| Product: |
Aerolatte Milk Frother |
| Date: |
03/01/02 (1416 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: Works well, Safe - no scalding steam needed
Disadvantages: Little over priced
The aerolatte is, according to the box, the 'original steam free milk frother'.
I bought this as a present for my girlfriend who loves to drink cappuccinos. I was sold when I saw a rather cocky salesperson demonstrating them in Bentalls Department Store, in Kingston-Upon-Thames. I couldn't bring myself to go up to his display and get one, thereby giving him the satisfaction of thinking he had convinced me to buy one (he was really such a cocky and arrogant man!). So, I crossed the road and went to John Lewis, who thankfully also had them - you may wish to know this if my opinion convinces you that you need one!
What is the aerolatte?
Well, quite simply, it is a whisk attached onto a high speed motor, with two AA batteries and an on/off switch. Yes, it's that simple. If you happen to see someone demonstrating them, don't believe the rubbish about this 'piece of great technology', this 'frothing kitchen wizard' etc, etc! It is simple, but more importantly, it really does work!
The casing which houses the batteries, motor and switch is made from a shiny silver material that looks like metal, but feels like plastic. It is 10.7cm long and 3.7cm wide for the most part, before tapering off to meet the stalk of the whisk.
The whisk has a stalk which is 10.5cm long (giving the entire aerolatte a length of 21.2cm - quick, go and measure and see if it will fit in your kitchen drawer!). The end of the whisk is circular - diameter 2.2cm with more wire coiled around it forming loops perpendicular to the circular end, of diameter 0.4cm. For a picture, visit www.aerolatte.com!
The aerolatte is made to froth milk. I'm sure you could find lots of uses for it, but the primary ones are to make Cappuccino, Hot Chocolate and Milkshakes.
You can froth any sort of milk with the aerolatte. Full fat, semi-skimmed or skimmed. The only difference is that the froth remains for longer wi
th higher fat milk. The instruction leaflet also says that you can froth goat's and sheep's milk, and surprisingly Soya milk, UHT, and powdered milk.
For milkshakes, you should ensure that the milk is cold - straight from the fridge. According to the instructions, milkshake syrup works better than powder. In fact, this quote is taken direct from www.aerolatte.com :
"The aerolatte also has the support of Crusha who use them for making superior milkshakes. Just add Crusha syrups to fridge chilled milk and the aerolatte will make thick milkshakes in just 20 seconds. So thick that without adding cream, ice cream or crushed ice, a straw will stand up-right."
Now, for the bit that we use our aerolatte for - frothing milk for hot drinks. The milk should be heated to a temperature of approximately 60 degrees centigrade. This is about 45 seconds in the microwave. Causing the milk to boil will destroy it's frothing properties.
Once the milk is warm, you insert the whisk into the milk close to the bottom of the mug. Then you switch on the aerolatte and begin to move it around the outside of the mug. As the froth starts to be made, and the milk rises, you move the aerolatte up, so that the head of the whisk is always just underneath the top of the froth. This should be done for around 20 seconds. Half a mug of milk will easily turn into a whole mug of milky froth.
By the way, this really does work! If I had seen this on TV, I would have thought it was a gimmick, that it probably wouldn't work the same once you had it at home - I'm quite a cynic. But I am really impressed with this gadget.
Not only did Crusha milkshake get in on the act, but also the giants of Italian coffee:
".....Lavazza, the Italian Specialists in coffee are so impressed with the aerolatte that they are endorsing it for their espresso blend - Crema e Gusto."
To clean the aerolatte, all y
ou have to do is switch it on while dipped in soapy water.
The aerolatte costs £14.95 in the shops. If you can't find it then you can order from the John Lewis website or the aerolatte website (£2 postage, but you get lots of freebies for ordering a quantity of them).
All, in all this immensely simple device, which is no doubt raking in a fortune for its inventors, is reasonably priced and very effective, and certainly makes a worthwhile addition to any kitchen drawer.
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