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Fact of the Day What Are Super Automatic Espresso Machines?

There are different types of espresso pod machines available in order to prepare the espresso types. Three varieties of machines that exist today are the semi-automatic, automatic and super-automatic espresso machines. Ground coffee is put into the filter of the machine manually in either manual espresso machines or semi-automatic espresso...

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Can My Milk Steamer Be Saved? It Does Not Foam Milk Sufficiently, Even After Vinegar

Q: I have a basic Espresso/Cappuccino maker. After about one year of using it every night, the milk steamer does not produce enough force to foam milk so that it stays foamed. It foams the milk but the foam dies down. I can tell there is less force because the sound is less loud. Okay, so I do the vinegar thing and it seems to make the steam come with more force but still not enough. My question: should I just get another machine or is it worth it to repeat the vinegar treatment (I did it three times) or is there something else that can be done? I figure this has to have happened to other people.

A: It may not be the steamer - it could be the milk!!! In the UK (I'm not sure where you are posting from) - the milk can have very different foaming properties from one week to the next and indeed one supermarket to the next. When I get milk that goes wrong the following happens: The milk stretches perfectly and forms a nice cap on top. Then, the milk rolls nicely underneath until hot. As soon as the wand is removed the microfoam goes into LARGE bubbles which burst very quickly, and all I'm left with is hot milk and a sludgy foamy mess on top - thats the point I blame the wife for buying milk from Waitrose (her fav supermarket) and I get on my bike down to Sainsburys!!! Maybe this is not your problem - It could be your steamer of course :) - I'm using a 'Livia' with steam-a-plenty.

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