Milk Steaming Tips

[ALTSpencers]

Gail & Kat- FYI, I was able to get a very good microfoam underneath the meringue like foam using a "Toroid" 20 oz. frothing pitcher using a Saeco Via Venezia recently purchased from you. I was surprised how this frothing pitcher really helps to get that microfoam consistency for pouring latte art. Just in case you guys might want to try it out.

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@ALTSpencers Thanks for the tip! We'll mess around with it :) - Kat

[nevans104]

What size pitcher would you say is the best for a Breville Barista Express??

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@nevans104 Since it's using a thermoblock, anything that will fit will do! You don't have to worry about burning out a boiler. But I'd probably stick with something 25 oz or smaller - Kat

[cocolu2qau]

Digame señora Rancilio...en su negocio venden jarritas como las que Ud usa en el video? (con pico vertedor). Porque aquí en Argentina no se consiguen

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@cocolu2qau Puede comprar éstos en nuestro sitio web bajo la sección "Clientes Internacionales" (lo siento por mi espanol :) ) - Kat

[cocolu2qau]

@SeattleCoffeeGear Gracias por responder. Cual es el sitio web ya que no encuentro el link

[tsaibertha]

So which would you say a 16 oz or 20 oz pitcher would be ideal for a rancilio silvia?

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@tsaibertha You can go up to 25 if you want, but I generally recommend 20 or below. Really depends on how much milk you want to make - Kat

[TimPotteraKYC]

@seattlecoffeegear Thankyou!!!!!!!

[jjarvis904]

Great video. You mentioned cappuccino and machiato drinks being different milk froth,canyou elaborate on the difference between latte, capucino,machiato?

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@jjarvis904 It's just the consistency of the foam -- lattes have more milk, less foam. - Kat

[selmerakt]

I've had good luck getting microfoam on my Via Venezia machine by removing the panerello (just the long piece). Still working on my "art", but I think I'm getting close. :)

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@selmerakt Yes, that is a common adaptation for most folks, if you can get that little nozzle down into the pitcher juuuuuuust right :) - Kat

[markpianoman]

Kat/Gail, I'm wondering if I'm having trouble with the milk texturing because my Giotto Rocket leaks too much water into the milk as I'm steaming....? I live in Germany and have a 220 volt machine -- the hottest water temp I can get coming out of the brewhead is 190.4 F. I believe I've heard you guys say it should be 197.6 F (or 92C). Are the U.S. models set hotter from the factory? To adjust mine I have to use a triangular screw driver (which I had to order from the States).

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@markpianoman I would think yours would be hotter actually; in our experience, the 220v machines have had drier steam than their 110 counterparts. How does the steam feel to the touch? There is going to be some moisture as these boilers are still relatively small compared to a commercial machine, but should be fairly dry. Could you post a video? - Kat

[markpianoman]

@SeattleCoffeeGear Sorry, I don't have a video cam. So what is the temperature of the water coming directly from the brewhead on the U.S. machines? I don't mean water that has gone through the portafilter.

[joe4ska]

Result: best foam I've ever made in my Barista machine. Thank you so much Kat & Gayle

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@joe4ska Great to hear!!!!! I will pass this along to Gail :D - Kat

[MrAlligam]

I start with my finger over the stainless steel pinhole on my Via Venezia. The only time i take my finger off is to shut the steam valve. I get very good results (no foam like in the video) but my latte art is still in the "finger painting stage".

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@MrAlligam Video! Video! Video :D - Kat

[MrAlligam]

@SeattleCoffeeGear Just got a good quality flash camcorder under the tree with my Breville Smart Grinder -- if I can figure out how to get video off the camera and on to YouTube, a video will be forthcoming.

