Nespresso Aeroccino 4 Milk frother with four hot, cold, and foam presets

Bottom line, this is a good frother. Not perfect, not amazing, and this isn't professional-grade froth quality. But it's a perfectly solid frother that gets the job done well, and between the handle, the build quality, and the extra preparation modes, it's a genuine step up from the Aeroccino 3, without getting anywhere near what the Barista offers.

Speaking honestly, part of what pushes people toward the Aeroccino 4 over the Aeroccino 3 is a bit of a status thing. An average user would be perfectly satisfied with the Aeroccino 3, but someone who wants to show they went with the "plus one" upgraded version, even without a strong practical reason, will lean toward this one. A little silly, sure, but that's part of the appeal too.

On durability: I can speak to this with several good years of real experience, including the last two years of pretty intensive, near-daily use. For most of that time I took good care of it, but at some point it took a fall that cracked the base. About half a year later, the heating thermostat seems to have failed as a result: the hot milk setting can now run for a long stretch without stopping on its own, so instead of getting hot milk, you end up with milk that's still cold. It's a very durable frother, just not a completely indestructible one.

Worth noting: even if the unit eventually gives out, it's often possible to buy just the jug and whisk, or just the base, separately or secondhand, instead of replacing the whole thing. Though honestly, at that point it's really just an excuse to treat yourself to a new frother anyway.