Breville Milk Café Frothe BMF600XL, Brushed Stainless Steel
Asin | B004RCNJ9Q |
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Dimensions | 7.48"W x 10.39"H |
Weight | 3.5 Pounds |
Manufacturer | HWI/Breville USA |
Breville Milk Café Frothe BMF600XL, Brushed Stainless Steel
Asin | B004RCNJ9Q |
---|---|
Dimensions | 7.48"W x 10.39"H |
Weight | 3.5 Pounds |
Manufacturer | HWI/Breville USA |
Jamison –
What I like about this brother is it’s pretty heavy duty and clearly high quality. Love the temperature control dial and the fact it’s not a touchpad. The bowl is removable and high quality stainless steel. It’s also a high capacity so you can do one or multiple lattes at one time. The whipping disks are plastic but they’re solid and dishwasher safe in the silverware rack. Makes great foam. I like it way better than the steam wand on my espresso machine. Its a little pricey but I think it’ll last a long time and the features are better than other brothers I’ve seen on the market, so I guess you get what you pay for on this one. I’m happy with this purchase overall
Cyndi H. Parker –
I drink one large cup of coffee a day. I like it half coffee and half froth. I have bought many smaller frothers in the past, my last one I liked but the glass container broke. My problem is frothing for one cup of coffee and also that I use a non-dairy sugar free Italian flavored creamer, not milk of any sort. My other frothers would froth some of the creamer, leaving the rest liquid. I was hesitant to spend so much for a frother for one cup of coffee, but decided to give it a try. I AM SO THANKFUL I BOUGHT THIS FROTHER. Please note that the minimum line in this frother is 8 oz, and I use less than 4 oz for my coffee. I decided to give it a try even though the directions say to fill it to the min line – I only filled it less than half way to that line (part of the top of the frothing disk still showing) and it works perfectly. It froths every single drop of my non-dairy creamer! And thick froth, too, I use the cappuccino disk. The froth lasts for a long time in my coffee, does not dissolve like it used to do from my other gazillion frothers. I will never use another, this one is perfect. Bite the bullet, spend the money and enjoy your coffee!
Careless Whiz –
I scoured the internet looking for a way to foam almond milk, and found a lot of discouragement. Some people say you flat out can’t do it, some people say you have to buy expensive “barista” type almond milk…I am here to tell you that you can foam almond milk with this appliance. With a few important notes, it is easy!
First, the brand matters. I have tried two: Almond Breeze (success!), Silk (no foam!). That doesn’t meant there aren’t other brands that will foam — I didn’t bother trying since I have been able to get Almond Breeze during the pandemic.
Second, you must “age” the almond milk appropriately. If it is new from the store, with an expiration date 3 months hence, it foams but the foam is looser and not as voluminous. I “age” it in my fridge and have found that if the expiration date is 1 – 2 months away, I get the clouds of microfoam I love! I haven’t experimented to get more precise about how “old” the almond milk needs to be. For example, today is July 17 and this morning’s almond milk with an expiration date of August 25th foamed beautifully.
Third, the almond milk must be cold.
Fourth, you have to shake the almond milk pretty well in the container before pouring it into the jug.
The pictures I attached are of almond milk, heated and foamed using the cappuccino disk at the bottom of the jug.
I have had this appliance for two years, and I absolutely love it. I foam/heat almond milk for hot cafe au lait every morning, and foam cold almond milk for iced latte every afternoon. I have also used it for cow’s milk (skim, cold) and it does a great job — super easy to use (put jug into base, pour in milk, put on lid, turn dial and press button), easy to clean, and so on — but for almond milk it truly shines. I get beautiful voluminous microfoam (I like a lot of foam in my coffee drinks!). I have also added flavor sometimes — a little bit of cinnamon or almond syrup– and that blends up nicely.
The best things about this appliance are (1) that it works with almond milk; (2) that it makes the microfoam I love, without the dilution from a steam wand (yes I know that dilution would be my fault, but I never mastered the steam wand); and (3) how easy it is to clean. Sour milk that clings in crevices is just…gross. The jug is stainless steel and can go in the dishwasher (but I just give it a good rinsing after using it each time). The tiny foamer disk in the bottom lifts right out — there’s no place for a drop of milk to hide and go sour.
I have a lot of coffee gadgets that are more complicated to use or to clean after use, and have often found myself thinking “It’s not worth the bother”. There’s no hesitation to use this because it’s so easy to use, and easy to clean. Truly zero bother. I respect those true coffee connoisseurs who will labor for their daily cup; I am not one of them, and I am very very happy with this purchase.
