I’ve Been Using This Professional Milk Frother for a Year Now and Here’s What I’ve Learned
I am a coffee lover and a lover of coffee beans. I trust the preparation of drinks to real baristas in cafes, but when I am left to my own devices, I need a real machine. That is why I have a Dreo BaristaMaker – a small device that can make cappuccinos, lattes and flat whites just like baristas do. In particular, it heats, froths microfoam and stirs milk, so I do not need a steam wand or special skills.
I’m thrilled with the Dreo BaristaMaker because it’s the best home appliance I’ve ever tried that can whip up really smooth, creamy milk with micro-foam. This is primarily due to the programmability of different milk types (dairy and plant-based) by changing the settings according to the optimal temperature of the specific milk. Also, from a practical standpoint, it’s a small appliance that fits easily in my small apartment kitchen, and as a nice bonus, it’s super quiet. (Read my full BaristaMaker review here.)
I’ve been using my BaristaMaker for about a year now, and aside from the fact that it’s a must-have for every coffee lover, here are the top three things I’ve learned.
You can make entire drinks in BaristaMaker
My partner and I use the BaristaMaker primarily to make steamed milk and cold foam for iced lattes in the summer, but when the weather gets cooler, I make a wide range of warm coffee-based drinks.
The BaristaMaker is simply a heated pitcher with a small rotating fan or frothing mesh inside, so it can heat and froth a variety of liquids, not just milk. You can make things like chai lattes, matcha cappuccinos, mochas, or sugar-latte lattes.
Keep in mind that the Dreo heats and froths, but it’s not designed to blend chunky ingredients into a smooth consistency — it’s not an immersion blender. I typically blend, whisk, or otherwise dissolve the main flavoring ingredients before adding them to the pitcher along with the milk. First, mix the matcha powder, tea concentrate, or cocoa powder with a little hot water, then add them to the pitcher with the bulk of the liquid.
Select the type of milk you are using and the type of drink you are preparing. If you want a thin layer of bubbles, like in a flat white, select this option. If you want a thick foam, select this option. If you prefer to simply stir the drink and heat it up, you can select the stirring mode and temperature on the panel on the right.
Don’t ignore fill lines
Inside the pitcher you will find clues. Do not ignore them, as they are critical to the success of your drink. If you drop the level below the minimum mark or exceed the maximum, you will be disappointed. You may even think: “This is nonsense! Today it foams, and tomorrow it does not.” This is not true.
Be careful and follow the rules set for the pitcher. If you’re only making one latte, you still need to use the minimum mark. If you’re making cappuccinos for five, don’t fill the pitcher all the way to the top with milk. I speak from experience. It’s not that the foam won’t be good, it just won’t work. No foam. Just hot milk. That’s fine, but it’s a microwave job.
Pour out immediately
I feel the same way about eggs – they taste best when hot. Pour your frothed milk or drink straight away. Your Dreo BaristaMaker has a large, bright display with a countdown timer. The heating process only takes a few minutes, so don’t be distracted by getting started.
Microfoam is gorgeous and silky when made in the BaristaMaker. If you leave it in the pitcher, the liquid and foam will cool and become less elastic. When you try to pour it and make a swan for latte art, the foam may be lumpier, stick to the edges, and not flow as smoothly. No, it’s not the end of the world, but I’m an amateur snob and you probably are too, so it’s important.
Pouring the foam immediately while the liquid is still slightly steaming will give the drink the perfect creamy texture. The hot mocha I made this morning had a beautifully creamy texture, and the foam was so fine that my lens could barely capture it. I had to skim off some of the foam to show the difference.
Keep these tips in mind every time you connect your Dreo BaristaMaker and you can enjoy amazing hot and cold drinks all year round.