Opinions on stovetop espresso makers?

[planet]

Anyone have a comment on this?
http://www.espressozone.com/7790.html

[Momo]

Re: Opinions on stovetop espresso makers?

When I lived in Seattle, my friends always used the kind like *Lily* posted. It seemed to do the job! I take it the one you(planet) posted allows for pressurized steam from the stem thingy to froth milk?
ETA OK so I just looked at the comments for the one you posted it says
" cappuccino maker."

[planet]

Re: Opinions on stovetop espresso makers?

They can just call it that since it froths milk. But that is what I am looking for, something cheaper that steams milk.

[Momo]

Re: Opinions on stovetop espresso makers?

Janet if you are wanting something to froth milk, I use this all of the time!
I heat milk in mocrowave or stove top then whip it up w/ this...it works great, for cocoa and cappuccino!!

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10076320

[alison]

Re: Opinions on stovetop espresso makers?

You can microwave milk and use a handheld like this to froth it.
http://www.espressozone.com/3867.html

ETA: Yup, what she said.

[Momo]

Re: Opinions on stovetop espresso makers?

notice the HUGE price difference!

[alison]

Re: Opinions on stovetop espresso makers?

notice the HUGE price difference!

They vary in price, that's for sure. The Ikea one should work just as well.

[Momo]

Re: Opinions on stovetop espresso makers?

I have had my Ikea one for over 3 years now.
For only 1.95 you can easily afford to replace it!
BTW we have 2 battery chargers and only use rechargables in just about everything!

[houseelf]

Re: Opinions on stovetop espresso makers?

Pardon me, I just have to butt in this conversations with a completely tangential and most unhelpful comment: Cincinnati is getting an IKEA this Spring! Yeah me! Oh yeah! Oh yeah! Who's your mama?

O.K. sorry for the juvenile and selfish interruption. IKEA makes me swoon. Carry on.

Kelly

Re: Opinions on stovetop espresso makers?

I was all excited to get Ikea here and then went and got a migraine from the lighting and feeling like a rat in a maze. But don't let me snuff out your joy. :>

Janet, I JUST walked past that frother deal when I got reusable bags for Jenn P. If only I had known! Do you live near an Ikea?

I've never used one of the frothers before. I have a espresso machine and steamer. Does it really make it like steamed milk or just frothy? I have a theory about steamed (or stove heated) versus microwaved milk but I'm sure it is just my inner food snob. I think microwaved milk tastes funny.

[Stella]

Re: Opinions on stovetop espresso makers?

I have the exact things Lily and Suz posted.

[alison]

Re: Opinions on stovetop espresso makers?

Nellie, it just froths up the milk. It doesn't steam it.
I agree, milk doesn't taste the same when it's heated up in the microwave. Nor does it taste the same when you try to make a latte with nonfat milk. Whole milk or 2% all the way, baby.

[Momo]

Re: Opinions on stovetop espresso makers?

Whole milk or 2% all the way, baby.

mmmhmm!

Re: Opinions on stovetop espresso makers?

I tried to look up on the internet why microwaved milk would taste difference. Besides the possible reason of my sanity. I didn't find an answer for that but I did see that nonfat milk froths better in terms of volume -- something about the protein.

Wait...oh yay! I'm not the only one who thinks this:

Why does the milk seem to get better (ie, sweeter), when you steam it? Is it a change in the chemistry? The incorporation of air? Both?

From: http://coffeegeek.com/guides/frothingguide/milk

I don't know if it answers steaming versus microwave but that at least explains why I don't like iced lattes.

I have a sort of loathing of microwaves. I think it stems to one (or one hundred) too many lunches heated in an office microwave. Blech. Then we switched to a tea kettle for coffee and tea and I SWEAR it heats better than a microwave. Maybe it is more even heat? I don't know.

[alison]

Re: Opinions on stovetop espresso makers?

I don't like microwaves. I'll even wait the 25 minutes for my Lean Cuisines, if it means not having to heat it in the microwave.