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Topic: Microfoaming Soymilk (Possible?) (18 msgs / 534 lines)
1) From: Mark Tosiello
Hi,
Since I can't have dairy, I'm wondering if any of you have experience in
doing good soymilk steaming.  For me, it seems that soymilk, while I
wouldn't expect it to steam like dairy milk, I find it is VERY touchy and
variable.  I used to make my own, before my Espresso addiction, but now I'm
using Silk.  I AM planning to start making my own again, and have the
appropriate equipment coming.
Have any of you developed techniques?  I have the EPNW 30deg dual hole steam
want tip on my Tea, and a 20oz straight sided spouted stainless steel
frothing pitcher.  Using the same technique as I do for dairy (which
produces good to very good microfoam), I wind up with a very thin layer of
"good" foam, some sea foam, and mostly hot milk.
I do think that the age of the soymilk has something to do with it...we'll
see with the homemade stuff.
Any help out there?  Using the EPNW tip vertically in the pitcher seems to
help.
Mark
-------
If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first...Invent the
Universe
                                             -Dr. Carl E. Sagan
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Anti-Virus.

2) From: Mark Tosiello
Hi,
Since I can't have dairy, I'm wondering if any of you have experience in
doing good soymilk steaming.  For me, it seems that soymilk, while I
wouldn't expect it to steam like dairy milk, I find it is VERY touchy and
variable.  I used to make my own, before my Espresso addiction, but now I'm
using Silk.  I AM planning to start making my own again, and have the
appropriate equipment coming.
Have any of you developed techniques?  I have the EPNW 30deg dual hole steam
want tip on my Tea, and a 20oz straight sided spouted stainless steel
frothing pitcher.  Using the same technique as I do for dairy (which
produces good to very good microfoam), I wind up with a very thin layer of
"good" foam, some sea foam, and mostly hot milk.
I do think that the age of the soymilk has something to do with it...we'll
see with the homemade stuff.
Any help out there?  Using the EPNW tip vertically in the pitcher seems to
help.
Mark
-------
If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first...Invent the
Universe
                                             -Dr. Carl E. Sagan
All outgoing E-Mail from this address is scanned for viruses by AVG
Anti-Virus.

3) From: Jeffrey A. Bertoia
Mark
I noticed that no one responded to this.  Our Soy Milk expert, Wandering 
John is ill.  I don't know if
anyone else can help.  I have steamed store bought soy milk a couple of 
times and never had a problem.
You can search the arhives, I know John has posted many times about soy.
jeff
Mark Tosiello wrote:
<Snip>

4) From: GHHOLT
In a message dated 8/5/2004 7:17:16 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
coffee writes:
Any help out there?  Using the EPNW tip vertically in the pitcher seems to
<Snip>
You might want to check this thread; there are several others on the subject 
if you search the site.
Georgehttp://www.coffeegeek.com/forums/espresso/general/61065

5) From: Gregg Talton
Mark,
I've steamed it a few times but haven't tried lately.  I don't recall
having a problem.  I just may have to go get some Silk and try again.
Gregg

6) From: Clifton Burkett
Hmmm, I have never tried soy, but I have some fairly fresh unopened =
"Eden
Soy Extra" in the fridge and I'll have a go at it and let you know how I =
do.
I'll give it a test tomorrow with the Solis-5K and the Giotto. Major
thunderstorms here in Brevard County and both the Giotto and Solis have =
been
unplugged for the night. 
I will have to check and see what the ratio of fat to protein is in the
various blends of soy next time I'm at the store. May be you have to =
change
the time you stretch it in relation to the amount of fat in the blend. =
Be
interesting to chart! 
Clif - SomeWhere in Florida with 
Odie the Corgi and  Garfield the Tabby

7) From: Chris Tacy
it's much harder to get good microfoam from soymilk in general, but it is
possible.
i found that the unpasteurized soymilks were easier to use.
in addition, you need to make sure to avoid overstretching - soymilk is even
more sensitive to this than skim milk.
finally, i found that the soymilk once in microfoam form was much less
stable than regular milk. as a result, i always stopped steaming at a lower
temp, and timed it so that the steaming was complete as close as possible to
when the shot finished.
good luck.
-c

8) From: Mark Tosiello
Hi,
Thanks for the reply.  As others have suggested, I'm going to try to stretch
less...go to a lower temp and so forth.  I've just purchased a soymilk maker
anyway, so I'll probably use that.  I understand that some folks get better
results with their own soymilk anyway.
Mark
-------
If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first...Invent the
Universe
                                             -Dr. Carl E. Sagan
All outgoing E-Mail from this address is scanned for viruses by AVG
Anti-Virus.

