Product Reviewed:
Capresso froth TEC Automatic Milk Frother
A big part of the appeal of those pricey, specialty coffee drinks? The dollop of foamy, frothy milk on top! It gives a pretty and polished finish, whether it’s drizzled with caramel, studded with cocoa powder or just heaped on plain.
You can certainly find cheaper versions of at-home milk frothers (you can nab a small hand-held version for less than $20), but the froth TEC is far less messy — no accidentally spattering milk everywhere! — and creates a more coffee-shop-authentic foam. But since it retails for $90 to 100, it is best suited for the diehard. Someone with a daily chain coffee shop habit could break even in a few weeks.
In about five minutes, the froth TEC can froth up to 10 ounces of milk (including soy milk) and has three temperature settings: cold for making iced lattes and cappuccinos; warm for making drinks for kids; and hot for everything else. You can also use the froth TEC to simply heat a beverage such as hot cider. It’s quiet during operation and small enough to tuck into a kitchen cabinet.
Though I’m not a coffee drinker, I was able to recreate my very favorite Starbucks order: a vanilla steamer (see my recipe below). I also used it to make frothy hot cocoa for my kids one cold day. I loved that I could pour the milk and homemade cocoa mix into the pitcher and let the froth TEC blend, heat and froth the drinks all at once. An extra perk: Using fat-free milk actually results in the thickest, densest froth — so you can save calories and still feel like you’re having an indulgent drink.
Besides the hefty price tag, the only downside to the froth TEC is that, though it’s dishwasher safe, some milk tends to cook on the bottom of the pitcher. It can be hard to completely clean it without hand washing. There are also some small parts that could get misplaced.
Simple Vanilla Steamer
Recipe by Sally Kuzemchak, MS, RD
Ingredients
8 ounces fat-free milk
1½ teaspoons honey
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 to 3 drops almond extract (optional)
Directions
In froth TEC
- Place the froth enhancer and disc in the pitcher and add all ingredients. Place pitcher on the heating platform and select “hot.”
- When finished, pour into a mug, spooning on any remaining froth, and serve.
On the stovetop
- Place milk, honey and extracts in a small saucepan and heat until steaming.
