Hot Coffee

MattH

Hi,

So the missus likes a hot coffee and I find making a flatwhite/latte the temp is more warm than hot. If I try and push the milk temp then I quickly find it will go over and be very thick and gloopy.

Other than having the cups very warm upfront - is there anything else I can for a hotter milk drink ?

Cheers matt

dfk41

MattH I suspect without being rude (!) it is your steaming skills. I steam my milk on the Evo as the shot is pouring. Usually I can just about get it done in time. I always hold my palm against the bottom of the jug so that when it becomes uncomfortable to hold I know it is at about the right temp. I do not lose anytime in pouring. You will never get milk to the temp of hot water

MediumRoastSteam

MattH is there anything else I can for a hotter milk drink

Steam milk as normal, to the “usual” temperature. To go the extra mile, sink the steam wand into the milk so it won’t air anymore - just heat the milk - for another 5/15 seconds (depending how hot you want).

LMSC

MattH Other than having the cups very warm upfront - is there anything else I can

Serve just
Giphy - Black Coffee GIF !

DavecUK

MattH If I try and push the milk temp then I quickly find it will go over and be very thick and gloopy.

As others have said, sink the steam wand much earlier.

Ernie1

I’ve had similar from my other half. Assuming you’re making two, warming the cups and serving the second one to her, along with steaming the milk while the second shot is extracting is about as much as I’ve found possible to make it as hot as it can be.

Espresso and flat white are short drinks in a wide mouth cup so inevitably they’re just not going to stay hot for long at all. Not are they supposed to really.

Obviously an Americano with milk or something along those lines should be very hot and stay so for longer.

Failing that, serve it in a paper cup with a lid 😂.

MattH

MediumRoastSteam I will give it a whirl.. i do think the LM is so quick I do need to watch how much I stretch over just churning !

MediumRoastSteam

MattH - practice, practice, practice! :D

InfamousTuba

Can you turn the steam knob only a little bit to reduce the power of the steam? If so you can steam as normal (maybe with a bit less foam) and then plunge the wand and reduce the steam and heat for longer. You can push the temp very high without creating too much foam if you lower the steam power, a thermometer can also help with temperature control but not really necessary

PaulL

I found a clip-on thermometer useful years ago to familiarise with how different temperatures actually felt, 45c 60c 70c and so on. And as DFK said holding the bottom of the jug or touching it regularly to become second nature. The rest of it is steam power, number of tips, when to plunge etc. I’m sure you’ll overcome the mild temp anyway just following the advice in the thread.

LMSC

MattH

This is a pretty good video for steaming milk.

MattH

Thanks all - some practice needed.. I may drop the setting on the wand back to 1 to give me more time.

I do find if you go too deep then that causes issues as much as too shallow.. the 4 holes on the LM also add to the very quick time it takes.

Lots to play with which is half the fun !

jrling

Watched Lance’s video and it works! I thought his explanations and practical demos were useful.
I can now produce consistently smooth shiny microfoam.

Pompeyexile

I found this method by pure chance tried it and you know what? It actually works. I have done it about 5 times now and had smooth silky gloss paint like milk every time. Doesn’t improve my latte art but that is down to my incompetance not the structure if the milk. My jug also has a Temp Tag on it and for belt and braces I also used a milk thermometer as I don’t trust the ‘too hot to touch’ method as I think my pain threshold is quite low😁

MediumRoastSteam

Pompeyexile

:-) (Nov 2020)

MattH

I think the issue with the micra is the shorter steam wand… so as long as I can angle it correctly so the wand depth is right then I should be ok…

DavecUK

It was a good video and everything the guy said, makes sense.