Thermometers

Professional baristas use stick and label thermometers to take the guesswork out of milk frothing, their aim being to reproduce velvety-textured delicious foam over and over again. Successfully stretching and steaming milk can only be achieved by mastering three things - temperature, time and using the right milk for the job.

The clear winners from the multi-year growth in coffee in the out of home market are cappuccino and latte. Getting the temperature right for the milk is key because profoundly affects both the taste and texture of the foam. If it’s too hot, the milk can boil, changing its flavour profile from naturally sweet to more bitter. Thermometers assist in making sure your cappuccino, latte, flat white or café mocha will not be too hot or cold ever again.

Skilled, experienced baristas are able to determine when a pitcher of milk has reached the correct temperature, but many outlets have more than one barista and staff turnover can be an issue. Therefore two lattes in the same coffee shop can taste very different unless the espresso brewing and milk foaming processes are controlled and regularly monitored. The optimum milk frothing temperature is between 60℃ and 70℃, and the only precise way for baristas to ensure they are hitting this range consistently is by using a thermometer.

A range of thermometers designed especially for baristas

The Yagua Liquid Crystal Label Thermometer is the best selling product in the range. It's popular because it is so easy to use, just fix it to the side of the frothing jug and wait for it to turn red instantly when the correct temperature is reached. A crystal on the label will also show baristas when it is too hot. They are great value for money and dishwasher safe for up to one year.

Also available are Espresso Gear’s Attento Liquid Crystal Label Thermometer and a choice of stick thermometers from barista favourites Motta, Tiamo, and Crema Pro. These all have froth zone indicators and the stick thermometers are supplied with clips to fix to milk pitchers, available with varying stem sizes to fit different sized jugs and in different colours to aid milk identification.

Buy thermometers now from Jaguar Espresso today, simply log in to your account, place your order and hit the right milk temperature time and again!