So here's the Cremina. Everything is working well, coffee is excellent, but no success with microfoam. Think there is something to learn. It is difficult for me to get a good stream for destroying the bubbles in such a short period of time.
For the beginning i help myself with the toothpick solution.

Looks like the machine is in good shape. Congratulations.

Your steam wand is bent in. Mine came sideways bent out. I got used to it.

I think the previous owners bent it out. The wand is reasonably malleable. The angle your wand is at looks awkward. Maybe the angle works but I would consider, when the Cremina is hot, gently bending it out to find a more common sloping angle out position to see if it makes a difference.

That 67 looks very nice. I wonder what people thought of them for the time period unlike now where people are a bit obsessed.

I have found steaming with mine to be a challenge and still do. It takes a lot of trial, error and timing before it works well.

mrgnomer wrote: Your steam wand is bent in. Mine came sideways bent out. I got used to it.

I think the previous owners bent it out. The wand is reasonably malleable. The angle your wand is at looks awkward.

His machine is earlier with the valve that is straight out, rather then out and up at a 45. So it's in the normal position for the year of his machine.

bigmic63 wrote: but no success with microfoam. Think there is something to learn. It is difficult for me to get a good stream for destroying the bubbles in such a short period of time.

The machine is a beauty! What are the first two digits of the serial number. Gives you the year of production usually.

In the case of this earlier valve style I think I would just try to turn the entire valve a bit in the clockwise direction so your steam wand is slanting at an angle down and to the left side. I can see in the photo your valve is already positioned with the wand very slightly to the left. I doubt the valve is secured in place enough that you cant turn it, but if it is very tight and it won't move you could take off the case and loosen the cap/nut in back every so slightly to help you turn it. It's always possible doing this you could get a small leak, but I doubt it. This will give you a better position to get the milk moving in the pitcher. The pitcher might be off to the left a bit with the pitcher handle furthest to the left.

Edit: you could do as described above or just loosen the wand at the nut under the valve. Swing it to the left a bit and as Kirk mentioned just bend the wand up slightly. Or if you leave it like it is now and bed up slightly, you could try for clockwise swirling, so the tip would be placed more near the right wall of the pitcher. Tough call. Just seems the straight down position is not the best for getting that swirling action going. I'm thinking your machine is 1967 - 1972. Saw a 69 & 70 with the angled steam wands, but could have been replaced. Good luck!

The production year is 1971.
Yeah I realized that it is possible for me to move the entire valve or just the steamwand. New for me was the bending.
I did it so that the steamwand is pointing a little bit more diagonal. That works fine with one hole so far and the toothpick wood seems to remain... so i will wait till its blown out and then practice steaming with three holes again, concerning the tips getting here.
I am concentrating now to change the little lipgasket for the piston rod, because I notice a little bit leaking here, hope the Pavoni one will fit and then I'm going to build a 3mm teflon seal on my own for boiler/grouphead connection for better heat isolation.

Another challenge for me is to get a similar stream out of both round doublesprouts, for two cappuccini, even if its exact horizontal. Perhaps the open doublesprout works better.
Don't know if I have to start a new topic for this question.

Great little steamers tbey are.I always made perfect micro with them.
Instead of moving the steamarm move the pitcher.

espressotime wrote:I always made perfect micro with them. Instead of moving the steam arm move the pitcher.

Interesting that you would post your Lambro and pour in this thread.

bigmic63 wrote: I am concentrating now to change the little lip gasket for the piston rod, because I notice a little bit leaking here, hope the Pavoni one will fit and then I'm going to build a 3mm teflon seal on my own for boiler/grouphead connection for better heat isolation.

Another challenge for me is to get a similar stream out of both round doublesprouts, for two cappuccini, even if its exact horizontal. Perhaps the open doublesprout works better.

The La Pavoni piston rod seal is the same (for the early years at least) and usually much cheaper to source as a single. Cant help much about the stream from both spouts. Mine is random from day to day using the open double spout. You make a Cappuccino with ~14 ml of coffee? How big are your cups?

kalo925 wrote: Interesting that you would post your Lambro and pour in this thread.



The La Pavoni piston rod seal is the same and usually much cheaper to source as a single. Cant help much about the stream from both spouts. Mine is random from day to day using the open double spout. You make a Cappuccino with ~14 ml of coffee? How big are your cups?

I sold both my Creminas but the technique was the same as on my Lambro.

After enjoying the Cremina some weeks I found the best solution for me
in blocking one whole with a toothpick (the one on the left side backwards),
its good to control but much faster then blocking two wholes.