Few people have full-blown espresso machines at home, and most of us don't keep a steam wand around, either. Luckily, you can froth milk with your trusty French press just by heating it on the stove (or microwave, if that's your style), pouring it in, and pumping.

Reader Tom writes:

Now that everyone including me has bought the AeroPress, I feel the good old French press needs to be reassigned a job in making a good coffee. You can make a pretty decent cappuccino with the AeroPress/French press combo. Prepare the espresso with the Aeropress to your liking and then use the French press as a milk frother. This is achieved by heating a small volume of milk in the microwave and putting it inside the French press and pumping the plunger up and down until the desired amount of froth builds up about the hot milk. Then just combine the two and that's it!

The traditional method for frothing milk at home without a steam wand, is to boil it on the stove and use a whisk until the job's done. Not only is that potentially very messy, but it's kind of a workout. This method is not only cleaner, but it also makes the French press useful again for those folks who are making better coffee with the AeroPress. Photo by Mr. T.