Having tried just about every method of frothing milk, I know how adopting culinary rituals helps us better enjoy our food.
I’ve spent hours testing all the ways to buff up my morning brew; it’s almost become a micro-hobby. The Nespresso frother is the best on the market. If it’s non-dairy milk, forget the hand whisk. Shaking a jar is perfect for traveling. And the French press? A surprising winner.
Scientists actually agree that frothed drinks are more satisfying.
Beverages with higher viscosity and a thicker consistency had more satiating effects compared to low viscous beverages of the same quantity, according to a systematic review published in the National Library of Medicine.
There’s something to be said about “mouthfeel,” or how we enjoy certain textures in food. Thicker foam is more satisfying, and frankly, fun to drink. Maybe that’s why I’m obsessed.
The act of pouring, heating, and frothing beverages incites emotional satisfaction—it’s linked to self-care and delighting in small moments.
As cafés began introducing frothed milk to coffee, a new culture around the caffeinated beverage emerged.
Coffee houses in 17th-century Vienna first created the ‘kapuziner,’ adding whipped cream and spices to coffee, according to food blog The Spruce Eats. Later, the popularization of the cappuccino in 20th-century Italy heavily influenced café culture, encouraging patrons to take time to consume new forms of coffee while conversing and reading.
Cappuccino consumption nowadays is unfortunately the antithesis of its conception. The beverage that propelled the Italian custom of finding time to press “pause” is now a hallmark of North America’s chaotic caffeine culture.
For university students, caffeine is usually a means to an end: the hero of late study sessions, 8:30 classes, or a boost before the gym. But combining caffeine with a beverage-making routine, like frothing milk yourself, supercharges the mindfulness of the act.
Little rituals around food have actually been proven to enhance flavour, according to an article written by The New York Times.
The Times piece breaks down a study conducted in 2013: in one group, participants performed a specific ritual before eating food, and in another, they didn’t. The ritual-performing group rated the food higher and said they were willing to pay slightly more for it.
Just like taking the time to make a meal or treat for someone is an act of love, spending a couple seconds putting that little extra touch into what you make for yourself can go a long way.
So, if I get to decide between chugging a lackluster cup of thin matcha or taking the time to enjoy its foamy counterpart—double the volume—I’ll go with the mega-matcha. It’s not just that frothed milk is more physically satisfying, it gives me a little habit to look forward to every day.
And if hot drinks aren’t your style, embark on a journey to discover another quirky food habit. It’ll enhance both the flavour of your food and the experience of consuming it.
Aimée is a fourth-year commerce student and one of The Journal’s Business, Science and Technology Editors.
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