By the way...If you're in the UK, and you're thinking of buying a Sage machine (any Sage machine, not only their coffee machines), join my mailing list at coffeeblog.co.uk and then drop me an email to see if I have a current discount code to share. I don't currently get Breville discounts, sorry, but I do sometimes have Sage Appliances UK discount codes to share. Ta Kev

Oh Kevin, you have no idea how much you've already helped me navigate my way through my first espresso adventures. I found a cheap Bambino Plus to use as my first machine and you've tought me way more than either the manual or Reddit did. Thank you for your videos and for sharing your knowledge! Also your videos are so upbeat, they give me energy to go on after yet another mediocre espresso shot haha

@Coffee_Kev

2 жыл бұрын

That's extremely nice of you to say, thanks :-).

Great informative video, as always.

@Coffee_Kev

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks John :-)

Great video. Cheers Kev.

@Coffee_Kev

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks :-) 👍

Great video! Thank you very much! 😊

@Coffee_Kev

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Petr :-)

Hi Kev love the videos mate, thank you for being an inspiration. Just wondering if you can link to your espresso shot glass and also the flat white cup as the look great and just the right volume for what I need!

Great videos kev! 😊

@Coffee_Kev

Жыл бұрын

Thank You Fathema :-)

Great video! Keep it up!

@Coffee_Kev

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you Alexandru

Thanks for this, I actually quite like to vary the amount of foam usually starting the day with very little and heading towards cappuccino later in the day because the smooth foam feels like a pudding.

Truly a skilled barista…

Excellent video Kev! It's great to see the "wrong ways" to steam milk followed by the right way. I think this video has taught me where I'm going wrong. Thank you!

@Coffee_Kev

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the kind words :-), I'm glad it helped! Cheers :-)

@drpeppers05

2 жыл бұрын

@@Coffee_Kev I have a portafilter like you are using here,but my coffee doesn’t come out like yours,It sprays all over the kitchen from the top of the spouts! Any idea what I’m doing wrong?

Nice video and videos

Hi Kev, another really useful and instructive video. I see that you're using a "proper" portafilter. Is it from one of the up-market Sage machines - or is there a third party who's now supplying them? I'm really looking to replace the original which came with my Bambino Plus. Keep up the good work!

@Coffee_Kev

Жыл бұрын

Cheers Jon :-). Yeah, I'm using the one from the barista express / barista pro, you can buy them from Sage, there are third party portafilters too, wooden handled, bottomless etc.

Great video again. Was wondering how to obtain the 4 hole steam tip for the sage?

@Coffee_Kev

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Chris :-). Sure, breville.oie8.net/EaEeDQ

Hi Kev, useful video that. Seen as you mentioned Lance Hedrick’s videos, I thought that one of his best tips for judging how much texturing/stretching of the milk was just right was to stop when the milk reaches just above body temperature (i.e. 37C), based on feel from the side of the jug, and then lower the tip whilst keeping swirling to finish heating. Made a big difference to my efforts, as I’d been over stretching for too long and kept getting foam separating out on the top. You didn’t mention any espresso quantities in your video. I appreciate it varies, but I’m guessing a ‘typical’ flat white these days would use a double shot based on at least 18-20g of coffee, so say 36-40g of espresso for a 5-6Oz cup ?

@Coffee_Kev

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Stephen, yeah that's definitely a good tip but it does depend on the machine. On the Sage dual boiler stopping stretching when the milk reaches just above body temperature definitely works well, and on most other higher-end machines, but what I have found using some of the lesser-powered machines including thermoblock machines, is that the stretching phase often takes longer and the milk tends to be quite a bit hotter when suitably stretched than on higher powered machines. Cheers, Kev

Informative, thanks! Do you have a link for the bellows on the your grinder?

@Coffee_Kev

2 жыл бұрын

Cheers Vince. Yeah: tidd.ly/33y7kOd

Really useful video, thanks! Do you have a link to the milk jug that you use?

@Coffee_Kev

2 жыл бұрын

Hi, yeah this is the one: www.baristaspace.com/products/handle-free-milk-jug-gold-black-450ml - I like the jug but I don't like the fact that the press studs on the jacket rusted up within days... I've told them, I think they were looking at changing the material used for the studs. Cheers.

Great video, Kev! Thank you. Where did you get your single dose bellows for the eureka? Edit: Sorry, ignore the question. I just read further down the comments and found the answer.

