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One of the reasons lattes from a coffee shop are so special is that perfectly creamy foamed milk swirl. The foam is essential, the latte art is a bonus—though I love admiring a coffee-striped heart before I sip it away. You may have tried duplicating these fancy drinks at home, only to fall short with clumsy steaming wands and battery-powered frothing sticks. I certainly have. It might seem like time to give up on homemade microfoam, but hang in there a second longer. There’s one device that can actually do it for the at-home latte novice (and it is significantly easier than using a steam wand): The Dreo BaristaMaker. I’ve been testing one for nearly six months, and it’s been a foaming wonder.
What does it do?
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The Dreo BaristaMaker is an appliance specifically designed to make professional barista-grade foamed milk at home. Not just foamy milk with big bubbles that pop and fizzle-out after sitting for five minutes, but serious microfoam. This kind of foam has extra fine bubbles that hold their composition for as long as your drink lasts. They’re so small and compact that they’re barely visible; only detectable by that overall creamy appearance we associate with latte foam. You can see in the picture that the foam isn’t bubbly as much as it is dense and fluffy. (Note that this appliance does not make the coffee though—you’re in charge of that.)
I’m no good at latte art, but foam I can do with the BaristaMaker.
Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann
The BaristaMaker is a two-part appliance. The heavy base is where the engine and the digital control panel live. The stainless steel container sits right on top, and that’s where you insert the agitation attachment (a little propeller or a circular mesh screen), and pour the milk in. Simply make your selections on the digital screen and press start.
What’s special about the Dreo BaristaMaker?
What makes this appliance stand out from the rest is that it addresses two issues I’ve noticed with other milk frothing devices: frothing alternative milks, and temperature control.
I’ve tried frothing oat and almond milk with steam wands, only to find out afterward that the temperature was so hot it denatured the proteins in the milk, leaving it watery. I then turned to the milk frothing stick. You know, the long metal stick with a spiral wire at the end that vibrates your milk? That one. Those work on the same premise of hand whisking heavy cream to make whipped cream. The agitation causes the proteins to link up and capture air bubbles, but on a lighter level. This works decently. But the bubbles are usually big and weak, and the milk is cold unless you’ve preheated it, which is risky (re: denaturing proteins again). I’d rather just pour cold milk into my espresso.
Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann
The BaristaMaker froths them all. The machine allows you to select the milk you’re using—regular cow milk, half and half, oat, coconut, almond, or soy—and heats up that particular milk slowly and to the correct temperature to best achieve a sturdy and elegant microfoam. Not only do those presets work like a dream for milks, but you can also go rogue and choose your own temperature if you need something else stirred, warmed, and foamed, like hot cocoa or a chai latte.
Pros and cons
I am committed to this machine based on the milk options and temperature control alone. But there are other benefits too. This machine is good enough at making microfoam where you could actually become a latte art specialist. It has a “latte art” marker on the inside of the container so you can add enough milk. It has a sharp, pointed pour spout for precision pouring and detail work as you “draw.”
Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann
Additionally, this is one of the best machines I’ve ever used for cold foam. Cold foam is notoriously difficult to make. Hot foam is made with steam wands at cafés—combining heat, and violent bubbling from the wand—but cold foam is made purely from agitation. Shaking the milk or using a blender can lead to uneven foam and big, clunky bubbles. Once again, the Dreo BaristaMaker excels. It’s as easy to do as any of the other settings—simply pop in the mesh screen attachment, pour in the cold milk, and press start. The cold foam is luxurious, consistent, and creamy—the perfect adornment for your cold brew in spring.
The cons for this machine are few. Overall, the machine is a bit large compared to a thin milk foamer stick or a steam wand that might be already attached to your espresso machine. At 5.31-inches wide by 9.65-inches high, it’s the size of a personal blender. Secondly, my partner (who uses the BaristaMaker at least once a week) has had two instances when the foam was lackluster. Meaning, it just didn’t get very foamy. He never gives up though, so after a few more tries, the Dreo always came back to full strength. What that means for longevity, I’m not sure yet. We’ve used it since the summer, and it’s still frothing away after about six months.
Is it worth the money?
If you (or as a gift for someone you love) are a total latte-head, flat white champion, cappuccino stan, or a weirdo who eats the scoopable foam from the top first (it’s me), you will absolutely fall in love with this machine. It is effective, fast, quiet (which is a blessing, especially compared to most kitchen appliances), and significantly better than any other milk frother I’ve tried. Even if you prefer a weekly matcha latte, hot cocoa, or warm homemade pumpkin spice latte, this appliance will be well worth it.
However, if you think of the BaristaMaker as more of a party trick, or your home has no cupboard space for yet another appliance, then maybe your $99.99 is better spent elsewhere. Plus, if you want to learn latte art, this frother is a great tool to have. You should know though, you have to provide the pouring skills yourself.