I searched the forum and the net, but can't quite find a solution.

Two things:

1) It seems the steam on the Anita is way too hot.
I have some years experience steaming/frothing milk and have been able to get very nice microfoam on machines of past and on a more or less consistent basis.
Even on the Anita things were going fine for the first several times.

To note, I did make the upgrade to the 4 hole steam tip and initially thought it might be that as the problem, but IIRC there were a couple very good sessions of steaming/frothing with that tip.
I should still try though the stock tip. Just haven't got to it yet, but don't think it's that.

Now when steaming, the temp of the milk rises so fast, in less than have the normal time and I can hear that classic screeching of the milk proteins being scalded too death! And of course, the volume of the milk barely rises and when I get to the proper milk temp, it's basically probably just boiled milk and no microfoam or even foam for that matter!

Figured there must be a steam thermostat. And hopefully able to be reset.
Looking at some photos of the Alexia from a HB review and noticing on the Anita there is same hi-limit reset on top of the boiler (the one with the red button in the middle), it is also mentioned a steam thermostat, but don't know where that is.
Tried to push that red button down on the hi-limit, but it won't go down. Assuming it's fine.

Also not sure how to measure actually the steam temp aside from what the basic thermometer in the pitcher while steaming milk will do.

2) The brew head pressure gauge:
While everything is at a stand still and the machine has been warmed up, the gauge reads about 4.
Load up the PF and pull a shot and it goes up to the proper 9 or so. But, the needle violent vibrates like a quarter of a bar back and forth something wild like 60 times a second and therefore is a noisy buzz!

Any idea what that might be. Gathering the OPV is up to par. Maybe not though.

So thanks for any input with these things.
I can put up with the needle buzzing, but I surely need to get nice steamed/frothed milk back into existence!

Thanks!

ciaocaffe wrote:Figured there must be a steam thermostat.

Anita uses a pressurestat; see How to adjust an HX espresso machine boiler pressure / temperature. I recommend 1.0 to 1.2 bar at the top of the heating cycle. You say the milk temperature raises too fast. What volume of milk? I use six ounces and a 12 ounce pitcher, though it's easier to learn with fast steamers if you use 9 ounces of milk and a 20 ounce pitcher.

ciaocaffe wrote:But, the needle violent vibrates like a quarter of a bar back and forth something wild like 60 times a second and therefore is a noisy buzz!

Vibratory pumps produce pulses; there's a thin coil of copper tubing that leads from the pump to the gauge that is supposed to dampen the pulses. If your machine is still under warranty, contact the vendor. They may simply opt to replace the gauge and coil.

Some lots of milk are like that; they went a few degrees too high during pasteurization. If you changed milk since you were successful with the new tip, and haven't changed since you've gotten the boiling, try a new milk lot.

Thanks guys.

Ok, I'll get to reading up on that link.

I typically have been using 4oz milk in a 12oz pitcher. And also the same milk brand, from the same store for over a year. And with that setup, things have been quite fine.
Also, as mentioned, there were a couple good steaming sessions with the Anita and with the new tip.
Not sure what happened. That's why it seems like a sort of steam temp thermostat or the like ended up failing as the rest of the factors at play have been consistent.

IIRC, also, while placing a hand briefly under the steam before, it was not so hot to the point of having to pull the hand away within a second.
Something happened seemingly out of nowhere and it just seems things are way to hot out of the steam wand.
Shots still pull fine though.

Things would make so much sense if there were a resetable steam thermostat or the steam thermostat failed, needing replacement.

Since this is my old Anita, it already has a new pressure gauge, and a new OPV seat. I think the OPV seat is still 'seating' itself which is causing the vibrations as it's a new surface.

To get a varying amount of steam is odd. How long do you let it warm up? I'm wondering if the vaccum valve is sticking and you're getting false pressure? If this is the case, the amount of steam would be different.

Mark

Thanks Mark

It's not so much varying amounts of steam, as it is just much higher temperature.

I believe I am getting proper pressure as I can see the boiler pressure gauge at 1-1.5 and the brew gauge go from 4 to ~9 when pulling a shot. Also, can tell how the shot comes out properly that brew pressure is fine.

Maybe you're referring to steam pressure, assuming that's on a different channel of things.

The machine warms up for about 30-40 mins.

I thought I read elsewhere of a person that had to go back to the stock 2 hole tip, as the 4 hole was just letting out too much steam. Maybe the first couple of good steaming sessions with the 4 hole tip was just a fluke thing. Maybe there is too much coming out, but on the contrary, I thought I also read of many people doing this steam tip upgrade. So I have no idea.

Most likely, next steaming session I'll try with the stock tip.

So how does one check to the steam thermostat?

I wish there was a sort of Anita manual somewhere, vs info scattered all over.

A 4 hole tip will deliver a lot more steam. If you think Anita is fast, try an Elektra sometime. The two hole tip will give you more time to get thing right while the 4 hole tip will swirl everything up better but gives little room for error/corrections on technique. A thermometer can be really handy when doing this and prevent scaling the milk. A cold pitcher will give you a bit more time too.

The brew gauge is basically the OPV valve setting, has nothing (much) to do with temperature.

The boiler is controlled by the pressure stat. It's unlikely this is the problem as the boiler pressure gauge has a reasonable reading and for the pressure stat and pressure gauge to both be faulty (and in the same direction) is very unlikely.

After the machine has been on for 10 minutes, dump some steam out the steam wand and let it warm up for another 20 minutes. This would work around a sticky anti-vacuum valve problem.


Mark

If your boiler is set to max out at 1.5 bar, that's pretty high. You might want to reduce the pressurestat to 1.2 bar or even less. That should reduce the steam power a bit, and also require less flushing to get to proper brew temps.

Chris Coffee has directions for adjusting the pressurestat on their FAQ page.

http://www.chriscoffee.com/faq#12

ciaocaffe wrote: ... And also the same milk brand, from the same store for over a year.

Lot, not brand.

Again, if you haven't changed your pressure stat setting, or tip, or pitcher, since you last steamed successfully, what have you changed?

THE EFFECTS OF COMPOSITION AND PROCESSING OF MILK ON FOAM ... is an interesting paper on how processing and storage can effect the quality of foam.