“Great product, works like a charm”
“It doesn’t get any easier”
Very few things are as enjoyable in life as an authentic cappuccino. Having the hand to perfect a milk froth of the perfect consistency and temperature to top on a deep, complex and foamy espresso is an art form that has been mastered by only a handful of baristas much like the Italian coffee house innovators of decades past.
So imagine my surprise when I was notified by my employer that I would be relocating from my office in Manhattan to a new branch in Denver. Taking me away from my daily visit to the best Barista I’d ever found? Do Baristas even exist in Denver? The solution I came up with to come to grips with my change was that I was going to learn how to perfect a cappuccino from my own kitchen and with that came the need for proper equipment.
As I began my search to find the very best home café equipment, one particular appliance called the Nespresso Aeroccino began getting more and more of my attention. To understand why I ended up determining the Nespresso Aeroccino to be the perfect unit for me, it is first necessary to understand the importance of correctly frothed milk in a cappuccino.
What you should know before you choose your next milk frother
A perfect froth will consist of incredibly fine air bubbles, which result in a strong and well supported layer of milk. This encourages even amounts of milk, foam and espresso in each sip of the cappuccino. You see, a perfect cappuccino has a very delicate balance between its different components and that balance is heavily dependent on the quality of the milk froth. When you have poorly frothed milk that has large air bubbles and a weak consistency, the espresso will overpower and ultimately ruin your cappuccino.
Why I knew I had found the best
What Nespresso has done with the Aeroccino is equated the ability to create a perfect froth to a science. By adding milk to a precisely pre-measured level and running the specialized frothing spinner for exactly 50 seconds, Nespresso offers the formula for creating perfect, café-style frothed milk from your kitchen counter. Nespresso has done this by perfecting the steam allocation through the frothing process through years of industry expertise. The Nespresso Aeroccino, if used correctly, will provide a steam output that will not scorch your milk or create the large air bubbles that so regretfully ruin many cappuccinos. Lets’s take a look in more detail…
Can it prepare milk for all styles of coffee?
Yes! In addition to the frothing component of the Aeroccino is a spinner that both warms and, in the latest model, chills milk! The latte enthusiasts reading will be happy to know that Nespresso has put the same dedication into the heating and chilling components of the Aeroccino as they have into the frothing. A perfect latte has an average milk temperature of 65 degrees and there is very little leeway in either direction. If the temperature is too high and eclipses 70 degrees, the milk will be at an uncomfortable, tongue-burning level and if it is too cold, it makes for an unpleasant experience when drinking. For a perfect latte temperature of 65 degrees, Nespresso instructs to run the warming component of the Aeroccino for exactly 80 seconds.
Want an iced coffee? By holding the heating button for 3 seconds, the latest Aeroccino becomes a milk chiller, which is perfect on those hot summer days when only an iced drink will do.
What is the design like?
Now, while I am self-admitted coffee snob and the high quality frothing and warming offered by Nespresso is what hooked me, the intelligent design of the unit grabbed my attention as well. With the newest model, the spinner is magnetic so it’ll always stay inside the Aeroccino chamber where it belongs and won’t become lost.
And you don’t have to worry about a lack of color choice – the Aeroccino comes in stainless steel, black, white and red, which is perfect for any kitchen décor. Every now and then, Nespresso releases a limited edition colour (or pattern!) as well, so keep an eye out and you might be lucky enough to grab one.
Is it easy to clean?
The carefully constructed casing allows you to wash the unit with ease without worrying about submerging it in water; a feature that many similar appliances on the market do not offer.
How loud is it?
Most remarkably, of all of the aspects that impressed me on the Aeroccino, it is quite frankly the quietest milk frothing machine I have ever heard.
Is it better to buy individually or as part of a package?
Another thing that has to be considered when you do buy an Aeroccino is the quality of your coffee maker. You can make perfect milk froth until you are blue in the face but if you do not have a coffee maker that is producing high quality espresso to compliment that froth, you are doing yourself a disservice.
Nespresso understands this and because of this they offer many packages that include their high quality coffee makers along with the Aeroccino. These packages are worth considering if for no other reason than the great value that’s offered when you purchase the two pieces together. Nespresso coffee makers lead the industry in product quality and offer a digital technology that allows you perfect when and how you drink your coffee. Also, in certain packages, the Nespresso coffee maker has a neat little slot to hold your Aeroccino!
We recommend one of the following:
Nespresso Citiz C111 Chrome (includes Aeroccino)
Nespresso C192US Aeroccino
Aeroccino 3
Nespresso Citiz C120 (includes Aeroccino)
How much should I pay?
Prices for the Aeroccino have remained fairly consistent in recent times – expect to pay around $99 for the Aeroccino as an individual unit. I’ve been following Nespresso prices for a while now and have always found the best price at Amazon (see for yourself). However, as new models are released, they often sell out fast so if you see one in stock it’s best to grab it while you have the chance.
What’s in the box?
Nespresso have been kind enough to offer a range of packages to suit their customers’ individual needs. If you buy the Aeroccino by itself there are packages that bundle it with limited edition coffee cups, free nespresso pod capsules, and even polish (if you go the stainless steel route).
If you buy your Aeroccino as part of an espresso machine bundle, you’ll not only get the Aeroccino and a Nespresso coffee machine, you’ll also get a large number of free coffee pods, and in many cases you can also get up to 4 free coffee cups in the box.
Take a look at the range on Amazon to find a bundle that suits you personally.
Does it come with a warranty?
Yes! Nespresso offer an impressive 2 year warranty on their Aeroccinos, which is valid internationally – so there’s no problem if you’ve moved overseas either.
What are previous consumers saying?
Nespresso across the board, not just with the Aeroccino, has an incredibly supportive following of very loyal and very pleased customers. It truly is impressive to see with a simple search on Amazon the reputation that Nespresso has for coffee perfection and the standards they have set which their competitors cannot seem to meet. Here’s some examples:
“Best milk frother without having to use a steam wand”
“Best solution for milk froth – machine, built-in or otherwise”
“Beautiful”
“Great product works like a charm”
In fact, of the large range of Nespresso Aeroccino milk frothers available on Amazon, almost every single one has a product rating of 4 stars or higher. That’s pretty impressive by anyone’s standard, and it’s well justified.
Where can I get the best price?
Because making café style coffee drinks at home is so micro-niche in its nature, it can be very difficult to find a good product selection at a brick and mortar home goods store. Even if you do find a store with a versatile stock, there is no guarantee that you will find a high quality, authentic Nespresso model. This inherently makes Amazon the most ideal place to score your Aeroccino (click here to go there now).
Not only will you have a selection of every model on the market today right at your fingertips, you will also find many models are discounted from their recommended shelf price. In many cases, you may also luck out and find a model being offered with free shipping, thereby costing you no extra money for the luxury of shopping from home.