I just tested this $57 milk frother that makes at-home coffee better than your local Starbucks

Looking for a way to get the same results as a milk steamer without breaking the bank? Look no further than the Subminimal NanoFoamer Lithium.

This may look like a mini electric whisk but it couldn’t be more different. The NanoScreen technology forces air bubbles into the milk and gives a velvety feel. This is done by interchangeable mesh screens that force bubbles into the milk using the impeller at the end of the rod.

It works well with warm milk (both cow’s milk and alternatives) to create the same experience as enjoying a latte from your favorite coffee shop. The foamer also produces amazing cold foam to top off your favorite iced drinks!

While I wish the NanoFoamer was prettier, it is comfortable and lightweight. The rechargeable battery also means you’ll never be fumbling around for batteries when you need to make a coffee.

While the foamer performs well, its looks let it down a bit. Although it's sturdy enough, it still feels plasticky and cheaply made. I also found that while it could foam heated cow’s milk and alternatives, it worked far better on cold cow’s milk.

Find out more in my full review of the Subminimal NanoFoamer Lithium.

Subminimal NanoFoamer Lithium review: Specs

Subminimal NanoFoamer Lithium review: Price & availability

The Subminimal NanoFoamer is available for purchase on Amazon U.S. for $57 / Amazon U.K. for £57. Subminimal have a range of NanoFoamers to choose from and while the Lithium can churn hot milk, I would personally recommend this NanoFoamer for cold drinks.

If you’re regularly making hot drinks, you would be better off trying the Subminimal NanoFoamer Pro Gen 2 which is more expensive at $159, but heats milk at the same time.

The device is available in black on Amazon, but can also be purchased in white directly from Subminimal’s online store for $57.

You also get a latte art masterclass included with every purchase if you’re looking to up your coffee skills.

Subminimal NanoFoamer Lithium review: Design

I’ll get one of the only issues out of the way first: it’s far from premium looking. The Subminimal NanoFoamer is a shiny plastic nightmare and, although it comes with a wall mount, it’s not something I would choose to display.

The foamer can be easily stored in any drawer as it comes with a protective hood to make sure the steel rod doesn’t get damaged.

Included in the box are two NanoScreens to choose from depending on the foam consistency you want: fine and superfine. The button on the body of the foamer changes between two speed settings. I found that I got more control with the slower speed setting as the high speed causes the milk to spray up the sides of the cup.

The device has a waterproof rating of IPX4 so can withstand water splashes but not submersion. Three green lights running down the body also indicate how much charge is remaining.

The foamer doesn’t make a lot of noise like electric whisks I have tried in the past. I carried out a decibel test using the Decibel X app and got a reading of 75dB, which is similar to the hum of a dishwasher.

It is also incredibly comfortable to hold, with an ergonomic design and a thumb rest where the body juts out. This is great if you’re spending a while foaming multiple types of milk (as I did making drinks for all my colleagues).

The foamer is lightweight and compact, so you could totally take it with you on a trip without compromising any luggage space.

Subminimal NanoFoamer Lithium review: Performance

The Subminimal NanoFoamer Lithium couldn’t be more different to a mini whisk. While the foamer and a whisk will both perform essentially the same function, the result from the NanoFoamer is far more pleasant.

A standard electric whisk agitates milk and whips in air for a foamy texture, but the result is inconsistent. The NanoFoamer forces the milk through mesh screens to create even bubbles, resulting in microfoam and a velvety finish. This microfoam is closer to the result achieved by a steam wand.

Cold foam with cow’s milk

Yes, I am that person who orders cold foam on top of their iced latte at Starbucks, so I wanted to test out how the Nanofoamer fared.

I made my iced matcha as normal and then whipped up the smallest drop of semi-skimmed milk to see just how much foam I could get. The answer was ‘a lot’.

As you can see, the microfoam floated nicely above the matcha latte and ice, and also tasted great. It was light and airy and didn’t just dissipate into the rest of my drink immediately like it does when I use a regular electric whisk.

Whipped coffee method

While the NanoFoamer isn’t exactly the same as an electric whisk, whenever I use one I have the urge to make the Dalgona whipped coffee. In my mind, the trend is still going strong.

