I really struggled with foaming milk until I found the right video. The early ones as well as the instruction manual just said stick it in and it gets foamy. I wasn't able to get any foam until the milk started boiling!

But I found a better video that explained that you need to have the steam wand almost at the surface so it's pulling in air, and after a bit of practice I think I'm getting it now. I think some steam wands have a hole to pull in air where mine doesn't.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Try this …

First heat a small cup of milk in the microwave. Turn the machine steam wand on, and wait for steam to emit. Then dip the end of the steam wand in and out of the milk while keeping the tip near the surface, this’ll foam the milk nicely.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 months ago (2 children)

Interesting you say that, everything I've seen says cold milk foams better!

I seem to be getting the foaming action going well now. I've done some more practice today and I'm pretty happy with how it's going. I don't normally have milk in my coffee so I'm going through way more than normal 😃

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 months ago (1 children)

The knack is to heat the milk with the wand "deep" and also texture (apparently the jargon) the milk with the wand "shallow".

The combination gives you the temperature and foam you want. After some trial and error.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 months ago

Yes, that's what I saw in some of the videos. Thanks for the tip!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Another thing I do is heat the espresso head plus the cups by placing them in boiling water from the kettle for a short while before extracting. Makes the coffee in the cups stay nicely hot afterwards. We only have a lower end Sunbeam machine, but hot coffee can be made in a couple of minutes without leaving the machine on for a long time to heat it all up.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 months ago

The Bambino seems to heat up really quick. 10 seconds or so, quick enough for it to be ready by the time I've put the coffee in the thingymajig.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Trying to buy this boat has been a mission! The weather system that pushed back our haul out pushed it back by over a month. We finally got it done though and got the survey report last week. We have accepted the boat and probably close this week, all going well. Can’t wait to start moving on board!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Exciting! This is in the US, right?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Yes indeed! That has also made it a bit of a process…My other half is American but I am Kiwi so registering the boat was a bit of a challenge! All done now and we have official closed on the boat. First night aboard tonight!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago

Exciting! Enjoy your first night, and your travels!

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Dislike bus rides. So much dislike.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Honestly I prefer it to driving at peak hour. But also nicer to ride the bus when it's not peak time as well.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 months ago

I always find the bus too hot, and the smell of the heating system gets right up in the back of my throat. This time I was also stuck next to a rather large person so also got bonus sardine experience. also I'm prone to motion sickness

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 months ago (1 children)

We are dogsitting a cute dog!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 months ago (1 children)

No pictures?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I didn't think of that! I know I should pay the dog tax but it's probably like uploading a photo of someone else's kid.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Yeah that's true, fair call. I'll just imagine it looked like this cutie.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I had the feeling that link was going to be to some kind of a Chinese Crested cross but I hadn't seen that particular one!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I stumbled across it the other day, I can't actually remember what I was doing.

Are Chinese Crested dogs that famous? I can't remember hearing of them before.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

You were browsing potential pets to get for your kids. Or maybe reading about Deadpool.

Nope they're fairly obscure, it's just I've noticed over the years that any pup that wins Ugliest Dog is almost invariably some kind of Chinese Crested mix!

Recent examples: Scooter and Mr Happy Face

But I really should add a link to Sam from 2005.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Haha wow, that Sam!

Is the tongue hanging out thing typical of Chinese Crested dogs? It seems to be common in "ugly" dogs.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 months ago (1 children)

No I think it's only when it goes wrong. They are meant to look more like this.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Odd. I wonder what it is that makes these win all the ugly dog competitions.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 months ago

I have a theory there's a recessive gene or two in there that can easily become expressed. So probably a quirk of inbreeding for that particular breed.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 months ago

Who ordered this rain? I'd love to redirect it to you.