I have a Gaggia Classic and make one cappuccino each morning (about 4 0z. milk I think).

I have a 16 oz stainless pitcher that bows out near bottom and it seems to be too big to get the wand in the proper milk zones for microfoam.

1)What would be right volume size for about 4 oz. milk?

2)What is the difference between the straight, bell-shaped and the shape I currently have (it has a sharp angle outward below middle)?

Wouldn't straight give me the best way to get the wand to the proper depth?

Thanks for advice.

I use a 12 oz (350 ml) Motta for drinks that size. Works great.

http://www.chriscoffee.com/produc...tasteamingpitchers

Ciao Sarah,

If you have not yet modded the Gaggia's steam wand, you'll have an uphill struggle to get microfoam, regardless of the pitcher. Assuming you have taken off the outer panarello sheath, the plastic nozzle is definitely on the short side. You might want to try one of these:

http://www.wholelattelove.com/Gag...annarello_Wand.cfm

Re pitchers, I used to think the bell shape would be better for a rolling wave (toroidal) with the wand in the center, pointing straight down. Nowadays, though, I'm not sure the pitcher shape really matters -- I now use a straight-sided pitcher with my Lusso's 3-hole steam tip, and it works brilliantly.



BTW, I agree with Bushrod that a smaller pitcher will likely produce better results when you're steaming for 1 drink at a time.

Happy Frothing,
Wayne

For an inexpensive 12 oz. pitcher (which I fill with about 4 to 5 oz. of milk) this was recommended by a
number of people and I've been very happy with it-

http://www.espressoparts.com/prod...thing_Pitcher.html

Marshall

I already changed the wand attachment to the one you show. It was DEF'LY necessary. Too bad they just didn't make a normal-sized metal wand instead of the short one with the silly plastic piece they think will "help" people to steam.

But what size pitcher are you using for 4 oz milk? I was thinking 8 oz, probably straight, or will that be too short?

Marshall,

This looks like it may be just right.

thanks.

I am still interested in any other opinions as well...

I like the 12 ounce straight sided pitcher from espressoparts. Cheap and effective. You do end up wasting some milk on a standard cappuccino since you'll need to fill it halfway up, and you only need to use four ounces or so of milk. I suppose a 10 ounce pitcher would be even better to avoid any waste.

4oz of milk, 8oz pitcher. You have to have room for the milk to stretch but 4oz in a 12oz pitcher could be difficult on your machine. The milk will be thin in the bottom of the pitcher, the wand may not reach it very well and the thin pool of milk will have a tendency to blow out around the wand and open a big air space which will blast dish water bubbles into the milk.

I have measured my steam wand and it is 3 inches long. I know this comes into play too. So I am hearing that for my 4 oz. milk, either 12 oz, 10 oz or even 8oz. I am probably going with straight sided. Given the length of the wand, any new advice or something to tip the scale as to which size is best?

thanks.

Short wand needs a short pitcher. You could always split the two extremes and start with a 10oz for size comparison.

FWIW, the 12 oz. bell-shaped pitcher in my photo above is just 3-1/4" tall. So in your case, it probably isn't so much a matter of the wand length, but how much extra space you want in the pitcher. Having at least half the pitcher free for stretching, swirling, and general sloppiness is IMO helpful. The steam tip doesn't need to reach all the way to the bottom, but just submerge completely for the whirlpool phase (depending on the steam intensity available).

Happy Frothing,
Wayne

I too have a gaggia classic and after many trials and tribulations have almost got to the point where I'm getting constantly good microfoam (the art, however, is another matter entirely).

I took off the foam enhancer 'thingey' and now just use the small plastic tip (I 'float' the first circle of this plastic bit on top of the milk at an angle - so just the few mm tip is immersed).
I'm pretty much always making two cappa's/small lattes so found the 12oz jug a little too small (had to make two and was always left with a little waste).
I've now got the 20oz jug:

http://www.happydonkey.co.uk/hd08...k-foaming-jug.html

and the foaming has improved by a long 'stretch' (sorry). I think, as somebody else mentioned on this forum, that it's due to the larger portion of milk have longer to heat up. This jug is being used with the aforementioned tip above. I've not had any 'soap' bubbles from it at all, just a nice glossy cream.

I may however add a Rancilio Silvia wand over the next month or so.

I am deciding between a 12 oz straight-sided pitcher and a slope-bottom 10 oz.now. I really want the straight sided type, but the smaller one doesn't come in that size.

In addition, I have been told that it is easiest to froth the milk properly if you have the pitcher half full, which for a 12 oz pitcher means 6 ounces--lots of waste. I think I would normally start with about 4 oz, for one latte or cappuccino, so if I use the 12 oz I guess that means I will be just 1/3 full. I don't want to make the process more tricky, but the vendor says there should be no problem with that 12 oz size and 4 oz milk.

My wand is 3" and the 12 oz is just 3 1/16" in height, which I think is appropriate for the length of that wand (?) The 10 oz pitcher is 2 3/4", so maybe even better (?)

Again, I really prefer straight sides so what do people think about whether the 10 oz (which I would fill closer to half way, but I don't like the shape of) is really going to be easier to foam with or should it be just as easy with the 12 oz?

This is a reply to Marshall who has the 12oz pitcher from Espresso parts. I am getting varying information about the overall height of it. Could you possibly measure yours top to bottom and tell me the total height? I only have a 3" wand.

thanks.

Ok--now I have been told the 12 oz. is 3 3/4" and my wand is only 3". Isn't that problematic?

the 10 oz is 3 1/4".

Could the 12 oz still be ok for me?

EspressoGirl wrote:Ok--now I have been told the 12 oz. is 3 3/4" and my wand is only 3". Isn't that problematic?

the 10 oz is 3 1/4".

Could the 12 oz still be ok for me?

Determine the pitcher by the amount of milk you are going steam. Several pitchers are not too many.

Dan hit the nail on the head.

FWIW, my pitcher is 3 3/4" from top to bottom and I usually fill it with milk right up to the bottom of the spout (which measures about 2" from the bottom).

All I can say is that it works great with my Rancilio wand and I'm sure you'll like it.

Relatively speaking, steaming pitchers are inexpensive - why not get a couple and see what you like-

You can steam in just about anything once you get the hang of it. As a general rule, I get a pitcher that is twice the capacity of what I am steaming. 4 ounces of milk gets an 8 ounce pitcher, 6 ounces get a 12 ounce pitcher. Keep to that formula (or close to it) and you wont have a problem. Too small a pitcher and you will stretch the milk and blow it out of the pitcher when you get the swirling action going. Too large a pitcher and the milk will not be deep enough, your wand will bottom out and blow big bubbles into the milk. Get yourself two sizes, a smaller one for your usual daily drink and a larger one for the occasional multiple drink making, or a latte. Pitcher shape may have an impact on steaming, but it is minor.