I evaluated the quality of the microfoam, the resulting temperature of the milk, ease of use and intuitiveness of controls, and ease of cleaning. I considered each model's average price against its available functions and overall functionality as a measure of value.

Capresso Froth Pro Milk Frother: The Capresso Froth Pro Milk Frother offers fine foam and was among the options to produce the hottest outcome -- 160 degrees -- compared with other models, for those who prefer a steamier mug. I also give it massive credit for having the easiest to read markings inside the pitcher to indicate min and max fill lines. (This is a shocking problem among milk frothers, in my experience, as many of them have black lines on a black background, which is not ideal for those with poor eyesight or dim kitchens.) It is easy to clean and has a median price tag, but I found the controls to be unintuitive for a model that has only three buttons. (Cold foam is easy enough to interpret, but between foaming and heating, I had to look it up.) At 4 minutes, it also had one of the longest cycles of the bunch.

Illy Stainless Steel Electric Milk Frother: As a trusted brand name in coffee, there was nothing especially wrong with Illy's Stainless Steel Electric Milk Frother, but it was unremarkable compared with other models given its price tag and a cycle that's on the long side. If style is an important factor for you, however, the Illy gives a classic, mid-century Italian cafe vibe in a cream-colored hue, and its functionality is sound.

Aerolatte Original Steam Free Milk Frother: The Aerolatte Original Steam Free Milk Fther performed well for a handheld model and has no red flags in its functionality. Unlike the Golde Superwhisk, above, it relies on batteries, has only one speed and doesn't include any sort of handy storage mechanism other than the box it is packaged in.

L'Or Barista Milk Frother and Steamer: The functionality is high with the L'Or Barista Milk Frother and Steamer, with four cycle options and a quick run time, if on the loud side among milk frother models. My primary criticism is with the price: at $90 there are much more sophisticated models available. For that outlay, I'd really be looking for at least a pour spout to make possible latte art.

Elita Pro Ultra High Speed Milk Frother: The Elita pro is about the least expensive investment you can make to dabble in a milk frother. It's a handheld model that also comes with its own stand for easy storage, a nice touch among models in this category. The whisk attachment was not easy to secure on its base, however, meaning that I was largely unsuccessful at producing foam. At only $7, though, it is extremely low risk, to hope that the unit I received was an anomaly.

HIC Fino Milk Frother: A stainless steel manual model, the HIC Fino Milk Frother is a good look in a small footprint. It is much smaller than the Bodum Latteo above but accommodates the same amount of milk. It is easy to use, but my preference for a manual frother was simply for one where you could see the foam in process.