Capresso 202.04 froth PRO Automatic Milk Frother and Hot Chocolate Maker

This is the third frother I've had, and the others broke quickly. I just used it and felt compelled to add my review. It's still going strong after a year and a half and I use it several times a week. I've recently started making cold froth, also, to top my iced specialty coffee made in my Nespresso machine. Simple to use and cleans up quickly. I just rinse the inside with hot water and wipe out with a sponge and pop it back in my cabinet. I definitely recommend this one

Es un producto maravilloso que no debe de faltar en tu cocina ya que la espuma es súper exquisita y en cuestión de segundos logras alcanzar esa textura maravillosa a mi en lo particular me pareció increíble

Summary – More detail will follow this summary, but for brevity, here is a summary of my thoughts. This machine was delivered on time via standard shipment. It was packaged well and no damage was noted. The functionality of the heating and frothing exceeded my expectation after some experimentation with various types of milk products. There are a few nuances to its use, avoiding spills and getting the best results. Skim milk provided the best overall repeatable performance. Unit cleaning is only needed on the occasion of spill-overs to the heating plate, but there is a simple resolution. The froth container and lid are dishwasher safe and so day-to-day cleaning is simple. Longevity of the unit will follow in the future if warranted; however, I have seen no reason not to expect years of good service from the unit.Delivery – In general, I tend to order items on regular/standard shipping or take advantage of the free shipping options when offered as I am not usually in a hurry to receive the item. As many frequent shoppers of Amazon know, we often get the items far faster than promised or at least ahead of schedule anyway. My experience was this product arrived on time per standard shipping .Function – This unit promises to provide nice heating and very thick froth for a variety of hot and cold drink possibilities. I am an avid cappuccino drinker along with the occasional hot chocolate and was interested in the promised professional results this machine offered. I usually read directions to make sure I do not misuse products and so I began there. The directions are concise and beyond the warning to NOT overfill the 4oz line when frothing, the directions are very straight forward. There really isn’t much to know in the operation of the unit in terms of what buttons to push nor in what not to do. There is some variation in the results you will get depending on the raw materials (milk fat content) you decide to use.We tried Fat Free half & half, Skim, 1%, 2% and whole milk (~4%-6%). The Skim milk provided the best day to day results. The results overall reveal that the lower the fat content the better the frothing will be, save for the fat free half & half, which we believe has other ingredients that interfere to some extent the frothing process. Further research showed there are several tiers of fat content that provide similar results but they are with products with fat content in the heavy cream and whipping cream range and above which are likely not the milk products desired for the typical coffee, cappuccino or similar such drink. In some cases, adding a bit of sweetener before frothing in the holding cup, helps the froth taste, but may also contribute to overfilling so be alert to that.A very important rule to keep in mind here though is to NOT overfill the holding cup above the 4% line when frothing as you will have spillover of milk on the hot plate. While this can be easily cleaned, it is best to avoid all together. Also, if the froth was not quite thick enough, trying to run the froth cycle again guaranteed a spillover and thus this is also something to avoid. If you do spillover, simply let the hot plate cool and use a bit of baking soda with a damp cloth or brush and the burned milk will come right up. I don’t recommend letting burned milk to build up on the unit as it’s obviously going to inhibit the heating and frothing. Keeping the unit clean should keep it running the longest. The cup and lid have done well in my dishwasher. The only caveat being: remembering the disk and extracting it from the cup. I am not sure it would matter in my dishwasher, but we hand wash those little guys.Longevity – I cannot comment on this at this time other than to say, I see no reason to expect issues with the unit, but will certainly provide updates in this review if warranted.Good Ideas & Suggestions noted in other reviews• One user suggested that we place the extra frothing disk on the refrigerator and use the main unit for storage of the disks we are using. This was a great idea and we have chosen to adopt.• Baking Soda cleans the hot plate the best with a damp paper towel.

I put half-and-half or coffee creamers in it and it is like having a special drink. I love this thing. I should’ve bought a long time ago.

I can't say anything bad about this unit. I love it. I'm breaking my own review protocol by writing a review only a couple of weeks after using it, because I've moved to a 220 volt country, and it only runs on 110 volt. I bought a step-down transformer of sufficient wattage, but didn't work, so i'll be looking for a 220 volt version of this... I bought this frother after disposing of a Melitta frother (lasted only a couple of weeks), and was delighted and surprised at how well it performed, compared with the disposable, Chinese-made Melitta. While this FrothPro was also made in China, the product is clearly engineered and built to last. The unit has considerable heft, the pitcher is made of solid aluminum with non-stick overlay on the inside, and the drive is magnetic rather than direct drive, preventing liquid from entering into the base unit. The unit runs extremely quietly compared with the melitta, and the three functions actually work (heat, heat and froth, and froth), unlike the melitta (which requires you to use one button for an indecipherable (alas infeasible) combination to create the heat, heat-and-froth, and froth. Cleaning the pitcher is a snap. I bought this unit because of the 700+ very-positive reviews about this unit. Granted, though, many people will review a product right after they buy it, saying how much they love it, and often don't come back to review it weeks/months after, to report on its ongoing performance. I'll be back in several months with more review on this, and with an extra star, if it proves its mettle over time.From the manufacturer, HOW TO MAKE A PERFECT FROTH (some of which doesn't apply to this unit):What are the best types of milk to froth? (Make cappuccinos)* Non-fat or skimmed milk provides the largest foam bubbles and is the easiest to froth forbeginners. Since there is no fat in the milk, the result is light and airy but the flavor is not asrich as other types of milk.* 2% milk will also foam effortlessly as well as add a more creamy taste than non-fat milk.* Whole milk is more challenging to achieve perfect froth as the fat in the milk weighs down thefoam, however this produces the most decadent, rich tasting cappuccino. Practiceincorporating the right amount of steam into the milk to produce an authentic microfoamcappuccino.* Other types of milk such as soy will froth, but will lose the bubbles quickly as the proteinstructures of these types of milk cannot fully support the milk bubbles.* Organic and lactose free milk do not froth as well as other types of milk. This has to do withthe pasteurization process of these milks.What are the best types of milk to steam? (Make lattes)* Non-fat milk, 2% milk, whole milk, organic milk and lactose free milk will provide excellentresults for your latte.* Soy milk, almond milk, rice milk and coconut milk can also be heated for a dairy free lattealternative.What is the optimal temperature for steaming and frothing milk?* Milk proteins will start to break down and burn around 170°F.* The ideal temperature for steaming milk on a home espresso machine is between 150°F -155°F.* Most cafés serve coffee beverages between 155°F - 165°F.* 160°F is the ideal temperature for a drink that will be taken to-go.* Always pre-heat your latte and cappuccino cups to ensure the milk maintains propertemperature.* Different types of milk have different burning points. Soy milk will burn before whole milk will.Practice frothing your favorite milk to find out the best temperature for your taste.