For café-style lattes at home, look for an espresso or bean-to-cup machine with a steam or frother wand, which listings often call a milk frother. A latte is espresso with steamed milk,[1] and the wand is the part that steams and froths the milk.[2] In our editorial judgement that is the practical route, with one limit: the three HOMCOM pages we checked list steam controls you operate yourself, not an automatic milk system, so frothing the milk is a hand skill that takes practice.
- Lowest outlay: An espresso machine with a steam wand or steam control, where you supply fine ground coffee.
- More control over the shot: An espresso machine with single, double and manual shot options.
- Grinding done for you: A bean-to-cup machine (one with a built-in grinder), with a steam wand and a milk pitcher.
The Trouble With Lattes From a Pod Machine
You want a café-style latte at home: A proper shot of espresso under warm, smooth milk. A pod machine can make the coffee, but the milk is a separate job unless the model has its own frother. So you either add a frother of your own, or go back to the café and pay for every cup.
A machine that steams milk itself is the other route. It raises three fair questions: how hard is the frothing, what does it cost, and how much will it take to clean? The sections below answer them.
Why Pod Machines Fall Short for Lattes
Pods have real strengths: No grinding to learn and typically little to clean. For lattes, the trouble is milk. Some pod machines have no frother of their own, and the HOMCOM pod machine we checked does not state one on its page,[3] so you would add a separate frother, “a utensil for making milk froth, typically to be added to coffee”,[4] which is one more thing to buy, store and wash.
What to Look For in a Milk-Frothing Coffee Machine
| Criterion | Why it matters | What to check on the page |
| Wand | The steam wand steams and froths milk[2] | That it names a steam or frother wand, not only “milk frothing” |
| Shot control | A latte starts with a shot of espresso | Single, double or manual shot options |
| Grinder | Espresso sits at the fine end of the grind range[5] | Built-in grinder, or a plan to buy fine ground coffee |
| Tank | Sets how often you refill | Tank volume and shot size |
| Size | Lid-open height can clash with cabinets | Footprint, height and lid-open height |
| Cleaning | Milk and limescale both build up | Removable tank and drip tray, and descaling advice |
Which Machines Steam Milk at Home?
The three machines we chose fall into two types that can steam milk. An espresso machine takes ground coffee, and a bean-to-cup machine adds a built-in grinder.
None of the three pages lists an automatic milk system, so you froth by hand. A latte’s milk is steamed to produce “very fine bubbles”,[1] and that is the skill the steam control asks of you. Here is what the pages say about steaming:
- Both espresso machines: The titles say “Frother Wand” and the pages list a milk frother feature, but they describe a steam dial, a knob or “milk frothing steam” and do not describe a wand.
- Bean-to-cup machine: The page describes a stainless steel steam wand.
We chose them from our HOMCOM range because they differ in shot control and grinding. We compared them using only what each product page states and did not test them.
| Check | Lowest outlay | More shot control | Grinding and steaming |
| Product | HOMCOM 20-Bar Espresso Machine, 1.6L | HOMCOM 20-Bar Espresso Machine, LED Touch | HOMCOM 15 Bar Coffee Machine, Silver |
| Price | £58.99 | £69.99 | £152.99 |
| Tank | 1.6L | 1.6L | 2L |
| Shot control | 70ml double listed | Single 36ml, double 70ml, manual | Programmable single and double buttons |
| Grinding | Ground coffee only | Ground coffee only | Built-in burr grinder, 15 settings |
| Height (lid open where listed) | 33cm | 33cm | 41.5cm |
Note: Prices and specifications are correct at the time of writing so check the product page before ordering.
Lowest Outlay: HOMCOM 20-Bar Espresso Machine, 1.6L Tank [6]
This is the lowest-priced of the three. The page describes an adjustable side steam dial for milk foam and a right-side milk frothing knob, with a 1.6L removable tank.
- Brewing: 20 bar, ground coffee only, and a top heated zone to preheat cups.
- Power and size: 850W, 29 x 22cm footprint, 3.5kg.
- Care and safety: Removable tank and drip tray, and a 20-minute auto-off.
- Best suited to: Someone ready to learn hand frothing who wants the lowest outlay and will buy fine ground coffee.
- Limitations: The page text describes a steam dial and frothing knob, not a wand, though the title lists a frother wand, and it gives no single-shot size. Contact us to confirm the steam arrangement before ordering.
- Price and delivery: Priced at £58.99 at time of writing, with free UK mainland delivery and a 30-day return window.
More Shot Control: HOMCOM 20-Bar Espresso Machine With LED Touch Controls[7]
This model adds automatic single and double shots, a manual shot option and LED touch controls with a status display, plus milk frothing steam.
- Brewing: 20 bar, ground coffee only, and cup warming.
- Power and size: 850W, 28 x 23.5cm footprint, 3.6kg.
- Care and safety: Removable tank and drip tray, not dishwasher safe, and a 20-minute auto-off.
- Best suited to: Someone who wants to set the shot size, then froth by hand.
- Limitations: The page text describes frothing as “milk frothing steam” and does not describe a wand, though the title lists a frother wand. Contact us to confirm the steam arrangement before ordering.
- Price and delivery: Priced at £69.99 at time of writing, with free UK mainland delivery and a 30-day return window.
Grinding and Steaming in One: HOMCOM 15 Bar Coffee Machine With Built-In Grinder[8]
This bean-to-cup model has a built-in burr grinder with 15 stepped settings and a stainless steel steam wand, which the page says gives “velvety microfoam”. A milk pitcher is included.
