Can You Froth Half and Half?

Did you know that every coffee beverage with the word breve in it is made with frothed half and half? 

For instance, if you’re making a cappuccino and substitute the whole milk for half and half, you now have a Breve Cappuccino. Frothing the milk results in a creamier, richer taste as compared to a traditional drink using regular whole milk. 

So, can you froth half and half? Absolutely. 

Read on to learn how in this step-by-step guide.

What is Half and Half? 

The name says it all: half whole milk and half heavy cream. The texture is much thicker than milk but not as heavy as cream. It offers a great middle ground for those who like both ingredients in their coffee.

How to Froth Half and Half 

Now, let’s get to the good part: a step-by-step guide on how to froth half and half. You’ll find that the process of frothing half and half is very similar to frothing regular milk products. 

For starters, you need the following:

• Coffee machine with steam wand
• Milk jug
• Cold half and half
• Thermometer 
• Spoon
• Mug

Once you’ve gathered all the above, follow these 4 simple steps.

1. Fill Your Frother Jug

This step is simple, but under or overfilling your jug will throw off the entire process. 

Begin by filling up your jug until the surface of the liquid touches the lower “V” of the spout. If you fill it any further than that, there won’t be enough space for the milk to expand. If you use too little, you’ll likely overdo the foaming process and ruin the texture. 

2. Use a Thermometer

Place your thermometer into the jug and keep track of how hot the milk gets. You don’t want it to get any higher than 160°; otherwise you run the risk of scalding it. 

Keep the thermometer in the jug for the remainder of this process. You want to keep a close eye on the temperature and remove the jug from the heat once it gets near 145°.

3. Steam Your Milk 

Place the steam wand into your jug. Don’t submerge it completely; instead, place half of it into the jug. Steam for about five seconds and then submerge it fully. Tilt the jug slightly as you’re doing this to get rid of any large bubbles. 

Once the temperature gets to around 145°, turn the steam wand off. Keep the thermometer in the jug. You’ll notice the milk will keep cooking for a while longer before the temps stop rising. 

4. Rest Milk and Pour

Set the jug on the counter and let it rest. You want it to cool down before you pour it into your mug. Once it’s cool, pour into your cup while holding the foam back. Then, pull the foam into the mug, add your espresso, and enjoy! 

Can I Use a Handheld Frother?

If you don’t have an espresso machine with a steam wand, you can use a milk frother. While you won’t get the same results, it’s definitely better than not frothing it at all.

For this method, you’ll need a handheld frother or steam wand and a thermometer. To froth it without steaming, you can use any of the following: 

• Milk frother that works with heat turned off
• An electric mixer
• A whisk 
• A jar
• A blender

Final Tips 

If you’re struggling with the frothing process, keep these following tips in mind. Failing to comply with them is often the culprit of a failed attempt to froth half and half milk. 

• Use Cold Milk. Be sure the milk is as cold as possible. This offers amazing froth results as opposed to room temperature or warm milk since proteins are most stable in cold milk. 

• Partly Submerge the Steam Wand. You don’t ever want to fully submerge your steam wand until you’ve been steaming your milk for 5 full seconds. 

• Maintain the Right Temperature. You don’t want the liquid to get hotter than 160°; otherwise you’re going to burn it. Stop steaming before it reaches this temperature (about 145°). You’ll notice the milk will keep cooking on its own until it cools down. 

And with that, you have all the knowledge necessary to successfully froth half and half and make all your favorite breve recipes!