If you’ve ever ended up with a milk moustache after a cappuccino or licked away the foam from a latte, you’re already familiar with the beauty of frothed milk. That silky, smooth milk is what gives certain styles of coffee their signature character.
After all, a cappuccino is not a cappuccino without a full head of milk froth, nor is a latte a proper latte without its smooth, velvety mouthfeel.
All of these smooth milk coffees are the result of milk that’s been aerated in some way to give it that familiar look and texture: as light as air and as smooth as silk. And, crucially, the ability to retain its frothy shape.
This winning combination occurs when the milk increases in volume by filling up with bubbles, which should be generally of a consistent – albeit tiny – size.
Different methods make for different results. Frothy milk, for instance, can be warm or cold depending on how you create it, and the type of milk you use will also have an impact on the outcome.
But if you fancy yourself to be a true home-grown barista, you may well want to invest in a machine with a steam wand.
Making frothed milk with a milk steamer wand
You’ll often see baristas in cafes and coffee bars use a steam wand to make perfect, foamy brews – and the good news is, with the right machine, you don’t even need to leave home to create the same deliciousness.
In this guide we’ll tell you all you need to know about what a steam wand is and how you can use one to create cappuccinos and lattes that will taste as good (and as light and smooth) as they look.
In the simplest possible terms, a steam wand forces steam into milk, aerating and warming it, and in the process creating a smooth, often shiny micro-foam.
The best way to do this is by placing milk in a stainless-steel milk pitcher and holding the pitcher under the wand. The pitcher is designed to be the ideal depth and shape for a steam wand, no matter what machine you’re using.
When using a steam wand, you’ll quickly realise you can control how frothy you want to make the foam. This can be done by altering how far under the surface of the milk you hold the wand, how much you move the pitcher while steaming, and how long you steam the milk for.
Be aware that steaming for too long can overheat the milk, leaving your coffee with a slightly bitter, burnt taste.
Using an automatic steam wand will help you create the perfect frothed milk for the style of coffee you prefer.
Nespresso coffee machines with steam wands
The machines of Nespresso’s Creatista range each feature an in-built steam wand.
These include the Creatista Pro, the Creatista Plus and the Creatista Uno, and the new Vertuo Creatista.
The automatic steam wand for the Creatista Pro offers 11 milk temperature settings and eight texture levels for froth. That means you can pour perfect cappuccinos, lattes, and flat whites any time you like – and you may even want to add a flourish with a little bit of coffee art, too.
You can also adjust the settings to customise your coffees just the way you like them.
And if you’re desperate for your coffee – and let’s face it, who isn’t? – and have little time to wait, you can rely on the Creatista Pro to heat up in only three seconds.
It’s a similar story with the Creatista Plus, which also offers 11 milk settings and eight froth levels. You can easily clean the steam wand on this machine, too, thanks to a fast automatic purge after every use.
The Creatista Uno is also a highly innovative and efficient machine that produces gorgeously rich, smooth coffee, offering three coffee selections and three milk temperature settings.
And our newest addition to the Creatista range, the Vertuo Creatista, delivers the ultimate barista experience at home for the Vertuo system. Offering 7 cup sizes and automatic milk texturing, the Vertuo Creatista offers three adjustable milk temperature settings and three texture settings to create the perfect milk for every type of coffee – for a perfectly consistent cup, time after time.
That means you’ll still be able to add that all-important barista touch to your home-made coffee.
7 easy steps to using a Nespresso milk steamer wand
As you would expect, using the steam wand on a Nespresso machine is simple and straightforward, while the results will elevate your brew to café-style quality coffee, no barista required.
Here is a step-by-step guide to using the steam wand with the Creatista Pro and Vertuo Creatista.
- Fill the stainless steel milk jug with enough cold milk to suit the style of coffee you want to make.
- Lift the steam wand and place it in the centre of the milk jug.
- Place the milk jug on the machine, ensuring it’s touching the temperature sensor on the drip tray.
- Open the machine lever and insert your capsule.
- After coffee extraction has finished, touch the button to start the automatic milk frothing.
- When the machine has finished frothing the milk, remove your milk jug and wipe clean the steam wand with a clean damp cloth.
- When the steam wand is in its ‘down’ position again, it will begin auto rinsing.
- Swirl your milk in the milk jug, pour your milk into the extracted coffee, and enjoy.
Best types of milk for frothing
You can use just about any milk to create a frothy coffee, from cow’s milk to almond. But there is only one that will produce that quintessential, glossy white micro-foam that screams pro barista: full fat cow’s milk.
This is because whole milk contains higher levels of casein, a protein that will give the bubbles you create a much more integral structure than you’re likely to get from other forms of milk.
If you’re using semi-skimmed or skimmed milk, you won’t get quite the same firm structure, as the bubbles formed by the steam wand will be larger and less stable.
For those opting for dairy-free options, the likes of soy, almond and oat milk will all offer good frothing options, though they may not hold their froth for as long as dairy milk.
How to clean the steam wand
A steam wand on a Nespresso machine should be cleaned every time you use it.
First of all, you should wipe it down with a clean, damp cloth straight after use – being careful not to scald yourself.
Once that’s done, return the steam wand to its down position and it will conduct an automatic purge of any milk still in the wand.
The display on the Creatista range machines will also tell you when you need to give your steam wand a thorough clean. You can do this at the touch of a button: it will take about 10 minutes.