@Coffee_Kev

11 ай бұрын

No problem Dave :-)

I agree completely with you about whole milk for flat whites. Incidentally, is that the standard portafilter that comes with the Bambino or is it a Sage upgrade?

@Coffee_Kev

2 жыл бұрын

Cheers Jon. This is the portafilter that comes with the Barista Pro & Barista Express breville.oie8.net/5ogV3 - I didn't even realize I'd picked up the wrong portafilter until you mentioned it, haha, I have various portafilters knocking about, but I definitely prefer the one that comes with the pro/express which has the proper splitter rather than the cheaper one that comes with the Bambino & bambino plus. Cheers.

Hi. I have just purchased the Sage Barista Express Impress. Do you know if you can buy a four hole steam nozzle tip for it ? The more holes the better steam, do you think? Thank you. 🙏🏻

Top vid. Again, very helpful. You have a similar accent to me. West Yorkshire?

@Coffee_Kev

Жыл бұрын

Macclesfield mate :-)

Great video Kev! Where did you get that dosing ring? I like it! Bye bye ;) Iris

@Coffee_Kev

2 жыл бұрын

Hi :-), here you go: tidd.ly/3up9idk Cheers, Kev.

Hi Kev thanks for this. I love drinking flat white and this is very useful. Just out of curiosity how much coffee you put into portafilter for 40g shot? Is that ratio I need to maintain? Also I see you are using a barista express portafilter (perhaps) not the standard bambino plus one. Could you tell me the reason? I have bambino plus but does barista express portafilter make any difference to espresso taste and quality? Thank v much

@Coffee_Kev

2 жыл бұрын

Hi :-). I usually find that when I'm dialed in well, with the sage 54mm baskets I'm usually at just a tad over 19g, so I'm aiming for about 38g of espresso out, for a 2-1 extraction. Re the portafilter, I actually did that by mistake ;-), but yeah I do prefer the one for the Barista machines, they just feel better, I don't think it'll make any difference whatsoever to the espresso quality, to be honest. Cheers, Kev.

Hi friend, I'm strongly considering the bambino (regular not plus) due to its price and ease of use for a beginner. I'd be upgrading the portafilter and going bottomless with a nice basket. Do you still recommend it? Would I be happy with it and a 1zpresso jmax for an entry setup to get my feet wet? I know I'll want to upgrade pretty quickly or eventually if I love it, but a 1500 plus setup isn't really somewhere I want to start with home espresso lol. I really love the videos! I've been binge watching anything I can find on espresso and especially the bambino!

@Coffee_Kev

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Cam :-). Yeah, I'd recommend it, as you say due to its price and beginner friendliness. With the 4 hole steam tip (breville.oie8.net/EaEeDQ) I prefer using this machine to the Bambino plus to be honest as the drip tray doesn't fill up nearly as quickly. Cheers Kev

@saleen12

2 жыл бұрын

@@Coffee_Kev thank you!

Awesome video. What pitcher did you use? Should I use a specific type of pitcher in order to achieve good latte art?

@Coffee_Kev

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks :-). I used this one: www.baristaspace.com/products/handle-free-milk-jug-gold-black-450ml but no you don't need a specific milk pitcher, I find this one quite comfortable to hold, vs one with a handle, the only problem with this one is that the press studs on the jacket rusted up within a week or so, but the jug is great.

@Boatsman99

2 жыл бұрын

@@Coffee_Kev Thank you so much! Keep bringing great videos.

@Coffee_Kev

2 жыл бұрын

@@Boatsman99 thanks :-)

Nice video. Did you change the tip of steam wand for another ?

@Coffee_Kev

Жыл бұрын

Thanks :-). Yeah I switched it part way through to the 4 hole tip from the bambino plus.

I would drink the shit out of that last cup. Looks perfect. New Zealand BTW :D

@Coffee_Kev

2 жыл бұрын

Haha, thanks :-)

@stephendixon8575

2 жыл бұрын

Did I miss something? I didn’t see you put any in …. (Sorry couldn’t resist 😉)

Hi Kev, At 5:45 you mention changing the steam wand tip to the 4 hole tip that comes with Bamino plus and Pro. Would the 4 hole tip fit on the new Breville Barista Express Impress? What are your thoughts on the 1 hole vs the 4 hole tip for milk microfoaming? Cheers.

