Almost a year ago I posted a thread about trying to get microfoam (see Microfoaming and the pfft sound I am missing). It was disastrous, I never got it and gave up. Now, a year later, I have changed machines (Expobar Pulser to Andreja Premium and Rossi RR45 to Mazzer Mini) and think I can officially say it was the machine. I thought that I would give it a go on the new machine (gotta try out the stay cool steam wand anyway) and I posted my results (Cross posted on CG).

Not too bad for my first shot at it. I have to say, I normally won't blame the machine, but I think it really made a difference this time.

Regardless, I am excited to actually have milk drinks as an option now (especially for guests).

/mw

Interesting. Steaming is the one skill of mine that I've wondered if it would benefit more from better equipment than (more) practiced technique. I've only been doing this espresso thing for about two months now, but my steaming seems to have hit a wall while other things continue to improve (distribution, tamp, etc.). I'm using a Gaggia Carezza with a Silvia wand, and it just doesn't seem like there's that much steam power and I often run out and have to wait for it to build back up.

This has gotten me reading about upgrades already. 95% of my drinks are milk-based, so the steaming really matters. Hmm...

Matt, nice pour.

Microfoam is my nemesis... I blame myself and lack of practice. I seem to have regressed in steaming ability.

I can get "chrome" foam with Silvia, but it doesn't seem to pour right.... I've poured a few hearts... I've never even come close on a rosetta.

I spent the last week using my Gaggia Factory lever, and struggled mightily with the three hole tip on it. It was bad.

forgetcolor, your Gaggia would likely be slow, which might be good, you get more time to finesse it.... (or more time to screw it up I suppose). You might consider a stove top steamer as a cheap backup steamer (or a poor man' double boiler system ).

One thing that you might CAN put blame on is the milk.... You might try different milks and see what you can do with it. See http://jimseven.com/2006/12/16/why-wont-my-milk-foam/ and comments for some discussion.

I remember the thread. My experience is that any machine (with decent steam pressure) will produce microfoam. However, some machines will do it easier than others, which may be what you are experiencing.

When I got my Elektra A3, I was floored by how simple it was to froth. My Isomac requires the user to surf the tip just right and hold the pitcher just right to get the needed turbulence. With the A3, I just stick the 4 hole tip in the center of the milk, flip the lever. 15 seconds later I have a pitcher full of perfect microfoam.

I am glad to see you are having better luck with the new machine. Your microfoam looks darn good. But the important question is how does it taste.

Hi, i'm using a gaggia coffee modified with a krups (i know, i know) steam wand.It works great, taking about 25 sec's to steam 4-6 oz milk.It's longer and has a smaller hole than the stock tip.

The two biggest differences i made were-remove the wand, soak it in de-scale and then flush with loads of water on machine.I always blow out wand after use, but it still seems to build up in there!Secondly i brew first, steam second.If you steam first, by the time you grind,tamp,pull the shot etc the foam will separate from the milk, making latte art harder, no matter how many times you 'tap and swirl' the pitcher.The only downside to this is losing some of that precious crema.swings and round-a-bouts i suppose

Jeswady,

I spent the last week using my Gaggia Factory lever, and struggled mightily with the three hole tip on it. It was bad.

I also have a Gaggia Factory. One of several things I have learned from Cannonfodder was to plug (using toothpicks) two of the three holes comprising the steam wand tip. I left unplugged the one that is pointing straight down. If you search the forums for "toothpick" you will find posts about this mod. It is fairly easy to achieve velvety microfoam with this simple mod.

I hope this helps.

Javier

jesawdy wrote:I can get "chrome" foam with Silvia, but it doesn't seem to pour right.... I've poured a few hearts... I've never even come close on a rosetta.

I have tried a few more times and that was still the prettiest thing I have poured. Beginners luck maybe. Now that I think about it, I think I may be trying to finesse it too much and I am not pouring fast enough. That means the foam isn't diving beneath the crema and is laying on top too soon in the pour. I have ended up with some really nice monks caps, but that wasn't what I was going for in the big latte bowl.

Back to the drawing board, but I am consistently getting nice foam.

/mw

That could be sign that you are stretching you milk too far. The longer you stretch the thicker the foam becomes. When it gets to cappa consistency (still pour-able microfoam but to stiff for art) it is near impossible to do art but you get a nice white cap. What temperature are you stretching to?

I generally stop stretching at 70-80F for latte art foam and 90F for monk caps. If you are working by touch, I plunge the tip when the pitcher is just over room temperature. That also depends on the machine as some heat faster than others. With the Elektra I get 15 second steaming, with the Isomac it is more like 30 seconds. If you go on volume, once your milk volume grows by ¼ in the pitcher, stop stretching, for stiffer cappa foam you can go as far as 1/2 times the original pitcher volume.

Javier wrote:One of several things I have learned from Cannonfodder was to plug (using toothpicks) two of the three holes comprising the steam wand tip.

Ehm, CF is a genius, no argument there, but if you look at the thread that was referenced in the OP's first post, you'll notice that he says, "Psyd- The toothpick trick is a stroke of genius."
Now, CF being the kinda guy that he is, may have come up with this independently, but I think he is the evil genius engineer type. MacGuyvering is more my bailiwick! ; >

You may be surprised at my MacGuyver skills, I have even used a metal coat hanger as a welding rod. I am also no genius, if I was I would be able to spell , but I digress.