First acquaintance

Inside the package we naturally find the Gruppe MK5002 jug, along with the lid, the base, the stirring attachment, and the user instructions.

The construction is quite high-quality, more so than the 35-40€ price tag suggests. For maximum ease of use, it features a handle, something that unfortunately not all milk frothers have. 

The device has 4 functions: for hot and rich foam, for hot and thin foam, heating only without foam, and foam only without heating, i.e., cold milk foam. All these are controlled by the selection buttons on the front and naturally have lighting.

The capacities are 300ml maximum for warming milk and 150ml and 75ml maximum and minimum for froth milk respectively. There are also indicators inside the jug. 

The base rotates 360 degrees, the preparation can be done with or without the use of the lid, and obviously, the device cannot be washed in the dishwasher. 

There is no removable jug, so washing must be done carefully. Obviously, it does not go into the dishwasher.

Tests

The tests were conducted with quantities of 75, 120, and 150ml of milk for the preparation of frothed milk, with more or less the same results. 

I used the most common types of milk that most people use at home, namely whole milk, low-fat milk, and evaporated milk.

In general, I noticed that for me, the ideal amount of milk for classic cappuccino and freddo cappuccino drinks was 120ml.

Hot frothed milk 

For hot frothed milk, I used both functions, with rich foam and with fine foam, and the results were very good. The device prepared the frothed milk as it should, ideally with whole milk and evaporated milk (50% milk and 50% water).

Cold frothed milk for freddo cappuccino

The cold frothed milk for cold beverages came out thick and creamy, ideally with low-fat milk and evaporated milk (50% milk and 50% water).

Milk Heating 

The device heats the milk without any problem and the cocoa powder for drinks dissolved as it should. Possibly the 300ml capacity will limit some users, depending on the drink or the number of people needed for preparation. 

Final Verdict

At 30-35€, the Gruppe MK5002 milk frother is an excellent choice for any use and need. It satisfactorily prepares all types of milk froth as it should. Although there are similar devices on the market with larger and much larger capacities of 500, 600, 700+ ml, I believe that 150-200ml is enough for 1-2 cappuccinos, a normal amount for the average user.

The device will complement users with espresso machines with capsules or classic espresso machines very well, but they do not want to use the frothing nozzle. 

A, let's say negative, aspect of this particular device for users with large palms like mine, is a slight relative difficulty in fitting the hand inside the jug for removing and mainly fitting the stirring blade which is not magnetic like other models.