Microfoam
Smooth, velvety steamed milk with tiny, barely visible bubbles, used for flat whites and latte art.
Microfoam is milk textured until it looks like wet paint — glossy and pourable, not stiff and dry. It integrates with espresso rather than sitting on top as foam.
A steam wand produces the finest microfoam; jug frothers can get close for everyday drinks.
Why it matters for small spaces
If latte art and silky flat whites matter to you, that goal points toward a steam wand rather than a basic frother.