goodlookin1 Senior Member Joined: 12 Apr 2010 Posts: 13 Location: Sacramento, CA Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Expobar Office Grinder: Vanelis Minipro III
Posted Fri May 18, 2012, 8:50am Subject: Microfoam with Expobar
Hey guys,
I have a technical question in regards to steam. But I'll give some background first:
I have an Expobar Office Pulser and have owned it for about 3 years now. The steam has always been consistent and powerful, and at a glance, one would think there are no issues with it. But in the meantime, my parents bought a La Scala Butterfly, which has a lot of the same type of specs. I would say it seems to have about the same steaming power, or maybe even a tad bit less, but it looks exactly the same. I thought my microfoam was good on the Exbobar until I was able to work on their machine....When I use the La Scala, it takes the same amount of time to steam (even using the same single hole tips on both machines), but for some reason the result is exactly what I see in the latte art videos on youtube and so forth: Thick, viscous, paint-like milk. When I pour it, it almost "plops" into the espresso....it has a property that makes it seem to not want to mix with the coffee (good thing). It does mix, but it just has this oily, syrupy kind of texture that I cannot get with my Expobar.
My question is, what could be causing this on my machine? Could this be because my steam is too "wet"? Not enough/too much pressure? Temperature? I know it's a difference between the machines because I am not changing any technique or any other variables other than the machine itself (same steam tip, same amount of milk, same pitcher, etc). How do I get that "syrupy", "paint-like" milk out of my steamer?
Coffeenoobie Senior Member Joined: 11 Dec 2011 Posts: 2,317 Location: PNW Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: N S Oscar Grinder: Vario W
Posted Mon May 21, 2012, 11:09am Subject: Re: Microfoam with Expobar
I am fighting the same battle. I did perfect microfoam on the steam toy and now on Oscar I can get lovely cappa foams or hot milk with a few bubbles or mixed large bubbles and microfoam but I can't get a full jug of microfoam. I think it is just too strong even with me turning down the Pstat. If you think it is too wet then purge the wand a bit more but you are already at one hole, so if you can turn down the pressure then try that. I am stuck also. I do better with less holes. I am working on fixing a one hole that Rich made for me.
Coffeenoobie
Buying advice: GRINDER GRINDER GRINDER. Don't cheap out on the grinder. My coffee treasure map... Click Here (maps.google.com)
calblacksmith Moderator Joined: 25 Nov 2007 Posts: 5,679 Location: Riverside, Ca, U.S.A. Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: ECM Veneziano A1 Grinder: Many different commercial Vac Pot: 40s era Silex Drip: Milita, Bunn&Curtis... Roaster: Cast iron pan, gas burner
Posted Tue Jun 19, 2012, 6:44am Subject: Re: Microfoam with Expobar
If steaming is going too fast, try a little more milk. My machine will blow 6 oz of milk out of the pitcher but works GREAT with 12 oz. This may be more milk than you want but it helped me. I just compensated by making larger drinks and more espresso to the drinks so that the ratio stays the same. YMMV!
In real life, my name is Wayne P.
Feed the newbs, starve the trolls and above all enjoy what you drink!
Symbols: = New Posts since your last visit = No New Posts since last visit = Newest post
Forum Rules: No profanity, illegal acts or personal attacks will be tolerated in these discussion boards. No commercial posting of any nature will be tolerated; only private sales by private individuals, in the "Buy and Sell" forum. No cross posting allowed - do not post your topic to more than one forum, nor repost a topic to the same forum. Who Can Read The Forum? Anyone can read posts in these discussion boards. Who Can Post New Topics? Any registered CoffeeGeek member can post new topics. Who Can Post Replies? Any registered CoffeeGeek member can post replies. Can Photos be posted? Anyone can post photos in their new topics or replies. Who can change or delete posts? Any CoffeeGeek member can edit their own posts. Only moderators can delete posts. Probationary Period: If you are a new signup for CoffeeGeek, you cannot promote, endorse, criticise or otherwise post an unsolicited endorsement for any company, product or service in your first five postings.
= No New Posts since last visit 