How do I get perfectly steamed milk?

You've made your delicious cup of espresso, and now you want your milk steamed to perfection for drinks like latte, cappuccino or macchiato. Here's how...

You can use the handy steam wand on your Espresso Machine to create heated milk of just the right consistency. This makes it look, taste and feel much better to drink. By following the steps below, you can feel like an expert and achieve the results you want.

How to make steamed milk

1. Always start with cold milk and a cold pitcher
2. Submerge the tip of the steam wand below the surface of the milk in the milk pitcher and froth until the pitcher feels warm
3. Once you reach this point, lower the steam wand into the milk, tilting the pitcher to obtain a vortex in the milk, until the pitcher is almost too hot to hold
4. The result is steamed (hot) milk with a little bit of foam.

Want to create microfoam instead?
Please take a look at the related question for step-by-step guidance on how to make the perfect microfoam.