A nonstick jug trades easy release for stricter care rules. A steel jug takes more handling but needs cleaning after every batch.
Part of our best stainless steel milk frothers guide, which compares specific models. This page was researched from manufacturer manuals, specifically the Breville and Nespresso instruction manuals.
The table contrasts one documented example of each milk frother jug type: the stainless steel jug of the Breville Milk Café BMF600 and the coated jug of the Nespresso Aeroccino4, as their manuals describe them.
| Factor | Stainless steel jug (Breville BMF600) | Nonstick coated jug (Nespresso Aeroccino4) |
|---|---|---|
| Milk-contact surface | Stainless steel | Coating (manual refers to the "jug coating") |
| Forbidden cleaning tools | Alkaline or abrasive agents, steel wool, scouring pads | Abrasives, sharp objects, brushes |
| Dishwasher | Jug, lid, cap and discs, top shelf only | All parts except base, max 70 °C / 158 °F, not over the dishwasher pin |
| Add-ins in the jug | No coating warning in the booklet | No syrups, sugar or chocolate powder (can damage the coating) |
| When to clean | After each use, once jug and disc cool | Immediately after each use, rinse with cold water |
A milk frother jug's exterior finish does not reveal its interior. The quickest check is the manual's cleaning section: the Aeroccino4 manual warns against tools "which may scratch/damage the jug coating," which confirms a coated interior. The Breville BMF600 booklet instead names a "stainless steel jug" and never mentions a coating. Search your manual for "coating," "non-stick" or "scratch." The parent guide applies this check to specific frothers.
Nespresso's Aeroccino4 manual sets the care rules for a coated milk frother jug:
Breville's BMF600 booklet says the stainless steel jug, frothing disc and heating chamber should be cleaned after each use to minimise milk residue build-up. Let the jug and disc cool, rinse in tap water, then wash the jug and frother attachment in warm soapy water, and clear any residue from the hole in the centre of the jug base, which otherwise interrupts frothing. The jug, lid, measuring cap and discs are top-shelf dishwasher safe, though Breville suggests hand-washing the discs to extend their life. Even steel has limits: the booklet rules out alkaline or abrasive cleaners, steel wool and scouring pads because they can damage the surface.
Neither the Breville nor the Nespresso manual quantifies how much heated milk sticks to a stainless steel or a nonstick frother jug, but both manuals treat prompt cleaning as the fix. Nespresso says to clean immediately after use; Breville says to clean after each use to limit residue build-up. With a steel jug, Breville's route is warm soapy water, since scouring pads are ruled out. For plant milks that leave a film, see removing oat milk residue from a milk frother.
A nonstick milk frother jug wears through its coating. The Aeroccino4 manual lists the coating threats: scratching tools, brushes, sugar and syrups, and contact with a dishwasher pin. A stainless steel milk frother jug has no coating to lose, so the manual's warnings target surface damage from abrasives and alkaline cleaners instead. On the steel Breville unit, the part Breville singles out for gentler care is the frothing disc, not the jug.
A nonstick milk frother jug releases milk easily but limits how you clean it: the Nespresso Aeroccino4 manual rules out abrasives, sharp objects and brushes that may scratch the jug coating. A stainless steel jug such as the Breville BMF600's tolerates more handling, though Breville still rules out alkaline or abrasive cleaners, steel wool and scouring pads.
The Aeroccino4 manual says every part except the base is dishwasher resistant at no more than 70 °C / 158 °F, and warns against placing the jug directly over the dishwasher pin because that can damage the inner coating. Check your own model's manual, since rules differ.
Not in the Aeroccino4. Its manual says not to add syrups, sugar, chocolate powder or other substances to the jug because they can damage the coating during use. Some frothers are designed for chocolate; see our chocolate-in-a-frother guide before adding anything.
Read the care section of the manual. If it warns about scratching or damaging a coating, the jug interior is coated, even if the outside is stainless steel.
Sources reviewed September 28, 2026.
Check jug, whisk and lid materials before you buy.
Clearing plant-milk film from jugs and whisks.
Heating capacity vs frothing capacity explained.