Best Coffee Machine With Milk Frother: 16 Options

For homemade barista-grade coffee, you need espresso and milk froth. Let’s explore the best coffee machine with milk frother.

In a rush? The best coffee machine with a milk frother for most home coffee drinkers is the Breville Barista or Barista Pro, also known as the Sage Barista Express.

Gone are the days when you could only drink an authentic latte in a coffee shop. Now you can find quality espresso machines that fit on your countertop and don’t cost a fortune.

If you love to experiment in the kitchen, then you know a coffee machine with a milk frother is an essential addition. I’ve compiled a list of the best options for home baristas, so all you need to worry about is perfecting your skills. Check out these espresso-with-sugar recipes for inspiration.

What To Look For In A Coffee Machine With A Milk Frother

When searching for a coffee machine with a milk frother, prioritize frothing quality, user-friendliness, ease of cleaning, capacity, and durability. Consider your budget and any extra features like programmable settings or built-in grinders. We also recommend evaluating any purchase based on these criteria.

Quality Materials

Since coffee machines aren’t cheap, you want your investment to be worthwhile. The materials used can tell you a lot about the quality of the coffee machine.

Stainless steel is definitely something worthy of your attention. It is durable and strong, making it hard to break. Sadly, today, most coffee makers have plastic inside or entirely made of plastic.

Plastic is not as durable as metal and is also more prone to scratches, so your coffee machine will start to look worn quickly.

Some coffee drinkers also find that metal brewers make cleaner-tasting coffee. This is because plastic tends to absorb smells and flavors, so your coffee can eventually taste stale. You’ll have to clean your machine often to minimize this.

A metal coffee machine will be more pricey than a plastic one due to the higher quality. A cheaper middle-ground is a brewer with a metal interior and a plastic exterior.

Brand Reputation

While we love supporting the underdog, if you’re spending much money on a product, you want to ensure it works as intended. Brands like Breville, Mr. Coffee, Nespresso, and Keurig have long established themselves as leaders in the coffee industry. If you decide to opt for a smaller brand, check out the reviews from other customers first.

Ease Of Use 

For beginner home baristas, the machine should be easy to use. In this case, an automatic or semi-automatic machine is your best bet. Many of these machines have touch screens that guide you through the process and allow you to customize your drinks.

An automatic machine handles the entire brewing process for you, while a semi-automatic brewer gives you some control. For example, a semi-automatic machine may grind the beans and set the water temperature for you, but you will still need to pull the shot yourself.

Exactly what functions an automated brewer handles varies per machine; some prepare milk froth for you, while others require you to use a steam wand yourself. Your choice depends on whether your priority is creating great coffee drinks with little effort or if you love to immerse yourself in the process.

How To Pick The Best Coffee Machine With A Frother 

Budget

A quality espresso machine doesn’t come cheap, but at the same time, you don’t need to buy the most expensive option either. If you’re on a limited budget, pod brewers are still high-quality but are cheaper as there are fewer components than espresso machines.

Cleaning & Maintenance

Nobody likes cleaning; look for coffee machines that are easy to maintain.

A handy feature is if the machine has a one-touch cleaning system. It is super convenient if parts like the milk tank, drip tray, or filter holder are removable, so you can wash them easily.

Learning Curve

If you love to test your skills in the kitchen, you’ll enjoy the challenge of a manual coffee machine because you’re in control of every step, from the temperature of the water to how long the brewing process takes. If you like a quick cup of Joe with no effort, then a device that brews pod coffee or an automatic espresso machine is your best bet. You must also consider the effort you’re willing to put into frothing the milk.

Some machines come with either manual or automatic milk frothers.

Manual wands are the best option if you want to brew many different types of coffee. You can use them to warm up your milk or make smooth microfoam. Automatic frothers can heat and froth milk but lack the precision of a manual steam wand.

With that said, manual steam wands require skill. Not all coffee lovers want to put time and effort into learning how to use them; if you want hassle-free froth, an automatic milk frother is for you.

Taste

Pod brewers and low-pressure coffee machines on this list can brew espresso-like coffee, but it’s not an authentic shot of espresso and will lack the full flavor. If you consider yourself a true coffee connoisseur, you want the real deal. For reference, true espresso is brewed with fine grounds when hot water is forced through a compact coffee puck with at least seven bars of pressure, but nine is the average.

If you know you like coffee but wouldn’t consider yourself a coffee snob, a Nespresso machine or a Keurig is just fine.

Versatility 

If you’re not strictly an espresso person, you should definitely think about the versatility of your future coffee maker. Some espresso machines today have one-button options for cappuccino and latte, but others have even more options or different integrated brewing systems.

It’s even better if you can make drinks besides coffee, like tea or hot chocolate. If you like to have this option, go for a machine with a separate hot water dispenser. 

Capacity 

When we talk about capacity, we talk about how much coffee you can get from your coffee maker.  If you live alone, a single-serve machine would probably be enough for your daily needs, but machines that make a full carafe are great if your whole family are coffee lovers. 

Size

Coffee machines tend to be quite large, and how much space you have on your countertop will narrow down the options.

