Ok, let’s face it: I’m lazy.

But I do like my cappuccino. I’ll even sit down in a coffee bar on an afternoon in Italy and have a cappuccino, such is my love of cappuccino. And anyone who knows the Italian way of life will tell you that’s not what you do.

Oh well … So, what about when I’m at home?

Many cappuccino machines come with a steaming wand. You need a jug, you need to fill it somewhat less than half-way, you need to set the coffee machine to its steam setting, wait for the steamer to heat up, and if you’re not careful, you may end up with milk all over the kitchen.

And maybe you won’t overheat the milk.

And then there’s the cleaning: the jug, and the steaming wand. Quite frankly, I have better things to do with my time.

When I received my review Nespresso Pixie, there was a second box in the package: an Aeroccino 3. This was not expected: I hadn’t asked for it, I wasn’t told I was getting it, but hey, who am I to complain?

So, I needed to read the manual. For a change. If for no other reason than to understand what I’d been sent. And that was very easy: it’s a milk frother.

And in terms of its design and functionality, this is as elegant a milk frother as you’re likely to see. It comprises a base, which you plug into your nearest friendly power point, and a small jug, which sits atop the base. The jug may be washed, but the base unit, being powered, should never be immersed in water.

It comes with a couple of whisks that sit inside the jug – you use just one of them, depending upon the type of frothed milk you want, and there’s a small holder in the base where you may store the other, unused whisk. The one in use is held in place within the jug magnetically. Did I mention that the jug’s design features were elegant?

Just as the Nespresso Pixie is easy to use, so too is the Aeroccino. Pour some milk into the jug (there are two fill markers inside the jug to assist you in getting the right amount of milk), turn it on, and in less than a minute, your milk is heated and frothed, ready to be added to your freshly brewed coffee.

It was all too easy to froth my milk in the Aeroccino while the Pixie was serving up my coffee, and in about a minute, I was drinking my fresh, hot cappuccino. This was easier, and quicker, than even going to the local coffee shop.

Cleaning is a breeze; I found that a quick rinse and wipe was all that was needed.

On its own, this is a great little way to handle your steamed milk for your coffee. Coupled with the Nespresso Pixie, you will find yourself with a compellingly easy way to serve yourself a quick cup of java.