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  • #31
    Re: Steam Wand Tips

    I used a wooden plug once to temporarily fix a hole in my Escorts inlet manifold.
    Worked well enough to start the car and get me home.

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    • #32
      Re: Steam Wand Tips

      I used to own a Breville BES400 single hole and found it easy to get microfoam (once I removed the froth enhancer) , but struggled to get latte art quality microfoam.

      I then moved up to a Expobar Minore 3 with two hole tip. I immediately started producing soap sud quality milk (seriously). After about 12 litres of wasted milk, I decided to enrol in a barista course.

      There I used a 4 hole tip and on first attempt produced micro-foam - in a 1 litre jug, milk filled just past the beggining of the spout - so little over half way up. The microfoam was of a better qualty than the Breville single tip, but created with a similar technique. Ie. I found it easier to use a 4 hole tip than a 2 hole tip.

      Ive always been pretty good at surfing the top of the milk with the wand, so producing that ch-ch-ch (can sound like a slightly ripping sound), or the shh-shh-shh sound wasnt too difficult. The shh-shh-shh sound produced better micro-foam for me.

      What I learnt was that as long as the whirlpool is going well , any bubble mistakes will be re-incorporated into the milk - the whirlpool textures the milk - same principle is used when you swirl the milk in the jug by hand after youve finished steaming it with the machine. So even if you see bubbles on top of the milk - they are just surface bubbles and can be banged out with a thump of the jug on the table (this was the part that was catching me...I was originally doing anything I could to re-incorporate those surface bubbles...and destroying the whirlpool in the process)...

      To produce the whirlpool, move the wand out towards the edge of the jug. Sometimes it takes a slight adjustement in the tilt of the jug, or wand to produce a sweet whirlpool.

      The spot to create the whirlpool is dependent on both the steam tip AND the jug (though as a general rule, the further towards the outer edge of the jug, the faster the whirlpool - but you dont necessarily want a super fast whirlpool)

      Different tips push the steam out at different angles (due to the angle and direction of the holes), and also with differing amounts of force (due to the number of holes, the size of the holes, and the pressure of the steam boiler)).

      Jugs also come in different shapes which will affect the whirlpool motion (and sweetspot to produce the whirlpool) - tall and narrow, short and fat, angled walls or straight walls, bell shaped at the bottom etc.

      Combine the steam tip and the jug...and you may have to adjust the wand angle, or the jug angle to produce a nice whirlpool.

      If you produce a deep whirlpool (usually means quite a fast whirlpool), you will continue incoporating air (so the milk will keep expanding), but a shallow whirlpool will not incorporate much more air (or any extra air at all, which is a good thing if you dont want any more expansion).

      The shallow whirlpool with the wand nearer the centre (as opposed to nearer the edge) helps texture the milk better on the stronger machines (someone correct me if Im wrong - thats my understanding atm)

      Whirlpool is also affected by the depth of the wand in the milk...still not 100% on how this affects milk texturing.

      There may be better ways to create micro-foam - I keep experimenting - but thats whats worked for me so far - having used a single, dual, and 4 hole tip so far.

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      • #33
        Re: Steam Wand Tips

        Originally posted by 70697F7D1C0 link=1165628368/7#7 date=1165671706
        Some tips pretty much shoot out steam horizontally and are difficult to work with because when you get some of the holes in the right position to get the milk swirling, the other holes are spraying milk in your face and across the walls ;P
        Originally posted by 5469716C746E79651C0 link=1165628368/20#20 date=1235791363
        Hi,  I have a VBM Domobar Super with 2 holes.  I used to get awesome microfoam on my old breville cafe roma **cough**crap*cough*machine* cough**, and even with a silvia... But I really struggle with the VBM.  Any tips?  I did get some  great microfoam yesterday, but its a rarity.  I find its a lot harder to get it spinning with a hole pointing in the opposite direction :-P
        Luca couldve been referring to the 2-hole Domobar super tip here, with the 135 degree split in the holes. A trick with this one is to fill the jug to the the right level for you, and use the wand vertically to create a double-whirling pool (goes to the center opposite the steam arm). however, I dropped by coffeeparts and found they had a suitable 4 hole tip in, which Im now using to great effect

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        • #34
          Re: Steam Wand Tips

          tips - sink one hole straight down and use the other one to whirlpool it. generally speaking its better to use a made-for tip with the number of holes you want than to try and fashion one at home.

