I used to use 1% milk for frothing, and had a lot of difficulty getting satisfactory results.
I tried 1% milk from several different sources, and didn't notice any difference.
I then tried 2% and whole milk from different sources, and may have gotten a very slight improvement.
Then I switched to organic whole milk, and all my difficulties disappeared.
I have tried organic milk from two or three different sources, and have not been able to detect the difference between them.
Because I have got satisfactory results from organic whole milk, I have never tried reduced fat or skimmed organic milks, but I think I will try.

Alan

Glad to hear it is the operator and not the machine - saves me $$$ and an extra bev a day for training purposes is always good news.

I've been using Sealtest Skim Milk (Toronto). I'll give 2% (regular and organic) and see where that gets me. Any T.'shave suggestions? Pretty sure my refernece cafe (Dark Horse) uses Naturel 2%.

My current technique it to tilt the jug and surf the tip with a good whirlpool. Very light little gulps of air - no big chugs of air. Once volume has increased by 35% (jug picking up temp) I sink the tip and flatten the jug to maintain whirlpool and finish to temp. I find I gain another 15% volume in this process.

I'm after a dessert like mouthfeel and want the MF to mix through espresso, not float on top. If I've surfed the top a little too long I get a top layer of foam that is think and floats.

Van G wrote:Glad to hear it is the operator and not the machine - saves me $$$ and an extra bev a day for training purposes is always good news...

How much milk are you steaming in how large a pitcher? And how long does it take?

Rich

20 oz pitcher
10 oz per drink
haven't timed specifically but under 30 seconds

Van G,

Yes, look to hardware as the LAST thing that's causing the problem! It's kind of like computer problems: The 1st and foremost cause is Operator Error, the 2nd is a software issue, and a way distant 3rd is defective hardware.

Just keep at it and at some point you will see improvement.

At the very most, you could try different (# of holes) steam tips to see if that makes the difference you seek, but that's all the "hardware" you need to look at really, not the machine or its capabilities -- in your case, a Rocket Giotto!

As mentioned, my VBM Super HX came with a 2-hole steam-tip, and it works fine. My micro-foaming technique/skill is not yet good/consistent enough for me to blame the OEM tip. LATER, I may try other tips just to see how they work...but not now, because now & then I DO get the foam I want, so I KNOW the tip is capable of producing it -- it's just ME not able to find the exact technique and do it consistently.

Yet.

Good luck,

-- BR

Thought my technique was good but apparently not.

Any good vidz on producing good mirco foam? Ones I viewed in the past when I first got my machine didn't really capture technique well.

Off to buy some 2% and whole milk.

Van G,

I hope you don't think I was blaming your technique and think FOR SURE it's your technique. I don't KNOW for sure, since as I stated I'm no micro-foaming expert. It's just that in most cases, if one DOES have a capable espresso machine (a decent steamer), then it's very likely to be one's technique that's the issue -- assuming all else is equal (using cold milk, a cold pitcher, etc.).

For specific example, I froth very small amounts of milk, which is lots harder to do as you've little time to work it (not hard for an experienced Barista, but certainly so for a newbie). In the beginning, I turned the steaming knob so it was only steaming about 1/4 "power" if you will (or less?)...and all I did (for the longest time) was warm-up the milk, not FROTH it! I had read somewhere that I didn't NEED to turn the steam up much if using such small amounts of milk, so that's what I was doing -- it never worked! Then, I tried turning the steam up MORE and suddenly, consistent frothing success -- but yes, I did have to work fast due to the small amount of milk in the pitcher.

Point is, my machine AND the OEM steam-tip was capable ALL ALONG but I was just an inept detective looking for clues.

So now that I can get foam consistently, I look forward to getting more "sophisticated" and CONTROL the types of foam/ratio of foam I want to get. Well, I hope so, in time...

-- BR

BR - no offense taken on my part - no problems trying to change/improve on my end. Thanks for the posts. Will be changing a few things up this weekend to see what I come up with.