Frothing Advice needed

[Cinnabull]

Hi Folks,

first post on here so pls be gentle.

I have just bought a Gaggia Baby Twin, and need some advice on frothing the milk with the steam wand. When I do it, I just get a whole load of bubbles and milk, the milk is hot, but not 'foamy' if you get my drift. It is just like milk!!. I get a whole load of froth, but not pourable 'frothy' milk, its like 2 entirely different components in the jug, milk, and / or bubbles. Am I doing something wrong here, or is that just how it is, and advice, tips, greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Stuart

[bruceb]

There are many variables to frothing milk. Firstly, some milk just doesn't froth well. Most people find that this is a problem in winter when the cows are being fed silage and hay rather than munching on nice green grass. Secondly, the Gaggia steam wand is not usually considered the best and many people replace theirs with wands from other machines. Thirdly, the question of technique arises and this is something you can work on. Rather than trying to describe how to froth correctly I would suggest you check YouTube for the many instructive suggestions on how to get good microfroth. (I apologise for this suggestion if you are well familiar with the technique, but are just having trouble with the Gaggia)

Have you tried swirling the jug after frothing. You sometimes can swirl it until the milk and froth rejoin and become shiny.

Perhaps someone more familiar with your machine will turn up here and have some more specific advice for you. In any case, welcome on board and enjoy your coffee!

[ahgee2]

Hi Stuart,

Welcome to TMC! Bruce gives excellent advice but I can supplement this with some Gaggia-specific tips. First, as Bruce says, the plastic Gaggia "turbo frother" is far from ideal. It has a hole in the side which draws in air, making it easy for typical users to get froth, but impossible for demanding users to get proper microfoam. Best thing is to take the whole thing off and replace with a Rancilio Silvia steam wand - plenty of advice on the web how to do this. Next best thing, while you are waiting for the replacement wand to arrive, is to follow the instructions here

http://coffeegeek.com/forums/espresso/blends/275004

and move the red rubber ring down one notch. This blocks off the troublesome hole. Good luck!

Andrew

[lsjms]

Do you have a steam tip (like in vid) or a paranello (fat plastic thing)?

I always think of the Stella ad where the mini people make some big bubbles then chop all the bubbles into tiny ones, and what Bruce said.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TR2mo1Yy ... creen&NR=1
The actual milk is a massive fail, but I like the vid and it shows how to steam with a low power machine.

[ahgee2]

The Gaggia in Lawrence's video has had the Rancilio steam wand modification, this is what you are aiming for once you have swapped the wands. You can get around 50% of the improvement with the red ring trick, for the rest you will need to shell out £20 or so for the wand.
Andrew

[Aadje]

Welcome to the madhouse!

[Cinnabull]

Hey guys,

thanks for the tips so far, ..... quick update.

moved the red thingy down a notch and it has improved a bit. however, after virtually the whole day, and 8 pints of milk goosed, I dont think the wand will do the trick. I've watched loads of stuff on the tube, tried all angles, depth of insertion of the tip, swirling it manually, and still its milk and froth, two distinctly seperately parts. The wand on my machine is all metal, with a plastic thing inserted in it.

OK, so, does anyone know who supplies the Rancilia wand, and more importantly, does anyone know somebody in the northwest who can fit it, as I aint no machine mechanic !!

Stuart

[lukas]

Can't answer your question, but is it by any means possible to just use the metal arm without all the plastic attached to it for steaming? If it is long enough to get below the milk surface, it might just work.

Oh, and welcome to the madhouse Stuart!

[ahgee2]

The metal arm without the plastic sleeve is usually too short, but you could give it a go, you might get luckly. Failing that, you can buy a Rancilio wand here

http://www.happydonkey.co.uk/hdr0001.html

or here

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Gaggia-Classi ... 500wt_1413

I'm not in the northwest so cannot offer help to fit it, but it's not difficult, shouldn't take more than 10 minutes for anyone (you or a friend) who is confident with a spanner. There's a handy video here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hCcwmxj5lw

though it's a little OTT, I have done two Gaggias and never had to cut through the old wand to remove the nut! On the other hand, in the video there was enough of the coupling nut protruding below the case to loosen the nut with some pliers (around 0:36). On the Carezza and Evolution I did, this was not the case and I first had to open up the machine (unplug it first) and detach the top of the steam wand from the steam valve, which allows the wand to drop down through the casing for easy access to its bottom end. Good luck!

Andrew

[Cinnabull]

Hi Andrew,

thanks for the info above, I've mailed the ebay seller, and they say it fits the Classic only. Damn. Not sure if the wand on the Classic is the same as a baby twin, I'll have to see about that, but it looks like I'm stuffed at the moment. Another 4 pinter gone down the drain this evening as well. There must be a secret to doing it, but I'm running out of ideas here !!. Anyone else know anything I dont....

BTW I can get used to 'real espresso' tho !! But I'd love to do a Latte or C'Cino.

cheers

Stuart

[Beanie]

Hi Stuart...when it comes to training on steam foamingmilk, I don't really.... I cheat!!

On YouTube copy the following (quotation marks & all) in the search:
"Scott Rao" + "milk steaming" + "latte art"

Seriously, I make ALL my trainees watch it...and one who'd only ever steamed milk once, well his first attempt after the video turned out nearly perfect and definitely servable

[grchif]

Wherabouts in the North West are you Stuart? If close by South Manchester I could whip my wand off and pop over to see if it will fit if you'd like...

Colin

[CakeBoy]

Welcome to TMC Stuart

[Cinnabull]

Wherabouts in the North West are you Stuart? If close by South Manchester I could whip my wand off and pop over to see if it will fit if you'd like...

Colin

Colin, hey mate that would be great if you could. I'm in Warrington, do you know how to remove the one from my machine, as I haven't a clue,

cheers

Stuart

[grchif]

PM on it's way...

Colin