Immersion Blender vs Frother: What’s the Difference?

If you love making coffee drinks at home, you might have wondered what the difference is between a milk frother and an immersion blender. These devices can help you create frothy milk for your lattes, cappuccinos, or macchiatos, but they have different features, functions, and advantages. This post will help you decide which appliance is better suited for your needs by comparing and contrasting them.

What is a Milk Frother?

A milk frother is a device that whips air into milk to create a foam or froth. Different types of milk frothers are available, such as handheld, manual, electric, or automatic. Some espresso machines also have a built-in steam wand that can froth milk by injecting hot steam.

The main purpose of a milk frother is to make your coffee drinks more creamy, rich, and delicious. You can use a milk frother to create various types of foam, such as microfoam (fine and silky), macrofoam (thick and fluffy), or dry foam (mostly air). You can also use a milk frother to make hot chocolate, matcha latte, or other beverages that require frothed milk.

What is an Immersion Blender?

An immersion blender, also known as a hand blender or stick blender, is a device that blends liquids directly in the container where they are being prepared. It consists of a motorized handle and a detachable blade that can be inserted into a pot, bowl, cup, or jar.

The main purpose of an immersion blender is to puree, chop, whisk, or mix ingredients for various recipes, such as soups, sauces, smoothies, batters, or dips. You can use an immersion blender to froth milk for your coffee drinks by moving it up and down in a cup of hot milk. However, an immersion blender is not designed specifically for frothing milk, so it may not produce the same quality or quantity of foam as a milk frother.

Key Differences Between a Frother and Blender

Now that you know what a milk frother and an immersion blender are, let’s look at some key differences in size, versatility, steaming, and power.

Size

One of the obvious differences between a frother and a blender is their size. A handheld milk frother is usually small and compact, making it easy to store and use. A manual milk frother is also relatively small and can fit in most kitchen cabinets. An electric or automatic milk frother may be larger and require more counter space, but it still takes up less room than an espresso machine with a steam wand.

An immersion blender is typically larger and bulkier than a milk frother. It may not fit in some drawers or cabinets and must be stored separately from its attachments. An immersion blender may also be harder to handle and maneuver than a milk frother when frothing milk in a cup.

Versatility

Another difference between a frother and a blender is their versatility. A milk frother is mainly used for one thing: frothing milk. While you can use it for other purposes, such as whipped cream or scrambled eggs, it could be more versatile than an immersion blender.

An immersion blender can do many things besides frothing milk. You can blend soups, sauces, smoothies, batters, and dips. You can also change the attachments to suit tasks such as chopping nuts, whipping cream, or beating eggs. An immersion blender is more versatile than a milk frother because it can perform multiple functions with one device.

Steaming

Another difference between a frother and a blender is their ability to steam milk. Steaming milk is heating it to a certain temperature while introducing air bubbles. Steaming milk improves its flavor and texture and makes it more stable for creating latte art.

A milk frother can steam milk using hot air or steam to whip it into foam. Some electric or automatic milk frothers have a heating element that can warm the milk while frothing it. A steam wand on an espresso machine can also steam milk by injecting hot steam into it.

An immersion blender cannot steam milk by itself. It can only aerate the milk by spinning its blade in it. To steam milk with an immersion blender, heat it separately in a microwave or on the stove before blending it. This may produce different results than using a dedicated steamer or frother.

Power

Another difference between a frother and a blender is their power. Power refers to how fast and well the device can whip air into the milk. The more power the device has, the more foam it can produce and the finer the bubbles it can create.

A milk frother can vary in power depending on the type and model. A handheld milk frother usually has less power than an electric or automatic milk frother. A steam wand on an espresso machine usually has more power than any other type of milk frother. The power of a milk frother affects the quality and quantity of the foam it can make.

An immersion blender usually has more power than a handheld milk frother but less power than an electric or automatic milk frother. An immersion blender may also have different speed settings that can affect its power. The power of an immersion blender affects how fast and how well it can froth milk.

Comparison Table of the Immersion Blender vs Frother

Immersion Blender	Frother
A handheld device that blends liquids with a rotating blade at the end of a shaft.	A device that beats air into a liquid, usually milk, to create a foam.
Can be used for multiple purposes, such as pureeing soups, making sauces, whipping eggs, and frothing milk.	Mainly used for frothing milk for coffee drinks, such as lattes and cappuccinos.
Comes in one generic size with slight variations.	Comes in different types and sizes, such as manual, handheld, and automatic.
Does not heat up the milk while frothing it.	Can heat up the milk while frothing it, depending on the type of frother.
Produces a less stable and less silky foam than a frother.	Produces a more stable and more silky foam than an immersion blender.

Which One is Better?

So, which one is better: a milk frother or an immersion blender? The answer to that question relies on your taste, financial plan, and requirements. Here are some factors to consider when choosing between these two devices:

• If you want a device specifically designed for frothing milk and producing high-quality foam, you may prefer a milk frother over an immersion blender.

• If you want a more versatile device that can perform multiple functions besides frothing milk, you may prefer an immersion blender over a milk frother.

• If you want a small and easy device to store and use, you may prefer a handheld or manual milk frother over an immersion blender.

• If you want a powerful device that can steam milk while frothing it, you may prefer an electric or automatic milk frother or a steam wand over an immersion blender.

• Suppose you want an affordable device to froth milk without extra equipment. In that case, you may prefer an immersion blender over an electric or automatic milk frother or a steam wand.

Final Word

A milk frother and an immersion blender are two different devices that can help you create frothy milk for your coffee drinks at home. They have different features, functions, and advantages that make them suitable for different purposes. 

A milk frother is mainly used for frothing milk and can produce high-quality foam, while an immersion blender is more versatile and can perform multiple functions besides frothing milk. Depending on your preference, budget, and needs, you can choose the best option.

FAQs 

Can I Froth Milk Without a Frother?

Yes, you can froth milk without a frother by using other methods, such as shaking it in a jar, whisking it in a bowl, or using a French press. However, these methods may produce a different quality or quantity of foam than a dedicated frother.

Is a Milk Steamer the Same Thing as a Milk Frother?

No, a milk steamer is not the same as a milk frother. A milk steamer is a device that heats the milk to a certain temperature without introducing air bubbles. A milk frother is a device that whips air into the milk to create foam or froth. Some devices can do steaming and frothing, such as electric or automatic milk frothers or steam wands on espresso machines.

Which Milk is Best for Frothing?

The best milk for frothing is usually low-fat or skim dairy because it has more protein and less fat than whole or non-dairy milk. Protein helps to stabilize the foam and make it more elastic, while fat tends to weigh down the bubbles and make them collapse faster. However, depending on your preference and dietary needs, you can also use other types of milk for frothing, such as soy, almond, oat, or coconut milk.