- Brewing: 15 bar, 150g bean capacity, and programmable single and double shot buttons that stop automatically.
- Power and size: 1600W, 31.1 x 30.8cm footprint, 7kg.
- Care and safety: Removable tank and drip tray, a brush and cleaning needle included, and automatic shut-off.
- Best suited to: Someone who wants beans ground for them and has the worktop and cabinet height.
- Limitations: About 2.6 times the lowest price, heavier and taller, and in our reading more to clean because of the grinder.
- Price and delivery: Priced at £152.99 at time of writing, with free UK mainland delivery and a 30-day return window.
Who This Solution Is For, and Who It Is Not For
It suits you if:
- You enjoy a hands-on drink and will practise frothing.
- You will buy fine ground coffee or beans.
- You have the worktop, and the cabinet height for the lid-open size.
It does not suit you if:
- You want one-touch milk. The three pages list steam controls, not an automatic milk system.
- You want almost nothing to clean.
- Speed matters more than texture. A pod machine is typically quicker.
Safety, Water and Your Rights
- Steam: The NHS says scalds are caused by hot liquids or steam, and advises holding a scald under cool running water for 20 minutes.[9] Follow the manual when using a wand.
- Limescale: The Drinking Water Inspectorate says hard water causes scaling in domestic appliances and that scaling of heating elements shortens their life.[10] We did not find descaling advice on any of the three pages, so follow the manufacturer’s instructions on arrival.
- Your rights: Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, goods supplied to a consumer must be of satisfactory quality, taking account of the price where relevant, and durability counts in appropriate cases.[11] Our 30-day return window is separate from these statutory rights.
Which Coffee Machine Should You Buy for Lattes at Home?
All three machines need hand frothing, and none has a one-touch milk system. In our editorial judgement, the 1.6L HOMCOM 20-Bar Espresso Machine (£58.99) suits a low-cost first try, although its page describes a steam dial and frothing knob rather than a wand. The LED touch model (£69.99) suits setting the shot size, with the same caveat. The HOMCOM 15 Bar machine with a built-in grinder (£152.99) suits anyone who wants the grinding done for them.
FAQs
1. Can you use oat milk or other plant milk in a coffee machine with a steam wand?
Yes, but texture differs from dairy. A latte’s milk is steamed to produce “very fine bubbles”, and dairy milk foams differently to oat or soy because of fat and protein. In our editorial judgement, if you mainly use oat milk, check the manual for plant-milk frothing and practise with a cold pitcher, because the three HOMCOM pages we checked list dairy-style “velvety microfoam” and do not state plant-milk results.[1][8]
2. What is the difference between a steam wand and a milk frother?
A steam wand is built into the machine and, in the words of Wikipedia, “heats milk and adds air to create the frothed milk”.[4] A separate milk frother is a utensil, so a wand saves buying a second appliance.
3. Is a steam wand hard to use?
It takes practice, because you control the heat and the air yourself. A café latte has very fine bubbles in the milk,[1] and a steam wand has no automatic milk system to do it for you.
4. Can a pod machine make a latte?
A pod machine can make the coffee, but a latte needs steamed milk, so unless the machine has a frother you would add a separate one. The HOMCOM pod machine page we checked lists latte among its uses without stating a milk frother.[3]
5. Is a bean-to-cup machine better for lattes?
Not necessarily. The HOMCOM bean-to-cup machine we checked (one with a built-in grinder) adds grinding but not automatic milk, so you still steam the milk by hand. In our editorial judgement, choose it if you want grinding done for you and have the space.
References
[1] Wikipedia. Latte.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
[2] Wikipedia. Espresso machine.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Espresso_machine
[3] HOMCOM Pod Coffee Machine, 19 Bar, 0.6L, product page.
https://www.aosom.co.uk/item/homcom-pod-coffee-machine-for-nespresso-dolce-gusto-capsule-ground-coffee-small-semi-automatic-coffee-maker-19-bar-0-6l~23N5VHURPV801.html
[4] Wikipedia. Milk frother.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milk_frother
[5] Wikipedia.Burr mill.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burr_mill
[6] HOMCOM Espresso Machine, 20-Bar Semi Automatic Cappuccino Coffee Maker with Frother Wand, 1.6 L Water Tank, Black, product page.
https://www.aosom.co.uk/item/homcom-espresso-machine-20-bar-semi-automatic-cappuccino-coffee-maker-with-frother-wand-1-6-l-water-tank-black~27AF0PGVHU001.html
[7] HOMCOM Espresso Machine, 20-Bar Cappuccino Coffee Maker with Frother Wand, 1.6L Tank, Single/Double/Manual Shot, LED Touch, product page.
https://www.aosom.co.uk/item/homcom-espresso-machine-20-bar-cappuccino-coffee-maker-with-frother-wand-1-6l-tank-single-double-manual-shot-led-touch~27J76349PU801.html
[8] HOMCOM 15 Bar Coffee Machine with 15 Adjustable Grind Setting, Steamer and Complete Kit, Silver Colour, product page.
https://www.aosom.co.uk/item/homcom-15-bar-coffee-machine-with-adjustable-grind-steamer-and-accessories-silver-colour~1R0EH9H99NG01.html
[9] NHS. Burns and scalds.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/burns-and-scalds/
[10] Drinking Water Inspectorate. Water Hardness / Hard Water.
https://www.dwi.gov.uk/consumers/learn-more-about-your-water/water-hardness-hard-water/
[11] legislation.gov.uk. Consumer Rights Act 2015, Section 9, Goods to Be of Satisfactory Quality.
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2015/15/section/9