Often, squirting water from the shower screen can be a symptom of a group head that needs taken apart and cleaned. Me Elektra will go from a shower to a random squirting stream in one spot now and then. I know it is time to take the screen and dispersion block off and give them a soak and scrub. Never worked on your machine so it could be completely incorrect advice.

SimonSoCal wrote: Approx. 202*F if I hit it to brew on the first light "on" [Note: with Barista, light on means the boiler has stop boiling...I think it is reverse with Aroma??]

Aroma is the same, light goes "on" when element is off.

SimonSoCal wrote: Steaming milk is still very challenging...very wet steam coming out.

I can actually get pretty good and strong steam out of this machine. I read about the following method(workaround) somewhere and it works well:
When the steam light comes on(element off) I stick a jug under the steam wand and crank the steam valve wide open and let it blow water/steam until the light goes out(element on) then close the valve. Around half way through the steam dries out and also peters out to almost nothing. Now I wait a bit for the temperature to start to climb but (this is important)BEFORE the steam light comes on(element off) open the steam valve wide and start steaming milk. It will steam long, strong and dry as long as the element is ON or you run out of water. Oh and pulled off that plastic steamer/helper thing, I just use the base of it that has a single small hole.
I think the Aroma has a good (1000 watt) element and pump but the thermostats are junk. With a LOT of work and attention to detail should be possible to consistently pull some pretty good shots.

Video about a momentary thermostat bypass switch on a Classico so he could get control of the element. Think it's a wonderful idea. He's almost as crazy as I am

pulsx,
Thanks for the tips. I'm familiar with such technique for steaming.
However, I either have the wrong pitcher or my technique still need improvement, I can't get consistent microfoam. My latte art is out of question, more improtantly my milk have two layers. The top layer I would call that somewhat like a microfoam...thick and rich texture feel by mouth. The botoom layer is just milk. I tried to reduce the amount of milk. I measured to be around 4-6oz. [Any less than that the steam wand height is too short to align it right]. I also tried to stretch less and keep my angle to create a whirlpool consistently.
In the end , I believed it is a combination of few things. My technique need improvement. Second, the steam capability and strength is limited on Aroma. [ I did the same method you described, and I place my hand on the steam AFTER the first 15sec...the steam that come out is not hot to "feel" by hand]
Oh, lastly I did I need to buy a better pitcher.

On the side note: can anyone recommend me which two pitcher would you choice... bell shaped or regular style? See below links[note: I'm limited by my budget] Thanks.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0016C...d_i=507846

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001DE...d_i=507846

My little machine (saeco aroma) had a poorly manufactured dispersion screen, and it used to spray in a angled jet from the center. I ended up taking to it with a scratch all and hammer to even out the holes in the screen, and I've been noticing less tunneling in the puck since. I wouldn't necessarily recommend doing likewise, but take your screen out and hold it up to the light. How many of the holes are stamped properly? It was obvious to me that the stamping of my screen was really poorly done(the fact that is a stamped part is bad enough), fewer than half of the holes passed all the way through the disc. Carefully punching the screen even improved my shot quality and repeatability a great deal.