sniggings Senior Member Joined: 27 Apr 2007 Posts: 49 Location: UK Expertise: Just starting
Posted Sun Mar 18, 2012, 4:48pm Subject: Microfoam with a Gaggia
is microfoam with a Gaggia Classic possible? I had swapped the wand for the Silvia wand,I can get a great layer of microfoam on the top of the drink but the rest is just warm milk,I've read loads on the method,I maybe getting it wrong but would like to know if I'm wasting my time, if it's not possible,I would like the foam to be all the way through the drink,not just on the top.
lbj Senior Member Joined: 5 Mar 2009 Posts: 78 Location: Sonoma County Expertise: I live coffee
Grinder: mortar, pestle Drip: hario v-60 pour-over set up Roaster: Hot Top Roaster, and Cast...
Posted Mon Mar 19, 2012, 8:07pm Subject: Re: Microfoam with a Gaggia
Though not on a Gaggia, I have used some home machines and have done the milk in two stages... I stretch, then turn off, wait for machine to regain full power, then go back in and spin or whatever..
Posted Mon Mar 19, 2012, 10:04pm Subject: Re: Microfoam with a Gaggia
Is the problem that you don't think the Gaggia has enough steam power/heat for microfoam? Or is it that you don't like the wand/frother?
The Gaggia can produce plenty of steam power if you don't follow the instructions that came with the machine. Instead --- you hit the steam switch and crack open the steam knob just a little and let it bleed off some hot water into a cup - it'll spurt hot water and small bursts of steam for several seconds and then start to produce stronger, drier steam. DO NOT wait for the ready light - you want to start steaming while the heater is still trying to get up to heat and this will keep the heat on and the steam strong --- so as soon as the steam starts to become strong and dry, you want to start steaming your milk immediately and you should get plenty of powerful steam pressure.
If you don't like the wand/frother, you can get a Silvia V2 wand and I hear that works really well and is easy to swap. Or you can pull the outer sleeve off of the frother and use the tiny nozzle underneath the sleeve. The stock wand is pretty short but if you can manage to get it into the milk, it works quite well. And that nozzle can be clamped on closer to the tip of the wand to give you a little more length.
Posted Tue Mar 20, 2012, 4:06am Subject: Re: Microfoam with a Gaggia
Also, you can get the Gaggia Latte Art Pannarello Wand. It's quite a bit longer than the standard one and works pretty well. I got mine from Whole Lotte Love for under $20. Now when I want, I can use a 20 oz pitcher and make enough microfoam for 2 lattes.
+1 Andy's advice below on not waiting for the ready light.
Marcuscoffee Senior Member Joined: 29 Feb 2012 Posts: 7 Location: Las Vegas Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Isomac TEA III Grinder: Pasquini Lux
Posted Tue Mar 20, 2012, 8:51pm Subject: Re: Microfoam with a Gaggia
sniggings Said:
is microfoam with a Gaggia Classic possible? I had swapped the wand for the Silvia wand,I can get a great layer of microfoam on the top of the drink but the rest is just warm milk,I've read loads on the method,I maybe getting it wrong but would like to know if I'm wasting my time, if it's not possible,I would like the foam to be all the way through the drink,not just on the top.
I used to have a Gaggia baby twin and took the tube completely off, the thin steamtip made it very easy to swirl the milk, in fact I now own an Isomac Tea and it is a lot harder for me. For that microfoam matter i really miss my gaggia :( good luck
LeroyC Senior Member Joined: 8 Jan 2010 Posts: 2 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Gaggia Classic and stove... Grinder: Breville Bar Aroma Drip: Breville Aroma Style
Posted Fri Mar 23, 2012, 10:40am Subject: Re: Microfoam with a Gaggia
Absolutely. It just takes a bit of practice. I have had a 2004 Gaggia Classic for about 2 years. I have always mostly drunk black coffee (a lungo or what we call a 'long black' here in Australia and New Zealand). Because of that I never made much of an effort to work out how to steam milk properly until recently when I happened to fluke some nice microfoam milk for some guests, and now I'm using it most days. I had removed the panarello as soon as I bought the machine and just used the tip of the naked Gaggia wand whenever I steamed milk. After 6 months or so I got the Rancillio Sylvia wand that has been mentioned. As Andy said you need the old style Sylvia wand. It's just a one piece wand, not the swivelling wand found on the new Sylvia. This old style wand should fit, but I had to file the end of it a little just to narrow it enough to fit in the opening. You will need TWO rubber seals over on the end of the wand that goes into the machine. If you don't put these on the wand it will leak water and you won't achieve maximum steam power. The seals could make the wand a little tight when turning it to the front, but just take care and it will loosen up a little over a couple of weeks. Once you have this set up, just practice. I do what Andy said to do: I turn the steam on, completely ignore the ready lamp, clear it of water for a couple of seconds into a glass. Then turn the knob off again and wait about 10 seconds. You are then ready to go and should have heaps of power. I use a 600ml (20 fl.oz.) jug and fill it between 1/2 and 3/4 full depending on how many drinks I'm doing. You want to surf the tip to get the light ripping sound, but not the big sucking/gurgling sound. Use a thermometre and 'expand' the milk for pretty much the whole time you are heating it. I used to get hot milk with froth on top when making milk coffees for guests, so I just used to spoon the froth on top and most of them were happy enough. But now I am getting proper latte style microfoam and have been able to produce some basic freepour latte art. And it tastes awesome too. Getting the milk right makes a HUGE difference to taste, so keep at it. I have attached a photo of my latest latte with some reasonable freepour latte art. Hope this helps. Good luck.
benibot Senior Member Joined: 5 Apr 2012 Posts: 1 Location: UK Expertise: Just starting
Posted Thu Apr 5, 2012, 4:39am Subject: Re: Microfoam with a Gaggia
This week I fitted the Rancilio Silvia wand (2008 version from myespresso.co.uk) to our 2007/2008 Gaggia Classic with no modification required - no sanding or additional rubber seals.
Within a couple of evenings practice (using YouTube vids), I was able to get great microfoam after a few months of reliable, but disappointingly bubbly foam from the plastic widget since we bought the unit second-hand.
It works. Highly recommended. Expect to waste a bit of milk along the way...
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