Posted Mon Dec 19, 2005, 3:25pm Subject: Looking for cheap machine for steam use only...
If I want to make 3 or 4 lattes in a row, I would like to have something separate to just do the steamed milk job. Any thoughts, ideas on a cheap solution? Just started looking at ebay. don't know how krups, saeco, etc are for steam service. tia!!! Kristi
Posted Mon Dec 19, 2005, 3:50pm Subject: Re: Looking for cheap machine for steam use only...
My Tonic cost me $39.95 from Penny's. It came to about $50 with tax and shipping.
I modified my machine (spring on valve in group head) to get the water to flow better while brewing. With the mod I have to put a blind filter in the handle while steaming. Out of the box it steams fine.
It does have one of those frothing aids but you can pull it off. The steam tip is still plastic however.
The Heater is 1100 Watts vs only 800 Watts for the US Silvia.
Posted Wed Dec 21, 2005, 9:27pm Subject: Re: Looking for cheap machine for steam use only...
I thought about getting a steam toy for the same purpose before I found the Tonic. One problem may be stopping the water from flowing from the brew head while you are steaming.
I just saw a Mr. Coffee pump machine at Fry's for about $69. It has about an 1100 Watt heater. I have no idea how good it is.
Phil
kristi Said:
Got an unused krups steam toy model 871 "Bravo" on ebay for $21ppd. Hopefully that will do it!
EDIT - looks like about 10oz of water in the boiler.
Posted Thu Dec 22, 2005, 8:30am Subject: Re: Looking for cheap machine for steam use only...
Thanks all!!!
Hoping this one works out okay - I'll give it a test run when I get it in a few days.
Stovetop - If I have geeks over, I will have to cover the stove with a board to allow them to set up their toys so the stovetop units would be out. I have a really teeny kitchen!!! The capacity of this unit (10+oz) seems great, but I will have to try it to see how well it froths. The emphasis was on low price so if it didn't work out, I wouldn't feel bad and some geek in Boston could always use it.
[currently high on freshly roasted (pan)(first in years) Jamaica blue - bitter, but earthy!!! ]
Jon, I was definitely thinking of this post when I went through this! :o)
Got the $22 ebay steamtoy. Looked new. Put some water in it. It all went through to the brewhead. Okay, scratch head, there must be some way to make it steam. Long story short: plugged hole in top of bottom of brewhead with bolt wrapped with lots of teflon tape. Covered it with that 15 min steel epoxy I used for my rope heater, just to be sure. Pulled plastic brewhead feed tube out of boiler.
Now, with 1 cup H2O, it steamed for 10 min continuously and had 1/3 cup H2O left over. Good adjustable steam valve on this Krups 871 (I think it was missing its pf blank plate). If you shut it off for 10-20 sec, then you get great steam pressure.
So that should do the trick.
HOWEVER, those stovetop things look so nice I may try to pick one up, just to have... :o)
They're also stainless steel as opposed to the Krups aluminum...
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