Danstrings Senior Member Joined: 5 Mar 2004 Posts: 5 Location: Bay Area CA Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Thu May 6, 2004, 10:01am Subject: Silvia tri-hole steam tip replacement... seems worse than single-hole!!??
Hello gurus!
First off, thanks for the brilliant advice on here. Thanks to you all, I am drinking espresso beverages at home that blow away what I was used to before... amazing.. I just can't set foot in Starbucks again. The crowning achievement was when I finally mastered a cappuccino that reminded me of my morning stop at Castroni in Rome... I say reminded not equaled. haha.
I was finally getting good at microfoaming the milk, and I received the tri-hole tip I had ordered 6 weeks ago from WLL. In hindsight I should have cancelled the order as I got more comfortable with steaming on the single-hole, but I said what the heck. Well my first experience with the tri-tip has been a nightmare! Huge bubbles, heats up way too fast, extends the wand 3/4 an inch or so so harder to get things under it.. I just don't like it.
I have seen a lot of comments here that the tri-hole til ain't that great. Any confirmations or tips (sorry for the pun, unintentional!)
Posted Thu May 6, 2004, 10:43am Subject: Re: Silvia tri-hole steam tip replacement... seems worse than single-hole!!??
I've had very good luck with mine. It arrived with Silvia and I put it on before I ever powered up the machine. I was getting microfoam right away (most of the time) with about 7 oz of milk in a 20 oz pitcher. I keep the tip just below the surface all the way to 150F. Whenever I slip, the large bubbles get sucked right back in.
Now, I just need to learn to pour latte art because the milk seems to mark very well.
After reading some of the comments here, I tried the stock tip and found it difficult and slow.
korngold Senior Member Joined: 21 Jul 2003 Posts: 628 Location: Des Moines, IA Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Rancilio Audrey Grinder: Rancilio Rocky Vac Pot: Bialetti Moka Pot (not vac) Drip: Melitta Clarity Roaster: WE Popcorn Pumper/Poppery I
Posted Thu May 6, 2004, 11:13am Subject: Re: Silvia tri-hole steam tip replacement... seems worse than single-hole!!??
The end result between the stock tip & the 3-hole tip, though similar, has some slight differences. IMO, it seems as though the 1 hole tip with it's longer frothing/stretching time is easier to control and produces a "tighter, wetter" (don't read too much into that) microfoam. I think if you like lattes and the occasional cappuccino, the 1 hole tip is more than ample. If you like to tinker, or like your foam a little "dryer" and foamier--more for the capp. drinker & occasional latte drinker--the 3-hole tip is fun to have, but more difficult to master.
Personally, I have not used the WLL 3-hole tip, but I do have the one from 1st-line. I have a 1 month old Silvia, and it generates steam like a fiend. What I have discovered is that no matter which tip you use, getting consistent microfoam all about control and technique, and the 3-hole tip is infinitely more "sensitive" to the amount of steam you release than the 1 hole tip.
If I open the steam valve up all the way with the 1 hole tip, I am still able to get decent froth. It's a little "bubblier" than what I like, but it comes out okay. If I open the steam valve all the way with the 3-hole tip, I need to wear Haz-Mat gear to protect myself from the flying milk & steam! The key to the 3-hole tip (at least on my machine) is knowing how to control the steam variable. I tinkered with the 1 hole tip last week, and was able to make minor adjustments in the steam release and wand placement, and get consistent microfoam.
I put the 3-hole tip on this week, and found it was a little more difficult to master, but results are similar once mastered (great, consistent microfoam). I have to restrict the steam considerably in the beginning during the "stretching" phase. Once the milk gets to 100°, I dunk the wand about 1/4" to 1/2" under the surface and open it full throttle until the milk hits 150°, then completely cut off the steam.
Keep in mind that Silvia's ugly older sister Audrey had a boiler that both similar in size, wattage, and structure, and used a 3-hole tip.
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