Types of Milk for Frothing
15 milk types for foaming
As many coffee lovers enjoy their coffee with milk, milk frothing is a key coffee-making skill. But it’s not only about the technique, choosing the right milk for frothing is also important. In this article, we discuss 15 types of milk that you can use for frothing, what milk won’t froth, and answer some common questions about foaming milk.
What milk froths?
There are many types of milk or milk substitutes that froth pretty well. Although not all of them produce creamy and stable foam, most of them will give you a decent frothy texture.
15 frothable kinds of milk
A list of milk types that you can use for frothing:
- Whole milk
- Semi-skimmed milk
- Skimmed milk
- Lactose-free milk
- Goat milk
- Sheep milk
- Buffalo milk
- Condensed milk
- Evaporated milk
- Soy milk
- Almond milk
- Macadamia milk
- Oat milk
- Cashew milk
- Hemp milk
The above are the types of milk that are possible to make a froth with but bear in mind that they have different frothing qualities and not all of them produce a great foam or are easy to use.
What milk is best for frothing?
What kind of milk makes the best foam? The best foam you will get from full-fat cow’s milk. Why? It’s because the fat helps in the process of frothing and increases the taste sensations as it transfers more aromas.
What milk should you use for steaming?
Full-fat cow’s milk is best for steaming as it creates rich creamy foam enhancing the taste of coffee. Having said that, you can use almost any type of milk or milk substitute for steaming, no fat or full-fat milk can be used. Apart from that, what really matters is your taste and personal preferences.
What is the best milk to froth for cappuccino?
If you are a beginner home barista, we recommend low-fat and skimmed milk for cappuccino. This milk is the easiest to froth for beginners. It forms large foam bubbles and stable foam. Also, long-life milk will give you a good froth for a cappuccino.
What percent milk is best for frothing?
There are different opinions on this. In our opinion, 2% milk is the best frothing because it froths easily and creates a light foamy texture. However, many baristas prefer whole milk for frothing as it gives a thicker foam adding creaminess to coffee. Comparing the two, full-fat milk is more difficult to work with and 2% milk is easier to froth for beginners.
What milk will not froth?
Although almost all kinds of milk can produce foam, fat-free milk or old milk won’t froth well. An example of a milk type that won’t froth is rice milk as it has a very low content of fat.
Will evaporated milk froth?
Yes, evaporated milk will froth. To froth evaporated milk, warm it up first in the microwave or on the stove and froth it with a handheld milk frother. You can also froth cold evaporated milk for iced coffees.
Will condensed milk froth?
Yes, condensed milk will froth. Actually, there are many latte and cappuccino recipes with condensed milk. However, a word of caution here: you don’t want to use a steam wand for that as condensed milk can clog it up. Also be careful heating up condensed milk, as it can burn very quickly.
Is cold or warm milk better for frothing?
What happens if you froth cold milk? Can cold milk froth?
Cold milk is better for frothing than warm milk. The colder the milk, the better it also steams. If possible keep your steaming jug chilled. Warm, hot, or old milk doesn’t froth very well, it will produce a lot of large bubbles.
Summary
So here you have some basics about the types of milk which are good for frothing and steaming. Although all of those on our list will produce some foam, remember that only some are suitable for drawing detailed latte patterns (it’s better to save yourself the unnecessary struggle!)