To make this (the TikTok way) I added two teaspoons of instant coffee and a teaspoon of sugar to a bowl with boiling water and used the NanoFoamer to ‘whip’ it up.

When using an electric whisk for this recipe, I normally get meringue-like peaks, which are stiff. But as you can see here the NanoScreens created tiny bubbles, making the coffee a lot lighter.

While the mixture floated on top of the cow’s milk, the coffee started mixing pretty quickly. The NanoFoamer wasn’t able to create the thick coffee I wanted, but it’s not really what it’s for — I just wanted to test out what it’s capable of.

Matcha powder

Traditionally, matcha power is mixed using a bamboo whisk, and it takes a lot of work and a perfect technique to ensure you have no clumps of matcha remaining. I wanted to put the NanoFoamer to the test and see if it would eradicate any lumps.

To test this I added a teaspoon of matcha powder to a cup with hot but not boiling water. I removed the NanoScreens and just used the impeller the screens attach to. Subminimal says that the screens can be removed for mixing and stirring drink powders. This means it can effectively mix up protein powders or green juice powders too.

I was impressed. There were zero lumps of matcha powder after less than 20 seconds of mixing. This is a real game changer and really demonstrates the effectiveness of the motor in the foamer.

Hot cow’s milk

Where the Nanofoamer really excels is foaming hot milk. All of the other functions are simply extra perks.

Image 1 of 2

The first picture is of the milk after being heated and the second picture is after I had used the foamer for 30 seconds. As you can see, there are tiny bubbles after the milk has been foamed and this runs throughout the liquid, not just on top.

I got my colleagues to try out this one and they said it wasn’t exactly like the result from a steam wand in a coffee shop, but it was pretty close.

In the second image, you can also see from the residue on the side of the mug just how high the liquid comes and just how forceful the foamer is, so make sure your vessel has high walls.

Milk alternatives

I also tested out how the Nanofoamer worked with milk alternatives when making a hot matcha latte. Subminimal says that it can be used with barista branded alternatives.

I heated up oat milk first and while the volume didn’t increase as much as when foaming cow’s milk, it did make the oat milk creamy and airy.

You can see from the bubbles on top that the NanoFoamer created a frothier texture with oat milk, but these larger bubbles were only a thin layer, and the rest of the drink has the finer microfoam throughout. The milk was extremely creamy, and my colleagues even said it was close to what they expect from their favourite coffee shop!

I also tested out coconut milk, and this definitely performed better than the oat milk. I could feel the coconut milk getting thicker when mixing although the results were again quite frothy.

The milk underneath was light and airy, though, with fewer large bubbles and gave a result similar to using a velvetizer. It was my favorite of the two.

Subminimal NanoFoamer Lithium review: Storage & maintenance

The Subminimal NanoFoamer is easy to store. Thanks to the protective hood it comes with, I was able to put it in my kitchen drawer and not worry about it getting damaged by any other utensils.

The device also comes with a wall mount to store the device near the rest of your coffee setup.

The NanoFoamer is incredibly easy to clean. The body has an IPX4 waterproof rating, so it can't be submerged in water, but it can be wiped down with a wet cloth without fear of damage. Between uses, I simply ran the rod and screens under warm water, and it was ready to go again.

When I was finished using it though, I took the screen off and unscrewed the impeller and washed with dish soap before putting it back together to store.

Battery life

The NanoFoamer only takes 2 hours to fully charge. This gives a total of 30 minutes mixing time. Since you only need to foam the liquid for around 30 seconds each time, a single charge should last you around 60 uses.

Subminimal NanoFoamer Lithium review: Verdict

The Subminimal NanoFoamer is perfect for anyone who doesn’t have the time or means to steam milk for their morning coffee using a steam wand. It’s also a super simple way to create cold foam — I just wish the device itself was prettier!

The foamer performs better with cow’s milk than it does with milk alternatives, but the alternatives still get close to that coffee shop texture that I love! It’s compact and lightweight, and the perfect addition to any small coffee setup.