TL;DR: Many coffee enthusiasts choose to purchase an espresso machine with a built-in milk frother for their home barista setup. There are many reasons to opt for an espresso maker with a steam wand or frother included, especially if you want to save space in your kitchen. However, if you’re not a fan of milk coffee drinks and don’t plan on steaming or frothing your milk, an espresso machine without this feature may save you some hassle and funds.

If your go-to coffee drink involves milk (I’m an oat latte fanatic for sure!), then you may be seeking information about espresso machines with built-in milk frothers. There’s a lot to consider about coffee makers capable of this as well as your own experience with milk frothing. Does the world of espresso machines and integrated frothers overwhelm you? It may not be a bad idea to reach out to one of Curated’s Espresso and Coffee Experts for more advice!

In the meantime, I’m here to help you out. As a former barista and daily home espresso consumer, I know a thing or two about achieving my latte goals. First things first: There’s a subtle difference between milk frothers and milk steamers. We’ll discuss these differences as well as everything else you need to know about espresso machines capable of achieving the milk texture and taste you’re seeking.

What Is an Espresso Machine With a Built-In Milk Frother?

Milk frothers have gained popularity in the recent past as an alternative to steam wands or milk-steaming technology. It’s a handy device designed to rapidly whip or stir your milk to achieve an aerated texture similar to the steamed milk you get in your average latte or cappuccino.

While these appliances are useful and help achieve a delicious, frothy texture in any type of milk, espresso machines are rarely outfitted with frothers. Steam wands are integrated into espresso makers more often than not, a simple addition that allows home baristas to steam and foam hot milk for their coffee drinks.

I told you we’d be addressing a very important distinction in this piece. If you’re seeking espresso machines with milk-frothing functions as opposed to steaming, your expectations may need to be altered a bit (unless you purchase an automatic espresso machine with cold foam functionality). Let me explain why.

The primary difference between milk frothers and steam wands is that steam wands are incapable of frothing cold drinks — but they do produce luxurious and silky frothed milk for hot drinks. In addition, steaming and frothing tend to achieve subtle differences in texture compared to one another. Frothing aerates a bit more compared to steaming, achieving a foamier and bouncier texture compared to traditional milk steaming.

Ultimately, you may want to purchase a separate milk frother if you’re seeking cold foam or frothed cold milk for iced coffee drinks. The average espresso machine can’t achieve this even with a built-in milk steamer because heat is integral to this process.

Why Choose an Espresso Machine with a Built-in Milk Frother

While it may seem a bit obvious, it’s important to ask yourself why you may want or choose an espresso machine with integrated milk frothing or steaming capabilities. Here are just some of the reasons to opt for a maker with built-in milk frother options.

You Want Fewer Appliances in Your Kitchen

I own an espresso machine with an integrated steam wand because I knew I wanted to make my favorite milk coffee beverage, and often. However, I also keep a very tidy home with few kitchen appliances overall; I greatly value my countertop staying clear. Opting for a machine with a built-in milk frother (or built-in grinder!) can help you save on premium kitchen space.

You Want to Make Drinks With Milk

Okay, this is definitely the top reason to choose an espresso maker with milk-frothing capabilities (if it weren’t obvious already). If your café drink of choice involves steamed or frothed milk, then you should look at espresso machines capable of helping you achieve this.

You’re Ready to Bring Café-Quality Drinks Into Your Own Home

Achieving a shot of espresso with well-balanced flavor and crema is one thing. Milk texture can also be a difficult task to achieve without the proper equipment. If you want to experience milk coffee drinks with frothed or steamed qualities in your own home, an espresso machine with integrated tech can help you get there.

The good news is that, regardless of your personal experience, most espresso machines come with helpful guides and information to help you get used to how your steam wand works. That way, you can focus on dialing in your ideal grind, brew time, and brewing strength while you froth milk.

If you find that your espresso machine search remains a daunting task, a Curated Coffee and Espresso Expert may be able to help you find one that better suits your experience level!

What to Consider When Buying Espresso Machines With Built-in Milk Frothers

Not only is the process of understanding home espresso machines potentially daunting, but you also need to learn about all of the products out there capable of achieving your coffee brewing process and goals. Here’s what you should consider before purchasing any espresso machines or coffee makers with frothing options.

How Much Space Do You Have?

As previously discussed, you may be seeking a coffee maker with built-in milk frothing capabilities because of your overall kitchen space and setup. But it's still important to know how much space you actually have so that you can find an appliance that fits seamlessly, easily, and ideally where you would like it to be.

The good news is that integrated milk frothers in espresso machines take up very little space. In fact, most options will set you up with a movable steam wand that stays out of the way when not in use. Still, the average espresso machine is typically over 12 inches in every direction, especially when we consider the size of the water tank, drip tray, and more.

What Is Your Budget?

While built-in milk steamers aren't necessarily going to increase the cost of your desired espresso machine, knowing how much you can pay for your new coffee maker is important to figure out before you shop. There are numerous types and budgets for espresso machines, and it's easy to get overwhelmed — another reason to consider reaching out to a Curated Coffee and Espresso Expert for more advice.

What Accessories Do You Need?

