Re: A CLASSIC way to microfoam with Gaggia+Silvia
Welcome to Coffee Snobs aj.
Isnt 2% milk watery to start with?
Why not try some full cream and see if it helps.
Even if you just buy 2 or 3 litres for pactise it will eliminate one variable.
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A CLASSIC way to microfoam with Gaggia+Silvia wand
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Great...any advice for a Starbucks Barista machine
Another newbie. I have a Starbucks Barista machine (sorry if this is collusion with the enemy!!!) In any event, I cant get the hang of doing great microfoam with it. Any advice for me? ;D
I usually use 2% milk, plunge the wand deep into the container for a second, raise it to the surface and stretch until about 70 F. Then I move it to the middle and create a cyclone with tip slightly lower.
Then Id like to think it is equipment (not operator) failure and that buying a different steam wand might solve my problems. Im great at foaming and frothing, but I always get a layer of foam and a layer of watery milk. PS I do prime!!!
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Re: A CLASSIC way to microfoam with Gaggia+Silvia
Hi,
Newbie to the forum here. I have the Coffee Deluxe and hope to be coverting to the silvia wand as soon as I can get my hands on one. Let the mods begin!
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Re: A CLASSIC way to microfoam with Gaggia+Silvia
superb tips, thanks to all who contributed.
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Re: A CLASSIC way to microfoam with Gaggia+Silvia
I encounter this a lot. I push some water through the steam wand, the light goes out, I wait 20 seconds or so and then continue steaming again. Its not a great solution but it kinda works.Originally posted by pricespringer link=1208179952/0#13 date=1214707585I was wondering is it possible to do anything at this time i.e. stop and wait until steam builds up and then continue as I hate throwing away and wasting this milk. i.e. what I am asking is it possible to recover from a no steam position without starting again as the milk is still heating up. Usually at this time I have already pulled the shot. I follow all the rules , bleed the wand, wait until light goes out so boiler is heating.
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Re: A CLASSIC way to microfoam with Gaggia+Silvia
Hi All,
My first post here and I too have been able to get great microfoam from the Classic w/Sivlia steam wand mod. The only complaint is that sometimes it runs out of puff after a short while (inconsistent) but mostly its to do with the fact that I am trying to steam too much in one go (ca. 650ml). It can consistently steam up to around 400ml without too much trouble.
I must agree with the OP on this one entirely, with the 40 deg thing especially. I learnt that one from the Coffeegeek guide about stretching until you get to about 40 deg and then submerging the tip. 40 deg should be only warm to touch, definately not hot. Before I tried this, I would find that I was trying to stretch the milk too much, and I was ending up with nasty looking foam that was hard to swirl and even harder to pour. After altering my technique a little bit, I can continually come up with fairly good glossy microfoam that I never achieved before. A recent example, not exactly pro, but I think alright for the time ive been doing this stuff.

Long live the classic!
-Scott
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Guest repliedRe: A CLASSIC way to microfoam with Gaggia+Silvia
my sentiments exactly.
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Re: A CLASSIC way to microfoam with Gaggia+Silvia
loud sqealing noise usually means your wand is too deep when you are starting to stretch
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Re: A CLASSIC way to microfoam with Gaggia+Silvia
Hi,
Just want to ask a quick question. Generally with Silvia Wand fitted to Gaggia Classic I get qiute good steam and foam. However from time to time I think the steam runs out as I get a loud squealing noise. The milk I use generally is Lite and work ok for me.
I was wondering is it possible to do anything at this time i.e. stop and wait until steam builds up and then continue as I hate throwing away and wasting this milk. i.e. what I am asking is it possible to recover from a no steam position without starting again as the milk is still heating up. Usually at this time I have already pulled the shot. I follow all the rules , bleed the wand, wait until light goes out so boiler is heating.
Thanks for your help
Gussy
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Re: A CLASSIC way to microfoam with Gaggia+Silvia
Great tips - I followed this and got heaps of foam (what looked like microfoam to the newbie) but couldnt consistently pour latte art each time. Sometimes it just mixed into the coffeeand ended up with a brownish latte foam and other times I ended up with a think white layer of capaccino foam.
Any tips on how to get latte art quality foam?
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Re: A CLASSIC way to microfoam with Gaggia+Silvia
Did you refill the boiler by pumping hot water out of the wand. Not sure if the Classic has a separate switch for hot water, but on my Carezza, I need to press the brew button and then open the steam knob and hot water comes out of the wand. The boiler is full when the hot water comes out in a continuous stream, not spluttering.
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Re: A CLASSIC way to microfoam with Gaggia+Silvia
what milk are you using? has that changed from your successful attempts? i can get great microfoam from most milk except unhomogenised organic milks.
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Re: A CLASSIC way to microfoam with Gaggia+Silvia
Just when I thought it was safe to come out of the woods , the lack of foam bug strikes again. I fitted the Silvia Wand to Gaggia Classic and it has been great. Yesterday I used the .06ml jug with a thermometer and I would say if anything I had to be careful about milk splashes , the steam was strong and foam excellent.
Today using .03ml jug tried twice , same procedure , used thermomenter,same milk, jug in freezer , bled machine first, turned on steaming switch and then waited a little while before steaming and couldnt produce any foam. After initial swirling/frothing sounds the milk doesnt seem to stretch that much , whereas yesterday(larger jug) I had to be careful not to stretch the milk too far over the edge of the jug.
Not sure what is happening.
Anything I can check
Gussy
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Re: A CLASSIC way to microfoam with Gaggia+Silvia
Hi,
I tried Cremakids tips and got it working perfectly. The spout of the jug works as a nice guide to move the jug down on.
My main problem was that i wasnt sitting the tip of the steam wand close enough to the surface of the milk.
Anyway problem solved, i frothed a nice cap and a latte tonight.
Paul
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Re: A CLASSIC way to microfoam with Gaggia+Silvia
Hi,
I have done the Silvia wand upgrade on my classic and am having no luck in getting any micro foam. All I am getting is hot milk with a tiny about of bubbles on top. There is enough steam pressure as the temperature of milk rises really quickly, way quicker than on my old Gaggia Espresso.
The machine has a PID and it is getting hot enough.
What angle are you holding the jug at?
I am trying to froth around 200mls of milk
I was previously using a Gaggia Espresso with the plastic attachment removed to froth milk and was getting good results.
Any ideas anyone?
Thanks,
Paul
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