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@MrAlligam Yay!!!!! I wish y'all would post more videos :) We're going to do a huge site revamp and hoping to implement a video submission element on the products so that you guys can share your awesome skillz more :D - Kat

[TimPotteraKYC]

@SeattleCoffeeGear I wish it was frosty in the UK all we got is rain and wind!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@TimPotteraKYC We have had a super warm winter so far! Just a couple of days below freezing, really. - Kat

[TimPotteraKYC]

@SeattleCoffeeGear Brrr!!! its cold in the UK now you should do a forecast of what the weather is like at the start of every video cause I get your weather a few days after thanks!!! - it would be a lot more accurate than the met office in London!!! - they try, they try!!

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@TimPotteraKYC Hahahahahah - except that we don't always post these right when we do it, but maybe we need to make a side business of weather forecasting? ;) - Kat

[TimPotteraKYC]

@SeattleCoffeeGear I had a metal pannarello and have tried without and it is a lot better !!! - everyone bin your pannarellos!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@TimPotteraKYC Agreed :D - Kat

[TimPotteraKYC]

@SeattleCoffeeGear Thanks!!!!!!!! Just got an espresso machine and grinder for christmas and wondered why latte art never seemed to work and the milk never span!!! will try without the pannarello and tell you what i found out.

PS. im 14 from the UK - does your website do shipments to the UK or not?

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@TimPotteraKYC We do some accessories internationally; you can check out what we offer in the International Customers section of our site. We will be expanding that to cover more products this year, we hope! - Kat

[joe4ska]

SWEET, I've been doing this wrong for a few years now. My "Barista" machine is nearly identical Via Venezia except for the steam wand which is stainless steel I imagine it works the same way.

Thanks so much, my cappuccinos will be much improved.

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@joe4ska If it doesn't have a panarello, then follow the tips for the Rocket, not the Via Venezia - Kat

[Xiia0Sn00pY]

id say full fat milk steams best for latte art and taste, for low fat/ SKIM milk you get a dryer microfoam than usual, ive tried that at starbucks where i work and ive down tulips with full fat.. the low fat/skim you gotta work quick with it or else the foam dries out VERY quickly Sorry for my caps :X but yeahh.. thats the way ive done latte art at work.. But quality could be improved if better milk and a manual machine was used. :X

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@Xiia0Sn00pY 2% works much better on these smaller machines that have wetter steam than the larger commercial machines. We did a video on testing all the different milk fat levels and 2% won for being most versatile with the most home-class machines - Kat

[roman21000]

It will come in handy

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@roman21000 You're welcome :) - Kat

[roman21000]

Thank you...

[bmurphskiing]

Do you think you guys could do a video of all your tampers bc youve only done the tamper bases and not the tampers, also because i see you guys have got a new reg barber with a few ripples in the handle

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@bmurphskiing Sure, we can do a tamper primer :) - Kat

[winelover215]

Another great way to practice milk texturing is by using water with a drop of dish soap in it. It's amazing how it mimics the expansion almost exactly as milk. 

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@winelover215 Yes! I saw that video years ago - great idea :) - Kat

[StormTrek]

What temperature is warm?

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@StormTrek If you go to around 140F then you have latte art temp (up until around 150F); most people go higher than that in the US - 160F - 170F. At around 180F your milk will scald - Kat

[StormTrek]

@SeattleCoffeeGear thank you

[PlanetGemini]

@SeattleCoffeeGear I NEVER knew that about the Latte art temp. Thanks gals!

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@PlanetGemini Yes, we learned that from Louie during our training; higher than that, the protein stretching breaks down and you start to have totally different texture - Kat

[davidpascalehague]

Love it! Thanks.

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@davidpascalehague :)

[EvanDSays]

Great video, very informative! I am ready to ditch my pannarello wand on my Gaggia Classic and retrofit one of the Rancilio wands. I hope I will get more control over the bubbles.

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@EvanDSays Good luck with that! Will definitely be an improvement :) - Kat

[thePowerPlant]

720P??? Yay!

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@thePowerPlant Yep - been that way for awhile now :) - Kat

[Higgins2001]

next episode: latte art tips

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@Higgins2001 Haha -- I think we've covered all we're going to on that subject with our training video with Louie :) - Kat

[mrfantastik7]

thanks! I need this!

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@mrfantastik7 Cool! Hope it helps :) - Kat