1. Breville Barista Pro  

The Breville Barista Pro is a pricey bean-to-cup coffee machine but for a good reason. It’s a semi-automatic brewer; you can make coffee at the push of a button, but you still get to control how much coffee you brew and the size, whether you want a single shot or lungo.

There is also a grinder built-in to this machine. You can even play around with the grind size if you fancy experimenting. The manual milk frother operates via a stream wand.

With enough practice, you can brew a frothy cappuccino or a light latte. It even comes with a stainless steel milk jug, water filters, a cleaning kit, and a dose-trimming tool, which you would need to buy on your own otherwise.

You can opt for either the basic or pro model: the latter offers an LCD panel and more granular control over grind sizes and heats faster. The Breville Barista brand is also sold under the Sage Barista brand. Read our list of Sage Barista tips.

2. Mr. Coffee One-Touch CoffeeHouse 

Mr. Coffee One-Touch CoffeeHouse is a semi-automatic espresso machine. A semi-automatic machine like this is a top pick for those new to brewing coffee; it will automate the water temperature and pressure, but you will still have to prepare and pull the shot.

This brewer has a built-in automatic milk frother, so you won’t have to worry about burning the milk with a steam wand as the frother prepares perfect foam every time. You can choose between a latte, cappuccino, or classic espresso shot, or Americano.

The machine is also easy to clean because the milk tank is detachable. A downside is that some of the interior components are plastic, so they are not of the highest quality.

3. Ninja CFP301 DualBrew Pro-System 12-Cup 

The Ninja DualBrew Pro-System is the best of both worlds; it can be used with ground coffee or pods. Plus, it has an independent hot water system, so you can make tea.

This machine is incredibly versatile. There are four different brewing size choices for coffee pods, and you can go up to a 12-cup carafe when brewing with freshly ground coffee.

There are four brewing styles for pods and grounds: classic, rich, over-ice, and specialty. The specialty brew is concentrated, rich, espresso-like coffee. Still, you won’t get the real café-standard espresso using pods, but it’s pretty close.

The DualBrew has an automatic fold-away frother made from plastic, and you can easily detach it and wash it in a dishwasher. The milk frother can’t warm up your milk, so you’ll have to heat it first.

4. Ninja Specialty Fold-Away Frother 10-Cup 

The Ninja Specialty is a drip coffee maker, but unlike the Ninja Dual Brew, it only accepts ground coffee. There are six brewing sizes going up to a 10-cup carafe.

You can still choose between the classic, rich, over-ice, and specialty brewing styles. The fold-away built-in milk-frothing whisk works like a steam wand, but it doesn’t heat the coffee. You simply hold your milk up to the wand and allow it to froth until the correct consistency is reached.

5. Gevi 20 Bar Compact Professional Espresso Coffee Machine With Milk Frother

This Gevi espresso machine is perfect for those with limited space; the widest part is 12 inches. You can control the size of your espresso, whether you want a single shot, doppio, or lungo. Plus, you can get hot water to make some tea or hot chocolate.

What makes it different than some other espresso machines is that Gevi is also compatible with Nespresso pods. So when you feeling lazy, you can just pop in the capsule and enjoy your coffee within minutes. However, the pod adapter doesn’t come with the machine, so you will need to buy it separately.

It comes with a classic manual steam wand made from stainless steel, so it’s very powerful and durable. While this can be a downside since it can take you some time to master it, it can make a really nice textured microfoam.

6. Ninja CP307 Hot And Cold Brewed System 

As with other Ninja machines from this list, you can make regular coffee and espresso-like specialty coffee, but if you love cold brew, this machine is for you. It also has six brewing sizes.  

What makes this machine even more special is you can brew tea. It comes with a tea basket you can use to brew tea bags or loose-leaf. Like the other devices, the automatic, fold-away frother can’t warm your milk.

7. Hamilton Beach FlexBrew Trio 2-Way Coffee Maker

The Hamilton Beach FlexBrew is a programable, single-serve, 2-way coffee maker. It’s a regular drip coffee maker, but it’s also compatible with K-cups, so it won’t brew barista-style espresso, but what you get is still quality java.

It comes with an automatic frother that can warm up cold milk and make hot milk froth. Plus, the frother can work at the same time as you brew coffee, cutting down your brewing time. Its power base can be folded up when you don’t use the frother, so it saves some space on the countertop.

8. De’Longhi Stilosa Manual Espresso Machine 

The De’Longhi Stilosa is a manual machine, so you’re in charge of the whole process – from grinding and tamping to pulling the shot. This also means you must get a separate grinder or use pre-ground coffee.

This machine has a 15-bar pressure pump, which makes great-tasting espresso with a lot of flavor and body. The downside is you can only brew a single or double espresso shot. The steam wand is also manual, so it will take time to master.

Although some parts are from steel, the inside of the machine is mostly plastic. But, since it’s pretty cheap for an espresso machine, you get what you paid for.

9. Keurig K-Café

This single-serve machine works only with K-Cup pods. If you’re on a budget, the Keurig K-Café is much more affordable than some other single-serve machines on the list.

