Honest Review of the Starbucks Verismo Milk Frother (with video and recipe)

This post does contain affiliate links, but I'm always honest in my opinions and recommendations!

I got the Starbucks Verismo single-serve coffee/espresso machine & milk frother for Christmas (score!! Thanks mom!).  I'm using the frother to make kids drinks as well as lattes and au laits.  I have discovered a cool shortcut for the milk frother that I wanted to share, too.  Down at the bottom I have a little video showing it in action.

Verismo milk frother affiliate link:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FPW2IO4/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00FPW2IO4&linkCode=as2&tag=cocolove00-20&linkId=F5A4PC4AFNDG7BQ5

It can either froth or steam milk. To froth you leave the coil attachment on, to steam you take it off.  I just put the coil away in a safe place because I never need just the foam. Besides when you steam milk with the Verismo frother, you still get a little foam anyway (as you can see in the first photo).

shown with the coil attachment for frothing

remove coil to steam milk (will still produce a little foam)

I've never used a similar appliance so I can't compare the Verismo frother to other brands, but to all the people out there thinking can't you just microwave the milk, or heat it on the stove? I must point out that you will not get the same coffee shop feel of frothy, slightly foamy steamed milk from the microwave or stovetop. 

For the honest part of my review (the cons), I wish it held a little more milk so I could do 2 drinks at a time, and it would be nice if the milk got just a tad hotter for espresso drinks (although its perfect temp, on the hotter side, for kids drinks).   It does seem a little pricey at almost $60 but I do believe you get what you pay for, and you can get the milk frother discounted or free with Verismo systems, like this one that comes with 24 pods too:

Here is the shortcut I like to make my kids cocoa and vanilla steamers, or as my 3-year-old calls them, "manilla steefers".  (I have been making cocoa from scratch for years -- you just dissolve the sugar and cocoa powder in a little hot water and then add some milk and warm.  It's so much tastier than the mixes made with milk powder!)  Anyway the shortcut is to put the sugar and cocoa powder directly in the frother with the milk.  Or, if you're making a Vanilla Steamer, add the sugar and vanilla to the cold milk.  The sugar dissolves beautifully and I haven't noticed any residue left behind in the container.  It is a huge convenience to not constantly watch the stove to make sure you don't burn the sugar or scald the milk.  I checked the packaging and couldn't find any warnings about putting anything other than milk in the frother, and I'm always careful to rinse it right away... but you should proceed at your own risk!  If you want a "recipe" I usually use 1:1 or 2:1 tsp sugar-cocoa ratio per cup of cocoa.  For a vanilla steamer I'll use 1-2 tsp sugar and maybe 1/4 tsp. of vanilla extract per cup.  Add a shot of espresso if you want a mocha or vanilla latte!

If you're an Amazon shopper, check out these links for the frother, or a deal on the Verismo system with a frother!  Hope you have as much fun with it as I am.

Verismo milk frother affiliate link:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FPW2IO4/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00FPW2IO4&linkCode=as2&tag=cocolove00-20&linkId=F5A4PC4AFNDG7BQ5

Verismo 580 system WITH milk frother AND pods:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HZ2FQM8/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00HZ2FQM8&linkCode=as2&tag=cocolove00-20&linkId=MJPCS2PVR4NBOD7P