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Getting more pressure for milk steaming from a single boiler

Postby unclefreizo on Wed Jan 07, 2009 11:20 pm

I suspect that my machine is designed for the cheater-steam wand attachment, so it doesn't put out much steam pressure, but I'm having a hard time getting enough pressure to get a good microfoam before the milk gets too hot.

Typically what happens is I'll get a nice spurt of steam for about 10 seconds, but then it dies down and sort of struggles its way back up to about 60%, I would estimate.

Are there any ways to modify a single boiler to get better pressure?
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Postby HB on Wed Jan 07, 2009 11:25 pm

Surf baby!

Release steam to get the heating element going. Close the valve, wait until the heating element is near the top of the cycle, then start steaming the milk. The goal is to keep the heating element going from start-to-finish as near to the top of the cycle as possible.

At least it's a trick that works with most espresso machines.
Dan Kehn
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Postby thaxton on Thu Jan 08, 2009 3:58 am

Does your machine have a pressurestat? If yes (should be once you mention a boiler), you may adjust the boiler pressure and enjoy more powerful steam. What is the pressure indicated by the gauge now?
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