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  • Frothing or shot first

    Hi all

    Ive read on a few sites that some baristas recommend to froth the milk first then pull the shot of espresso.  Their reason being that it takes longer to froth, & by pulling the shot last you keep more of your crema.

    Im new to this so I find that after I froth, the time it takes me to put & level the coffee into the basket & tamp properly, is about the same anyway.

    If you agree or disagree for that matter, Your thoughts & suggestions would be helpful.

    Regards
    Andrew

  • #2
    Re: Frothing or shot first

    Originally posted by Secksy link=1191626628/0#0 date=1191626628
    Hi all

    Ive read on a few sites that some baristas recommend to froth the milk first then pull the shot of espresso.  Their reason being that it takes longer to froth, & by pulling the shot last you keep more of your crema.

    Im new to this so I find that after I froth, the time it takes me to put & level the coffee into the basket & tamp properly, is about the same anyway.

    If you agree or disagree for that matter, Your thoughts & suggestions would be helpful.

    Regards
    Andrew
    No Andrew, shot first and then texture your milk. If you have HX or dual boiler, aim for a photo finish....

    You will never see a barista texture milk first- this is for untrained button pushers!

    Imagine your milk as an egg, you heat it and it undergoes irreversible change and "sets" so to speak. If this happens in the jug due to time delay, you then scoop separated coagulated milk foam onto the top of the cup- just like the bad button pushers!

    So, shot then milk....

    Enjoy the journey  8-)

    Chris

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    • #3
      Re: Frothing or shot first

      Thanks a lot for that Chris!  That does sound logical when you think about it!

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Frothing or shot first

        Ah, the old faithful coffee equivalent of the chicken and egg conundrum.

        For single boiler machines especially, brew first, then continue heating the boiler water to steam.

        The crema will not dissapate that quickly. And it is easier to keep heating rather than steam first and then (a) wait for things to cool naturally to brewing temperature or (b) force the situation by allowing cold water into the boiler. Also easier on the equipment because there is no sudden decrease in temperature.

        For HX machines as Chris says, the question need not arise as you can brew and steam simultaneously.

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        • #5
          Re: Frothing or shot first

          Definitely shot then milk in the case of single-thermoblock machines. Even with a cooling flush after pouring a shot my old sunbeam tends to send a gush of steam through the portafilter. Not good!

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          • #6
            Re: Frothing or shot first

            Thanks for your replies!

            I have a single boiler machine so on your learned advice...Ill continue to pull the shots first!

            Regards
            Andrew

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            • #7
              Re: Frothing or shot first

              I agree with all. You do wonder, when I made an instsant in the old days. It would always taste better if the milk went in first something about burning the milk. With the frothed milk it is already heated so it does not alter the milk so much.

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              • #8
                Re: Frothing or shot first

                Ahh, i think the story went...

                burning the coffee with the boiling water or something?

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Frothing or shot first

                  Yeah, I always thought I was a real coffee snob insisting on adding the milk first - so as not to damage the delicate flavours of blend 43

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Frothing or shot first

                    Or if you work at starbucks your milk and shot finish at the same time...such skill surely?! Behold the skilled and unmatched power of milk sitting there to froth itself while they take another order for some wanky tall double skim white chocolate mocha with caramel, whip and drizzle.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: Frothing or shot first

                      I was told to froth and then pull the shot on my Silvia.

                      I suspect, amongst other things, that it is safer as doing it in that order means that the boiler is refilled.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: Frothing or shot first



                        I agree with most people, brew the shot first and then froth the milk. The shot has a smaller surface area so will lose heat slower then a jug full of milk just left on the bench while you prepare your shot. Also you can put the shot you just brewed on the cup warming plate while you get ready to froth the milk. ;D

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: Frothing or shot first

                          Originally posted by 756072696864010 link=1191626628/10#10 date=1261923299
                          I was told to froth and then pull the shot on my Silvia.

                          I suspect, amongst other things, that it is safer as doing it in that order means that the boiler is refilled.
                          I had a Silvia for over 8 years, in the beginning tried both ways, shot then milk/milk then shot, settled on shot then milk being the best option by far, reason being if you steam milk first you have to cool the group head down in order to pull a shot, which takes some doing, most times the shot is pulled while the GH is too hot resulting in a very ordinary coffee.
                          BTW as I said , had the machine for quite some time and never came close to running the boiler dry, keep the tank topped up and clean by doing the p*ortafilter jiggle at the end of a session and all will be well.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: Frothing or shot first

                            Does that mean I can just

                            pull shot, flush grouphead
                            steam milk

                            turn machine off?

                            i thought i had to refill the boiler somehow by running water through the group head? not sure if this is correct...

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: Frothing or shot first

                              Originally posted by 6277657E7F73160 link=1191626628/13#13 date=1261992561
                              thought i had to refill the boiler somehow by running water through the group head? not sure if this is correct...
                              I mentioned
                              Originally posted by 6277657E7F73160 link=1191626628/13#13 date=1261992561
                              Does that mean I can just

                              pull shot, flush grouphead
                              steam milk

                              turn machine off?

                              i thought i had to refill the boiler somehow by running water through the group head? not sure if this is correct...
                              Originally posted by 4F737A6277160 link=1191626628/12#12 date=1261953787
                              clean by doing the p*ortafilter jiggle at the end of a session and all will be well
                              What I am referring to by p*ortafilter jiggle is lightly lock the PF in, place a container under the grouphead to catch hot water, turn the pump on as when you pull a shot and rapidly lock unlock the PF a few times, this cleans loose grounds from inside the GH and seal and at the same time tops up the boiler.

                              Comment

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