If you can slow it down at all, that's the trick; or start with much colder milk to begin with to give yourself time to stretch before it's heated. Are you keeping your frothing pitcher in the freezer? You could try that to see if it brings down the temp low enough to give you the room you need to move, etc. - Kat
Agreed; what we often hear, though, is that it is harder for some folks to work with the 4-hole tips. I think it's all about wrasslin' the steam power and that can take a lot of practice. Some folks have more patience than others. - Kat
If the machine can keep up, more holes is always better. The faster you can inject air into the milk, the better. The whole point of making microfoam is to sweeten the milk, and the make it richer/creamier, and the way thats done is the first step of milk texturing, the "Stretch". So, if you can make it so you have injected all the air you need way before the milk gets warm, you can roll the milk for that much longer. This results in super creamy, very sweet milk.
Coming to you from the future here... not having learned any lessons from the past apparently, but I'm currently struggling with the 4 hole tip on my Faema Faemina, and I find it just hearts up the milk so fast that I don't have any time to get any expansion going. I know part of it is technique but I plugged a couple holes with toothpicks and it's already started working a little better. Only time will tell if the operator is truly the problem though.
@@jordanzish I just moved on to a 5 hole commercial machine from a one hole domestic machine ....soooooo much power . I'm really struggling I'm not getting any air and when I get my roll going a few seconds my milk is scorched ...must be a fine line where the tip.need to be to get that hissing going ...and assume just for 3 seconds at most with 5 holes !
@@mrbeanz6451same. Just started working with 5 hole from 1!! One trick I saw to learn how to handle more holes is to block off the holes with wood tooth picks and slowly get used to the holes one at a time.
The 4-hole has more power to control and it is tricky the first days. The boiler pressure is obvius that lacks of power at the end and this is a serius problem to consider. . The 4-hole steam tip is also very difficult ,if not impossible , to froth silky mircofoam for low quantities of milk . The 4-hole steam tip is also very different result depending on the angle of the holes . I think the dilemma is between 1 a >=350 ml jug with fast microfoam 2 a =< 350 ml jug with longer frothing
My Reneka has a 6 hole, so I downgraded and plugged 3... I like to only turn the steam wand knob on far enough to get the steam power I want (usually within one turn). Two reasons, 1. You do not need to turn it back 4 revolutions to get the steam to stop (see above video) and 2. it gives you more control over your steam instead of wide open and flash steam your milk. p.s. Proud owner of a 1975 VW Thing (see above video for obscure reference...)
@n8yrn I haven't used this type of machine before -- what's it's story? Is it commercial-class? I'd think you'd need a pretty big boiler to benefit from 6 holes. I love the Thing! So jealous you have one. I had a 73 Superbeetle for 10 years, loved it and miss it a lot :D - Kat
Reneka Basic is an old HX two head. The boiler in this machine is the size of a small locomotive ( very slight exaggeration) and I could fit my Rancilio Miss Betsy inside of it. At 6 holes it blew the milk all over if I used full steam. Took some toothpick tips and plugged 3 holes as a test. Now I can go full steam. I may pop one tip out and test 4 holes before buying a 4 hole tip. p.s. I have a VW Meyers Manx too ;-) Speed Buggy
I'm having soooome trouble getting enough volume with the 4 hole on my alex duetto 2, going to rethink my technique because, yeah, it goes reeeeaaaaaallly fast.
The 4-hole has more power to control and it is tricky the first days. The boiler pressure is obvius that lacks of power at the end and this is a serius problem to consider. . The 4-hole steam tip is also very difficult ,if not impossible , to froth silky mircofoam for low quantities of milk . The 4-hole steam tip is also very different result depending on the angle of the holes . I think the dilemma is between 1 a >=350 ml jug with fast microfoam 2 a =< 350 ml jug with longer frothing
@vasiasm I agree - it's faster but the milk/boiler balance needs to be there to really get the best results with it. - Kat
If you can slow it down at all, that's the trick; or start with much colder milk to begin with to give yourself time to stretch before it's heated. Are you keeping your frothing pitcher in the freezer? You could try that to see if it brings down the temp low enough to give you the room you need to move, etc. - Kat
Agreed; what we often hear, though, is that it is harder for some folks to work with the 4-hole tips. I think it's all about wrasslin' the steam power and that can take a lot of practice. Some folks have more patience than others. - Kat
If the machine can keep up, more holes is always better. The faster you can inject air into the milk, the better. The whole point of making microfoam is to sweeten the milk, and the make it richer/creamier, and the way thats done is the first step of milk texturing, the "Stretch". So, if you can make it so you have injected all the air you need way before the milk gets warm, you can roll the milk for that much longer. This results in super creamy, very sweet milk.
