the seal from the lid. Rinse and wipe it with a damp cloth.
4. Wash the jug under warm, soapy water. Wipe with a clean towel.
5. Clip one whisk to the base of the jug and the other on the lid. Store until next use.

Cleaning The Aeroccino 4 

1. Remove the jug from the base.
2. Remove the seal from the lid.
3. Remove the whisk and spring from the whisk.
4. You can hand or dish wash all the parts EXCEPT for the base. If dishwashing, the temperature shouldn’t exceed 70°C (158°F).
5. Dry all the parts with a clean towel and reassemble the device. 

Using The Barista Recipe Maker

1. Unplug the power cord from the socket.
2. Remove the whisk from the jug and disassemble the whisk.
3. Remove the jug from the base.
4. Remove the silicone seal from the lid. Disassemble the entire whisk by turning the upper part to remove it.
5. Hand wash the inner jug, seal, and lid, and whisk with warm soapy water. OR wash all the parts EXCEPT the base in the dishwasher at a maximum of 70°C (158°F).
6. Dry all the parts thoroughly and reassemble the frother.

Nespresso Milk Frother FAQ

Below are a few questions we get asked when it comes to frothing the perfect milk with the Nespresso system..

Conclusion

Using a Nespresso frother is a simple and convenient way to make frothy milk for your favorite beverage. With just a few steps, you can create a perfect creamy foam to add an extra touch of luxury to your coffee. 

When frothing, it’s best to use full-fat or semi-skimmed milk to achieve optimum results. 

Because you want your frother to carry you for most of your frothing years, it’s best to clean the device after every use. This ensures your device is at its peak performance.