Working hand in hand with your budget, understanding the different accessories you might need in order to achieve your favorite coffee drink is a good idea. While most espresso machines will have a milk pitcher and other necessary tools included in their price point, you may want additional pitchers, portafilters, tamping mats, cleaning filters, travel mugs, and more to get the job done.

How Experienced Are You With Espresso?

Practice always makes perfect, but your overall comfort and experience with espresso should dictate the type of espresso machine that you purchase. If you're willing to learn the intricacies of manual espresso machines compared to automatic options, you’ll have more options. But everyone has a different learning curve and preferences when it comes to how much effort needs to be put into their favorite coffee drink.

Different Types of Espresso Machines With Built-in Milk Frothers

Understanding the differences between typical home espresso machines is a good idea. Here’s a brief explanation detailing the different types of espresso machines you might bring home — and all of these types of machines can come equipped with built-in frothers!

Manual

The most complicated espresso machine for beginners, manual machines afford home baristas full control over their espresso shots. While built-in milk steaming is typically an option on machines like this, don’t expect any guidance through this process from your appliance. Manual espresso machines are all about personal experience and customization over your shot extraction, temperature control, and milk frothing from start to finish.

Semi-Automatic

The best of both worlds, a semiautomatic machine offers technological conveniences paired with manual effort. Semi-automatic machines operate differently depending on the brand and model, affording home baristas the option to choose a machine based on their comfort level with espresso. You may manually tamp and steam with these machines, but the same model may have more automation surrounding dosing and extraction, for example.

Automatic

If you have busy mornings or want a machine requiring less hands-on effort, an automatic or super-automatic espresso machine may be your best bet. These appliances are also the only options on this list capable of frothing or foaming cold milk. Certain models may be able to achieve the cold foam you’re seeking at the touch of a button, but keep in mind that automatic machines can get pricey!

Features to Look for in Espresso Machines With Built-in Milk Frothers

Given just how many features espresso machines are outfitted with these days, you may be debating models for a while. Narrowing down what features to look for before you start shopping may help.

Time to Heat Up

Time is everything, especially during your bustling morning routines. If you know you need your coffee first thing, choosing an espresso machine that heats up quickly may be a good idea. Keep in mind that some machines need more time to heat your hot water to steam milk as opposed to pulling shots, and many home espresso machines can’t manage both at the same time.

Capabilities of the Steam Wand or Frother

Have you been using a milk frother as opposed to a steam wand recently? If so, you may need to take a bit more time to understand the capabilities of the average built-in milk frother compared to your separate frothing appliance.

As I previously mentioned, most espresso machines have steam wands instead of milk frothers, a process that achieves slightly different foam and only in hot drink recipes. Milk frothers are foamier and can produce cold foam, but most espresso machines won’t be outfitted with this technology. Know what traits you’re looking for so that you make an informed decision.

Ease of Cleaning

An espresso machine that’s simple to clean is a friend of mine. What components of your new appliance do you want to be dishwasher safe or otherwise easy to clean? Your steam wand should be a high priority when it comes to this topic. Keep an eye out for nonstick or professional stainless steel steam wand coatings if you want to avoid a messy cleanup after every pitcher you steam.

How to Choose the Right Espresso Machine With a Built-in Milk Frother for Your Lifestyle

Still overwhelmed by all of the potential considerations involved in choosing an espresso machine with a built-in milk steamer or frother? Check out these experiences from potential Curated customers and see if any of these needs rings true for you.

Cindy: Dry Cappuccino Lover on a Budget

With only $500 to spend, Cindy wants to find an espresso machine capable of steaming milk well enough for her favorite drink: a dry cappuccino with a double espresso shot. But the budget has proven difficult for Cindy so far. She isn’t afraid of learning how to craft her own drinks at home but needs to stay under her chosen price point.

Features Cindy Should Look for:

• Powerful steam technology
• Some manual features
• On-budget price point

Example: Breville Bambino Plus Espresso Machine

Ray: Hot Latte Drinker in a Bustling Household

Living with four other adults, Ray needs an espresso machine that can handle his hot latte needs as well as everyone else’s. Speed is a must for Ray’s household, as is ease of use, though they’d like to make the switch to freshly ground coffee. But Ray also wants to stick to a machine that’s under $1,000 that’s capable of steaming milk well.

Features Ray Should Look for:

• Quick heat-up time
• Capacity for multiple drinks
• On budget

Example: Breville Barista Touch Espresso Machine

Jordan: Cold Foam Enthusiast Seeking Luxury Machine

Jordan’s been using a separate milk frother for the past year and wants to maintain their favorite drink: an iced latte with cold foam on top. However, they’re not interested in giving up cold foam in exchange for a milk steamer. Likewise, Jordan has a healthy budget to accommodate their needs, seeking convenience and freshly ground beans.

Features Jordan Should Look for:

• Cold-foam technology
• Café-style recipes integrated into the machine
• Super-automatic appliance options

Example: De’Longhi Eletta Explore Espresso Machine

Find the Best Espresso Machines With Built-in Milk Frothers for You

If you’re looking for more advice when it comes to purchasing an espresso machine with a built-in milk frother, one of our Curated Coffee and Espresso Experts can help you find your perfect fit. Reach out to one today and see what options await you!