In my guide to the best milk frothers, I awarded the Instant Pot Frother the title of "Best for Latte Art." Needless to say, I wanted to investigate further to see whether this affordable milk frother could really deliver in that regard. So, I bought the Instant Pot 4-in-1 Frother on Amazon for an entirely reasonable $39.99.
In my guide to the best milk frothers, I awarded the Instant Pot Frother the title of “Best for Latte Art.” Needless to say, I wanted to investigate further to see whether this affordable milk frother could really deliver in that regard. So, I bought the Instant Pot 4-in-1 Frother on Amazon for an entirely reasonable $39.99.
In today’s Instant Pot Frother review I’ll discuss the standout features of this compact device as well as my experiences using it. Let’s do this!
Compact and Affordable
Instant Pot 4-in-1 Frother
A consistent performer
Great value
Multiple functions
Cool-touch casing
Quiet and fast
Disappointing spout
Instant Pot Frother Design and Features
As I already mentioned, the Instant Pot 4-in-1 Frother is a very affordable device. In other words, if you don’t have a home espresso machine or super automatic but still want milk foam for your daily coffee, this could be the solution. What’s more, you get quite a few sophisticated features for your money.
The Instant Pot Frother is more than just a one-trick pony. In fact, it offers cold foam, two levels of hot foam and a hot milk function. And seeing as the intuitive control panel is so easy to navigate, you won’t even need to read the user manual to get started.
So what makes this budget-friendly milk frother stand out from the crowd? Well, there’s no denying it’s an attractive device. That is if you appreciate sleek and understated modern design. What’s more, the Instant Pot Frother feels really sturdy and well made.
Sure, there’s an abundance of plastic in the frother’s construction. However, the materials used actually come off as rather premium. I was particularly impressed by how cool the outside of the Instant Pot stays when it’s heating milk. That’s certainly a bonus in my opinion.
Inside, the Instant Pot Frother boasts a non-stick coating that’s supposed to prevent stubborn milk residue. I’ll discuss how well that works a little later. There are also clearly marked maximum fill lines to help prevent overflow.
Oh, and this is another milk frother with a small detachable whisk that you don’t have to remove before pouring.
Speaking of pouring, the manufacturer prides itself on the design of this frother’s spout. As far as they’re concerned, it’s ideal for pouring latte art. So, how well does it actually perform? Keep reading my Instant Pot Frother review to find out.
Instant Pot 4-in-1 Frother in Use
During my testing, I mainly focused on the Instant Pot’s hot foaming capabilities. However, I should tell you that it does a fantastic job creating airy cold foam for iced coffee.
Anyway, I was definitely in the mood for a good cappuccino, so I fired up the fully automatic SMEG Coffee Machine and put the Instant Pot to work. I started out by testing the “Thick Warm Foam” setting, which produced incredibly pillowy and creamy results. What’s more, the temperature of the milk was absolutely ideal for my taste.
Then again, I could see it being a little disappointing for those of you with asbestos mouths.
Satisfied with my delicious coffee drink, I proceeded to test out the “Light Warm Foam” function in an effort to whip up a beautiful latte. To be honest, I really couldn’t tell the difference – the milk froth was almost exactly the same texture. And when it came to pouring latte art I failed miserably.
Unfortunately, the much-hyped spout wasn’t up to the task, and I wasn’t able to maintain a homogenous blend of hot milk and microfoam. That said, I imagine that manipulating the milk with a spoon could produce better results.
Overall, I found the Instant Pot 4-in-1 Frother to be very easy to use, very quiet in operation and extremely fast. In fact, my milk foam was ready in well under a minute. Lastly, I found the Instant Pot’s 10-ounce (296 milliliter) capacity to be ideal for an average-sized specialty coffee drink.
Cleaning
As with most milk frothers, there isn’t much to say in terms of cleaning. Naturally, you should clean the thing really well before using it for the first time. And once you’re finished foaming milk, make sure to rinse it out before the milk residue dries.
During my testing I found the nonstick interior to work fairly well, although I did have to scrub the bottom of the chamber. In other words, the Instant Pot did end up burning a little milk although I couldn’t taste it.
Both the detachable whisk and the lid are dishwasher-safe, although I don’t see why you’d bother.
Verdict: Instant Pot 4-in-1 Frother
Compact and Affordable
Instant Pot 4-in-1 Frother
A consistent performer
Great value
Multiple functions
Cool-touch casing
Quiet and fast
Disappointing spout
While the Instant Pot 4-in-1 Frother might not be as effective for latte art as I’d hoped, I can still recommend it most highly. For the price, this awesome frother has a lot going for it.
Ultimately, the Instant Pot performs to a consistently high standard, producing luxurious milk foam at the perfect temperature. Moreover, it’s sturdy, well-designed and compact enough to fit in any kitchen.
While the Instant Pot won’t convince me to abandon my espresso machine’s steam wand, I could see it being ideal for cafe au lait and hot chocolate enthusiasts.
That’s a wrap on my Instant Pot 4-in-1 Frother review. What’s your experience using this nifty device? Let me know in the comments section!