T. Bramhall –
For years, I would visit our local coffee house each day and order a latte; not because their coffee was good, I had coffee beans at home that tasted much better than what they were serving, but because my milk never came out as frothy and creamy as theirs did.
Over the years I tried to figure out the tricks to a perfect frothy drink. I read multiple websites about how to froth just right using the steamer on the machine, and while that helped, the milk still wasn’t great. Then I found a small milk frother, which, if I ran it for 3 times (about 5 minutes), until the frother was so hot that the machine was close to overheating, would actually give me warm (not hot) frothy milk.
When I first read about the Breville Milk Frother, I had actually given up hope of finding a reasonably priced frother that actually worked. And for that reason, I almost didn’t order this one. But, the knowledge that I could make enough hot milk for 4 people at a time and the idea of being able to actually control the temperature finally convinced me that it was worth trying.
Now, I can’t imagine not having it. With 2 teens at home we go through a LOT of milk (probably a half gallon a day). All of us enjoy a drink in the morning, whether it’s an espresso latte, hot tea latte, or hot chocolate. If we’re all drinking the same thing, we can make enough for everyone at once, instead of making the drinks one at a time. And, depending on the setting, the milk can be the perfect temperature to give to a child or hot enough to burn your tongue (and that’s not even at the highest setting).
A few lessons we’ve learned:
● Put the milk (and any other liquids) in and turn it on, then add any non-liquids (sugar, chocolate powder, tea leaves, etc).
● Chocolate needs to be grated or powdered – chocolate chips do not work well because they start melting and keep the frothing gear from spinning (courtesy of son #1).
● Tea leaves and a little vanilla and sugar added to the milk make a delicious tea latte. I recommend using a tea strainer to pour the milk through once the frother stops.
● If you don’t have tea leaves, a couple tea bags will work, but either remove the strings or hold down the strings with the frother lid, so that the strings can’t catch around the frothing gear.
● A Parmesan cheese grater works wonderfully for grating chocolate – which gives you a large choice of chocolates to try in your hot chocolate. (Our favorite is a spicy chili chocolate – Yummy!)
● The frother is very quiet unless you add something that causes the frothing gear to stop spinning (which you’ll know instantly because it suddenly gets very loud). Often, stopping the frother (by pressing and holding the start button for a couple seconds) and restarting will get it spinning again and as soon as the milk heats enough to liquefy the ingredients (like the chocolate chips mentioned above), the grinding will stop.
● The cup is solid metal and separates completely from the bottom gears, making it super easy to clean.
● The top of the lid has a built in, removable measuring cup which comes in handy when you’re adding ingredients to the milk.
● Make sure you have the frothing gear that you want *before* you pour your milk in (there are 2, one makes creamier milk and the other makes frothy milk. If you like froth, you’ll be happy, it works incredibly well.
● If you let the frothy milk sit for maybe a minute before pouring, the froth rises to the top, making it easy to pour the hot milk into your drink, the spoon the froth on top. Otherwise, it comes out as a free pour, with frothy bubbles mixed into the milk. Both are yummy, so it’s entirely your preference which you like best. 🙂
This is my first Breville product, but going by both the design and the quality, I’ll definitely be buying more from them. In fact, I’m eyeing their espresso maker for my next purchase.
Amazon Customer –
I did a lot of research and personally tested many options for frothers. I was hesitant about spending the money for this one, especially because we already have a steam frother on our espresso machine. But this Breville is worth every penny. It gets heavy use and consistently produces beautifully frothed milk….whether we use oat milk, almond milk, or whole milk….chocolate milk…hot or cold. I prefer the Breville over the milk frother on our esspresso machine in part because it removes a few steps & a lot hassle, and also because it saves wear & tear on the espresso’s motor. I’d rather save that for pulling shots. Quality machine. One of our favorite kitchen appliances. Takes very little counter space, and easy to use. Great option!
djwoman –
Bought this to add collagen to my coffee and to get foamy milk. After messing around with non-fat, 2% and whole, 2% works best for me.
The first time I tried adding collagen powder while using, the machine quickly came to a halt.
I’ve discovered that using the cappuccino disk, 2% milk and adding the powder slowly, I get beautifully foamy milk! I also add a shake of cardamom and a pinch of maple sugar (powdered maple syrup).
I’m super happy with this product.
I only gave it 4 stars because I think it’s way overpriced.
Chicago Book Addict –
I got this for making tea lattes like I usually order from my tea shop, and it has been perfect for that purpose. I simply brew my tea stronger than normal in my French press (I use between 3 and 4 times the amount normally called for) and then I froth my milk using this frother. I’m impressed with how close it tastes to what I normally order out!
