Is the Smeg Milk Frother Worth It?
Based on tests by Reviewed (May 2024). How we score
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Why
Reviewed tested the Smeg alongside a dozen other frothers and was blunt: "This device is definitely an extravagance." It "gives great results" and "sports lots of special features," but "on occasion, the Smeg takes close to three minutes to froth the max amount of a 1 cup of milk." It didn't make Reviewed's top picks. Reviewed's Best Overall, the Instant Pot Milk Frother, froths the same cup of milk for a small fraction of the price, and its Best Upgrade, the Breville Milk Cafe, froths twice as much and still costs less than the Smeg. Buy the Smeg for the design.
Cheaper alternatives, scored against the Smeg Milk Frother
4-in-1 Milk Frother, Black
From 1 tester: Reviewed
From 1 tester: Reviewed
Reviewed's favorite frother: "This is one of those rare instances when our top pick is also the best value." It froths up to a cup at a time, the Smeg's maximum, and "On average it takes about two minutes." It has a handle and spout for pouring. The trade-off against the Smeg is the pitcher, which is "Not dishwasher safe." America's Test Kitchen, which didn't test the Smeg, named it a Best Buy.
Sources: Reviewed: The Best Milk Frothers (updated May 2, 2024), America's Test Kitchen: The Best Milk Frothers (updated July 8, 2025), Manufacturer specs via Amazon listing
Milk Cafe Frother
From 1 tester: Reviewed
From 1 tester: Reviewed
Reviewed's Best Upgrade, and still cheaper than the Smeg: "This is the Rolls Royce of milk frothers." "On its max setting, the Breville can whip 2 cups of milk, more than any other frother we tested," and like the Smeg it has a dishwasher-safe stainless-steel pitcher. Big batches are slow: "with more milk, it takes more time to froth" (sometimes over six minutes). America's Test Kitchen named it its countertop winner.
Sources: Reviewed: The Best Milk Frothers (updated May 2, 2024), America's Test Kitchen: The Best Milk Frothers (updated July 8, 2025), Manufacturer specs via Amazon listing
Common questions
Is the Smeg milk frother worth it?
Reviewed called it "definitely an extravagance": it froths well but can take close to three minutes per cup. Reviewed's Best Overall, the Instant Pot Milk Frother, froths the same amount for a fraction of the price, and the Breville Milk Cafe froths twice as much for less than the Smeg.
Sources: Reviewed: The Best Milk Frothers (updated May 2, 2024), Manufacturer specs via Amazon listing
