Joel_B Senior Member Joined: 9 Oct 2007 Posts: 1,823 Location: Pacific NW Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Astra Mega II Grinder: Mazzer SJ, Virtuoso Vac Pot: Yama 5 cup Drip: nope, french press Roaster: Behmor, WP, BBQ drum
Posted Thu Oct 11, 2012, 7:57pm Subject: Re: NS Oscar - Weird Steam Problems
I apologize if you already mentioned but did you confirm that you steam wand and tip we're clear? As far as maintenance goes, have you purged the steam wand after every steaming ?
Markarian Senior Member Joined: 27 Jun 2012 Posts: 475 Location: Seattle Area Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Modded Nuova Simonelli Oscar Grinder: Vario-W, Mazzer Super Jolly Drip: Moka, Aeropress, Melitta 102 Roaster: Wear-Ever Popcorn Pumper
Posted Thu Oct 11, 2012, 8:03pm Subject: Re: NS Oscar - Weird Steam Problems
Yes, I can confirm the tip is perfectly clean. We just took it off and reinstalled it to confirm. Every time I steam, I'm extremely conscientious about wiping it off and blowing out any milk that may have been inside.
Markarian Senior Member Joined: 27 Jun 2012 Posts: 475 Location: Seattle Area Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Modded Nuova Simonelli Oscar Grinder: Vario-W, Mazzer Super Jolly Drip: Moka, Aeropress, Melitta 102 Roaster: Wear-Ever Popcorn Pumper
Posted Thu Oct 11, 2012, 11:59pm Subject: Re: NS Oscar - Weird Steam Problems
Okay, I can definitely confirm it's "pulsing" when steaming, which is ruining the milk. My milk is coming out soggy and when I watch the steamwand by itself, it spits out short bursts of wetter steam at random, no matter how long it runs. I am really stumped here.
Markarian Senior Member Joined: 27 Jun 2012 Posts: 475 Location: Seattle Area Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Modded Nuova Simonelli Oscar Grinder: Vario-W, Mazzer Super Jolly Drip: Moka, Aeropress, Melitta 102 Roaster: Wear-Ever Popcorn Pumper
Posted Fri Oct 12, 2012, 4:50am Subject: Re: NS Oscar - Weird Steam Problems
I may be an idiot. Although the steam tip was fine, I noticed the behavior of the steam changed when I tilted the wand up, indicating water was catching in the first bend of the wand. I took a thin pipe cleaner and fished it up through the wand as far as it could go, then pulled it out. Immediately, I noticed a major improvement. Is there a more efficient way of cleaning out a steam line, short of disassembling the entire thing?
Posted Fri Oct 12, 2012, 2:50pm Subject: Re: NS Oscar - Weird Steam Problems
How wet is or was your steam? I am always a little worried that my steam is not the driest and I was wondering if you get some slight wetness on your hands if you try holding your hand in the path of the steam? I notice some wetness on my hands when I do this and I don't know if that is abnormal or not? Should the steam be completely dry and not leave any moisture on hands or the countertop?
Markarian Senior Member Joined: 27 Jun 2012 Posts: 475 Location: Seattle Area Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Modded Nuova Simonelli Oscar Grinder: Vario-W, Mazzer Super Jolly Drip: Moka, Aeropress, Melitta 102 Roaster: Wear-Ever Popcorn Pumper
Posted Sat Oct 13, 2012, 1:50pm Subject: Re: NS Oscar - Weird Steam Problems
Steam is water vapor, so as soon as it hits something that's not boiling it's going to condense into water. Case in point: Running a little pipe cleaner up into the wand and scrubbing a little was the magic fix. The steam is back to normal now and I'm once again making effortless microfoam. The steam flow is VERY sensitive, and the tiniest bit of scale/dried milk/boiler droppings inside the wand can cause a brief spot for the steam to condense and turn into water. Combine this with high pressure, and you've got steam that's intermittently wet and dry. This is the difference between a smooth roll at the end of your frothing and the horrific screech and soggy bubbles that caused me to tear my hair out and blow through a gallon of half-and-half in frustration. Another big factor to consider is your steam tip. Are you using the stock Oscar tip, the new smaller hole tip from NS, or a third party tip? I personally found the four holes to be frustrating and overkill for 6oz of milk at a time, so I ran up to Seattle Coffee Gear and bought a Rancilio Silvia single hole tip, which made the process way easier to control. I do highly recommend this mod for anyone who is having trouble steaming on the Oscar and isn't frothing more than 10oz at a time.
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