I'm not very good at getting consistent microfoam but I am learning! I definitely think the milk does make a difference, aside from the taste aspect.
Lately I've been using Clover (non organic) whole milk, and I definitely prefer it to Horizon and Safeway. I think I like the organic stuff better, but it's not always in stock at the closest Safeway...

I think I'm going to try reducing the pressure a bit, as mine seems pretty high.

Where are y'all getting the Slayer steam tips? They don't seem to be available online... EPNW doesn't list Slayer parts, and it doesn't seem like Slayer sells things online.

cycomachead wrote:Where are y'all getting the Slayer steam tips? They don't seem to be available online... EPNW doesn't list Slayer parts, and it doesn't seem like Slayer sells things online.

Took some work, but I had to contact them directly. After multiple reach-outs by email and Facebook, I was given a telephone number that I called and placed the order. Don't have that number handy, though.

cycomachead wrote:I'm not very good at getting consistent microfoam but I am learning! I definitely think the milk does make a difference, aside from the taste aspect.
Lately I've been using Clover (non organic) whole milk, and I definitely prefer it to Horizon and Safeway. I think I like the organic stuff better, but it's not always in stock at the closest Safeway...

I think I'm going to try reducing the pressure a bit, as mine seems pretty high.

Where are y'all getting the Slayer steam tips? They don't seem to be available online... EPNW doesn't list Slayer parts, and it doesn't seem like Slayer sells things online.

I bought mine direct from Slayer. The shipping is like $20 to send a steam tip in a envelope, I guess that's what you get for doing business with a place that sells $7000 machines.

I just called Slayer and ordered the 1.0mm 4-hole tip. That was about a year ago. They were super friendly on the phone.

The LMLM steam tip is a simple threaded tube, no o-ring. You'll need to wrap the thread with teflon tape when you screw on the new tip on. LM puts a thread sealing compound on them from the factory.

nuketopia wrote:You'll need to wrap the thread with teflon tape when you screw on the new tip on. LM puts a thread sealing compound on them from the factory.

Yeah, I, um, scratched the heck out of my steam wand trying to get the original tip off using pliers. I tried a million things and can't even remember what finally worked.

An adjustable monkey wrench it what I use. I think it was a tiny bit stiff the first time, but now I just give it a ¼ turn, a bit more than finger tight when I put the tip back on after cleaning.

At first, I could not remove the steam tip on my Linea Mini even with a wrench. It was so tight that it felt like I might break something if I applied more pressure. Then I immersed just the very tip of it in boiling water which either expanded it or made the pipe dope soften. I was then able to remove it pretty easily by using a normal amount of force on the wrench. I removed the pipe dope, replaced it with Teflon tape, and now keep it just finger tight.

The La Marzocco steam tip works OK, but it is too fast for me when steaming small amounts of milk. I would like to find one that restricts the steam flow some with the valve fully open. I have had no luck in finding my first choice, which would be a two hole tip with the proper threads, because that is what I got used to using with my previous machines. I tried a Sproline Foam Knife, but it was not my cup of tea, and now I have a Slayer #0 size steam tip on the way. The person I spoke to at Slayer was amused that they get so many orders for steam tips from La Marzocco users.

Rocky

hey sordomudo,

I am wondering how everything worked out for you at the end? I am owning a mini for 1,5 weeks and I am doing really bad with foaming milk. I tried different pitchers 12 or 20 oz and also different milk but it never worked out. I worked on a few pro machines and never did the perfect foam but at least it was ok to do a bit latte art. the same with my old machine. Usually I start to stretch the milk, hear a small scratch noise, then after few seconds starting to texture... but with the linea mini it is not possible. I also tried few times to start with the texture part from the beginning and drop the tip already into the milk completely but this also not really brings the solution the milk has not enough volume.

I also read here that few people change the the tip but at the end the tip of the mini is the same as for the classic linea and I see a lot of barista be able to make nice foam so there must be a way.

Hi there. Using the Slayer 1.0 tip has definitely helped. I've also switched from resting the wand against the side of the pitcher while holding at an angle to keeping the wand straight up and down and inserting it about 1/3 off center with only a little tilt. I'm opening it up pretty much all the way. This is producing good microfoam with very few stray bubbles, but I'm still working on my consistency. Sometimes I accidentally introduce a bit too much air all at once, and it's impossible to get ideal microfoam when that happens. It takes an incredibly subtle move to introduce the air with the cutting sound and then raise the pitcher ever so slightly so that the tip is just barely fully submerged.

I got the tip off using an adjustable wrench with a wrap of masking tape in the jaws and a rubber grip thing for opening tight jars on the steam wand.