RayJohns wrote:I'd definitely be interested to hear how people with the pressure state La Pavonis manage this.

Ray,
I manage OK on an old pro, and on a newer millennium romantica (Europiccola sized boiler) but I had to go with a single hole tip on both. The pro pStat is set at appx .8 on and 1.0 off, the romantica at .7 on and .8 off. When I steam I have the switch on (1000 Watts) and open the valve when the pStat has the heating element on*. On the pro I can watch the gauge while steaming, usually start at about .8 or.9 bar (11-13 psi.) My pressure will increase, almost imperceptibly, when the element is on and the valve full open. I get a good whirlpool if I have the pitcher angled right, and get decent microfoam but often spoon off a drier foamy top. I thought the bigger boiler on the pro would be a better steamer than the romantica, but to me they aren't that different.

* Watch the pressure gauge on the pro, wait for the green light to come on on the romantica.

homeburrero wrote:Ray,
I manage OK on an old pro, and on a newer millennium romantica (Europiccola sized boiler) but I had to go with a single hole tip on both. The pro pStat is set at appx .8 on and 1.0 off, the romantica at .7 on and .8 off. When I steam I have the switch on (1000 Watts) and open the valve when the pStat has the heating element on*. On the pro I can watch the gauge while steaming, usually start at about .8 or.9 bar (11-13 psi.) My pressure will increase, almost imperceptibly, when the element is on and the valve full open. I get a good whirlpool if I have the pitcher angled right, and get decent microfoam but often spoon off a drier foamy top. I thought the bigger boiler on the pro would be a better steamer than the romantica, but to me they aren't that different.

* Watch the pressure gauge on the pro, wait for the green light to come on on the romantica.

Thanks for the run down. I tried steaming on my machine the other day (with it on the low setting) and didn't have all that much luck. I've got a single hole tip also and usually steam at about 25 PSI.

Ray

Wow, 25 PSI (1.7 bar) is way more than I've ever tried. I think that's within my overpressure valve because the machine ran 1.5 with no hiss when I bought it. I might try cranking the pStat back up and experimenting with that. I use the switch (rather than pStat) to control brew pressure on the pro, so I can live with a high setting.

I've never used a machine known for good steaming, and you may have higher expectations than I. The pic below is a lame rosette because of my poor technique, but gives you a clue as to what I think is decent microfoam.