Smeg MFF11 milk frother review: a stylish all-rounder, if you'll pay for the looks

This Smeg MFF11 milk frother review is for anyone eyeing that retro-looking jug and wondering whether it’s worth the money. It’s an induction frother that heats milk, makes hot or cold foam and does hot chocolate, all from a single dial. I haven’t tested this in person. My verdict is based on Smeg’s own spec table, dated UK prices, Currys owner reviews and the BBC Good Food round-up I link below.

Smeg MFF11 milk frother review: the short answer

Buy the Smeg MFF11 if you make milky coffee or hot chocolate most days, want hot and cold foam from one machine, and like the idea of a frother that looks good left out on the worktop. BBC Good Food named it its “best premium” frother, and its lowest price I found was £149.97 at Currys for the black model, price at time of research (28 Sep 2026), which is a reduced price that may end.

Who it isn’t for: anyone who only has the occasional latte, or who’s watching the pennies. My Lakeland Foamie review covers a handheld frother that costs a fraction of the price, though it doesn’t heat milk.

Skip it if your main goal is pouring latte art. BBC Good Food rates this frother’s foam highly, but automatic jug frothers in general don’t let you adjust the milk as you go the way a steam wand and a pouring jug do. That’s my general view of this type of frother, not a finding about the MFF11 itself.

Who it isn’t for: home baristas who want to practise pouring hearts and tulips. My guide to the best milk jug for latte art is a better starting point.

What it costs right now

• Currys (black, MFF11BLUK): £149.97, price at time of research (28 Sep 2026), in stock. Currys shows a saving of £29.03 against a was price of £179.00, so this is a reduced price that may end. That price is for black only; I didn’t see other colours at Currys. See the Smeg MFF11 at Currys
• Smeg UK (all five colours): £179.95, price at time of research (28 Sep 2026), with cream, black, pastel blue, white and red all available. There was no was price shown. See the MFF11 at Smeg UK
• John Lewis, Argos and Amazon: I couldn’t confirm a live price at any of these, so I’m not giving one. Check current price on the retailer’s own site.

There are no running costs beyond milk and electricity: no pods, filters or other bits to keep buying.

What you get: specs and what’s in the box

Smeg’s spec table lists a 250ml maximum for frothing (with a 125ml minimum) and 600ml for heated milk or hot chocolate, which is enough for a couple of mugs in one go. It heats by induction, switches itself off automatically and runs at 500W on a UK plug with a 1m cord.

The dial gives you six presets plus a manual setting. The presets cover hot milk, hot chocolate, light or dense hot foam and light or dense cold foam, and the manual setting comes in hot and cold versions. That spread is really the point of the MFF11: iced lattes in summer, cappuccinos in winter and hot chocolate for the kids, all from one jug.

Smeg gives the size as 251 x 184 x 142mm (height x width x depth) and the weight as 1.78kg, while Currys lists 1.7kg. Either way, it’s a fair bit bigger and heavier than a basic frother. The carafe is removable and stainless steel, it has anti-slip feet, and the lid doubles as a measuring cup.

In the box, Currys lists the frother, two discs (a smooth one for hot milk and a notched one for foam) and the user manual. Currys gives a two-year manufacturer’s guarantee. I didn’t find out whether buying directly from Smeg gets you anything longer.

Who it isn’t for: anyone short on worktop space. It isn’t huge, but it’s a proper appliance rather than something you’d tuck in a drawer.

Cleaning and everyday use

Smeg says the stainless-steel carafe is dishwasher-safe, and Currys also lists dishwasher-safe parts, which is a big plus with milk gadgets, because milk residue needs cleaning off every time. Because the carafe lifts off the base, you can pour without the base and cable coming with it.

The 125ml minimum matters more than you’d think. If you just want a splash of foam for a macchiato, you’ll be heating more milk than you need. At the other end, 250ml of foam is roughly one or two milky drinks per run, so a household of four cappuccino fans would be doing a couple of batches.

Who it isn’t for: people who mostly make one small drink at a time. A handheld whisk wastes less milk for a single cup.

What reviewers and owners say

The most useful independent source I found is BBC Good Food’s best milk frothers round-up, updated on 4 Sep 2026. It names the MFF11 its “best premium” pick and gives it 4.5 out of 5. The reviewer liked the texture of the foam, the easy pour and the choice of froth settings. Hot chocolate came out at 70C in their check, and dairy-free milks worked well. The one real complaint was the price: it was the most expensive frother in that round-up.

The capacity figures differ between sources. Smeg’s spec table lists 250ml for frothing and 600ml for heated milk, while BBC Good Food gives 250ml for frothing and heating and 500ml for cold milk. The sources differ, so I’ve used the maker’s figures throughout.

Owner feedback is thin so far. On Currys’ listing for the black model, owners give it 5 out of 5 across 9 reviews (at time of research, 28 Sep 2026). That’s encouraging, but nine reviews is a small sample and says little about how it holds up over years.

Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants lots of long-term owner feedback before spending this much. There isn’t much of it yet.

Smeg MFF11 vs Lakeland Foamie

These two sit at opposite ends of the market, so it’s really a question of how much you want the frother to do.

• Price: the Smeg is £149.97 at Currys (black, reduced price that may end) or £179.95 at Smeg UK; the Foamie is £11.99 at Lakeland. All are prices at time of research (28 Sep 2026).
• Heating: the Smeg heats milk itself; the Foamie doesn’t, so you warm milk in the microwave or on the hob first.
• Modes: the Smeg has six presets plus manual; the Foamie has one button.
• Cold foam: the Smeg has dedicated cold settings; Lakeland doesn’t mention cold foam for the Foamie.
• Guarantee: two years on the Smeg (per Currys) against three years on the Foamie (per Lakeland).

If you want a one-stop gadget for hot and cold drinks, the Smeg is the one. If you just want to see whether you’d use a frother at all, the Foamie is a very cheap way to find out. My Lakeland Foamie review has more.

Who it isn’t for: anyone who’s happy to heat milk separately and just wants some foam on top. The Smeg’s extra cost goes mostly on heating and modes.

Downsides

• The price. It’s a lot for a frother, and BBC Good Food makes the same point.
• The lower price may not last. Currys’ £149.97 (price at time of research, 28 Sep 2026) is a reduced price on the black model, against a was price of £179.00.
• Batch limits. 250ml of foam at most, and at least 125ml of milk each time, per Smeg.
• Size and weight. Around 1.7kg and a proper worktop footprint.
• Few owner reviews. Nine at Currys, so long-term reliability is hard to judge.

Where to go next

For more options at different prices, see my guide to the best milk frothers. If latte art is what you’re after, read my guide to the best milk jug for latte art. And for a machine to pair it with, try my best espresso machine under £300 guide.

FAQ

Does the Smeg MFF11 make cold foam? Yes. Smeg lists light and dense cold foam settings, plus a manual cold setting, so it works for iced lattes.

Is the Smeg MFF11 dishwasher-safe? Smeg says the stainless-steel carafe is, and Currys lists dishwasher-safe parts too.

How much milk does the Smeg MFF11 take? Smeg lists a maximum of 250ml for frothing (minimum 125ml) and 600ml for heated milk or hot chocolate. BBC Good Food lists different figures (250ml for frothing and heating, 500ml for cold milk), so I’ve gone with Smeg’s.

Is the Currys price a reduced price? Yes. Currys showed £149.97 for the black model against a was price of £179.00, price at time of research (28 Sep 2026), so it may go back up.