matt1203 wrote:Thanks all..
Hi Mitch, even your strada blast out hot water in the beginning?

My name is not Mitch, but yes, even on a Strada hot water would come out if you let it stand a few minutes from the last steaming.

erics wrote:And now, for a very contrasting answer - try steaming WITHOUT purging the wand one bit. Milk is about 85-90 percent water to begin with and the amount of condensate (water) you would be adding to the steaming pitcher is minimal. Sure, some machines more than others due to the length of the path from boiler to wand tip but still, a small amount.

I'm currently using a stock Bezzera Strega and steaming 4.5 ounces of 1% milk 3 to 4 times each morning. I stopped purging the wand several months ago and still produce excellent microfoam each time. It may just be the "luck of the draw"

You don't say what machine you are steaming with and that would make a difference as regards adjustments, if any, to the pre-steaming water level.

Similar experience here, on my Duetto. The Duetto is "notorious" for having a wet steam. I tried purging for long seconds to purge as much as I can. I now don't worry much about it. I just purge briefly for 2 seconds just to get rid of the whatever water is left over in the wand, and start steaming.

End result is that about 11% of water is added to the milk. That 11% does not change if the steam is dry (no steam is really dry, btw ... Doh!), or if the steam is wet. The point is that if milk is being heated to the same temp, the same about of steamy hot water will need to be added to bring it to that temp. (checked by weight before and after).

You guys out there are welcome to weigh your milk before and after and compare notes!

Randy G. wrote:Definitely normal. Steam is water (I know... Duh!), but when you turn off the wand the moisture in the wand condenses. Also, there is a lot of steam in the boiler (double duh) and in the area outside the boiler and in the wand's plumbing, if that metal is less than the boiling point, the steam condenses there as well. The other benefit of blasting the water out and being sure that the steam is dry is that it heats the wand so there is less condensation while steaming and more energy is applied to the milk (Duh, duh-duh, duh-duh-duh, duhhhhhh!) [that was a fanfare].

You need this little guy to help you express yourself: