BonJour Coffee Hand-Held Battery-Operated Beverage Whisk / Milk Frother, Silver, Primo Latte

Update: 2010Still going strong; however, I have some reservations about the stand. After several years of use, I now feel that the stand is too easily tipped over (but only because accidents do happen--if you never brushed against it, the stand wouldn't tip over), and that led to a bent "wand" when the frother hit the floor. I just received the Aerolatte as a gift (available also at Amazon.com) and am very pleased with it. However, I've only had it a few days; the reliable Bonjour frother worked well for over four years, and was slightly bent only because of an accident. Still make a fantastic (and relatively inexpensive) gift for the coffee connoisseur or the casual cocoa fan! Still highly recommendedbut you might want to compare this with the Aerolatte on features and price. Happy drinking!Update: Feb 20, 2006I've upgraded this from a 4.5 to a full 5* since purchasing it back in December. Initially, it seemed difficult to insert the batteries, but the Primo Frother is still going strong after almost 2 months of daily use!I've come to appreciate a few other features, as well:*I measured 3 ounces of milk, used the frother, and poured the froth back into a measuring cup. The foam measured close to 10 ounces; the Primo more than tripled the volume!*The rather flimsy looking stand actually works very well, holding the frother in place without tipping over.*It's extremely easy to clean: Just run it a few seconds under water.*It's very useful for mixing powders (e.g., chocolate) into liquids.*With just a little practice, you can make all manner of foams, from a light froth to a very dense topping that's almost like meringue! It's all in the angle and the depth of the frother within the drink container.This is undoubtedly the Holiday gift we use most, and I recommend it enthusiastically. (Also available (for a little over $10 more) as a rechargeable unit, though I don't think that's as important as I originally thought.) The review I wrote after only a few days of use is next:Original ReviewThe Bonjour frother, like any frother worth its salt, does an incredibly good job of injecting lots of air into your cup of milk, resulting in a thick foam that can be poured over coffee, milk, or the creative beverage of your choice. That little round wire wisk is powerful, creating a tiny whirlpool as it quietly works.Operation.You put the round end directly into a cup, and turn it on by holding down a very large black oval-shaped area on the frother's body. If you let go, it will stop after a few seconds--this can be useful if you want just small bursts of power. However, most people want the full whipping experience, hold it down and about 45-60 second later, a change is gonna come. The milk, previously still quite liquid--although shot through with lots of tiny air bubbles--begins to thicken (as when you make meringue). This induces a small pre-coffee high. After awhile, the foamy milk becomes so thick that the frother slows noticeably. You may be tempted to lift it from your cup to the thinner liquid, but resist this temptation: You could wind up splattering your kitchen.Uses of Foamy Milk.There are no hard and fast rules here, but, as stated above, froth can be poured over coffee for the classico cafe latte, over espresso (a subset of coffee, I suppose), over smoothies and desserts and whatever else you can think of. Add some Torani flavored syrup, get or make some biscoti, and enjoy the glory that is Rome. (Fortunately, a brief recipe book comes with the frother to stimulate ideas.) You can even froth your drink AFTER you poured the froth into it, but purists may scoff. I think it's a nice alternative, and it's extremely useful when your chocolate mix won't blend with milk.Maintenance.The frother cleans extremely easily, and you can hang it to dry in the enclosed stand. The latter was a pleasant surprised; I expected it to tip easily, but--contrary to some other reports here--it didn't. Of course, you need to place it in with some coordination and balance, but the inexpensive little stand works admirably.Batteries and How to Insert Them.The frother runs on 2 AA batteries (need I add that they are not included), and herein lies the single drawback: Closing the frother after inserting the batteries is not as easy as it should be. You have to push a tab on each side AND fit the end of the battery container into a slot at the end of the frother, and it takes patience and practice. If you have opened an electric razor to change the blades, and had difficulty closing it, you'll know what I mean. Suffice it to say that you DO NOT WANT TO FORCE anything, or else the tabs may break. Slowly but surely does it (or ask your clever neighbor); once you "get it," it probably won't be a problem anymore.Ergonomics and Apppearance.It fits nicely in your hand, and it's light, but the ergonomic advantages are somewhat overstated by Bonjour. The contrast of matte black and "brushed" aluminum looks good, and the frother is compact.I give this a small deduction for the battery learning curve, but otherwise, a very useful small appliance. Primo, dude.

I have owned over six of these. They are great when they work, but they have a notably short life. Also, the batteries don't last very long. I have recently purchased a manual frother that is easier to use, does not have the issues this frother has, and goes in the dishwasher: HIC Brands that Cook Stainless Steel Milk Frother, 14-Ounce Size. I am much happier with the manual frother.

I purchased the BonJour Frother, Automatic Battery Powered Primo Latte with Stand, Silver/Black from Amazon, but after a problem with the order, purchased it from a local store. I'd also purchased the BonJour Frother, Automatic Battery Powered Oval with Stand in Silver from Amazon at a great price for my daughter who had been using another frother. The Oval frother is quite good, but since the suggested price for both is about the same, I have to stress that the Primo Latte is a far better frother. The Primo Latte has a longer shaft and seems to whip better the Oval frother, is shaped a little rounder and solid in the hand, is also powered by two AA batteries which are not included, has an attractive stand to protect and store the frother on the countertop. I very much like the button on the side which makes for easy on and off although I wonder about why the button can be pressed at the button top or bottom with the same speed. The battery compartment is harder to open and close than the twist off Primo Latte, and I hope that I don't need to change the batteries very often. I've found that frothing skim milk is a breeze with this little tool and understand why it's the model I've seen in many stores.

The first time I received this frother, the holes where the batteries needed to be inserted were too small--I really had to jam in the batteries (and yes, I made sure I was using the correct size, AA). Even after getting the batteries in place, the frother simply wouldn't work. I tried three different pairs of brand new batteries and none produced even the slightest response. I even tried inserting the batteries the wrong way up, just to make sure I wasn't misunderstanding the directions or that the instructions weren't printed improperly--still no response. I sent back the product for a replacement (thanks to Amazon, it arrived the next day) and had the same problem. Neither of the frothers would work. I'm not sure if something has been changed by the company--I ordered this product because it had high reviews--but this was a COMPLETE WASTE of time and money. Avoid at all costs.

I just purchased this frother and was amazed at how it made hot frothed milk (after I microwaved the skim milk for 1 minute)! I just purchased a Capresso milk frother and could kick myself for spending $70 on something that does the same thing (although that is an excellent gadget too). I was delighted with the stand it comes with because it take up minimal room on my countertop. For $20 I don't know what more anyone would expect! I've used stovetop steamers for 30 years and this does the job EXACTLY as a steamer (but you do have to microwave the milk). The batteries didn't take much to figure out and the cleaning is a breeze. The machine is delicate and you just have to be careful not to scrape the twirler, which is why it comes with a stand. I'm buying this for this year's presents for my family! And, I'm taking one to the office for quick cappucino at my desk! Heaven made this gadget! Thank you.