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          • #35
            Re: Steam Wand Tips

            Ive just bought a VBM domobar junior and like a lot of people on this informative thread have come from a cheaper machine (6910) where I produced great microfoam and now I find the VBM is too powerful and unforgiving on milk using a 400ml jug. The angle of the holes causes an almost horizontal flow of steam. Ive tried the toothpick and that was an improvement but Id rather a tip that suited me. Chris at coffee talk suggested I take my tip to a jeweler and get them to plug the holes and redrill vertical holes. A good idea but that doesnt suit me.

            So my questions ...

            1) Do coffee parts have a suitable tip that VBM owners have used and are happy with. Is it slow enough to correct mistakes. I am assuming that the VBM super and VBM junior have the same tip size
            2) If so what model number?
            3) Has anyone used a jeweler to do the modifications mentioned above

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            • #36
              Re: Steam Wand Tips

              I think its a matter of getting used to your new machine Barri. Koffee Kosmo (KK) has produced a how-to which you can search for on CS or you can check the Scottie Callaghan how-to video on the ECA site here or check Youtube for others.

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              • #37
                Re: Steam Wand Tips

                Seen all those. In fact have watched the how to videos many times but he uses a larger jug.

                Thanks for your reply Flynn but that hasnt answered my questions.

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                • #38
                  Re: Steam Wand Tips

                  Ive used a 6910 and my Expobar has plenty of steam.
                  I did it in reverse though and went from the Expobar to the 6910.
                  Chopping and changing between work and home was not a problem because I got used to the differences in the capabilities of the two machines.

                  Have you tried just steaming with water in the jug so you can see whats happening?

                  You could also try this video:
                  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxAvYoymUbM

                  Comment


                  • #39
                    Re: Steam Wand Tips

                    Yep been there, saw that, done that!!

                    Incidentally Im getting really good results with a toothpick covering the hole that sprays towards the VBM. So Im happy with that but my questions still havenet been answered. I know you all want me to work on my technique (why I love this site) which I will work on but curiosity has got to me and Im wondering if any VBM users have changed their steam tip and if so to what and why? Thats all Im asking. I will persist with the toothpick and then eventually remove it so I really doubt if I change it all. Im just curious of the alternatives.

                    Thanks for your replies so far.

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                    • #40
                      Re: Steam Wand Tips

                      Originally posted by 262536362D440 link=1165628368/36#36 date=1263602417
                      Thanks for your reply Flynn but that hasnt answered my questions.
                      Sorry, I thought the solution was to adapt yourself to the machine rather than the machine to yourself. You are no longer using a 6910 - the VBM has a lot more steam power. It takes me a few seconds to steam milk in a 300ml jug - its harder at first when you are used to lower powered machines but it gets easier.


                      I reckon the jeweller solution might work out more expensive (in labour costs) than simply buying the required tip. If you are convinced that changing tips is the correct way recommend talking to Chris from TalkCoffee and get him to give a tip on tips. He may even have one you could use or (better IMO) ask him to give you a demo on steaming with the VBM.

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                      • #41
                        Re: Steam Wand Tips

                        Point taken.

                        I have spoken and emailed Chris, he said that the coffee parts tip fitted but had the wrong diameter. Could someone confirm this

                        As I said Im more curious than serious about buying an alternative tip. I just wanted to hear from others (VBM) that have.

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                        • #42
                          Re: Steam Wand Tips

                          Previously I had a VBM Piccolo and was never able to get the unmodified 2-hole tip to work easily for me. Mind you, I mostly steam less than 60 ml of milk for my very short lattés.

                          In the end what worked for me was to take off the tip and thread a piece of copper wire through both holes and re-mount.

                          I havent needed to do this with the Diadema.

                          Greg

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                          • #43
                            Re: Steam Wand Tips

                            I was at a coffee shop today and the milk was nice, thick and creamy (latte).....
                            Is this the result of the process or perhaps the milk?
                            On my old Breville Cafe Roma machine I could get the same quality but so far, have been unable to get happening on my Lelit Combi.......

                            Any suggestions....?
                            Do I need the steam wand tip which I used once and got a cup full of suds both in and out of the 400ml SS jug......?
                            From some of the fotos Ive seen, my tip is not closed on the bottom and a single hole 2/3 the way up...the bottom is open....is this perhaps just a froth enhancer??

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                            • #44
                              Re: Steam Wand Tips

                              You need to make sure that once you streach the milk, make sure that you dont sink the wand too deep into the milk, i find if i let the tip go just beneath the surface a little(5mm)it pushes the airiated milk into the normal milk and seems to stay silky, this also helps to avoid separation too, you tube is your friend with this one, there are tonnes of vids on how to texture milk...............its all about practice and more practice, and this is a good way to practice too:


                              [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxAvYoymUbM[/media]

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                              • #45
                                Re: Steam Wand Tips

                                Thanks for the video...........very informative and great explanation...

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