Where can I buy that latte mixer that makes the milk all foamy?

Question

I am really broke and want to start making my OWN lattes (and save the $4 lol)

Answer 1

You can make milk foamy by "steaming" it (usually with part of an espresso maker, or I think just the steamer parts can be purchased separately) ... or you can make milk foamy by using a small battery-powdered "frother."

A frother is just a wand shaped item with a little round coiled-wire disk or a wavy "blade" disk on the bottom which spins very fast when a button is pushed. When the disk is spinning, it's put under the milk (cold milk is best for these types of frothers, and the lower the fat content of the milk, the quicker it will froth)... then presto, in 10-20 seconds, 1/2 inch of milk in a cup will turn into 2-3" of milk foam.
(these frothers can be purchased at places like Beth, Bath and Beyond, or probably dept. stores, or online...cost will be $10 up to about $25; I love mine!...here's a link to the latest one I've bought, and the cheapest:
AeroLatte: http://www.aerolatte.biz/indexs.html )

There are different "fancy" coffees you may be mixing up though (I know I do), so you'll have to decide whether it's a cafe latte or a cappuccino, etc., you want to create or simulate, and how much money you want to spend to get there.

I wanted to give a link to how I make my coffee with foam, using only a frother and no other special equipment, but couldn't find it in the archives... though you may find something helpful there:
http://answers.yahoo.com/search/search_result;_ylt=AvPcTDablKfKSZbewnaFL_8nzKIX;_ylv=3?ps=2&p=frother&pn=&scope=&mc=396545367&mc=&fltr=_en&tab=0&asktime=4&save_search=1&st=1

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So I'm pasting in my technique, if you're interested:

. . .I make my morning frothed coffee my own way... turns out pretty-cappucino-ish, but the proportions do have to be right.

...First, to make a strong-coffee base, I drip a heaping coffee measure of *extra fine* grind Melitta coffee (the only type *in a can* that comes as an extra fine grind that I know of, and I like its flavor anyway) using a brown paper filter and plastic cone and a little less than 3/4 cup of very hot water (microwaved in Pyrex meas.cup), into a (temporary) coffee cup.
...Then I add sugar and enough 2% milk to lighten the color (3-4 T??)... I'd proabably use whole milk if I weren't watching fat, but even 2% gives the coffee a "thickness" and good mouth feel that's plenty good enough.
...then I put the coffee mix in the microwave to heat it back up (to pretty darned hot--my preference).
...Meanwhile to froth the milk, I pour about 3/4" of cold skim milk into the real cup I'll use, then use the frother on it till it peaks on its own (...this takes only about 10 seconds when the batteries are new; when the batteries get old, it takes longer and I'll usually stir the frother all around more vigorously to shorten the time... the batteries last a pretty long time though and for my one cup per day, I replace them only several times a year which is approx. what the Aerolatte says it does).
...Finally, I pour the hot coffee quickly down into the frothed milk (the slower the pour, the less the froth will mix with any of the milk, so in my case some of it mixes with the milk but most stays on top). Sometimes I'll mix more of the froth into the coffee first, but I've found I like the combo of the cool froth on top of the hot coffee (it warms up fairly quickly after the first few yummy sips anyway).


Diane B.

Answer 2

Not quite, no. At least, now not effectively. To do it thoroughly, you want a managed supply of steam, and cappuccino machines comprise a valve to manage the go with the flow of steam out the jet, and an overpressure remedy valve.

Answer 3

You can find at a gourmet/kitchen shop, be willing to spend some money to save some money!!
Good luck

Answer 4

Try this...I've tried some of the other coffee mixes and they're great!!!

http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/cafelatte.htm