The $15 frother that beat my $600 espresso machine steam wand

I've been pulling shots at home for about 4 years now, and for the last 6 months I was getting so frustrated with my microfoam. It was always too bubbly or too thin, you know? I tried different temps, different techniques, even watched like 20 YouTube tutorials. Then my buddy Mark who works at a coffee shop in Portland told me to just buy a cheap handheld battery frother from a kitchen supply store. I laughed at him, honestly. But I grabbed one for $15 at a local restaurant supply place and it makes way better foam than my machine's steam wand ever did. For lattes and cappuccinos at home, is there really any reason to mess with the steam wand anymore? Has anyone else switched to a cheap frother full time?

3 comments

3 Comments

avery_lopez25d ago

Hang on, I get the frustration with steam wands, they can be finicky for sure, but I honestly think the cheap frother gives you a totally different texture. The microfoam from a steam wand is way silkier and integrates into the espresso better, you know? It's more like the stuff you get at a cafe, while the frother just makes fluffy bubbles that sit on top.

phoenix_thompson425d ago

Steam wands are like learning to drive stick... frustrating at first but way better once you get it.

kim81921d ago

Thought I was team frother all the way until I actually got the hang of a steam wand, now I totally get what you mean about the texture difference.