This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclaimer for more information.
As a barista, I get asked many questions, and one of the most popular is how to froth creamer. To your surprise, frothing coffee creamer can be done in various ways. First, however, creamer powder must be dissolved in water or milk before use.
I’ve tried and tested six different methods, so you’ll be able to find one that works for you and doesn’t require you to buy any new equipment!
Before we get started, let’s go over the basics of coffee creamer and why you should use it in your next cup of joe.
What is Coffee Creamer
Overall, a store-bought substitute for milk that is usually flavorful and available in either liquid or powder form can be described as drinking creamer or coffee creamer.
Even though most coffee creamers are lactose-free, they may contain casein, which is a milk protein. Non-dairy creamer is also referred to as a coffee whitener in some circles.
When it comes to non-dairy coffee creamer, the number of ingredients used varies from brand to brand. On the other hand, most dairy-free creamers are composed of a variety of ingredients such as vegetable oil, water, sodium caseinate, corn syrup, and flavorings, among others.
A dairy coffee creamer is a sweetened and flavored combination of heavy cream and whole milk that is used to enhance the flavor of the coffee.
Non-dairy coffee creamers are becoming increasingly popular as a substitute for dairy creamers in the coffee industry. Non-dairy creamers are generally understood to be included in the definition of “coffee creamer.”
Can You Froth Creamer
So, is frothing creamer possible? The short answer is yes, and it is true in various ways. Any product is acceptable as long as it contains dairy or gellan in its ingredients. The amount of protein, fat, or gellan in the foam will impact the taste and stability of the foam.
Many people’s favorite coffee creamer is Nestle coffee, mate. If this sounds familiar, you’ll be happy to know that this is an excellent substitute for a milk froth liquid coffee creamer.
The proteins in dairy milk aid in the stabilization of the foam. They help keep the bubbles’ walls from collapsing and keep the foam from exploding.
Because some creamers do not contain dairy or are artificial, they make up for the lack of these ingredients with an additive known as gellan. Gellan forms a strong bond with calcium, simulating the effect of dairy, protein-rich milk on the body.
If you have ever had iced coffees with frothed milk or milk foam, it was probably made from a froth-flavored creamer; this is what gives these cold beverages a delicious flavor.
Different Ways To Froth Creamer
There are various ways for you to froth coffee creamer; even if you don’t have a machine or steam wand, you should be able to find one of these options easy enough to fit your needs.
1. Using A Steam Wand On An Espresso Machine
When it comes to using a milk frother, nothing beats a steam wand. It’s the most common way to make coffee, and it’s proven to be more effective. It uses pressurized steam to heat and froth milk or creamer simultaneously.
If you have an espresso machine with a steam wand attached, you can opt to allow the machine to do it automatically, or you can learn a specific technique to help you get better results. Watch the video below for some tips.
Your cup will usually be a metal jug; the amount of creamer you add should not exceed halfway up the spout.
If you don’t have a metal milk jug, you should purchase one for the best results.
To avoid overheating the creamer, using a thermometer is a great idea. If you are using a machine, it will most likely have a built-in temperature gauge.
Open the valve on the steamer wand and place it over a drip tray while you purge the steam head. Leave it on for a few seconds.
After it is purged, place the wand’s tip into the creamer and turn it on.
To create a whirlpool-like effect, open the valve fully and tilt the jug at a 45-degree angle with the wand just off-center. When the creamer reaches between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius, continue (this is the stretching process).
A “hissing” sound can be heard when the wand’s tip comes into contact with the liquid. You can see where the air is coming from now. Allow the creamer to thicken by gently swirling the jug and submerging the tip in and out to break up larger bubbles.
Continue heating until the jug reaches 60C/140F or you can no longer touch it. Disconnect the steam wand and firmly tap the jug’s base on the countertop to release the steam. This gets rid of any particularly large air bubbles.
Wipe the steam wand with a cloth after each use to remove any remaining creamer residue.
Steamer wands can be pricey, and this method requires a lot of time and effort. However, if you’re a big fan of frothy coffee, it’s worth the effort to learn how to make it yourself.
If you don’t have an espresso machine, you can buy a stand-alone steamer.
2. How To Froth Creamer With An Electric Jug Frother
- Fill the jug to the desired fill line with creamer.
- The jug must be covered.
- Connect the jug frother to the power source and turn it on.
- To switch between hot and cold foam, simply press the appropriate button.
- Take a breather until the foam has dissipated.
- Frosted creamer is ready to be served.
Cold and hot foam can be made by jug frothers like the Redmond milk frother, the Nespresso Aeroccino, and the Secura detachable frother.
How Do You Froth Creamer Without A Frother
3. Using A Mason Jar
When you don’t have access to or don’t want to invest in appliances, the mason jar method is the most convenient option.
- Get a mason jar with a tight-fitting lid to use for this project. Fill half of the jar halfway with cold liquid creamer and screw the lid on tightly.
