Espresso Machine Milk Frothing Options Available – Pros and Cons

Posted by admin on Jan 16th, 2009 | no comments home title

When you purchase an espresso machine you need to consider the milk frothing mechanism that comes with the machines. Traditional machines are equipped with a steam wand or frothing tip. Semi automatics usually come with the same traditional steam wand or frothing tip and sometimes they offer special Pannarello type tips to make frothing easier.

Super automatic espresso machines often offer a variety of frothing methods and devices such as Milk Islands, Cappucinatore, or internal frothing devices. In addition most super automatics also include traditional frothing steam wands so you always have the option to steam milk or dispense hot water if you choose. The purpose of this milk frothing article is to help you to understand various frothing equipment available on espresso machines. This will enable you to choose a machine with a frothing method that suits your needs.

Steam Wand or Frothing Tip

Let’s start with the basic traditional machine. These machines come equipped with a steam wand or also referred to as a frothing tip that also works as a hot water spout. The combination spout is capable of delivering hot water for caf’e Amerianos, tea, cup warming, or any other necessary hot water use. There is usually a lever that indicates your choice of steam or hot water.

Pros

Cost effective
Easy to clean
Ability to customize froth and amount of froth in the milk for different beverages such as latte’s or cappuccinos.

Cons

Requires skill and practice to get frothing right

Special Pannarello type tips

Some traditional home machines as well as Semi and Super automatic espresso machines use this special tip. The purpose of this special tip design is to make frothing simple and worry free. This tip makes it almost impossible to make a mistake. Simply submerge the steaming tip in the milk and you get nice frothy milk effortlessly. You need only to monitor the temperature.

Pros

Simple milk frothing with little or no skill
Consistently good thick froth Quick

Cons

Little to no variation in the amount froth produced
The tip should be removed and cleaned after each use

Cappuccinatore Kit

This is a device that is an accessory to Saeco automatic espresso machines. This device transforms a machine into an automatic frothing machine. The Cappuccinatore replaces the steam wand. It has a tube that siphons milk from a carafe, up through the Cappuccinatore which steams and froths the milk. Instantly the hot frothed milk is dispensed into your cup. The Cappuccinatore is adjustable so you can customize the amount of froth in your steamed milk.

Pros

Quick, instant, frothed milk Customizable froth Easy to use
No milk frothing skills necessary Impressive

Cons

Requires special cleaning sanitizing
Must run a sanitizer through the milk tubes
Disables your hot water spout if you need hot water for tea

Milk Island

Saeco and Gaggia have a simplified device for their super automatic espresso machines which they call the Milk Island. The Milk Island is a carafe that automatically froths milk. This carafe is made of plastic and attaches directly to the machine. When you attach the Milk Island to the Super Automatic Machine it automatically disables the steam wand so the steam is directed to the Milk Island. The carafe frothing indicator can be adjusted to the amount of froth you want in your steamed milk. You simply fill the carafe with cold milk, position the milk carafe on the milk island and turn the machine indicator knob to the froth position. Steam is produced at the bottom of the milk carafe and the frothing begins. Turn steam off when frothing is complete.

Pros

Easy, quick, no special skill necessary, it comes out perfect every time.
Produces great customizable froth
A large carafe is available so you can froth for more than one espresso beverage at a time.
Milk Island can be removed; it is not a permanent fixture.

Cons

It takes a few tries to get the carafe positioned correctly
The milk carafe needs to be cleaned soon after dispensing milk
Disables steam/hot water wand.

Built in Super Automatic Frothing

It does not get easier than this. These machines make sense and save time. Simply provide the cold milk source, push a button, and the machine dispensed the frothed milk directly into your cup.

Pros

Concealed milk frothing device provides more sanitary use.
Most machines have adjustable frothing devices for the perfect beverage.
Impressive, simple, consistently good froth Quick time saver Internal frothing device is desirable for esthetic appearance of machine.
Steam wand is accessible and available for hot water or traditional milk steaming

Cons

Requires once a day sanitizing rinse
Cost increase for this option but worth it.

I hope you now understand a few more options for frothing milk. Each device has its pros and cons. It seems the easier devices require more cleaning, but certainly make frothing simple and consistent. I have found that when entertaining or serving more than one espresso beverage that requires frothed milk, these automatic frothing devices are a quick and easy solution and the cleaning time required is much less than the time and effort is takes to froth one cup at a time.