Single hole stock steam tip as it came supplied with the machine. Ordered a 4-hole tip about six months ago but the thread wasn't exactly the same and wouldn't allow the tip to be screwed on after perhaps one turn. Reminds me, need to chase an exchange /refund up.

Bella Barista stock an Expobar 2-hole tip.

 

Four hole aurelia tip that's on my steam arm . Fast and with practice easy to use ( even for small amounts ) . Makes lovely micro foam . What machine do you have

 

He has an Expobar Leva DB (Brewtus) I believe.

My 4-hole tip is for an Aurelia but whilst it may fit a mkIII, it does not fit my mkIV. Tried two of them.

 

replaced my stock 2 hole tip with a 5 hole ECM tip. makes way better micro foam.

 

Yup it'd be for the expobar mk 4. I'm currently using the original single hole tip but it takes (seemingly) years to do the job.

I've seen odd mentions of 2 and 4 hole, with the needs to increase boiler pressures, but all threads were deep in the archives somewhere. So I wondered what the latest ideas were as I would like to speed up the process.

Currently steam about 125ml of milk at a time in a 35cl motta jug. While I haven't timed it it must be bordering on a minute to do and I get mixed results.

So, it'd be good to hear what people are having success with.

P.s., hope all had an enjoyable Christmas.

 

I never really got on with the stock steam tip that came with my Cremina, so a friend kindly machined me a bullet-shaped tip. That worked better, but then I got the opportunity to buy an adapter to use the Sproline foam knife.

So that's what I'm using now. To be honest, if I had my time again I don't think I'd spend the money, but on the other hand it is the best steam tip I've got.

 

@bongo

I'm using the stock steam tip but I drilled out the hole to 2mm- as standard it was feeble! I believe the steam pressure is up on standard on my machine (purchased second hand on here) it reads 1.3 bar on the gauge. I'm very happy with the results I get. I just checked and steamed 150ml of milk in under 30 seconds.

Cheers

Russ

 

Sproline foam knife by far the best steam tip I've ever used.

Not cheap but if you want quantities of super micro foam that's the way to go.

 

Hi @Russ

Do you mean you increased it by 2mm, or drilled it to 2mm? Just to clarify.

Looking at mine, it already appears to be 2mm, though i'll grab a drill bit to check in a moment. I may look to try and up the pressure as am floating at 1.1bar atm

 

Sproline foam knife ......

Not cheap.

That's a crazy price considering most other tips i've been investigating this week are £5-15

 

The best stuff never comes cheap! Just sayin'...

 

hi @bongo

I opened it out to 2mm with a 2mm drill bit, I believe it was 1.5mm stock, it made a huge difference. As stock the steam was very restricted and when you closed the steam valve steam continued to come out of the tip for a second or two which made me believe it was restrictiing the flow. Now opened out it cuts out instantly when the valve is closed.

Hope that helps.

Russ

 

Hi @Russ

That's worked a treat. 2mm drill bit just opened it enough to stop that back pressure as you said. I also upped the pressure on the steam. It now sits at 1.3bar.

As an observation, my valve has a limiter on it which it is now at and only just meets 1.3bar

Now i just have to revise my technique as on first attempt all i got was hot milk with big bubbles.

 

@bongo

Great stuff, glad it worked for you. Re technique I use a temp tag which I love. I hold my hand on bottom of jug and introduce air for approx 5-7 seconds which is usually more than enough (steam tip just below the milks surface so it 'slurps') once I can feel the jug getting warm I dip the tip a bit deeper into the milk until it stops 'slurping' but still vigorously swirls the milk, the deeper you go the less swirling. I find the more swirling the better but you have to be careful not to swirl the milk out of the jug which is very easy with the enlarged single hole and 1.3bar pressure. I stop steaming as soon as the temp tag starts to turn colour.

Good luck!

Cheers

Russ

 

@bongo

How's the microfoam comming along?

Russ

 

@Russ

Hit & miss tbh.

I'm finding that pressing the tip of the wand against the side of the milk jug, and holding the jug at 45 degrees is helping, but only just started doing that.

So overall mixed results. certainly nowhere near what consistency, consistently, that id like yet.

 

Just my 2p but I find 45° a bit too much (can get more air in at this angle when you want to just swirl). Also with the tip bang up against the side that can cause 'slurping' too (and spin the milk too fast). Less is more when it comes to introducing air.

YMMV as you're using different kit (and lord knows I'm no expert on milk!). Hope it helps though?

 

Recall Dahn Tamang (3 time UK latte art champion) mentioning at Rave on last year's forum day that he keeps the milk jug horizontal. That's what I've been doing for a while now.

Still can't do latte art, lol! [emoji15][emoji57]

 

Ha ha! Yeah I know what you mean DS. You can learn from the best but still need practice like the rest!

 

Found a few videos I recorded of Dahn in action but keep getting an error when trying to upload. Something to do with the network?! [emoji57]

 

@DoubleShot Jug horizontal... I'm not surprised you can't do latte art....surely all your milk is on the floor!

@hotmeal - what do you mean by YMMV? not come across that abbreviation.

keep the tips coming though...i'll try them all bit by bit...

 

Your Mileage May Vary

Okay, correction...milk jug held vertical and not leaning to one side. How's that?

 

@DoubleShot , it's all good. I was fairly sure i knew what you meant, but the initial image that popped in my head of a jug on its side and milk on the floor did put a smile on my face.

 

Super-FAST Milk steaming (on L1P?):



Latte art:

 

Just to the left of his finished work of art is my earlier poor attempt. He said mine wasn't bad up until the half way point but then I stopped wiggling the jug side to side as I seemed more concerned about the cut through!