A milk steamer heats the milk, while adding air to the milk
The terms milk-steaming or frothing can be used to refer to adding milk or crèmeer to your coffee for drinks like lattes, cappuccinos, or flat whites. The terms steaming milk or frothing are often interchangeable. However, frothed is not always synonymous with steamed milk.
What Is The Main Difference Between A Milk Steamer Or A Milk Frother?
A milk steamer heats milk by using steam pressure and then adds air to produce foam. A milk steamer, on the contrary, whips up the milk and doesn’t always heat it. Some jug or manual milk frothers, as well as some automated jug ones, can make cold foam.
A milk steamer allows you to adjust the temperature and foam level of your milk. An automatic milk frother has a set temperature, and you have little control over how much foam is produced.
Types Milk Steamers
Now that we know that milk steamers use steam to heat the milk and incorporate pressurized steam, let’s see what types of milk steamers are available.
Stovetop milk boiler
- Electric/Automatic Milk Heater
As an attachment to espresso machines, and as standalone milk steamers, there are electric milk steamers. An internal boiler heats the water to make steam. The boiler also creates internal pressure, so the internal pressure is greater than the atmospheric pressure.
Some electric steamers come with a vacuum breaker that prevents milk wand residues from getting into the boiler. Some steamers also include a pressure gauge, which allows you to check the steam pressure.
- Stovetop Milk Steamer
A Bellman stovetop steamers is a pressure vessel made of stainless steel. The steam wand attaches to the container. A safety valve releases any excess pressure. It is portable, easy to use, and compatible with both gas and electric stoves.
To use a stovetop dairy steamer, fill the chamber with water to a level equal to or greater than the halfway line. Then close the lid. Turn the unit on to heat.
The water inside the unit will boil, creating steam that can be used to steam your milk.
How To Use A Milk Steamer
Milk steamers of any type, stovetop or electric, are the same when it comes to frothing milk. The milk steamer heats water in the steamer and then produces steam. The steam is held in the boiler to create pressure.
Your steamer should have a pressure gauge to steam milk at a pressure of approximately 1-1.5 bars. Milk steamers that don’t have a gauge will work fine. Open the steam valve to release steam. If you see droplets in the steam, the steamer is ready for use.
Steps To Take When Frothing Milk With A Steam Wand
Now, we can steam our milk if there is enough pressure. Let’s now look at what steps you should follow to steam milk with a steaming spatula.
Make sure to pour cold milk into a stainless steel pitcher
Use The Steam Wand For Any Water Droplets To Be Released
For monitoring the pitcher’s temperature, insert the steam-wand into the milk. Make sure the tip is below the milk surface.
Turn on the steam valve. Hold onto the pitcher. The milk foams up when the steam valve is opened.
After approximately five seconds, turn off the milk’s wand to reduce air. As the milk continues to steam, it will create a vortex.
Steaming is complete once the pitcher temperature becomes too hot for your hand.
You Can Remove The Wand And Place The Pitcher On The Worktop.
Use a moist, lintless cloth to remove any milk residues. You can also use the steam wand as a vacuum to get rid of any milk residues.
To break any milk bubbles, tap your pitcher against the countertop. Use a spoon to swirl the milk until it forms a uniform texture.
If you are looking for a tasty cup of espresso, you can add milk to your espresso shot. This will make it a cappuccino or a latte. If you are making a cappuccino (or latte), add more milk to the milk.