Best milk frothers for lattes and cappuccino

Top pick: Breville Milk Café. It's the one that behaves most like a café steamer — a stainless jug that heats and froths to a temperature you set, and it makes enough for two lattes or cappuccinos in one go. Bigger, pricier, but the results are the closest to steamed milk.

Who the others suit:

• Dreo Baristamaker — best all-round countertop frother if you want hot and cold foam at the push of a button without the Breville price.
• Nespresso Aeroccino 3 — small, simple, and the classic pick for one cappuccino at a time.
• Keurig K-Froth — a stainless pitcher that shuts off by itself; handy if you already have a Keurig setup.
• Smeg Mini — tiny footprint and looks the part on a counter; fine for a single cup.
• HadinEEon — a straightforward electric countertop frother for everyday use.
• Handheld whisks (Zulay, NIUTA) — no heating, so best for cold foam, matcha or finishing a drink; not a substitute for steamed milk.

For real latte and cappuccino texture, go countertop with heating; keep a handheld only as a backup.