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10mm female steam tip options?

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  • mrfurion
    replied
    Originally posted by MrJack View Post
    Thanks for the feedback on the single hole tip. Will have to get one!
    I did find that the single-hole tip I bought choked the flow of steam too much, so while I was getting great microfoam it was taking as long as my old Gaggia Classic. I solved this by boring out the hole a bit with a very narrow round file... now I get the great directional control from the single tip but also commercial-level flow which allows me to create silky microfoam in 15 seconds or so.

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  • MrJack
    replied
    Thanks for the feedback on the single hole tip. Will have to get one!

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  • mrfurion
    replied
    You're right of course, MrJack.

    Anyway, I picked up a single-hole Silvia tip from Coffe-a-roma in Melbourne today and on my first attempt produced perfect microfoam and a very nice rosetta. So I think that's the way to go for the BZ99 if you're not enjoying the default four-hole.

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  • MrJack
    replied
    Originally posted by mrfurion View Post
    The problem I've had with toothpicks to change the direction of steam is that it seems to mess up the pressure. As in, I get very little steam pressure even when the steam tap is fully open if I've blocked up holes in my steam tip. Maybe there's a steam pressure release mechanism or something because I should be getting strong pressure out one hole if I've blocked up the other, but I don't.

    Time to try a single-hole Silvia tip I think.
    I'd hazard a guess your issue isn't pressure - but flow.

    The flowrate of steam through a hole (aka orifice) is a function of the upstream and downstream pressure, and the hole area.

    When you reduce the total hole area (say, by blocking a hole with a toothpick), you reduce the total flowrate of steam (which is kind of the point).
    Last edited by MrJack; 18 February 2016, 10:59 PM.

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  • sprezzatura
    replied
    Single hole Silvia works great!

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  • mrfurion
    replied
    The problem I've had with toothpicks to change the direction of steam is that it seems to mess up the pressure. As in, I get very little steam pressure even when the steam tap is fully open if I've blocked up holes in my steam tip. Maybe there's a steam pressure release mechanism or something because I should be getting strong pressure out one hole if I've blocked up the other, but I don't.

    Time to try a single-hole Silvia tip I think.

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  • MrJack
    replied
    Tried the toothpick in my two hole tip. Much easier to whirlpool, nicely textured milk. A great stopgap! Also helped confirm for me that going to a single hole tip is worthwhile.

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  • simonko
    replied
    I did a latte art workshop at DiBartoli's many years ago to learn how to steam on the BZ99 (a newb). Unfortunately the BZ99 I was allocated at the workshop had a leaky grouphead and I had to swap machines. The new machine was much easier and I went back home still not being able to steam on the BZ99.

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  • yoyoma
    replied
    I'II give it a go, thanks

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  • MrJack
    replied
    It just unthreads - simple. Might be a bit tight if you've never done it before though...

    I find a damp cloth helps for grip.

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  • yoyoma
    replied
    Same problem I got as well with my BZ99. Put three tooth picks in and now it's working great!
    mrfurion I'm thinking of getting this Rancilio Silvia Single Hole Steam Tip

    is changing a steam tip difficult?

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  • mrfurion
    replied
    Does anyone know if Silvias use a 10mm female thread? I thought I saw someone advertising a single-hole Silvia tip and saying it would fit a Bezzera. If that was the case I could just pick up one of them and be done with it.

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  • Lukemc
    replied
    10mm female steam tip options?

    On my Strega I had Rick the coffee machinest change the wand (ball joint down) to a rocket model so I had more options for tips. Maybe something you can do? I think the wand was $70 now I can use the male tips rather than the rarer (in my exp) female ones.

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  • simonko
    replied
    Actually you bring up something important MrJack - I forgot I changed my steam wand to one with a ball joint. You can also buy blank tips that fit the BZ99 that you only need to drill out, rather than having to lathe one from scratch.

    I thought gunk would be a problem with the toothpicks, but it hasn't been.

    I have just gone back to the 4 hole in the last week (which has a greater total hole area), trying to get steaming done quicker and conquer what I assume is more a rumbling technique than a whirlpool, but likewise, I get the foam I typically get at average cafes, not the velvety mirror finish stuff I get with the single hole.

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  • MrJack
    replied
    I've always found my BZ99 a bit challenging when it comes to milk. I went from the almost unusable 4 hole to the two hole, which is better (but still average). Lack of a ball joint on the wand doesn't help either.

    I found little for sale retail but I'm buying a mini lathe soon and plan to try making one myself.

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