A Cheap Milk Frother for Better Coffee at Home

A writer for The Verge recently recounted their experience using an inexpensive handheld milk frother to make coffee drinks at home. The story is a first-person account, not a product review, and it describes how a $14 Zulay Kitchen frother became a regular part of the writer's routine.

The writer was inspired by a cream-top iced Americano they tried at a coffee shop in Los Angeles. Back home in Oakland, they decided to try making something similar themselves. The frother, which operates like a small immersion blender, is used by pouring milk into a glass and holding the power button until the desired consistency is reached. With fresh disposable batteries, this takes about 30 seconds to a minute; as the batteries weaken, it takes longer.

The writer notes that the device can also be used to beat eggs, mix protein powder or creatine into drinks, and make hot chocolate, but it has been used mostly for coffee drinks. The cream top they were trying to recreate is a variation of the Einspänner, a Viennese espresso drink traditionally topped with whipped cream. The writer explains that the cream top is lighter than latte foam but heavier than regular whipped cream, and it melts slowly into the coffee.

Without an espresso machine, the writer used concentrated cold brew and later experimented with other variations, including a coconut ube cold foam inspired by a Starbucks advertisement. The overall recommendation is simply to get a frother, with the writer arguing that this cheap and simple model offers good value. They mention that more expensive options exist and that outlets like America's Test Kitchen, Wirecutter, and Bon Appétit have their own recommendations, but they question whether pricier devices can match the pleasure-per-dollar of this $14 model.

The article is a personal testimonial rather than a rigorous comparison. It does not provide objective performance data, longevity testing, or a side-by-side evaluation of different frothers. Readers considering a purchase should treat it as one person's positive experience and seek additional sources for a more comprehensive assessment.