Foaming
at the mouth.
Coffee;
we love it, that much is pretty obvious to regular readers. However,
we've always concentrated on gadgets and machines that produce the
actual espresso, only giving a cursory nod to latte and cappuccino
fans. That all ends today though, as we've been testing THE must-have
bit technology for hot milky drink fans. We review the Hotpoint Milk
Frother.
This
compact counter-top gizmo has been designed specifically for heating,
foaming, and frothing milk. What you do with the milk after that is
up to you, but here in Test Pit Towers we've been adding it to a lot
of coffee. This makes it the perfect accessory if you already own an
espresso machine and need an additional way to make milk hot, or even
if you have one of those pod machines that add “milk” to drinks
for you. Trust us, this is miles better.
Using
induction heating, the Hotpoint Milk Frother features a removable
metal jug with a two-part lid (to add more stuff while the machine is
actually working), and also a choice of two magnetic frothers. Simply
pour in your milk, select either a cold froth (good for milkshakes),
40, 66, or 85 degrees Celsius, then hit start. Even on the highest
temperature and with the jug full (making enough milk for roughly two
large cappuccinos), the whole process takes only three or four
minutes. And the milk is sublime.
We're
always quite snobbish about coffee, but we take great pleasure in
saying this is the best milk preparing machine we've ever reviewed,
even more so than the amazingly awesome Lavazza
A Modo Mio Fantasia. The finished product, regardless of
temperature, is velvety smooth with a think head of foam. Holding
back the foam with a spoon when pouring makes for a lovely latte,
while letting it all fall into the cup produces a cracking
cappuccino.
However,
should you not be a fan of foam, all you need to do is swap out the
magnetic frother. Included also is a smooth ring that, when installed
and the machine is activated, won't drag air into the milk, keeping
it froth-free. This is a great addition and makes it a superb gadget
for those who like their milk good and flat.
Since
having this we've certainly drank a lot more milk. Buying one of
these would mean you could potentially buy a less expensive espresso
machine, one without a milk steaming arm built in. And trust us, this
is way better than anything like that; we genuinely couldn't live
without one now.
£49.99