The Nespresso Aeroccino 4 is a jug-style electric milk frother with four buttons for hot milk, two kinds of hot foam and cold foam. It froths up to 120 ml of milk and heats up to 240 ml, and everything except the base can go in the dishwasher. Nespresso's own US website does not list it, and in the US it is sold through the Nespresso Store on Amazon, so this page works from Nespresso's Canadian product page and its owner's manual, which gives the 120 V US ratings.
What is the Nespresso Aeroccino 4?
It is a stand-alone frother: a jug with a handle and pouring spout that sits on a round base. You pour cold milk in to one of two level marks, press one of four buttons, and the jug works until the button light stops blinking. It needs no coffee machine, so it works with any espresso maker, a moka pot or a French press, not only with Nespresso models. Nespresso's manual says to use the frothing whisk with its spring inside the jug, and it warns that removing the spring risks burning the coating.
Nespresso describes it as the choice for people who like variety in their coffee and milk recipes. Its Canadian page lists the differences from the Aeroccino 3: an extra, airier hot foam texture for cappuccino, dishwasher-safe parts, one whisk for every recipe, and a handle.
Nespresso Aeroccino 4 specs
| Spec | As published by Nespresso |
|---|---|
| Froth capacity | 120 ml (4.06 fl oz) for hot and cold foam |
| Hot milk capacity | 240 ml (8.12 fl oz) |
| Preparations | 4: airy hot froth, dense hot froth, hot milk, cold foam |
| Time | About 80 seconds for foam, about 150 seconds for hot milk |
| Power (US/Canada) | 120 V, 60 Hz, 450 W |
| Size | Diameter 10 cm, height 17 cm |
| Weight | 1.03 kg on the Canadian page, about 0.85 kg in the manual |
| Cleaning | All parts except the base are dishwasher safe, 70 °C maximum |
| Auto shut-off | After 1 minute of non-use |
| Warranty | 1 year |
Nespresso does not publish the jug material, the heating method, the noise level or the country of manufacture for this model, and it states no US-dollar price on any Nespresso page we could find.
How does the Aeroccino 4 froth and heat milk?
The four buttons map to four jobs. Cold foam and both hot foams use the foam level, 120 ml. The manual's foam recipes are cappuccino with airy hot froth, latte macchiato with dense hot froth, and iced cappuccino or iced latte macchiato with cold foam. Hot milk is heat only and can go up to the 240 ml mark. The manual lists hot chocolate and caffe latte as hot milk recipes, with the cocoa powder added to the hot milk in the cup, because it says not to put syrups, sugar or chocolate powder into the jug.
The manual asks for semi-skimmed, refrigerated milk at 4 to 6 °C, freshly opened, and says frozen milk will not froth. Soy, almond and oat drinks can be used, but the volume of froth depends on the drink and its temperature. The device switches off by itself after a minute without use, and a run can be stopped by pressing the blinking button or lifting the jug off the base.
Nespresso Aeroccino 4 vs PowerLix Milk Frother Pro
These are two different tools. The PowerLix Milk Frother Pro is a handheld, battery-operated whisk that you put into any cup or jug. It does not heat anything, and its page says not to immerse the electric body in water. The Aeroccino 4 is a jug on a base that heats and froths on its own, with fixed fill levels, and everything except the base can go in the dishwasher. Pick the handheld if you only want foam in a cup you already have and the smallest kit. Pick the Aeroccino 4 if you want hot milk and hot or cold foam from one button press without watching a pan.
Nespresso Aeroccino 4 vs Aeroccino 3 and Aeroccino XL
Nespresso's Canadian page compares the family. The Aeroccino 3 is described as the simplest frother, with hot froth and cold foam from a single button, 120 ml of froth capacity and a 9 cm by 17 cm body, and it is not dishwasher safe. The Aeroccino XL is dishwasher safe and froths up to 225 ml or heats up to 400 ml, in a body 11.8 cm across and 20.4 cm high. The Aeroccino 4 sits between them on size, with 120 ml of froth and 240 ml of hot milk and four dedicated buttons. Our Nespresso Aeroccino 3 review covers the smaller one in detail, and every jug frother we rate is in our milk frothers guide.
Is the Nespresso Aeroccino 4 worth it?
Nespresso does not publish a US price for it, so the check is the current price on the Nespresso Store listing on Amazon. Against a handheld whisk, the case for it is the heat and the two foam textures without any technique. Against the Aeroccino 3, it is the dishwasher-safe jug and the extra cappuccino texture. Nobody on this site has tested the froth, so only what Nespresso states is claimed here. A one-year warranty is the only cover stated, and the Canadian page says the product is non-repairable and would be replaced.
Who should buy the Nespresso Aeroccino 4 (and who should not)
It suits people who make a few milk drinks a day, want cappuccino foam, latte foam, hot milk and iced drinks from one device, and want cleaning to be a dishwasher job. Replacement whisks and lids are sold by Nespresso. It does not suit anyone who needs more than 120 ml of foam in one go, where the larger XL is the family's answer, or anyone who wants to froth directly in a cup, where a handheld is the alternative. Anyone who wants a steam wand's control will find the Aeroccino 4 is a different kind of tool.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much milk can the Aeroccino 4 froth?
Up to 120 ml for hot or cold foam, filled to the lower Max level inside the jug. For hot milk without foam, fill to the higher level, 240 ml.
Is the Aeroccino 4 dishwasher safe?
Yes, apart from the base. Nespresso says to put all parts except the base in the dishwasher at a maximum of 70 °C, and not directly over the dishwasher pin because it may damage the inner coating. The base is wiped with a damp cloth and never immersed.
How long does it take?
About 80 seconds for hot or cold foam and about 150 seconds for hot milk, according to Nespresso, which adds that mains power, back-to-back use and the cleanliness of the jug can change these times.
Can it make cold foam and hot chocolate?
Yes to both. One button makes cold foam, and the manual lists hot chocolate as a hot milk recipe, made with cocoa powder and hot milk together in the cup.
Can I use plant-based milk?
Nespresso says soy, almond or oat drinks can be used, but froth volume depends on the drink and its temperature, and its page notes that plant-based drinks may not froth like cow's milk.
Where can I buy the Aeroccino 4 in the US?
Nespresso sells it through its own store on Amazon US, listed as model 4194-US-SI-NE.