- Shake the jar vigorously for a few minutes or until the contents have nearly doubled in volume. It’s a fantastic upper-body workout!
- Remove the lid; if you want hot foam, microwave the jar for 30 seconds; if not, your frothed creamer is ready to serve!
4. Using An Immersion Blender
It’s likely that you already have an immersion blender in your kitchen, and it’s the most versatile tool there is. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise when I tell you that it is very effective at frothing coffee creamer.
- If you prefer hot froth, warm up the creamer before using it. After that, place it in a tall pitcher or container to prevent a splattered mess.
- Submerge the bender completely, and then start it up on low power to get it started. Increase and decrease the power as you go. You’ll receive a thicker foam by moving it up and down the tube.
- A maximum of 10 seconds should be required for the process. So take the blender out and enjoy your frothy creamer.
5. Using A French Press To Froth Creamer
- Remove the lid as well as the plunger from the French Press.
- Fill the chamber with warm or hot creamer until it is just below the halfway mark.
- Gently raise and lower the plunger until you have produced enough foam to do so.
- Pour the foam into a cup, top it off with some coffee, and enjoy your beverage.
6. Using a Magic Bullet
Because of its power and the fact that it requires no manual labor, a Magic Bullet is probably the quickest way to froth creamer.
- Fill the cup halfway with cold creamer, leaving enough space for the foam to rise to the top. If you use warm creamer, you run the risk of causing an explosion.
- Attach the cross blade to the base and set your cup on top of it. Then, for 10 to 15 seconds, run the Magic Bullet through its paces.
- If you want hot frothed creamer, unscrew the lid and microwave the cup for 30 seconds until the creamer is hot. Your frothed creamer is now ready to be poured or scooped into a cup or other container.
How To Know When You Have Frothed It Perfectly
To achieve the velvety, rich texture ideal for creating a lush, smooth-textured latte, microfoam bubbles are needed. These are so tiny that they are barely perceptible, making them the ideal foam for this purpose.
If the bubbles are too substantial or if there are many large bubbles in the foam, it will be drier, which is undesirable.
Instructions On How To Use Coffee Creamer
Whether you’re making a hot latte, an iced coffee, or just a regular cup of coffee, you can substitute coffee creamer for the milk. When you want to make some foam in your coffee, liquid coffee creamer is ideal.
Ready-to-use coffee creamers are sold in a liquid or powder form, allowing you to mix it into your coffee and drink it right away. You may want to froth liquid creamer to make delicious lattes and Caffe Misto. Milk and coffee creamer both froth in the same way when heated together.
Different Types Of Creamers
Dairy Creamers
Sweetened condensed milk and artificial sweeteners are used to make dairy creamers, which are typically made with cream, milk, or both. Milk creamers will froth up like milk products such as half-and-half or whole milk, depending on the amount of dairy in them.
They’re extremely popular, and they’re also the easiest to come by. Even well-known companies such as Starbucks and Coffee-Mate produce dairy creamers.
Plant-Based Creamers
Depending on the source, plant milk contains a variety of fats and proteins that differ from one another. As a result, plant-milk creamers can be either excellent or terrible for frothing, depending on the application.
Plant milk creamers with an oat milk base are the simplest to foam, especially for beginners. Some of them also contain additives such as gellan, which improve their overall performance.
Non-Dairy Creamers
In addition to being known as a coffee whitener, the non-dairy creamer is typically available in powdered form.
This food item contains a long list of ingredients, including corn syrup, vegetable fats and oils, and calcium sodium caseinate, which is a protein derived from milk.
Because it is stabilized with gellan, it is surprising how easily it can be frothed. This is why almond milk isn’t as easy to froth.
Coffee Creamer Vs. Milk
It’s a well-known fact that adding milk to coffee improves the flavor and helps to mask the bitterness. It also thickens and makes your coffee silkier, resulting in a richer cup of joe for you and your guests.
Some people prefer to use coffee creamer instead of milk in their brews for various reasons. There are many fun flavors from caramel, mocha, and French vanilla.
Each sip is a reminder of the season, thanks to seasonal flavors. You can sweeten your coffee without using sugar because they are flavored. The result is that most people prefer coffee creamers to plain milk.
While lactose-free creamers may not cause allergic reactions in some, vegans and those allergic to milk proteins should be aware that even lactose-free creamers contain milk proteins.
Because coffee creamers do not contain milk’s calcium and other nutrients if you’re trying to get your calcium from your cappuccino or latte, be aware of this.
As a bonus, coffee creamer lasts longer than milk, so you won’t be making as many trips to the store as you would with milk.
Conclusion
Even if you don’t eat dairy, you can still enjoy a cup of coffee that tastes like it’s been enriched with cream. For convenience, they can be powder or liquid and can be kept at home or work.
Is it possible to froth creamer and go one step further? Absolutely, just make sure to pick a dairy or protein option that has gellan in it. Several tried-and-true frothing techniques are at your disposal for trial and error.