9) From: Mark Tosiello
Chris,
Thanks very much for all of the information, it completely agrees with what
I'm hearing.  I have just started (again) making my own soymilk, this time
with a new soymilk maker, so I will be using that.  I may make a batch of
double rich milk to try to make it close as possible to regular milk....What
temp do YOU take it to?
Mark
-------
If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first...Invent the
Universe
                                             -Dr. Carl E. Sagan
All outgoing E-Mail from this address is scanned for viruses by AVG
Anti-Virus.

10) From: Chris Tacy
i don't use a thermometer, so it's hard to say.
i stretch to a little below what i stretch skim to, and steam to a little
more below skim.
sorry - i know that's not helpful.
-c

11) From: Gene Smith
<Snip>
Please Chris, for the sake of the ignorant (namely me) could you please
explain what "stretch" and "steam" mean in this context?  My assumption
would be that "stretch" would be when you are increasing volume, and "steam"
would be when you are just raising temperature.  Is this correct?
Gene Smith
riding the wild learning curve, in Houston

12) From: GHHOLT
In a message dated 8/6/2004 3:47:54 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
gene writes:
Please Chris, for the sake of the ignorant (namely me) could you please
explain what "stretch" and "steam" mean in this context?  My assumption
would be that "stretch" would be when you are increasing volume, and "steam"
would be when you are just raising temperature.  Is this correct?
This may help
Georgehttp://www.coffeegeek.com/guides/frothingguide

13) From: Chris Tacy
d'oh
sorry - i should have been more clear
you are absolutely correct. by "stretch" i mean the initial period where air
is being incorporated into the liquid (milk, soy milk, whatever) and by
"steam" i mean the second period, where the liquid (now with air) is being
brought up to desired temp.
-c

14) From: John Blumel
On Aug 6, 2004, at 4:34pm, Chris Tacy wrote:
<Snip>
It should be noted that another, and perhaps more important, purpose 
the 'steaming' phase is to break up and distribute the air bubbles 
introduced into the liquid during the 'stretching' phase. That's why 
it's particularly important to get a good agitation in the liquid, 
rather than simply sinking the steam wand tip into for heating. This 
steaming phase is just as important as the stretching for producing 
good microfoam.
John Blumel

15) From: Bill Doman
You might want to take a look at this:http://www.quiknet.com/~frcn/Coffee/Coffee28.htmlBill  
<Snip>

16) From: Chris Tacy
good point.
and on that point -- with soy it is critical to not have the agitation
become too violent during this phase. you want a nice circular swirl, but
not a wild whirlpool.
-c

17) From: Mark Tosiello
Hi,
All excellent points which have helped me VERY much.  I have been brewing up
soymilk like crazy with my new maker and really nice beans, and I have been
able to consistently create real microfoam...albeit not AS MUCH as with
regular milk.  It works, it seems to me, at least as well as 2%.  Anyway,
I've been brewing a double rich batch (using the soymilk brewed from the
first batch as the "water" for the second batch of beans) and it really has
made a HUGE difference.....and of course, it's about $5 cheaper per
gallon!!!
Mark
-------
If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first...Invent the
Universe
                                             -Dr. Carl E. Sagan
All outgoing E-Mail from this address is scanned for viruses by AVG
Anti-Virus.

18) From: Mark Tosiello
Hi Bill,
Yes I had seen that...thanks!
Mark
-------
If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first...Invent the
Universe
                                             -Dr. Carl E. Sagan
All outgoing E-Mail from this address is scanned for viruses by AVG
Anti-Virus.


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