@Coffee_Kev

Жыл бұрын

Hi Tim, Yes, the 4 hole tip will fit the Impress, The four hole tip allows more steam through making it slightly more powerful, I actually prefer the 4 hole tip but two hole tip makes it a bit easier to learn with. Cheers Kev

@adriand6477

6 ай бұрын

Is the four hole easier to clean the single hole has the indents that just get milk stuck in it... Pretty annoying.

Thank you for the video. I have bambino+, and my espresso doesn't look nice and think like yours. I've been using Lavazza espresso. Do you think it's the coffee that you are using or your machine? I still can't find the rich nutty flavors like in some good coffee shops 😞.

@Coffee_Kev

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Victoria. So you're using pre-ground coffee with the dual walled baskets? I'd highly recommend using freshly roasted coffee from a small batch roaster, and getting a grinder and grinding your own vs using pre-ground and the dual walled baskets. coffeeblog.co.uk/em coffeeblog.co.uk/sgp Cheers :-) Kev

@victoriagerrald8711

2 жыл бұрын

@@Coffee_Kev yes. Will do. Thank you

@mitchelcacciatore2832

2 жыл бұрын

@@Coffee_Kev what kind of basket? I'm kinda in the same boat. I use the smart grinder pro but my dual-walled basket gets plugged regularly

Is that a dark or light roast coffee? I buy some supposedly dark strong coffee beans from local roasters here in Australia and my coffee always looks and tastes too milky and don't get much coffee taste coming through. I generally do 18g in / 36g out.

@Coffee_Kev

Жыл бұрын

Hi Keith, I would usually use a bold, darker roasted espresso bean for milkies

Had to laugh about the origin of FW. Kiwis? . LoL.

If your going to the trouble of weight your coffee let’s say on the larger size 19 g then use the razor tool you mayas well not weigh in the first place ? Your thoughts Kev ?

@Coffee_Kev

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Jason, the main point of weighing the dose is so that you can aim for the desired ratio. So if after trimming you have 18g, you know that a 1:2 shot is 36g of espresso. If you mean no point in weighing before trimming, just weigh after - then yeah you're probably right there, but the only reason I do that is it tends to (sometimes, not always) give me a clue as to how well dialled in I am. If I know I've dosed and tamped just over 19g, and then the razor tool doesn't even touch the surface, I'm usually fairly confident I'm going to be too fine with the grind, and if the opposite is true and I trim loads more than expected, then I'll probably be too coarse with the grind. Sometimes though it doesn't work like this and confuses the heck out of me, but that's espresso for you ;-). Ta, Kev

@jasoncrook1

2 жыл бұрын

@@Coffee_Kev interesting theory on the grind using the razor I’ve never tried that , to be honest begin a 54mm portafilter I’ve never tried more than 17 g I’d assume you’d just choke the machine? Or am I wrong ? Im only a novice at this lol 😂 hopefully I’ll be a coffee bothere like you soon 🤘🏻😎🤘🏻

Definitely NZ

@Coffee_Kev

Жыл бұрын

Its a great grinder Paul :-)

Why do you rest your espresso jug on top of something on the scales while pulling your shot? is it to stop the vibrations in the drip tray?

@Coffee_Kev

Жыл бұрын

Just to raise the cup :-). Cheers, Kev.

@Leprekorn

Жыл бұрын

@@Coffee_Kev What benefit does that give?

@Coffee_Kev

Жыл бұрын

@@Leprekorn not much, mainly just prevents splashing.

what type of milk do you use? normal milk ue full fat suffice? i still can't gather my head around how you create the milk for the flat white? like do you keep the nozzle slightly out to allow some air in to create that paper noise for what 5 secs then submerge in slightly for another 10 seconds and stop?!!?

