This Smart Milk Frother Is Like Having A Mini Barista In Your Kitchen

Back in my barista days, I used to indulge in the luxury of making myself handcrafted espresso drinks whenever I wanted. I would experiment with different flavors and add-ins like cold foam and cocoa, relishing the perk of the job (and getting way too caffeinated in the process). Since my work habits have shifted from standing behind the bar to sitting in a home office, I’ve chased that same convenient gratification. It wasn’t until I got the Dreo All-in-1 BaristaMaker Milk Frother that I’ve been able to relive the joy of delicious, frothy drinks whenever the craving strikes.

Before I got the Dreo BaristaMaker, I was saving cappuccino and matcha latte indulgences for coffee shop trips. I don’t own an espresso machine (just a few trusty moka pots), so I had no tools for effectively frothing milk. I was gifted a handheld milk frother, but those require preheating (for hot drinks) and often yield inconsistent results. But the BaristaMaker is a game changer: It’s much more effective, with the ability to achieve professional-grade microfoam (think: a silky texture, not dry and bubbly), even with non-dairy milks. It also heats, mixes and froths in one machine. No barista skills required.

The BaristaMaker is designed with an electric base and a stainless steel jug that can be removed for easy cleaning. It comes with two frother attachments: an impeller for creating microfoam and a disc tip for mixing powder-based drinks like hot chocolate and matcha. The LED control panel allows you to choose among five different foam types—ranging in temperature and texture—and six different milk types. Once you make your selections, the machine automatically adjusts its settings to deliver the appropriate results.

Each drink I’ve made with the BaristaMaker—whether it was a hot matcha latte (sans lumps of unmixed powder), a creamy oat milk flat white or an iced coffee with cold foam—has been an effortless success. Cleanup is also a breeze afterward, thanks to the stainless steel jug that can be quickly rinsed or tossed in the dishwasher. And the build is relatively small, so it’s easy to tuck away in a cabinet between uses.

All of that said, this machine isn’t totally flawless. I’ve found that making multiple drinks at a time can sometimes yield less consistent results. When I made two lattes for my husband and me at the same time, for example, the frothy almond milk quality I was used to fell flat—literally. It might be better to stick to single servings at a time, which take a couple of minutes per cycle.

Although this machine doesn’t have all the benefits of a professional barista bar (you’ll still have to brew your coffee elsewhere), it gets you much closer to enjoying café-style beverages without leaving the house. I’ll continue to reap its benefits—in tandem with my moka pot, matcha powder or iced coffee—to indulge in professional-style beverages at the flip of a switch, just like the good ol’ days.