Regular Coffeeness readers will know that I've changed my tune when it comes to standalone milk frothers like the Nespresso Aeroccino 3.
Regular Coffeeness readers will know that I’ve changed my tune when it comes to standalone milk frothers like the Nespresso Aeroccino 3.
As it happens, I’ve been reviewing some pretty nifty devices lately and I can now see the attraction. Especially if you don’t own an espresso machine or cappuccino maker. After all, what shouldn’t French press and moka pot users be able to enjoy delicious milk foam too?
With all that said, I certainly haven’t changed my tune when it comes to the coffee capsule machines Nespresso is famous for. Needless to say I used freshly ground coffee during my Nespresso Aeroccino 3 review!
Anyway, keep reading below to find out whether this milk frother is worth buying.
Compact milk frother
Nespresso Aeroccino 3 Milk Frother
Great for cold milk foam
Solid build
Attractive design
Compact footprint
Makes hot and cold foam
Rather expensive
Limited capacity
Table of Contents
Nespresso Aeroccino 3 Design and Features
I paid $68.00 for the Nespresso Aeroccino 3, so I had fairly high expectations. I mean, you can spend a whole lot less on a good milk frother with more features. Feel free to check out my guide to the best milk frothers if you need proof.
With that said, plenty of folks just want a simple device that’ll do the job at the push of a button. And the Nespresso Aeroccino 3 certainly delivers in that regard. Seriously, there’s only one button to deal with, so you really can’t mess up. Well, I guess you could overfill the thing and create quite a big mess, but you get what I mean.
In terms of its design, the Nespresso Aeroccino 3 is nice and compact and actually looks quite sleek and sophisticated. Personally, I’m a fan of the attractive ribbed plastic housing, and the thing feels very well-built.
Still, you should be aware of the fact that the compact design means the Aeroccino 3 can prepare very limited amounts of milk foam. In other words, you can forget about making a standard latte macchiato unless you’re willing to run two frothing cycles.
On the other hand, if you’re a cafe au lait drinker, the 8.1-ounce (240-milliliter) hot milk capacity will be more than enough.
At this point I should mention that the Nespresso Aeroccino 3 also has a cold foam function. You simply hold the button for a couple of seconds rather than pressing once. While I’m not a fan of cold froth in my iced coffee, I can tell you that this frother produces the best cold foam I’ve seen.
Nespresso Aeroccino 3 Milk Frother in Use
The Nespresso Aeroccino sits on a base that’s kind of like what comes with an electric kettle. Inside the frother there are clearly labeled level markers for milk froth and plain hot milk.
During my testing I used full-fat milk, and let me tell ya – the Aeroccino 3 creates incredibly pillowy and well-structured foam. Sure, you don’t get much out of the thing, but I enjoyed more than one delicious espresso macchiato.
Incidentally, Nespresso includes a picture of a beautiful latte (replete with latte art) in its promotional materials for the Aeroccino 3. Well, I’ll have to burst your bubble, because there’s no way you’re making pretty designs with the milk froth from this device. It’s simply too thick. Besides, I had a hard time keeping the foam from separating, and ended up using a spoon rather than pouring from the frother.
With all that said, the Nespresso Aeroccino 3 worked very quickly and quietly, producing milk foam and hot milk at what I consider to be the perfect temperature. And as I mentioned earlier, the cold foam function is truly awesome.
As for non-dairy milk, you can count on pretty decent results from oat, soy and almond milk. However, the Aeroccino 3 has been designed primarily as a frother for dairy milk with a higher fat content, so don’t expect dairy-free miracles!
Cleaning
As with just about all the electric milk frothers I’ve reviewed, the Nespresso Aeroccino 3 features a non-stick coating inside the flask itself. And as with all those other models, the coating just kind of works.
During my testing I found myself having to scrub the bottom of the flask to remove milk residue after each cycle. That’s not to say the milk had burned in there, just that it had started to stick to the bottom.
Anyway, it’s not a huge deal, and cleaning the Aeroccino 3 pretty much involves giving it a good rinse after each use. Oh, and I’d recommend removing the whisk and giving that a good rinse, too.
While the milk flask is waterproof, it’s certainly not dishwasher-friendly. Plus, you should make sure the whole thing is dry before reattaching it to the base.
Verdict: Nespresso Aeroccino 3 Milk Frother
Compact milk frother
Nespresso Aeroccino 3 Milk Frother
Great for cold milk foam
Solid build
Attractive design
Compact footprint
Makes hot and cold foam
Rather expensive
Limited capacity
I have to be honest and say that the Nespresso Aeroccino is a little overpriced in my opinion. Sure, it does everything it’s supposed to do, and it looks pretty nice.
Still, in a crowded milk frother market, the Aeroccino 3 just doesn’t offer enough to make it stand out. Especially given the fact that something like the Instant Pot Milk Frother costs way less and offers superior functionality.
Then again, Nespresso is a trusted brand and the Aeroccino 3 is certainly well-made and reliable. Just promise me you won’t give in and buy a Nespresso coffee capsule machine as well!
Now it’s over to you. What’s your experience using the Nespresso Aeroccino 3? Share your thoughts in the comments section!