@Coffee_Kev

6 ай бұрын

Here are some tips taken from my Bambino Plus post: Quick Milk Steaming Tips Don't skimp on the milk. A common comment I get from readers who're having problems steaming milk manually is that they're trying to steam the exact amount of milk they're going to use for their coffee. You can do this up to a point, but if you're making very small milkies you'll probably struggle. I've heard from people who're making very small milkies such as espresso macchiato, trying to steam tiny volumes of milk, and this is very difficult to do, especially if you're trying to do it in a 500ml jug, for example. If you really do want to work on reducing milk wastage, then try getting hold of a much smaller milk jug. Time Everything. Fairly recently, I figured out this is the main key to consistent milk texture, timing the entire process. Start out with this guide, then make changes to get the texture perfect for you, always time what you're doing, and when you get it bang on, you can replicate it. Just keep in mind this is specific to the Bambino Plus, you'll need different timings for different machines. 5 second rolling phase. This is unorthodox and counterintuitive, but it works! Instead of trying to stretch the milk straight away, just angle the jug and focus on getting a vortex started in the first 5 seconds. 30-40 seconds of aeration. After this first rolling phase, drop the jug slightly but keep the angle, so you're starting to get a gentle hissing, or ripping paper sound, the sound of aeration. This is the tricky part, you want a gentle hiss, not a roar, and the second you get into that roaring aeration you're close to losing control of the texture. So just very gently lower the jug, stop when you hear the hissing, and just keep that gradual gentle hissing for approx 30 - 40 seconds (depending on how much milk you're steaming). 12-20 seconds warming time. Now lift the jug up just slightly, but keep the same angle to keep the milk rolling. We want to stop the hissing sound now, the aeration and we just want to distribute the microfoam while continuing to warm the milk. Start at 12 seconds and see how the final coffee temp is once you've poured, and then adjust this final stage accordingly to your temp preference. Stopping aeration when the jug is warm doesn't work. You'll find really experienced baristas on KZread telling you that you can simply stop aerating as soon as the jug reaches roughly the temperature of your hands. This works with some machines, but not all, and not with the Bambino Plus, from my experience. It depends on steam power. I find that when using the Sage Dual Boiler, for example, this advice works, usually if you stop aerating when the jug reaches the temperature of your hand, it's about right. With the Bambino Plus, though, and with most lesser-powered espresso machines, I usually find that if you stop aerating at this point, the milk is usually under stretched. Ta Kev

@12Gavv

6 ай бұрын

@@Coffee_Kev great thanj you! Sorry another thing when i made the coffee snd then prepare the milk i know when to stop its gets hot, not too long of a wait when i pour the milk into coffee , it ISNT hot hot more like lukewarm?! What wrong here tooo much milk added?? :S

Hi Kev do you have a current Sage discount code? Thanks

@Coffee_Kev

6 ай бұрын

Hi Adam, if you email me kev@coffeeblog.co.uk and put Sage Discount Code in the title I will send you a code :-)

Can we have aonther camera view from the top? All the details were blocked 😂

Would you like me to come over and empty that drip tray for you !? God, I'm not gonna sleep well tonight 😞

@Coffee_Kev

Жыл бұрын

Haha, good job I didn't do this with the bambino plus then! ;-)

2:20 ''foll fa' mil *K* "

@Coffee_Kev

Жыл бұрын

Full Fat Cows Milk ;-)

You spent more time telling us how NOT to make a flat white than how to make it correctly, and even then there was no information for the "beginner" as to what to look out for when aerating and heating the milk to make it a 'perfect' flat white. As a potentially educational video, this gets 0/10

@Coffee_Kev

Жыл бұрын

Hi Bob, Have a look at some of my other videos, There are lots of how to guides to help you. Check out the ghost steaming video:kzread.info/dash/bejne/ZZen0aRvcriWZ6Q.html, This will help you with your milk problems. Cheers Kev

*sigh* destroying the 'krema' of a flat white with milk designs? ruins the strong flavour. "flat = no foam", white = add milk to the espresso. apologies, but no way would i accept that kind of 'flat white' from any barista. rest of info was great. regards. ~m

@Coffee_Kev

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Michael, so what's your idea of a perfect flat white, how do you pour milk to espresso without disturbing the crema, just pour in one spot, i.e. macchiato? Cheers, Kev.

@stephendixon8575

2 жыл бұрын

Oh, I didn’t realise that if you sigh whilst pouring it destroys the crema (or the ‘krema’ as it’s apparently spelt in some parts of the World). Well, you learn something new every day I suppose. I’d always thought the strength of the coffee taste was all about the strength of the espresso shot (from the brew recipe) and the ratio of milk to espresso, but I’ll definitely experiment to see if adding or removing a pattern to the milk effects the flavour. What a good idea! If that’s where the term ‘flat white’ came from (i.e. just milk and no foam at all), it must have originated up in Yorkshire where we “don’t stand for any of that bloody ponsey foam nonsense!” (say that in a Barnsley accent) and we definitely don’t write sentences in the form of mathematical equations either.