Alternative steam tip for the Andreja Premium?

[Teme]

It is usually said that with the no-burn steam wands of the Andreja Premium (or the Giotto Premium for that matter), you are stuck with the original tip.

However, on the hot water wand there is an adaptor from the (I think) 8mm threads to (again I think) 10 mm threads. This would mean that with a similar adaptor for the steam wand, one could use an alternative tip on these machines, right? Or wrong?

If this is theoretically possible, I have not seen these adaptors for sale anywhere and I'd hate to buy an entire hot water wand just to get the adaptor for trying out a different steaming tip (for steaming smaller quantities of milk - I find this difficult with the original tip). Any thoughts or, hmm, tips?

Br,
Teme

[HB]

My first thought is "practice practice practice" with the current tip.

Plumbing adapters of almost every description are available at well-stocked hardware and plumbling supply stores (well, except metrics which are considered "odd" in the US). Which leads me to a more practical question for you: When you can't find something locally, do you order online? And if so, do you also order online from companies based in the US?

[Teme]

My first thought is "practice practice practice" with the current tip.

Plumbing adapters of almost every description are available at well-stocked hardware and plumbling supply stores (well, except metrics which are considered "odd" in the US). Which leads me to a more practical question for you: When you can't find something locally, do you order online? And if so, do you also order online from companies based in the US?

The practice bit is so very true. And I am quite happy with the tip on the Andreja - I mean I can definitely live with it. Perhaps it is just that I see stuff written on alternative steaming tips and their merits and I'd like to try them out of curiosity but also to see if steaming smaller volumes of milk can be easier...

If I do not find something locally, I do shop around online. Usually ordering from the US is not a viable option. As an example, let's say that there was such an adaptor available, but only in the US and that it cost $4. If I order it, shipping costs to Europe will naturally be added. Let's say for the sake of argument that we are now at $10. The lovely customs here then add duty at 10%, duty handling charge at a fixed amount of approximately $20 and tax at 25% for all of the items mentioned. I therefore have a $4 adaptor that I end up paying $38.75 for...

In other words, ordering from the US is not viable at least for low value items.

Having said that, I do have the opportunity to travel quite a bit in my work. I usually come over to the US (eastern coast) at least three times a year and I can then order online from a US retailer and have them deliver to my hotel. In fact I have done that from Chris and EPNW.

Br,
Teme

[BobY]

My first thought is "practice practice practice" with the current tip.

Well I've been "practicing, practicing, practicing" for about a year now. I got my Andreja back last August when they first became available, and although I can get fairly decent microfoam, I still list this as, perhaps, the one complaint I have with this machine. It's a high price to pay for the burnless steam tube. I'd really like to be able to try different tips. I was getting better foam on my Silvia with an aftermarket 3-hole tip.

BobY

[HB]

If I do not find something locally, I do shop around online. Usually ordering from the US is not a viable option.

I figured that was the case. There was a thread about Giotto Premium owners looking for an adapter on CG and they mentioned the same piece from the water tap you noted. However, I wasn't able to find the thread again.

In cases like this, I start with the vendor. They can special order parts and I've done so before (both from Chris' Coffee and 1st-line). You have to be patient though, and have a vendor who's willing to go through the effort of finding the part number and placing the order. Some will charge a premium for special orders. If that doesn't work out, I would either (a) order a stock steam arm and forgo the "no burn" one, or (b) talk to a machine shop. Fashioning an adapter with compatible threads would be easy, although again it may be expensive simply because it's a special order.

I was getting better foam on my Silvia with an aftermarket 3-hole tip.

Chris' report on the Mia got me thinking about these so-called "cheater tips" and how they simplify texturing. But do they stretch well too? The A3 is a steaming monster, but once you get the hang of the speed with which it stretches and textures, the result seems sweeter. I would like to schedule some side-by-side comparisons though to confirm this assertion.

[Teme]

Thank you Dan. I did already check with my local shop but to no avail (but then again they do not carry machines with the no-burn wands). I will explore further (including Chris' Coffee) and report back.

Br,
Teme

[N2Coffee]

Teme, on your next trip to the US, check this out at Chris' Coffee - http://www.chriscoffee.com/products/home/parts/adaptor
If more practice does not help me (including trying whole milk vs. 2% fat) I will get one of these adaptors and try other tips. BTW Chris has directions for steaming with Andreja Premium's no-burn wand and 2-hole tip in the user manual that came with my machine. His procedure - purge wand, submerge tip to bottom, open valve and raise tip to just below surface. Slowly lower pitcher as milk stretches, keeping tip just below surface. At 110 degrees F, lower tip half way into milk and angle steam arm to produce rolling. Stop at 155 degrees.
Cheers,
Mike

[Teme]

Thanks Mike. I forgot to report back on this. I ended up getting the adaptor and a few alternative steam tips for the Andreja. However, I kept on going back to the stock tip and that's what I was most happy with in the end. It is capable of great microfoam and is much easier to keep clean than any of the alternative tips with the adaptor (the stock tip also stays cooler than the alternatives). So, to quote Dan, the problem was on the handle side of the portafilter

Now this was a almost two years ago and the Andreja is now happily serving its new owner and I have gotten myself a new toy. I went through a few alternative tips with the new machine as well but the one I like the most also came from the machine's manufacturer. It wasn't the tip that came with my machine, but is now actually the stock tip that comes with all GS3's that ship.

My take on this is that the manufacturers actually do think the choice of components thoroughly, including the steam tip...

Br,
Teme