Coming to you from the future here... not having learned any lessons from the past apparently, but I'm currently struggling with the 4 hole tip on my Faema Faemina, and I find it just hearts up the milk so fast that I don't have any time to get any expansion going. I know part of it is technique but I plugged a couple holes with toothpicks and it's already started working a little better. Only time will tell if the operator is truly the problem though.
@@jordanzish I just moved on to a 5 hole commercial machine from a one hole domestic machine ....soooooo much power . I'm really struggling I'm not getting any air and when I get my roll going a few seconds my milk is scorched ...must be a fine line where the tip.need to be to get that hissing going ...and assume just for 3 seconds at most with 5 holes !
@@mrbeanz6451same. Just started working with 5 hole from 1!! One trick I saw to learn how to handle more holes is to block off the holes with wood tooth picks and slowly get used to the holes one at a time.
The 4-hole has more power to control and it is tricky the first days. The boiler pressure is obvius that lacks of power at the end and this is a serius problem to consider. . The 4-hole steam tip is also very difficult ,if not impossible , to froth silky mircofoam for low quantities of milk . The 4-hole steam tip is also very different result depending on the angle of the holes . I think the dilemma is between
1 a >=350 ml jug with fast microfoam
2 a =< 350 ml jug with longer frothing
I'm assuming it's just the standard 20 oz Update pitcher we use for all of our demos. - Kat
My Reneka has a 6 hole, so I downgraded and plugged 3...
I like to only turn the steam wand knob on far enough to get the steam power I want (usually within one turn). Two reasons, 1. You do not need to turn it back 4 revolutions to get the steam to stop (see above video) and 2. it gives you more control over your steam instead of wide open and flash steam your milk.
p.s. Proud owner of a 1975 VW Thing (see above video for obscure reference...)
@n8yrn I haven't used this type of machine before -- what's it's story? Is it commercial-class? I'd think you'd need a pretty big boiler to benefit from 6 holes. I love the Thing! So jealous you have one. I had a 73 Superbeetle for 10 years, loved it and miss it a lot :D - Kat
Reneka Basic is an old HX two head. The boiler in this machine is the size of a small locomotive ( very slight exaggeration) and I could fit my Rancilio Miss Betsy inside of it. At 6 holes it blew the milk all over if I used full steam. Took some toothpick tips and plugged 3 holes as a test. Now I can go full steam. I may pop one tip out and test 4 holes before buying a 4 hole tip. p.s. I have a VW Meyers Manx too ;-) Speed Buggy
Why do I get no whirlpool on 2 hole tip (((?
would it help with frothing if i put a 4-hole on my Appartamento or does the boiler not have the power?
@ValiantVale Ha - I had to swear off that combo in '99! ;) - Kat
We were just playing with the different tip set from Rocket .... ROWDY! :) - Kat
@markpianoman I think that should be a t-shirt! :D - Kat
Thanks guys you two made me laugh and I learned something too...
I'm having soooome trouble getting enough volume with the 4 hole on my alex duetto 2, going to rethink my technique because, yeah, it goes reeeeaaaaaallly fast.
Lovely ladies talking coffee, and cars!
The reason why there are bubbles cause the position of the milk jug and nozzle is wrong, never that bubbling for me, either 2 or 4 holes
4 holes tip is the best as it can steam the milk faster and more consistent.
or if you target a friend 3-4 cappas or 1 cappa at a time
This is very true Kat, very true indeed.
@n8yrn Got it; I have a crush on your autos! :D - Kat
@nanrmz :D - Kat
The two hole did better!
give it a few "kisses" in the beginning and then only let it spin until you reach the desired temperature.
OMG!! 2 Holes Ruleeeeeees!!! Thanks a lot!!! :D
The 4-hole has more power to control and it is tricky the first days. The boiler pressure is obvius that lacks of power at the end and this is a serius problem to consider. . The 4-hole steam tip is also very difficult ,if not impossible , to froth silky mircofoam for low quantities of milk . The 4-hole steam tip is also very different result depending on the angle of the holes . I think the dilemma is between
1 a >=350 ml jug with fast microfoam
2 a =< 350 ml jug with longer frothing