Call me snobby, but I’m not really interested in coffee unless foamy milk is involved. Even when I don’t add a sugary syrup or sweet topping, there’s something about sipping on a frothy beverage that feels like a treat. Of course, buying a fancy caffeinated drink from a cafe on the daily adds up, which is why I was excited to learn that my colleague, Senior Home Writer Lisa Schweitzer, would be testing milk frothers to find the best ones for at-home use. Well, after trying out some of the most popular models on the market, she awarded Amazon’s No. 1 bestselling Zulay Kitchen Tornado Milk Frother the title of “best handheld milk frother” — and it happens to be on sale for its best price ever. Brb, adding it to my cart!
Lisa Schweitzer/Yahoo
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Why is it a good deal? 💰
When you consider how much a cappuccino from Starbucks costs — around $5 for the grande size in my neck of the woods — this little doodad will pay for itself within the first week of use. Even its full price is a steal, but at $17, you’re getting it for a record low. (Prices vary between colors.)
Why do I need this? 💰
“While some handheld frothers are less effective than countertop versions, this Amazon No. 1 bestseller and Yahoo editor favorite is an impressive powerhouse that works quickly,” says Schweitzer. “It took me about a second to figure out how to use it (you basically just press the ‘on’ button) and about a minute for it to froth both dairy and almond milk into a cloud of rich and creamy foam.”
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What sets the Tornado apart from other handheld options is its triple-whisk design, which results in even more voluminous foam in a snap. It’s powered by two AA batteries (sold separately), so there aren’t any annoying cords to deal with. Plus, it comes with its own metal stand in case you want to leave it on your counter for easy access.
“Washing the frother is a cinch,” adds Schweitzer. “You run the whisk under hot water and briefly turn it on. That’s it. … I’d recommend it to anyone interested in a budget-friendly frother who doesn’t mind heating the milk separately.” (True, this frother is just for whipping, not warming.)
Not only will this frother have you mixing up drinks that taste like a barista made them, it’ll allow you to perfect your latte art too. (Getty Images)
What reviewers say 💬
Seems Schweitzer is far from being the only Zulay milk frother fan; more than 158,000 Amazon shoppers are singing the brand’s praises too.
Pros 👍
“A cup of tea with a big head of foam is a delight,” swooned one satisfied sipper. “This is my second Zulay frother. The first one was good, but short-lived, and the batteries needed replacing too frequently. The triple head on this creates more foam faster, so the batteries are lasting a lot longer. I use it daily and have not had to change the batteries yet.”
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“Easily and quickly emulsifies cold butter and MCT oil for bulletproof coffee recipes!” exclaimed another enthusiast. “Much stronger than typical frothers, but doesn’t heat up the handle at all. It has replaced my loud Magic Bullet for emulsifying purposes, makes gorgeous froth, is super quiet and stores beautifully.”
“I bought this because it was inexpensive and compact, but I figured it was going to be tossed in the trash,” admitted a former skeptic. “I had never seen a milk frother this small and low-priced before. But it actually works — nicely. I use Oatly full-fat oatmilk. I heat it in the microwave, and then use this little gem for about 2-3 minutes, and I have lovely, thick milk foam. Easy to rinse off too.”
Cons 👎
“They’re not joking around with the name,” wrote a generally pleased pulser. “This thing is powerful! Quickly froths; just make sure you don’t overfill your cup before using this, or you will have a massive mess. I like the storage stand it comes with.”
“If you just want to mix your cream in your coffee, be ready for spillage unless you’re using a large cup!” echoed a final froth aficionado. “A lot of times, describing something as a tornado is just a word. Not in this case! … This has some serious power! The button is easy to use, and you can pulse it so that you don’t spill the coffee.”
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Prefer a frother that heats milk as well? Here’s Schweitzer’s top pick:
Amazon
If you have Amazon Prime, you’ll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $35 or more.)
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The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
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