A milk frother is a utensil for making milk froth, typically to be added to coffee (cappuccino, latte, etc.). It aerates the milk, creating a thick but light foam. Milk frothers were introduced through the use of espresso machines that contained steamed wands that would froth steamed milk. Although created in Italy, the espresso machine and steam wands were exported internationally to other countries, and frothed milk was introduced around the world.
The tiny bubbles, which are formed during the aeration process of milk frothing, make the milk texture lighter and increase its volume. The air from milk frothers combined with the chemical properties in milk create the foamy texture of frothed milk. Milks with different protein and fat contents produce different types of foam. There are various types of milk foams based on the type of milk used in the process, and all yield different tastes and textures. There are three major types of milk frother: manual, handheld electric, and automatic. All devices use the process of adding air bubbles to the chemical properties of milk to create milk froth.