I’ve been impressed with this milk frother. Yes, at the time of writing this review the price can be a bit of a splurge, but the experience is great and gives so much to love. I love that there are a lot of aspects you can control. This offers a range of temperatures to choose from as well as both cappuccino and latte options depending on the amount of froth you like. There’s also a good range of flexibility with the amount of milk you can froth. For me, the minimum amount is perfect for a single drink for one. (I serve my tea lattes in latte mugs and the capacity is perfect.) But it’s also nice to have the option to make drinks for more than one person. It’s also neat that this can be used for making hot chocolate.
I also love how quick this is to use. It’s fast and easy to use this while I’m brewing my tea for the latte.
The ease of cleaning and option to put the jug in the top rack of the dishwasher is also awesome. I also appreciate the look of this. The design is sleek and well made and consistent with what I’ve come to expect with Breville.
I’m also hopeful for the longevity of this based on my other experiences with the Breville brand. Other than an immersion blender I got a few years back that was a dud, my Breville juicer and blender have been awesome and going strong.
I don’t know if I could love this more. Yes, it’s a bit of a splurge but if you like to make drinks with frothed milk at home it is well worth it.
Maxwell Johnson –
I purchased this machine because the steamer wand on my Rancilio Silvia is nasty to clean and doesn’t do a terribly good job of steaming milk unless you know exactly how to use it. After multiple failed attempts to show my beloved how to do it, I gave up and ordered the Breville.
The milk frother arrived nicely and securely packed. Upon inspection, the materials and build quality appeared excellent. Breville is fond of encasing their products in brushed stainless steel and the frother is no exception. I have not opened the base but if the quality on the inside is equal to the quality on the outside, the machine is very well made, indeed.
The milk jug is stainless steel with a sturdy black handle and a clear polycarbonate lid that incorporates a small measuring cup that can be used to add powdered or liquid ingredients. Protruding up from the bottom of the jug is a small cylinder on which one or the other of the frothing disks is mounted. The disk drops easily onto the cylinder but must be pressed down firmly until it clicks into place. Once it is properly positioned, the disk will rotate freely. There is a bit of wobble when rotated by hand. This is normal. On the front of the base is a rotary knob with a calibrated temperature scale. The knob acts as the power switch when pressed. A blue ring on the periphery of the knob shows the power state of the machine, solid when ready, blinking while running, off when finished. On the back of the base is an indentation for magnetic storage of the disk that is not in use. See CONS, below.
After a quick read of the instruction manual, I inserted the latte disk, poured in some cold 2% milk, set the temperature to 160 degrees and pressed the knob. The milk began to swirl slowly, then picked up speed, creating a little vortex in the center of the jug. After about five minutes, the machine stopped. I poured the milk into a latte cup, noting that it was smooth and creamy with just a bit of finely textured foam on top. It was not quite hot enough but I remedied that in future batches by rotating the knob clockwise to turn up the thermostat. See CONs. The jug washes easily. Because there are no moving parts except the disk, which is easily removed, cleanup takes just seconds. The base requires only a quick wipe with a damp cloth.
After belting down the latte, I replaced the latte disk with the cappucino disk and started again. This time, the frother produced thick, rich foam perfect for my waiting cup of cap.
Subsequent uses showed the machine to be capable of delivering consistent results, whether making lattes, caps, hot chocolate or warm milk.
PROS
Excellent material and build quality.
Induction heating produces no hot spots on the bottom of the jug..
Magnetic drive means no penetrations of the jug to cause cleaning or leakage problems.
Quick and easy to clean
Quiet operation
Does not require constant attention like a steaming wand.
CONS
Temperature markings on the bezel are inaccurate. Setting to 160 degrees yielded milk at about 150. Not a real problem, just turn the knob up a bit.
Magnetic disk holder is a clever idea except that the magnet in the base is activated only when the frother is plugged in. Pull the plug and the disk falls to the counter. Of course, the very time you are most likely to lose a disk is when the machine is moved so this is dumb, dumb, dumb.
Steamed milk from this machine will not evidence all the sweetness of milk steamed conventionally. The hot steam pipe does a better job of converting the lactose in the milk to glucose than does the induction heater.
NOTES
Read…and…follow…the…instructions…
Be sure the jug is dry on the outside before you insert it into the base.
Be sure the milk is cold. Not cool. Cold.
Press the disk down on the post until it snaps into place, then check for easy rotation.
Let the jug cool or rinse it with cool water between batches.
