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Steam/Frothing thermometers

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  • #16
    Re: Steam/Frothing thermometers

    The thermometer is useful to calibrate your hand with!

    Once the hand is calibrated then the thermometer isnt necessary any longer.  It is important though that the thermometer has an up to date calibration certificate otherwise it is impossible to get the CS ISO certification required for your hand.

    Please note too that each hand needs to be certified separately (this only applies to ambidextrous cappuccino makers).

    ;D

    Grant

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    • #17
      Re: Steam/Frothing thermometers

      My hand is carefully calibrated by my lips/mouth.

      My thermometer has made the least contribution of any gadget to getting a decent cappa - just behind my B&D popper that lasted 2 roasts.

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      • #18
        Re: Steam/Frothing thermometers

        I was surprised when I used my thermometer to find that what I thought was hot was really only 50C which is too cool. Should be about 70C. If you take it much more than 70C though the milk starts to burn affecting the flavour.

        I think I have calibrated my hand correctly now though.

        8-)

        Grant

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        • #19
          Re: Steam/Frothing thermometers

          Thanks for the input kualityman.
          You have made some good points, we should all remember that measuring devices that most of us use, give an indication of the parameter that we are trying to measure. Classic one I suggest, is the thermoprobe used to measure bean temp when roasting, it doesnt (and cant) touch the inside of the bean, so can only be an indication, relative to the last time you used the device.

          However I note the positive comments about quality or repeatability. I would also suggest for learning it is usefull.
          For most of us who have to learn by trial and error, at least starting with a milk thermometer of some sort will help us to get a feel for where we should be going. Its possible to start out more confidently if you know that you are going to create foam till about 40 degC then heat the milk to around 65 degC, as opposed to when the jug feels too hot to touch.

          As far as cafes go I am all for them using thermometers, in past years I have had some unpleasant burnt mouth experiences with overly hot millk.

          Yes I am probably guilty of being more interested in what thermometer said than really watching what the milk was doing, at times.
          (But my very first efforts before I had a thermometer, by feel, I was stopping way too early, and my wife likes her milk HOT)
          Then I upgraded from Breville to Silvia, and had to re-learn how to steam with some decent steam, again the termometer was a help cause temp went up a lot faster.
          I guess some of us just make more sense of defined parameters compared to .....till it feels this or that.
          Please dont get me wrong, I have great admiration for those who can do it by feel, and be right, maybe I will even get there one day....

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          • #20
            Re: Steam/Frothing thermometers

            Originally posted by wattgn link=1145369402/15#15 date=1149386509
            The thermometer is useful to calibrate your hand with!

            Once the hand is calibrated then the thermometer isnt necessary any longer. <SNIP>

            Please note too that each hand needs to be certified separately (this only applies to ambidextrous cappuccino makers).

            ;D

            Grant
            Agreed :-) Thermometers sold for measuring the temp of the milk are nothing more than an indicator. However that being said, for a place where one, two or three diferent users take the milk to a temp they like "QUALITY" and "Consistancy" are / can impacted upon.

            I have had coffee in the same place, same coffe and other ingreadents but one was drinkable the other burnt the roof of my mouth....

            At home my wife and I have about 10C diference when we first started... After using a temp indicater we are now in agreement when feeling the the milk jug and stopping the heating process. Thus I am correct and my wife has a calibrated offset in her hand :-)

            It is not unlike the issue where some will find a bath HOT while their partner may find it only warm..... This can lead to problems when trying to save water and showereing together :-)

            Now where was I....... Ya all if not the majority of diales and gauges on coffee machines are nothing more that INDICATORS, and are there to support "Quality"and "Consistancy" accross diferent users.

            If you take some of the old leaver machines, that is why some opperators were God Like... They could read the all the components via their sensory inputs.. Ears, Eyes Nose etc The the plebs wanted in on the game, thus Gauges and other items had to be added to assist the opperator in becomming consistant.

            Calibration .... Bring it ON

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            • #21
              Re: Steam/Frothing thermometers

              Originally posted by wattgn link=1145369402/15#15 date=1149386509
              The thermometer is useful to calibrate your hand with!

              Once the hand is calibrated then the thermometer isnt necessary any longer.  It is important though that the thermometer has an up to date calibration certificate otherwise it is impossible to get the CS ISO certification required for your hand.

              Please note too that each hand needs to be certified separately (this only applies to ambidextrous cappuccino makers).

              ;D

              Grant
              I had a similar experience today whilst making my SO a hot chocolate.
              I had made her one a few days ago, using my hand to guage the temp of the milk, and she promptly put it in the microwave to heat it up to the required temp.
              After reading this thread I pulled out the trusty thermometer and I found, as Grant did, that my hand was out of whack, and indicating to the grey matter about 20 degrees under the desired temp.
              The hand is now calibrated and will get another test run tomorrow to maintain its certification .
              Luckily for me Im not ambidextrous, and only have to certify one hand  ;D.
              All the best.

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              • #22
                Re: Steam/Frothing thermometers

                I will admit that I use the hand method. i figure if the milk is too hot for my hand, it is too hot for my mouth. i do have soft hands though.

                i have used the thermometer to check and found that it was about 60 degrees. When I first started using the machine I did use the thermometer though, until I started developing a feel for the temp of the jug.

                OG uses the thermometer though as he uses the machine less and isnt as much a perfectionist as me.

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