Hand-Powered Milk Frother: The $20 Crack Maker

What if I told you there was a gadget so simple, so efficient, and so cheap that you could produce the liquid equivalent of crack, from simple nonfat milk, and it only cost $19.95? You'd probably call me a crack smoker, and that would be okay because I wouldn't have believed this either.

I have been using my Mukka Express stovetop maker to make cappuccinos and the frothed milk is really hit or miss. Like I said in this post, it's mysterious and temperamental so I never know if I'm going to get the perfect cup, or the cup that seems like a blind, narcoleptic, apathetic barista made it.

Williams-Sonoma had several different milk frothers, most of them electric whisks that you dunk into your cup of milk. I am loathe to purchase ONE MORE plug-in appliance for my kitchen; there simply isn't room and all those cords everywhere look ugly. So it was love at first sight when my gaze fell upon the Bonjour Caffe Froth hand-pump milk frother. So simple, so unobtrusive, so uncorded. I'll take it!

I wasn't expecting much. Part of me was worried that because it wasn't motorized, it wouldn't give me good volume. All you do is pour nonfat (nonfat works best, bonus!) milk up to the line on the side, drop the plunger in, and give it 20 hard pumps. I mean really think of something that pisses you off, it works better if you beat the hell out of it. Give the frother 2 or 3 gentle taps on the counter, let the milk settle for a few moments, and voila, unfuckingbelievable foam.

These videos are from 12seconds.tv, a fantastic new site that lets you create 12-second movies. Watch step-by-step as I turn ordinary, garden-variety nonfat milk into PURE GOLD!


The milk, it is flat and flavorless on 12seconds.tv


The milk, I'm beating the crap out of it on 12seconds.tv


Fluffy Clouds of Frothiness on 12seconds.tv

It has the consistency of homemade whipped cream only it's, um, completely nonfat and only 80 calories. I also add a dash of sugar-free vanilla syrup in there to really take it to another level. It is impossible to comprehend that boring old nonfat milk turns into THIS, just with a few pumps. The first day we brought it home I think I made 3 or 4 batches in a row and almost made myself crack sick. So take it slow and savor a batch and oh, drink the coffee that you are supposed to be pouring it on as well. Most of my batches don't make it that far.