Use the correct amount of milk as shown by the marking on the inside of the jug.
CONCLUSIONS
The machine appears well built and reliable.
Results are consistently reproducible.
The directions are simple but must be followed carefully.
You will trade a little flavor for increased convenience if you use the frother rather than a steam wand.
Breville needs to use a little rare earth magnet in the disk holder.
Todd M. –
I bought this for making a morning Matcha Latte. After an annoying week of learning how to attach the stirring blade properly, I can finally say I’m happy with the unit. Note; the attaching process is very, very simple, I just needed time to learn where the correct ‘snap’ location was.
The Good –
It makes my morning Matcha, perfectly, without fail, to a consistent temperature.
It’s easy to clean, just a quick brush with soap and water, rinse, and it’s ready for tomorrow.
The jug has volume markers on the inside, Min to Max, with several in between, so I don’t have to pre-measure.
I can make an 8 oz water matcha, or a rule-breaking 20 oz matcha latte (the jug has a 16 oz Max line).
Love the storage magnet at the back for the foaming whisk (which I don’t use).
The stir attachment creates a very thin foam, which is perfect for me.
The Not So Good –
It’s noisier than expected but not overly loud; my husband can hear it running from his office which is 2 rooms away from the kitchen. Personally, I think it’s about the same as the coffee maker.
It needs thin liquids, the spinning disk on mine stops (and makes a loud noise) if the liquid is thick, or is thickened too much.
It’s very fussy with how powders are added and the stirring disk will stop if it has too much resistance (the loud chattering noise will alert you to run to shut it off).
The included lid has a spot for adding powders, but that drops it directly into the center of the jug, and on my unit, stops the stirring attachment (loud noise). I found that I can only add powders around the outside edge of the liquid while it’s moving. Adding sugar is fussier as it is a granule and you can hear it dragging under the stir attachment, so I add a thin stream of sugar once the liquid is warm, and again in a clockwise rotation around the outer rim of the jug.
Final Thoughts –
My unit does not heat up higher than 168f, which is perfect for water based (true) matcha. I currently have it set at two clicks above the ‘optimal milk temp’ which gives me a perfect 150f matcha latte.
I drink both the true matcha (8oz water) and the matcha latte (20oz milk), and this does both wonderfully well.
I never use the lid, so it’s just a storage item for me.
Both the jug and the base are easy to keep clean.
It’s a well thought out, easy to use, easy to clean appliance, and does what I want it to do very well. I am quite happy with this purchase.
DonnaM –
After using one of those small hand held frothers that worked well IF you got the milk to the correct temperature, I decided to get serious about frothing. Hence my purchase of an electric frother.
I researched all the brands that had a 4-5 star Amazon rating & chose the Breville due to past experience with this brand (a Breville immersion blender). Below are my thoughts on this product
Cost- yep it’s pricey at more than double the cost of the other electric brands. That old adag "you get what you pay for" holds true here. I really liked the all stainless steel milk cup & the overall look & feel of this appliance since it would "be on continuous display" on my counter as the stainless look blends with my major appliances. (being female we think about frivolous things like this.)
Ease of use-the Breville couldn’t be easier to use. In fact I think my cat could use this (hoping that thought doesn’t occur to him). You pour in milk set the dial, hit the button. By the time I get my cup, fill it with coffee, add my sugar & a little cocoa this frother has done it’s job. And if you’re not paying attention, it beeps to let you know it’s done! Nice feature.
Size-well sometimes size does matter! And with countertop appliances this is often the case. I hate clutter so I don’t like a lot of daily use appliances taking up counter space. The Breville is fairly compact (not tall) and fits nicely under wall cabinets, width wise, it’s about the size of one of those single/double cup coffee makers.
Cleaning-very easy, although the milk cup is dishwasher safe (according to instructions) I just rinse it well and I’m done.
Other features I like – 1-the clear plastic lid with "finger" ring & it’s "lift off" measuring cup for adding flavors etc.
2-short cord with the "Breville plug" that makes removing from electric socket so easy.
3-the fact that I can heat milk to varying temperatures (for hot chocolate etc) plus the "cold" froth setting.
4- like the fact that I can froth enough milk for one cup or more as required by my "caffine need"
All of the above features for me, made the Breville the best choice.
Quality – given its price tag quality is expected and received! This frother is well made [I can’t speak to the quality of the other brands as I’ve not actually seen them]. The bottom line with the quality for me lies with the Breville Immersion Blender I purchased several years ago. It has held up very well, is easy to use and clean so based on my good experience with the immersion blender, I chose Breville.