What we thought – at a glance
- Price: £79
- Weight: 1kg
- Our rating: 4.5/5 stars
- Pros: Stylish design; perfect textured milk; cold milk function; easy to clean; quiet operation; lightweight and portable.
- Cons: Measurement markings are difficult to see; have to end cycle early for plant milks; can't do latte art.
With the price of a high street flat white regularly tipping over the £5 mark, coffee is rapidly becoming a daily luxury – but one that people are reluctant to give up. As highlighted by James Hoffmann’s Cappuccino Index, coffee shop pricing is increasingly out of step with everyday wages. Yet, few of us want to downgrade our morning brew or switch to lower quality whole bean coffee just to protect our wallets.
Bean-to-cup machines can easily replicate that coffee house cup with a built-in steaming wand, but they carry hefty price tags. And even with more premium setups, the integral milk frothing function is a common cause of faults. Using a ‘two-step’ process with fresh espresso and a separate milk frother reduces the chance of a machine breakdown. If you are brewing with a Moka pot, cafetière, French press or capsule machine, you’ll need a separate bit of kit to make that all-important microfoam. That’s where a dedicated electric milk frother comes in.
So, is a standalone milk frother actually worth the investment for at-home baristas? Here is everything you need to know about the MilkEasy Plus Frother from Lavazza.
How to use the Lavazza MilkEasy Plus Frother
The science behind electric milk frothers is simple. By rapidly aerating milk, the machine uses natural proteins and fats to trap microscopic air bubbles, creating a creamy foam. The longer the cycle runs, the thicker the milk becomes, allowing you to dial in the exact milk texture for your favourite coffee drink.
The Lavazza MilkEasy Plus combines this process into a sleek, black unit with four preset functions for hot and cold beverages: hot milk, warm foam, hot cappuccino, and cold foam. It also has a manual on/off switch if you want to stop the cycle early. There are lines inside the pitcher to measure milk capacity, although they are a little tricky to see.
Inside, a removable, magnetic whisk simplifies both operation and cleanup. However, a quick rinse won't cut it. You'll need to scrub the base properly to prevent milk residue from building up over time.
How good is Lavazza’s milk frother?
Weighing in at around a kilo, the MilkEasy Plus is compact enough to tuck into a kitchen corner without stealing precious counter space. The machine runs almost silently and completes a cycle in around 90 to 120 seconds.
The milk texture is impressively consistent, heating to the optimum drinking temperature without scorching. The cold foam function stands out as ideal for iced lattes, whipping a dense layer that holds its structure over ice. Going back to basics, the classic untextured hot milk setting is perfect for a traditional café au lait when you want a lighter drink with less foam.
What’s the best milk to use in a milk frother?
Unsurprisingly, the Lavazza MilkEasy Plus performs best with fresh whole dairy milk, where the high fat and protein content produces a silky, glossy microfoam with fine micro-bubbles. Pair this with freshly ground whole bean coffee or premium Lavazza coffee beans like Super Crema for an authentic Italian espresso experience.
Unlike many budget frothers that struggle with dairy alternatives, it handles plant-based milks surprisingly well – particularly barista-edition oat milk. However, because barista oat milk contains added oils and stabilisers, letting the full 'cappuccino' cycle run can over-aerate the milk, creating large, airy bubbles. Turning the machine off 10-15 seconds early yields a far smoother, velvety texture. Soy milk tends to stretch even faster, so keep a close eye on the cycle.
So, are milk frothers worth it?
If you want to replicate café-quality drinks at home without spending hundreds on an all-in-one espresso machine, a dedicated milk frother is the ultimate finishing touch.
Positioned at the mid-to-premium end of the market (around £79), the Lavazza MilkEasy Plus justifies its price tag with silent operation, sleek design, and impressive performance across both dairy and plant-based milks. When you consider the £5 high-street flat white, replacing just two coffee shop runs a week means this machine pays for itself within a month.
If you already use a pod machine, Moka pot or French press, this simple addition is easily the most cost-effective upgrade you can make to your morning routine. Some models are shaped like a jug to allow you to pour more easily. Lavazza's version is more for the functional at-home barista who doesn't necessarily need latte art with every cup.
Buy your Lavazza MilkEasy Plus Frother here or on Amazon. Explore our online store for discount wholesale prices on Lavazza coffee beans, speciality beans and ground coffee.
Get top-quality Lavazza coffee beans and ground coffee from our website.
Prices and product information correct at time of publishing.