Hey Leverattzis<

Ive read many post out there about not being able to properly steam or froth milk on a La Pavoni Europiccola due to the "problematic" 3 hole tip. Woe is mee too - I have had problems getting the hang of the 3 hole nozzle since day one. I've tried many machines and while I love my pavoni, I decided to see if I could improve on the steam nozzle design (I say "improve" here in only in the sense that it would be an improvement for my needs - being weaned on one hole machines). Well here's the long and short of it. I have come up with what I feel is a winner idea and it works better than jamming a toothpick into the holes on your existing 3 hole nozzle. The results are VERY good and I end up with a pitcher full of nice tight foam every time. I checked the threads on my pavoni Europiccola 8 and they are metric machine threads. The thread type is M6x1. I bought a box of M6x1 18-8 stainless steel acorn nuts and set out to reproduce a decent one hole nozzle. I tried several different hole sizes and found that one single 1/16" dead center hole is perfect. Here is an early shot my my results


Try this yourself and I think you'll be pleased. After I figured out all this, I went ahead and drilled holes in the rest of the batch of nuts. I have 19 new single hole nozzles M6x1 with a single 1/16" hole. If you are interested in one... send me an e-mail. I'd be happy to trade a nozzle for some of your favorite whole beans for espresso. I live in Brooklyn Heights, so if you are local you can even stop by. Happy milk foaming - frothing - steaming or whatever....thanks!

tnpfaulk@juno.com

That seems like a great idea. I'm struggling with mine also. The release valve stem is too close to the steam wand so it's impossible to put the three hole nozzle in the middle of the milk. Perhaps I'll try this modification! Thanks for posting.

Matt,
You are absolutely correct about not being able to get the steam wand into the center of just about any container. If you are interested in trying it... you could remove the steam pipe and use what is called a tubing bender to rotate the steam wand out a little from the boiler and group head of the machine. Don't try this without a professional bender of the right size since you risk kinking the tube if you do it any other way. The one big downside of this would be that this would place your steam tip beyond the drip tray. If you bend things too far you also risk cracking the chrome finish on the brass tube.

That is a slick trick. I will be bonding with my Pavoni on vacation of the next couple weeks, so I will have to try this for a rainy day project.

Thanks for posting.

I've noticed this on my LP. The 3 holes are poined in various angles from the plane of the milk. The way mine is set, there is only one hole pointing forward and two holes pointing down and backwards. I found that I could unscrew the tip just a little -- about 30 degrees with a 10 mm wrench -- to the point where now two holes are pointing forward and one down. This makes a huge difference for frothing milk and also makes whirlpooling much easier. When the wand is brought closer to the side of the pitcher, the two holes blasting forward creates a nice one. Apparently the position of the holes in relation to the milk is very critical.

I'm having a nightmare with my '3 holer'

Do they simply unscrew.......could i buy one of your modified nuts (as it were!)

Best Regards

Jon

Just an update for those who may be interested. I found a few more stainless steel acorn nuts of the right size and drilled them out for the single hole tip modification. If anyone wants one contact me, and I'd be happy to send you one - I like chocolate, beans or what ever . Keep on steaming!
Thanks
brooklynshot

May I ask you about the pressure you use for steaming, giving the large 1.5mm tip hole? I use a 1mm to 1.25mm tip hole with one bar of pressure, I was not able to obtain good results with the 1.5mm hole.

Hi,

I tried several size holes most smaller than 1.5mm I started at 1/32" and had very slow - too slow - foaming. I setteled on 1/16" (1.5mm) at full pressure. my machine has the double switch action on the base to allow you to ramp up to full pressure with safety valve blowing before you start steaming about 1.5 BAR

I've gotten better at my technique, and have done pretty well at getting some good art. I've got a few tips left if anyone want's to shoot me an email we can trade for beans or buy outright for equivalent through paypal. I've shipped tips to the US, Scotland, France, Finland, etc so feel free to ask.