Milk Steaming Pitchers Are Kind Of Complicated. Let’s Fix That.
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When you get an espresso machine everyone will tell you about tampers, WDTs, puck screens, atomizers, and so on. What they often forget to mention is that having the right milk steaming pitcher is just as important — maybe more — than all that stuff.
Because if you have the wrong milk pitcher there’s a higher likelihood that your drinks are going to suck.
You need the right size.
You need them to be comfortable.
You need them to be well made.
And you need the right spout if you’re going stick the latte art landing.
In this article I’m going to help you understand how to pick the right milk steaming pitcher for home espresso use.
I will link to my favorites at the end.
Choosing the Right Size Milk Pitcher For Your Espresso Machine
A lot of home espresso machines, like the Ascaso Duo PID which I have and enjoy, have smaller steam wands with curves in them. If you have a pitcher that is too big, it can make it hard and awkward to submerge the steam wand adequately in the milk. I just want it to be easy to make silky sweet microfoam. Big pitchers are no-go for this machine.
My La Marzocco GS/3, which I use for my coffee cart business, Coliseum Coffee Works, has the most glorious steam wand imaginable, so any pitcher works with that.
Consult the manufacturer for a recommendation. In many cases, you’re probably going to cap out size-wise with a 450 milliliter milk pitcher. Luckily, that size pitcher will make many types of common espresso drinks.
Let’s talk about drinks.
The Right Size for the Right Drink
Here’s a simple guide for choosing the right size milk pitcher for the four most common espresso milk drinks:
Cortados: 200-350 ml (6-10 oz) pitcher
Flat Whites: 350-400 ml (10-12 oz) pitcher
Cappuccinos: 400-450 ml (12-14oz) pitcher
Lattes: 500-600 ml (17-20 oz) pitcher
Pro-tip: If you can only buy one, go for the largest that fits your steam wand — a 450 ml pitcher works for most home machines and drinks under 8 ounces.
Handle vs. Handleless Milk Pitchers
Traditional handles can be awkward — and most manufacturers clearly don’t have ergonomics in mind. They’re a one-size-fits-all thing except that they don’t fit all. Luckily, some brands are innovating:
The Fellow Eddy offers an updated handle design (and a slick finish!), as does 3Bomber with the little pinky indent. I haven’t used either personally but I’m keen to get my hands on them. Literally?
Handleless options from Normcore, Subminimal, and Slow Pour Supply x WPM provide a better experience while steaming and more control while pouring latte art. I’m very into these.
Quality Matters
Not all milk steaming pitchers are created equal. Most aren’t built for durability and usability. When you’re doing research, keep the following in mind:
Alignment of the handle and spout is a nice feature for a comfortable, controlled pour
Laser welding instead of spot welding on the handle provides a cleaner look and a stronger connection just in case you drop your pitcher
Thick (0.9mm), high-quality stainless steel is a good insulator and deters dents
Durable electrocoated finishes outlast powder coating paint jobs hands down — nothing worse than a chipped up pitcher
Anti-drip spout designs are the standard these days
Spout Shape And Latte Art
The shape of your spout can affect your latte art.
Round spouts: Better for beginners and makes wider lines
Sharp spouts: For advanced artists and makes finer lines
The Milk Pitcher I Use & Recommendations
As you probably saw in the video, I have far too (but not enough?) milk steaming pitchers. My go-to in my Barista Hustle 400 milliliter pitcher with a round spout. I like 8 ounce cappuccinos a lot. Unfortunately, it seems to be out of stock. However, many excellent pitchers are on the market.
Some pitchers are powder coated, some don’t have laser welds, but sometimes they are still better than other options.
Here’s my list of recommendations:
FYI - I don’t like when there is writing on my milk pitchers, so I’m omitting any brands that do that.
BUDGET-FRIENDLY OPTION — Dianoo 420 ml milk steaming pitcher - $14.95
Hulisen “cortado” 200 ml milk steaming pitcher - $9.99
Subminimal handleless 450 ml milk pitcher - $39
Normcore handleless 450 ml and 600 ml milk pitcher - $32.99 & 35.99
Revolution 350 ml & 600 ml milk pitcher - $22.99 & $25.99
Links To Other Coffee Things Mentioned
La Marzocco GS3 Espresso Machine
Ascao DUO PID Espresso Machine
Conclusion
I hoped that article helped you. Don’t overthink it, just grab what seems right based on what I said above. The good part about Amazon is that you can return what you don’t like. If the pitcher doesn’t fit your machine or is too small for your favorite drink, send it back, get a new one. We only live once, let’s make badass espresso drinks.
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Until next time… Peace. ✌️
