Plant-based milks don’t always behave exactly like dairy milk, and frothing is no different. While wands are just fine for dairy milk, it doesn’t perform the best for plant-based milks. In our tests, an electric frother was the best frother for almond milk and other plant-based milks like soy milk and oat milk.
7 minute read (UPDATED August 11, 2022)
What Is the Best Frother for Non Dairy Milk?
I love a good latte, but I am allergic to dairy. I am also allergic to spending a small fortune for the delight of having a professional barista make my favorite beverage every morning.
Enter the home milk frother.
There are all kinds, types and styles of milk frothing appliances out there to choose from. What is the best frother for almond milk? Soy milk? Oat milk? All of them?
I did some research, took a few of the most common types, and tested them out. I also used various types of plant based milk. Which one would earn the title of the “Best Frother for Non Dairy Milk”? We will see.
Keep reading to find out everything I learned, or click on the links below to jump to the section you’re most interested in.
- How is froth made?
- So which type of milk frother is best for almond milk and other plant based milks?
- Which electric frother should I buy?
- Tips and tricks for frothing plant based milk
- One more coffee recipe idea…
How Is Froth Made?
First, it is helpful to have a little understanding of ‘froth science’.
Perfect froth depends on the combination of fats and protein in the milk, be that animal derived or plant based. Plant based milk has less fat and protein than animal milk naturally.
Many “barista style” plant based milks have gums and stabilizers to make up for that. If you are okay with consuming those, then using this milk will result in froth closer to dairy milk.
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Too much fat, and the liquid will be too heavy for the little froth bubbles to form. Which is why creamers (even dairy free ones) usually do not froth well since they are more fat than protein.
Some dairy free creamers will froth well because they depend on sugar not fat to make them taste good. I avoid all processed sugar so I can not advise you there. You will have to be the judge of what constitutes your cream.
Sometimes the protein naturally occurring in soy, almond, and other nut based milks, is more ‘delicate’. They will denature more easily than dairy milk protein. Which is what happens when you see the dreaded clumps. If that happens, you will have foam that dissipates quickly, if it forms at all.
Another factor to consider is heat. Dairy milk scalds at about 170º, and many plant based milks will burn or scald at much lower temperatures. If your milk scalds, then your best bet is to throw it out and start over. Which is why it’s generally not a good idea to reheat previously heated milk and try to froth that.
So Which Type of Milk Frother Is Best for Almond Milk and Other Plant Based Milks?
Let’s review the types…
1. The Wand
Pros: It’s small and portable. Some brands come with a case so you can carry it with you.
Cons: Doesn’t work well on plant based milk. The little wand takes a long time to produce just a loose foam, and it doesn’t last. It will not heat the milk itself. You will need to heat the milk in a microwave or on a stovetop.
Bottom Line: Meh. Forget about it.
2. The Pump
Pros: No plastic parts. No electricity needed.
Cons: You’ll need a strong arm to get enough pump action to make some decent foam. The pump will not heat your milk for you. The stainless steel version will sit on a hotplate or stovetop and you can heat it that way.
I had only limited success using the pump with plant based milk because I could not precisely control the temperature. Plant based milks tend to separate easier than cow’s milk if they are overheated.
Also, everything must be disassembled to clean it, and after cleaning it’s not easy to get it back together tight enough to keep the whisk from moving around while you pump it since the nuts and bolts that hold it together are really tiny.
Bottom Line: This type might work for you if you enjoy a good arm workout with your morning coffee. If not, then read on…
3. The Electric Frother
Pros: Easy to use. Heats milk. Tighter foam. Foam looks and feels like dairy milk froth.
Cons: Takes up more counter space.
Bottom Line: Out of all of them, this produced the tightest foam that lasted the longest.
And the award for Best Milk Frother for Almond Milk and other Plant Based Milks goes to…The Electric Frother! (crowd cheering)
But which electric frother is best?
Which Electric Frother Should I Buy?
The Hola Rico MMF-9304 is the one I personally chose after my research. It is available from holarico.com and Amazon. Here are the reasons I chose this one:
1. Temperature Display
It has the easiest to use exact temperature display. A frother with an exact temperature setting will do much better with plant based milks than one without. This makes it easier to not scald and ruin your milk.
2. The Material It’s Made Of
It is made of stainless steel with no interior non-stick coating. (If you are not burning your milk, why would you need a non-stick coating anyway?)
Many of the others I have tested in the past lose their non-stick coating after a few months of use. This could be a health hazard as the chemicals used to make them can leech into your food.
Many products that have non-stick surfaces carry labels that say ‘let product cool completely before washing’. This is because quick temperature changes can wear off the non-stick coating. Who has time to wait for the frother to cool down before you clean it on a busy morning?
It also has a heavy duty metal whisk, not plastic.
3. Cleaning
All parts disassemble with ease and are easy to clean.
4. Capacity
It has a very large capacity. Sometimes it takes much more plant based milk to make a decent amount of foam compared to dairy milk.
5. Value
This one was also the best ‘bang for my buck’. I found other frothers with similar features but at much higher prices.
[NOTE: As per The Cook and Chew Food Review’s review policy, this post is not sponsored by or connected to the Hola Rico company in any way but is 100% the author’s honest research, review, and opinion].
Tips and Tricks for Frothing Plant Based Milk
I found that 120º is the optimal temperature for barista blend unsweetened almond milk. Non-barista blends of soy and coconut milk will not hold the froth unless they have binders and gums in them. Hemp milk doesn’t seem to froth as well as almond and soy varieties I tried, even though it was a barista blend.
Fill up the frother to the minimum line for warm foam. This was enough foam for two drinks of 20 oz each.
Pour the foam right after the frother finishes. The longer it sits in the frother, the more the foam will dissipate.
I hope this information helps you find the best frother for your non-dairy, plant based frothing needs! Happy frothing!
One More Coffee Recipe Idea…
I also used this frother to emulsify MTC oil in cold brew coffee. I poured the coffee into the frother jug up to the minimum line, added 1 TBSP of MTC oil. Set it to heat and mix at 140º and, voila! Beautifully emulsified bullet-proof coffee!
If tea lattes are more your jam, try this recipe for Chocolate Orange Herbal Tea Latte, a truly delectable treat!
Of course if you are still undecided, maybe the dark lord of the Sith can help you choose…;-)
The Last Bite
Because of their different compositions compared to dairy milk, plant based or non dairy milks can be difficult to froth. While getting a barista bland with additional ingredients like gums and stabilizers can fix that, not everybody wants that in their milk or coffee.
Wands are not a great choice for plant based milks, as the froth they make doesn’t last. Pumps are difficult to heat accurately, hard to clean, and will give your arm a workout to get the froth going.
The overall best frother for almond milk and other non dairy milks is an electric frother, which allows for precise temperature control and creates delicious, creamy frothed milk.
Happy frothing!
For our full list of reviews of allergen free food and related products, please visit our review page. For our full list of recipes, please visit our complete recipe list. If you’d like recipes for specific dietary issues, head to these pages for all our gluten free recipes, dairy free recipes, vegan recipes, soy free recipes, nut free recipes, low carb recipes, egg free recipes, and shellfish free recipes.
