De'Longhi Milk Frothing Pitcher, Stainless Steel, 17 oz

Almost everyone upgrades the machine and keeps steaming into whatever jug came in the box, which is backwards. The pitcher's spout shape and volume are what let milk roll into a proper whirlpool, and a 17oz is the honest sweet spot: big enough for two flat whites, small enough that a single drink still has the depth to texture. This De'Longhi is heavy-gauge steel with a defined pour lip, so it holds heat evenly and lets you actually place the pour rather than dumping it. Thirty dollars is the cheapest meaningful improvement available to someone already grinding and pulling well. If he only ever drinks espresso straight, skip it entirely.

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