How to make milk foam

How to make milk foam?

It's a question you may have asked yourself if you've been to a specialty coffee shop.

You've probably noticed that baristas take great care while heating and frothing milk.

This is because frothing milk isn't just a cosmetic trick to create a beautiful latte art design, it actually changes the flavor and texture of the coffee you're about to drink.

That's why there are some important guidelines to follow to do it correctly and not spoil the drink.

And if you're wondering how to make milk foam at home, we'll give you all the tricks you need to prepare your favorite drink. But first, a little theory.

Milk foam is not just an aesthetic issue, but also affects the taste and texture.

What is milk foam?

Milk foam is created when we mix steam and air into the milk while heating it.

Milk is made up of several natural chemical compounds, but two are important for making milk foam.

Milk contains whey and casein proteins. When these proteins are heated, their structure changes and air bubbles form, which is what gives it its texture.

The goal is to create tiny bubbles that give a creamy and homogeneous texture to our milk .

Milk also has fat, and although the fat actually destabilizes the foam created by the proteins when heated with air, it gives the milk a very pleasant texture.

Generally, frothing milk is easier with skimmed or semi-skimmed milk (because they contain less fat). But the flavor and texture are creamier with whole milk.

So, milk foam is milk that has been heated with air and steam, making it foamy and silky smooth.

What is milk foam used for?

Milk foam - or frothed milk - is used to complete our coffee-based drinks.

There are many drinks we can create with whipped milk, and it's a very popular way to drink coffee . We can make flat whites , café con leche, cortados, lattes, iced lattes ... and for all of them, milk is an essential ingredient.

If the milk is well heated and frothed, the drinks can be delicious, but if it isn't (for example, if we heated it too much and it has burned), we ruin the coffee.

That's why how to properly froth milk is important if you're a coffee lover... and you like to drink it with milk. If we are not careful when heating and frothing milk we can ruin the coffee.

How to make milk foam

The basis for frothing milk, as we've seen, is to heat it with air and steam. This way, we'll obtain a silky, frothy texture.

Espresso machines typically have a metal tube-shaped attachment that heats the milk and froths it. If we had one, we'd simply pour cold milk into a pitcher and insert the tube. Air and steam emerge from the tube.

We must ensure that all the milk is heated evenly. The air and steam create a vortex that foams the milk and cream. But it's important not to overheat the milk during this process .

If we heat milk too much, it will burn and lose some of its texture. The resulting drink, when mixed with coffee, would be quite disappointing and even burnt. So...

What is the right temperature for frothing milk?

The SCA recommends heating milk for coffee to between 55–65°C. The maximum temperature before scalding would be 70°C and the minimum 50°C.

The International Dairy Journal has published a study showing that skimmed milk foam is most stable at 45°C.

On the other hand, milk fat has a detrimental effect on the foam formation and stability of whole milk, especially if it is only heated between 15 and 45°C.

The study shows that UHT processed whole milk foam is most stable at 65°C.

In addition, fat heated to the correct temperature is sweet, giving our coffee a natural sweetness without the need for sugar or other sweeteners.

When frothing milk it is important not to burn it.

How to make milk foam at home

But not all of us have—or want—an espresso machine at home. Although that doesn't mean we should rule out the possibility of making it at home if we know how to froth milk without a machine.

To do this we can use several methods:

Using a milk frother : Using a milk frother like this Hario Z is very easy. First, heat the milk to the right temperature (between 45 and 65 degrees) in a container. Then, insert the milk frother, turn it on, and whisk the milk slowly until you get the right texture. 
Using a cocktail shaker : Another way to froth milk is with a cocktail shaker and a microwave. Heat the milk and place it in the shaker. Then stir it until you get the desired consistency and place it back in the microwave for a second blast. This will help the foam settle.

With a bowl and a mixer : You might be wondering how to froth milk with a mixer, and it's quite simple. Heat the milk and place it in a bowl. Then, using a hand or electric mixer, whisk it until you get the right consistency.

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How to make milk foam with plant-based milk

It is possible to make milk foam for our favorite beverage with a plant-based drink, such as oat or soy milk.

A priori, it is more complicated since they do not have the same chemical composition as cow's milk, but it is possible.

This is because many brands have developed plant-based drinks with a higher concentration of protein and fat.

The methods to follow would be the same as those described above. But we must ensure that the plant-based milk we use is suitable for this purpose.

Otherwise, the plant-based drink may not foam or may not hold its foam.

It is possible to make milk foam at home

Enjoy…

Now that you know how to make milk foam at home, or anywhere else, all that's left is to choose a good coffee to use as a base.

At Ineffable Coffee, we have several varieties of fresh, seasonal, and freshly roasted coffees that are ideal for mixing with milk.

All you have to do is practice, and in no time you'll be making flat whites and lattes worthy of a competition barista.