Milk Frother and Expresso Coffee Machine

SuperFly 420 on 11/07/2023 - 20:36

The milk frother from my Bambino Plus is not working properly after 2 years of use. I have been told to buy a new machine, even though the coffee bit is still working fine.

I have been looking at a standalone milk frother, like the Breville The Choc and Chino Milk Frother, instead of using the one from my Bambino Plus.

Just wondering if anyone has experienced with this setup, or if anyone can see any issues with this setup?

Also wondering if there is an espresso coffee machine without milk frother, as my next purchase once the Bambino completely dies.

Cheers

Food & Grocery Coffee Machine Milk Frother

Comments

  • poppingtags on 11/07/2023 - 20:53
    -1

    This is probably the only standalone milk frother that will be able to compete with your Bambino Plus.

    There aren't many espresso machines without milk frothers, if you want to go a more manual route - you could look into something like the Flair lever machine.

  • ausdday on 11/07/2023 - 21:30

    if you don't mind heating your milk in microwave / stovetop before pouring into a pitcher, there is always a stick frother. E.g. nanofoamer on the high end, and Ikea ones for less than $10.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fj-uk3AlB1o

    • AustriaBargain on 11/07/2023 - 21:31

      Do they work? The throttler on the machine blows hot steam into your milk, this just mixes it.

      • ausdday on 11/07/2023 - 21:42

        hot steam from the steam wand is just one way to heat up the milk. It doesn't stretch it. You can experiment this, by fully submerge your steam wand into the milk, you will just get warm milk.

        To stretch the milk, the tip of the steam wand needs to leave the surface of the milk a tiny bit, to push air into the milk, if that make sense.

        And the vortex is just to mix the air and the milk properly, ideally into microfoam for the creamy texture.

        This microwave does the first bit, and the milk frother does the second and third part.

        • AustriaBargain on 11/07/2023 - 21:44

          I don't remove the wand from the milk, but I do have the tip jus below the surface, which does stretch it. If I time it right it almost doubles the volume of the milk by the time it gets to the right temp. I look for a "tearing paper sound" as the indicator that it is working right, but not ripping paper sound or it expands too fast before it gets hot enough, and if it gurgle sound then it gets too hot before it expands enough.

          • ausdday on 11/07/2023 - 21:53

            @AustriaBargain: which machine are you using? Some steam wand has air intake holes and the top of the wand. The steam pressure will pull air from the top air intake hole and inject it into the milk.

            Have a look at this video.

            • AustriaBargain on 11/07/2023 - 21:57

              @ausdday: Dedica Arte, just a cheap machine.

              • ausdday on 11/07/2023 - 22:05

                @AustriaBargain: Older model of Dedica Arte has auto frothing steam wand. The new design (2022) looks like they are using more conventional steam wand.

                A good coffee is a coffee you enjoy, regardless the machine price :)

                • AustriaBargain on 11/07/2023 - 22:08

                  @ausdday: I have the newer one I think with the skinnier wand. I want the big double boiler whiz bang machine but I dunno I think I should wear out this little Dedica first, I'd rather spend my money on other stuff I don't really need right now.

  • AustriaBargain on 11/07/2023 - 21:30
    +1

    You sure it's not just clogged with dried milk, did it come with the pin thing in the box to poke into the hole? Who told you you need to buy a new machine?

    • klonky on 12/07/2023 - 08:39

      This.

      Check under the water tank, there should be a pin that you use to unblock the head of the frother.

  • Aureus on 11/07/2023 - 21:46
    +1

    Have you called Breville? Machine comes with a 2 year warranty and could probably claim 3 year statutory warranty on it IMO. Assuming you have done a full clean already.

  • Drpepper666 on 11/07/2023 - 22:13
    +1

    I have breville cafe milk frother, it's great.

    Had a breville machine at work with a cooked steam wand. Just disassembled it, poked it with the tool, smashed it with a toothpick, soaked in hot water and detergent, steamed a cup full of water etc. Ended up fixing it and it works a treat now. If you do all that also look at descaling but I didn't need to.

  • shertiger on 12/07/2023 - 08:57

    I’ve got a bellman steamer and it works really well.

    https://alternativebrewing.com.au/products/bellman-stovetop-…

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