How to Steam Milk at Home
Steamed milk is crucial to many popular coffee beverages, but most people write this task off to coffee shop baristas, however, lucky for you, steaming milk can be accomplished from home! With proper tools and a bit of practice, you can be the next barista on your street without relying on your local cafe to supply your daily dose of cappuccinos.
Not to be confused with milk frothing, steaming milk is the necessary addition to popular drinks such as lattes, flat whites, or cappuccinos. While this is an attainable feat, it will take following some strict guidelines to perfectly execute, so we have a simple step by step guide to help ease the process:
1. Acquire the right tools.
Making steamed milk at home requires some specific tools to accomplish, so if this is something you are wanting to learn, you will need to invest in equipment. Your main tools to buy are a milk jug and an espresso machine. It is a much easier task if the espresso machine comes with a wand.
2. Select the type of drink and milk
Depending on your drink choice, the way you steam the milk will look very different. The goal is to create a microfoam also known as small bubbles in the milk compared to frothed milk that creates large bubbles and looks like a foam that sits on top of the drink.
Choosing the right type of milk can also make it break it for your coffee beverage. Fresh 2% milk does the best when steaming. The closer the milk is to expiring, the less it will steam correctly. For lactose intolerant coffee drinkers or vegan coffee drinkers, you can use milk substitutes, but be mindful of the difference in temperatures and heating abilities, so you may need to research each type separately.
3. Start the Process
Now that you have all your supplies and equipment, you can begin! Grab the milk jug and fill it with a bit of milk but not too much to allow for expansion. Push the steam wand into the milk jug slowly, not going beyond the tip of the milk line. This is called milk stretching and is the hissing sounds that you may have heard at coffee shops. This process is quick, about 5 seconds.
Move the wand a bit lower. This should create a whirlpool if you tilt the jug correctly. This will mix the air from the top of the milk into the rest of the milk. Wait for the milk to hit 104 degrees Fahrenheit. This may take time to learn, so be patient with yourself. It will be too hot to touch. Pour the steamed milk over your coffee and enjoy!
Other Methods
If you do not have an espresso machine with a wand attached, there are other methods to attempt to create the steamed milk beverage. Each has less success than using a wand, but can be attempted and mastered as well.
Microwave
Grab a mason jar or something similar and fill it with milk. Shake thoroughly until it turns into a froth. Take the lid off and heat the milk in the microwave. This may take a few times to perfect how long to set on the microwave. When you do find the perfect time, the milk will set and viola! Scoop out the milk onto your coffee and you are ready to drink.
French Press
Add heated milk to the french press. Be sure to add the correct measurements for the specific french press. The milk should sit above the lowest point of the french press pump. Begin pumping until a froth begins to form. Scoop out the milk onto your coffee for a steamed milk beverage!
Saucepan
If you are really low on supplies, try a saucepan and balloon whisk. Place the saucepan on a stovetop with a bit of milk inside. As the milk heats up, whisk thoroughly to create a froth. Remove the saucepan from the stovetop to cool and pour the steamed milk over your coffee.
Milk Frother
Milk frothers are surprisingly affordable and an extremely useful tool to have on hand. Simply set the frother down into a glass of hot milk, turn on the frother and in seconds, your milk is steamed and ready to pour over your coffee drink. There are more expensive versions that are a bit more complicated, so experiment and research which fits you the best.
Final Thoughts
Learning how to steam milk at home takes time and practice, so don’t give up if it doesn’t work out the first few times. Those baristas didn’t pick it up overnight either. When you do finally master it, however, you will have a fun gift to show off to all of your friends and family, not to mention save loads of money switching to home coffee rather than drive through coffee runs.
Read up on other steamed milk beverages to change up your everyday drinks. Once you have mastered steamed milk, you can learn other milk methods such as frothing and milk designs. So grab your tools and get to practicing. Happy steaming!
