One of the most loved things about cappuccinos or lattes at a specialty coffee shop is the creamy milk frothing on top. The same thick, luscious toping can now be created at home with a milk frother. While there are many different types of frothers available, the Breville Milk Café Electric frother stands out.
Why Purchase a Stand Alone Milk Frother?
Having a standalone milk frother can be very beneficial. If you own an Aeropress or a Moka pot, then you are already making espresso style coffee, with the frother you can make additional beverages like Café au lait, cappuccino or a macchiato. A good quality frother can add a wide range of cold coffee beverages for summer enjoyment which can include alcoholic coffee beverage like Irish coffee or eggnog latte and many others. It can also be used for making hot chocolate.
Features
The Breville Milk Cafe is a jug style frother that merges the milk heating component and frothing together. An induction coil is used to heat the milk while a motorised whisk spins to create the foam. A single, simple dial in the front of the machine controls the device allowing you to select a range of temperatures from cold all the way to nearly boiling. The high temperature is ideal for making hot chocolate because the chocolate chips added to the milk melt easily while the machine is busy foaming. If you prefer frothing at lower temperatures for your cold drinks, that too possible with this unit. The see-through lid allows you to see the progress of frothing.
The unit is very efficient working really fast, taking just seconds with the press on a single button to make the perfect foam. Another useful feature is that you don’t need to know which temperatures are best for creating the ideal foam for cappuccino; the frother highlights it for your convenience. Finally the unit shuts off automatically once the selected temperature is reached.
The jug of the Breville frother is nice large size. When filled to capacity, it holds 16 ounces which is sufficient milk for several drinks. A sensor lets you know if you go over the maximum capacity, so you don’t overfill. There is even a built-in measuring cup in the lid. So when you need to add extras like shaved chocolate, cocoa or other trimmings, you can easily measure them and then add them directly to the jug of the frother. The unit includes two frothing discs for different types of drinks. Hence if you want to make velvety milk, the latte frothing disc will work best but if you want smooth foamy froth then use the cappuccino disk. When not in use the discs can be stored at the designated spot at the back of the machine.
Cleaning
Cleaning the Milk Cafe is a breeze. All the stainless jug requires is a good rinse with some soap without the need for scrubbing. There are no hidden corners where milk can collect and burn over time, nor are there any electronic elements in the jug. Alternatively the jug and discs can just be dumped in the dishwasher for thorough washing.
Final Word
The BMF600XL from Breville is a solid product that is simple to use and does its job well. It requires very little maintenance and the fact that it is a good looking gadget is an added bonus. People who have used it, give it a very high rating, claiming that it is a reliable frother.
A few minor complaints that were mentioned by the reviewers include the fact that a minimum of 8 ounces of milk must be added to the jug for it to work properly. Also, the discs are held by magnetism and they may become lose if they are not properly cleaned. Lastly, if it is filled to the capacity of 16 ounces, there are chances that it may overflow if care is not exercised.
