A Good Squeeze Is Hard To Find
Can you find a good squeeze when you need one? No, I don't mean finding someone to tango with the night away. I'm talking about getting an adequate amount of milk from your machine.
Milk frothing has become more and more popular in recent years for many reasons, including the health benefits it offers consumers. But after just one use of these new and improved machines, many people are met with disappointment because their milk never comes out as thick and creamy as they had anticipated after spending so much money on an expensive appliance that promises great things.
In reality, most frothing devices give inconsistent results based upon how often you use them and how phlegm is contained within the device.
I recently discovered a secret that can make it much easier for anybody to create a perfectly frothed milk: Just before you begin to use your device, boil the water for your last cup of tea or coffee. I'm sure that many people are doing this already, but I've just discovered this to be a great bonus for those who were yet to discover it!
I'll explain exactly how it's done below:
If you haven't already done so, fill the water reservoir on the machine with hot water from the tap. You don't need very hot water if you only plan on making one cup of tea or coffee. However, if you are preparing for several cups at once, then you need to use hot water. For the purpose of this article, I'll only be using one cup of tea from each machine I'm testing.
Select your preferred method of frothing: Under-Frother (1), In-Frother (2) or Over-Frother (3). Gently place the milk canister into the device and secure it in place using the provided plastic clips. Begin to heat up the water in your machine by setting it on your kitchen counter. It's important to use the correct temperature for the milk that you are frothing. If you don't use the correct temperatures, then it will affect your flavor! The table below shows approximate heating times per cup:
Pour a cup of your preferred tea and allow it to steep while your milk is heating up. Ideally, you want to steep your tea long enough so that it doesn't become bitter after you've frothed it. You should always avoid drinking extremely hot beverages in general (especially if you're using a plastic device) because they raise the risk of scalding yourself.
Take note of how much time has passed since you started preparing your tea and your milk. For most people, one cup of tea and around 2 minutes of milk heating is the optimal time to froth milk.
Once it's become time to start frothing, set your device on the counter with the plastic clips still attached. If you are using an under-frother device, then slide it underneath the milk canister for proper positioning. However, I recommend only using this method if you have a double boiler on hand because it will help to prevent spillage!
Once the milk is hot enough from steeping your tea and frothing has begun, remove all parts from your machine, place them into a bowl and cover them tightly with a cloth. Then, turn the device upside down and shake very vigorously to prevent condensation from forming on the bottom.
Your device should now be ready to use! If you like, you can still strain your tea (to remove excess leaves) and re-steep it to add more flavor! Simply choose any method of strain and put the teabags in a pot with fresh water. Cover it with a lid and keep it boiling on the stovetop for 75 minutes – two hours. (I prefer using hot water instead of cold water because it helps to extract any bitterness or leaves that may have been released into your cup.
Be sure to check out this site for more information about different tea types and brewing instructions:
www.whyteleaf.com)
CHINESE GREEN TEA – This type of tea is probably the most difficult to use because it requires that you boil water between 175°F (80°C) and 195°F (90°C). The following chart can help you choose which temperature is ideal, but be sure to consult with a professional before trying any methods shown below! If the water temperature falls outside of these ranges, then it may taste bitter or become too weak. (I would recommend using one of these devices from the previous article:
How exactly do you know when to stop boiling? That's a question that can't be answered easily. I would recommend testing it for about 30 seconds first to ensure that the water has reached all the way through your tea leaves. Then, you can switch off the heat for short amounts of time in order to finish steeping the tea properly. Be sure to discard ALL of these chemicals before moving on! These are added just so that the manufacturers can help you create an unrealistic image of what their machines in fact accomplish with regards to frothing milk. Be sure to read the full article on this topic here:
www.homemadetips.com/stainless-steel-tea-kettles.html)
For more information about Tea, please visit www.whytelafoot.com/page/page/page/page/page/page
– If you find yourself in need of a double boiler: Buy one at your local thrift store or your favorite auction site! http://ebay.com or http://www.thriftersproshop.com/products/double-boiler?r=store
– Stainless Steel Tea Kettle: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0019Q2OS8?ref_=cm_cr_ryp_prd_ttl_sol_0
– For other great teapots, check out the following auction sites! http://www.ebay.com and http://www.thriftfindersusa.
Conclusion:
If you're still trying to figure out which milk frother device is right for you, then I'd recommend taking a look at the following comparison chart:
This chart should give you an idea of how well each one performs. If I were to try to rate these devices and my experience with them, it would look as follows:
Milk Frother Comparisons (Best To Worst)
Rankings Are Based Upon A 1-10 Scale (10 Being The Highest)
Final Notes:
It's important to do your research and find out what works best for you! 99% of people have the same problem when it comes time for using these devices.