If you prefer your coffee cappuccino style, no doubt you appreciate the rich, creamy foam that sits on top. But trying to recreate the coffee shop experience at home can be a hit and miss affair when it comes to making frothy milk.

Home espresso coffee machines with a milk frothing attachment, often produce rather lacklustre results. But with the right tools and a little know how, you can easily produce a cafe-style cappuccino to be proud of. (The pump action style frothers seem to produce a much denser quality of foam than other styles.)



Step 1: 
Measuring the milk

Pour the required amount of cold milk into your milk frothing jug and pop it into the microwave, minus the plunger.


Step 2: 
Heating the milk

You need to heat the milk to a temperature that’s hot but not boiling. Heating 150mls (around 5oz) of milk, on a high setting for around 90 seconds works well.

Step 3: 
Frothing the milk

Remove your milk jug from the microwave and place the plunger in. Start pumping! For the very best froth you should pump the plunger quite vigorously for at least 30 seconds. Take care not to bring the plunger above the top of the milk as this introduces larger air bubbles.


Concentrate on the milk at the bottom of the jug. It makes a great workout for your biceps! Once you’ve finished plunging, your milk should have at least doubled in volume. The milk in your jug will be thick, creamy and slightly runny. You can finish at this step if you’re happy with the results.

Step 4: 
Reheating and expanding the froth

All that frothing action may slightly cool the milk. If you prefer a hotter drink, pop the milk frother back into the microwave for another 10-20 seconds. Take it back out and allow it to stand for around 20 seconds while the foam contracts and thickens further.

You’ll be amazed at the amount of thick, foamy milk froth produced. Looking into your jug you’ll notice the bottom layer of hot milk. The next layer is the thickened, creamy milk and finally the thick, dense foam.

Step 5: 
Topping your drink

All that’s left now is to pour your delicious frothy milk onto your cup of coffee, chocolate or drink of choice. The best way of doing this is to hold a spoon against the froth while allowing the milk at the bottom of the jug to pour out first.

Then lift the spoon slightly, allowing the foamy milk to follow it. When the foam stops pouring out, you can simply spoon out the thick froth that’s left. It will sit beautifully on top of your drink. Sprinkle on a dusting of chocolate for the finishing touch. Enjoy!


Yes, it’s a little tiring, but it is absolutely worth it. The milk volume increases by about 4 times and it produces a wonderful, thick and foamy froth. You should leave it to stand for half a minute, then you use a spoon to hold the froth back and let the milk flow into your coffee cup. Next follows the foamy milk and finally, the thick froth that you can scoop onto the top of your coffee. Delicious.

Things Needed:

•  Milk 
•  Microwave oven 
• Milk frother with plunger 
• Spoon 
• Cup or mug 

Tips and Warnings: 

• A decent froth can be obtained with most types of milk, including soya. However some people find frothing works best with skim or half fat milk. 
• When heating the milk for the first time, don’t let it get too hot as it won’t froth as well. Slightly hotter than warm is ideal. Be careful when reheating the frothed milk as it rises up very quickly. 
• Milk frothers also work with cold milk but it’s difficult to obtain as much dense foam as with heated milk. By warming the milk before using the plunger, you can obtain a hotter beverage and more foam than when heating a cold froth. 
• Heating the froth from cold will cause the froth to rise up often before the milk at the bottom has properly heated. 
• Plunger style milk frothers are very easy to use and produce excellent results. 
• It mustn’t get too hot otherwise it won’t froth as well.