Sharp tools make good work. Good skills also require suitable equipment to operate. Next, let’s take you through the equipment needed for making latte.
1、 Stainless steel milk pitcher
capacity
The containers for latte art cups are generally divided into 150cc, 350cc, 600cc, and 1000cc. The capacity of the milk cup varies with the amount of steam, with 350cc and 600cc being the most commonly used types of steel cups.
A. A double hole Italian coffee machine for general business use, with a steam size that can use steel cups with a capacity of 600cc or more for latte art
B. For single hole or general household coffee machines, it is recommended to use 350cc or smaller capacity latte art steel cups
A too large latte art steel cup paired with a machine with low steam pressure and force cannot fully drive the milk foam to mix evenly with the milk, so the milk foam cannot be made well!
The steel cup has a small capacity, so the heating time will naturally be relatively short. It is necessary to mix the milk foam evenly in a short time and maintain it at an appropriate temperature. Therefore, using a 350cc steel cup to make milk foam is not a small challenge.
However, the advantage of a 350cc milk pitcher is that it won’t waste milk, and it can be a great helper when drawing finer patterns.
The mouth of the coffee pitcher
Less mouth: Generally speaking, a wide mouth and short mouth make it easier to control the flow rate and flow of milk foam, and it is easier to control when pulling.
Long mouth: If it is a long mouth, it is relatively easy to lose the center of gravity, especially when pulling leaves, there is often an asymmetric situation on both sides, otherwise it is easy for the shape to tilt to one side.
These problems can be improved through frequent practice, but for beginners, it invisibly increases the difficulty of initial practice and also consumes more milk. Therefore, it is recommended to choose a short mouthed steel cup for initial practice.
2、 Thermometer
It is not recommended to use a thermometer as it can disrupt the water flow in the milk froth. However, in the early stages when temperature control is not yet proficient, a thermometer can be a good helper.
Therefore, it is recommended not to use thermometers anymore when temperature changes can gradually be measured by hand feel.
3、 Semi wet towel
A clean wet towel is used to clean the steam pipe that has been soaked in milk. There are no special requirements, just clean and easy to wipe.
As it is used to wipe the steam tube, please do not use it to wipe anything outside the steam tube to maintain cleanliness.
4、 Coffee cup
Generally speaking, they are divided into two categories: tall and deep cups and short coffee cups with narrow bottoms and wide mouths.
Coffee cups are usually circular in shape, but other shapes are also acceptable. However, it is important to ensure that the milk foam is evenly mixed with the coffee when pouring in.
A tall and deep cup
The internal volume is not large, so when pouring milk foam, it is easy for the foam to accumulate on the surface. Although the pattern is easy to form, the thickness of the foam often affects the taste.
Narrow bottom and wide top cup
A narrow bottom can shorten the time for milk foam to blend with coffee, while a wide mouth can prevent milk foam from accumulating together and provide enough space for even distribution. The presentation of circular patterns is also more aesthetically pleasing.
5. Milk
The protagonist of milk frothing is of course milk, and one thing to pay attention to is the fat content of milk, as the fat content can affect the taste and stability of milk frothing.
Excessive fat content can affect the state of milk protein adhering to bubbles, making it difficult to make milk foam at the beginning. Often, milk foam only slowly emerges when the temperature rises to a certain level. However, this can cause the overall temperature of the milk foam to be too high, affecting the taste of the entire cup of coffee.
Therefore, the higher the fat content, the better the milk foam can be made. High fat content (usually above 5% for raw milk) usually makes it difficult to foam.
When choosing milk for frothing, it is recommended to choose whole milk with a fat content of 3-3.8%, because after overall testing, the quality of frothing produced with such a content is the best, and there will be no problem with heating and frothing.
Post time: Aug-12-2024