You can make an espresso, latte, or cappuccino almost instantly. It has a fully automatic milk frother, so it doesn’t require a lot of input from you. Plus, it has a cold foam option if you like iced coffee.

Since it doesn’t use pressure to extract the shot, it only makes espresso-style coffee. The coffee will be as short as espresso but not as rich and full-bodied.

The whole machine is made out of plastic, except for the milk frother. It’s not as sturdy as some of the stainless-steel machines on the list, but this makes it light and compact. 

The machine alerts you when it’s time to clean it, and the descaling is done with a touch of a button. Plus, the frother is completely detachable, and you can wash it in a dishwasher, which is a real-time-saver. Check out our guide on the best coffee choices for Keurig reusable K-cups.

10. EspressoWorks All-in-One Espresso & Cappuccino Maker

The EspressoWorks All-In-One brewer has everything you need to brew home espresso; it comes with a coffee grinder, a portafilter, a cup to froth your milk, a spoon with a tamp on the end, and two cups. It also has a built-in milk frother.

It brews authentic espresso with a heavenly layer of crema on top. The manual steam wand allows you to create any drink you want, whether it’s a flat white or a cappuccino. The water reservoir is detachable for easy cleaning.

11. Swan Retro Pump Espresso Coffee Machine

The Swan Retro Pump Espresso machine is a funky-looking brewer that is sure to be a conversation piece when you have guests over. This retro-style machine comes in eight colors, from classic black to bright pink, so there’s something for all tastes.

More importantly, it makes fantastic coffee. It’s compatible with ground coffee and easy-serve espresso (ESE) pods. It uses up to 15 bars of pressure to create authentic espresso.

Learn more in our ESE coffee pods explainer.

The manual steam wand allows you to create any coffee drink you can dream of, but since it’s short, some customers find it hard to control. Another downside is the machine needs around five minutes to heat up to brew hot coffee, so it’s not the quickest option on this list. Cleaning is easy as the milk wand and water tank are removable.

12. Nespresso Lattissima Pro By De’Longhi

The Lattissima Pro is a pod machine with a De’Longhi espresso extraction system and a 19-bar pressure pump, so it makes really flavorful and rich coffee. Besides espresso, you can set it to make a latte or cappuccino or just a cup of warm milk.

It has an automatic built-in milk frother, making a really nice froth, and you can adjust the texture.

The most convenient feature is the smart automatic clean option. With it, you can rinse the milk system after every use. You can remove the milk tanker, wash it in a dishwasher or put the leftover milk in a fridge.

13. Nespresso Lattissima One By De’Longhi 

The Nespresso Lattissmina One is a fully automatic coffee machine. It’s a single-serve coffee maker that works with capsules. The 19-bar pressure pump will make you rich coffee every time, and you can choose between a single shot or lungo.

It has an automatic, single-serve milk frother. You can set it for a macchiato, cappuccino, or latte and have the right amount of froth for your favorite coffee every time. It’s also easy to clean.

The milk tank and water tank are detachable and dishwasher-safe. Plus, it will alert you when it’s time to descale. Check out our Nespresso vs. Keurig guide.

14. SOWTECH Coffee Machine

The SOWTECH coffee machine is ideal for those on a budget who don’t want to sacrifice their morning java. The device is easy to use as the temperature settings and milk frother are automatic. There is no need to fiddle with buttons as you simply turn the dial to the right to make coffee and the right for milk froth.

However, you don’t have as much freedom with this device as you do with higher-end espresso machines. Plus, since it’s so compact, the water reservoir isn’t big enough to allow you to brew larger carafes of coffee.

15. Jura S8

The Jura S8 effortlessly creates coffee-shop-style java. It has a touch screen that allows you to choose from several different coffee drinks and prepare hot water or steamed milk. You can even program the brewer to make coffee just the way you like it.

This high-end device has a built-in grinder that creates the perfect grinds for your drink every time. It has an automatic steam wand, so you just need to sit back and wait for your coffee.

16. PHILIPS 2200 Series Bean-To-Cup Espresso Machine

The Philips 2200 Series Bean-To-Cup Espresso Machine is a high-quality brewer with a considerably more affordable price point than the Jura offering. It still comes with a touch screen that allows you to customize your coffee. This machine also has a built-in coffee grinder.

The grinder has 12 different settings, so you can make lots of different types of coffee. The steam wand is not automatic, so you will need to learn how to froth milk to make the most of this brewer. It’s also easy to clean and maintain.

It comes with an Aqua Clean water filter which reduces the need to descale the machine. Once it prompts you to replace the filter, it’s good for up to 5000 cups of coffee. The drip tray and the container for the coffee beans are dishwasher safe.

Testing Criteria

We had a look at the reviews, prices, ease of use, and versatility to choose the best espresso machines for the job. A range of pod brewers and professional espresso machines were selected to ensure there’s something for everyone.

Why You Can Trust Me

We’re self-proclaimed coffee snobs here at Full Coffee Roast; we get into the finer details, so you don’t have to. As someone who skimped out on espresso machines in the past, I learned what you need to look for the hard way. If you liked this post, you might find our guide on how to use a milk frother helpful.