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Art of Frothing Milk

Learning the art of frothing milk is a skill baristas master over time through dedicated attention and practice.

 

Frothing or texturing milk is one of the more difficult barista skills, simply because there are distinct stages the milk goes through when steaming and they usually happen in less than 60 seconds. To get that silky smooth milk with just the right amount of micro-foam there are three keys things to focus on:

STRETCHING

Stretching the milk adds small air bubbles to the milk creating the desired amount of micro-foam, which should be silky smooth with no visible bubbles. To stretch the milk, you bring the wand to the surface of the milk so the tip is at surface level, making a kind of ‘kissing’ noise as it incorporates air into the milk. The stretching phase should be completed by the time the temperature reaches 40 degrees.

TEXTURING

Once the milk has been correctly stretched, the milk is then texturised by submerging the nozzle of the steam wand under the surface and creating a whirlpool motion.This thickens the milk up, giving it a smooth creamy texture.

Important Note: Don’t let the wand touch the bottom!

HEATING

Ideal serving temperature for different milks:

-Full cream and skim milk is served at 65 degrees.

-Soy, macadamia, almond milk and other alternative milks are served at 60 degrees.

Tips For Frothing Milk

It’s important to NEVER reheat milk. During the heating process all the sugars are caramelized and the protein in the milk is broken down. If you reheat the milk the flavour will change as the sugars become burnt and the foam will become bubbly or ‘fluffy’, rather than smooth and dense.

  • Avoid angles! Keep both the steam wand and the milk jug straight, as this will assist in making micro-foam.
  • Keep the wand close to the side of the jug to create your whirlpool effect.
  • Don’t submerge the wand to the bottom of the jug.
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