Mastery of your at-home coffee machine is key to a good brew in the morning, but having the same control over the wand of your manual milk steamer can sometimes take just as much, if not more, work.
That’s why, if you like milky coffee (or even entertain those who do), you should think about the choice of milk from the beginning of your coffee machine buying journey.
Article continues below
1. Picking the wrong machine
As someone who has the great privilege of testing coffee machines for a living, it’s an unfortunate truth that my latte art skills are sorely lacking. I use a Sage Barista Express Impress every day for my morning coffee, which has a great manual steam wand, but my microfoam isn’t really there (thanks entirely to user incompetence).
So, if getting the perfect latte texture is a must for you, you have three options.
Either learn the barista-level skills you need, choose an automatic machine (like Ideal Home’s top-rated version, the D’Longhi Rivelia) or get a semi-automatic version with a steamer that does the work for you. Especially, when I tried Ninja Luxe Café, I loved its automatic frothing capabilities and for the price, it’s an absolute bargain.
I’ve put machines that exemplify the three options below.
This is Sage’s cheapest machine – still beloved years after its first release – with a manual frother so you can practice latte art to your heart’s content. It’s an espresso machine, so you’ll need to use ground coffee here or invest in a separate grinder.
You can read our Sage Bambino Review For complete details.
De’Longhi
De’longhi Rivelia
D’Longhi’s exceptionally popular machine Rivelia is designed for those who prefer the convenience of coffee. With just a touch of a button, your morning latte can be made for you with zero fuss. Plus, individual profiles on the machine make that process even easier.
You can read our De’Longhi Revelia Review For complete details.
If you still want to pull your own espresso shots, but are less confident in steaming milk, this Ninja machine with an integrated automatic steamer will tick every possible box. It’s also very easy to get used to – which is why it’s my top recommendation for beginners.
You can read our Ninja Cafe Luxe Review For complete details.
2. Allowing your milk to overheat
Once you have the right steam wand or milk frother to suit your beverage of choice, the next thing to get right is the steaming process itself. This will be especially important for anyone using a manual steam wand.
Stuart Wilson, Founder Lost Sheep Coffee (Roasters of really great coffee beans) The biggest mistake people make when steaming milk is ‘overheating it or introducing too much air’.
(Image credit: Future)
He adds that ‘milk should be silky and smooth, not burnt and bubbly. If it’s too hot, you lose that natural sweetness and end up with a flat, burnt taste.’
So how can you prevent it, even if you’re still a home barista-in-training?
‘Aim for a temperature around 60-65°C (once it’s too hot to touch the jug, remove hand and count to 5),’ says Stewart, ‘and focus on creating fine, velvety microfoam rather than large bubbles.’
‘It’s all about control and consistency,’ says Stewart. Less is more often when it comes to the quality of milk. Get the milk swirling around inside the jug and play with air or no air in the milk from the stick. I always recommend full fat milk or Barista Oats for best results.’
(Image credit: Future / Rebecca Knight)
I definitely struggle to get my milk temperature right every day. That’s why I enjoy using the version with an integrated thermometer, such as One for £12.31 from AmazonAs a visual guide.
3. Not cleaning it immediately
Build-up on your steam wand can be a huge hindrance to the quality of your coffee at home. That’s why not staying on top of your cleaning routine is a huge mistake.
Isabella Forgione, Small Appliances Expert AO.comEmphasizes the importance of cleaning your coffee machine and steam wand promptly.
‘If your coffee machine has a milk frother or steam wand you’ll want to clean it after each use,’ says Isabella. ‘Never let it sit with dried milk as this can harden quickly and spoil the flavor of future brews.’
Instead, Isabella advises to ‘do a quick blast of steam in a jug of hot water and then wipe the stick with a damp cloth. If you feel you need a deeper clean, soak the tip in warm water with a little washing up liquid once a week.’
(Image credit: Future / Amy Lockwood)
It’s always a good idea to get on schedule with cleaning your coffee machine in general, but don’t forget about your milk if you want to keep your drinks top-tier.
With these mistakes in mind, you can hopefully master your at-home lattes like you never have before and save yourself from spending money on takeaway coffee!
