A steel shell and a steel jug interior are different claims. Here is how to read the jug, whisk and lid materials before you buy.
Part of our best milk frother for latte art guide. This page was researched from manufacturer manuals, product pages and retailer specifications; we have not run hands-on trials of these frothers.
A listing that calls a milk frother "stainless steel" can describe the outer housing, the jug body, or the surface that actually touches milk. Those are three separate facts. Many electric jug frothers pair a steel exterior with a non-stick interior, and the product title rarely separates the two.
The reliable place to find the milk-contact material is the instruction manual, not the headline. Manuals list parts by name and, in the cleaning section, warn you what can damage them. A warning about scratching a "coating" means milk touches a coating.
The table records only what each manufacturer or retailer document states. "Not stated" means we could not find the material in the source, not that the part is plastic.
| Model | Jug or carafe interior | Whisk / disc | Lid / seal | Capacity noted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breville Milk Café BMF600 | Stainless steel jug; no coating mentioned | Latte and cappuccino discs; material not stated | Lid listed as a separate part; material not stated | 500 ml CAPP/LATTE MAX |
| Nespresso Aeroccino4 | Coated jug interior (manual warns against damaging the coating) | Whisk and spring; material not stated | Lid and seal listed as separate parts; material not stated | 120 ml foam / 240 ml hot milk |
| Bodum Latteo (manual) | Borosilicate glass carafe | Plunger; material not stated | Not stated | 8 oz |
| IKEA MÅTTLIG jug + handheld whisk | Stainless steel jug | Depends on the handheld frother | Not stated | 17 oz jug |
The Breville BMF600 instruction booklet describes a "stainless steel jug with inner measurement markings and pouring spout," heated by an induction power base. The booklet says not to exceed the 500 ml CAPP/LATTE MAX marking and warns against alkaline or abrasive cleaners, steel wool and scouring pads. The jug, lid, measuring cap and frothing discs can go on the dishwasher top shelf, though Breville recommends hand-washing the discs. Breville's product page ties the dishwasher-safe jug to the induction design. Of the electric models here, the BMF600 is the one whose manual documents a steel jug without mentioning an inner coating.
The Nespresso Aeroccino4 user manual tells owners not to use abrasives, sharp objects or brushes "which may scratch/damage the jug coating," and says syrups, sugar and chocolate powder in the jug can damage the coating. Milk in an Aeroccino4 therefore touches a coated interior, whatever the exterior finish. The manual lists a 120 ml "Max foam" line for hot and cold froth and a 240 ml "Max milk" line for hot milk, and allows dishwasher washing of all parts except the base at no more than 70 °C / 158 °F.
The Bodum Latteo is not steel, but it answers the same concern. Whole Latte Love's Latteo listing describes a heat-resistant borosilicate glass carafe holding 8 oz, microwave-safe once the plunger is removed, and completely dishwasher safe. Pumping technique matters with a plunger frother; see our manual frother reality check.
A plain steel frothing jug removes the coating question from the jug entirely. IKEA lists the MÅTTLIG as a 17 oz stainless steel, dishwasher-safe jug, but says the MÅTTLIG is not suitable for any cooktop, including glass-ceramic, cast iron, induction and gas. Heat the milk separately in a microwave-safe container, a saucepan or an electric frother, then pour it into the MÅTTLIG to froth. Pair the MÅTTLIG with a handheld whisk and check that whisk's head material separately. Our frothing without a steam wand guide covers the technique.
A milk frother's care section is the fastest coating test. Search the manual for "coating," "non-stick" or "scratch." Nespresso's Aeroccino4 manual uses "coating" explicitly, while Breville's BMF600 booklet warns against abrasive cleaners, steel wool and scouring pads without mentioning a coating, and calls the jug stainless steel. If the manual is silent on material, ask the manufacturer before assuming bare steel. For how the two jug surfaces compare, see stainless steel vs nonstick milk frother jugs; before loading a dishwasher, check can a milk frother go in the dishwasher; and for scorched residue, follow the guide to cleaning burnt milk from a stainless steel frother.
Not necessarily. A stainless steel exterior says nothing about the jug interior. The Nespresso Aeroccino4 manual, for example, warns against abrasives and brushes that may damage the jug coating, which tells you milk touches a coating rather than bare steel. Check the manual's cleaning section for the word coating before buying.
Yes. Breville's BMF600 instruction booklet describes a stainless steel jug with inner measurement markings and a pouring spout, with a CAPP/LATTE MAX marking of 500 ml. The booklet does not state the material of the frothing discs, so the whisk surface is not documented as steel.
A plain stainless steel frothing jug, such as the IKEA MATTLIG, filled with milk heated separately (in a microwave-safe container, a saucepan or an electric frother) and then frothed in the jug with a handheld whisk. The jug is steel, but check the whisk head material on the handheld frother you choose, and note IKEA says the MATTLIG jug is not suitable for any cooktop, including cast iron.
Yes, if your concern is coatings. The Bodum Latteo uses a heat-resistant borosilicate glass carafe that is microwave-safe once the plunger is removed, so the milk sits in glass rather than steel or a coating.
Sources reviewed September 28, 2026.
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