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Pitcher size

Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 1:04 am
by Xpresso
Hello...Im new to this forum and to the espresso world... I recently acquired a mini vivaldi and vario-w from CC and for the past week im having fun this is my very first espresso machine and grinder. Quick question about pitcher size. Im looking at the motta 12oz vs 16oz. What would be the size to get? I make 6 oz cap and 10 oz latte using the AFC classic shaped cups. Please let me know so i can put in my order. Looking forward to your reply. Thanks.

Re: Pitcher size

Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 6:44 am
by oton
I'd get both. The small to make one cappa or one latte. The bigger for two cappas or two lattes. An anyway, IMO, you need 2 pitchers when you serve 2 drinks with milk to mix well the milk (split method) steaming the milk in the big pitcher and then pouring part of the milk in the small pitcher.

I'd purchase the cheap pitchers that Chris sells. In my opinion Motta pitchers don't increase the milk quality. So for $33 you got a 12oz & 20oz pitcher, but of course it's up to you...

Re: Pitcher size

Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 8:11 pm
by Endo
Like tampers, pitchers are a personal thing. I use a simple $15 tapered bottom pitcher. For me it works much better than any other of the many pitchers I own (including motta imitation).

But if I was to start new, I would probably get this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Rattleware-20-Oun ... B0016CBMZI

I haven't tried it but the size, shape, handle, spout ....and price look perfect. As Oton says, you may want to buy both the 12oz and 20 oz size.

Re: Pitcher size

Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 10:13 pm
by MichaelS
Got this one from the wife for Christmas, and I LOVE it. Immediate improvement in all milk drinks across the board.
http://www.amazon.com/Rattleware-16-Oun ... 18&sr=1-57

michael

Re: Pitcher size

Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 10:17 pm
by Xpresso
Thanks for your input Oton and Endo...

When i bought my machine i just bought the cheap 12 oz pitcher from CC the spout is not as extended than the rattleware and i cant get a decent pour. Anyway i followed your advice and just bought a 12 and 20 oz RW pitcher... Lets see what happens.

Thanks again.

Re: Pitcher size

Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2012 9:39 am
by GDK
MichaelS wrote:Got this one from the wife for Christmas, and I LOVE it. Immediate improvement in all milk drinks across the board.
http://www.amazon.com/Rattleware-16-Oun ... 18&sr=1-57

michael
Do you use this 16oz pitcher for single or two lattes at a time? I find my 20oz Espro a bit too big for single, and my other 12oz pitcher too small for a single.

Re: Pitcher size

Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2012 3:57 pm
by Endo
This is the pitcher I use (only $13 actually).

http://www.precisiontamp.com/c=70JNgP9H ... tcher.html

Nothing much to look at, but you can easily fill it up with milk to the level where the taper transitions, and it is exactly the right amount for a single latte (about 6 oz of milk). The 45 degree angle of the pitcher sides at the bottom cause a toroid effect very similar to the Espro pitcher, but at a much lower cost.

Re: Pitcher size

Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2012 4:22 pm
by Louis
GDK wrote:Do you use this 16oz pitcher for single or two lattes at a time? I find my 20oz Espro a bit too big for single, and my other 12oz pitcher too small for a single.
I have a 12oz Espro for singles, which is perfecly sized for a cappucino size cup single (5,5 oz) and a 20oz Espro for making two drinks at a time. I really like both, but I cannot compare them easily with other ones.

Re: Pitcher size

Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2012 5:57 pm
by expy98
what's the trick for doing 2 5-6oz capps w/ the 20oz pitcher? I'm able to get good microfoam for the first cup
but the 2nd cup is less foamy, more liquidy, no matter how much I swirl the pitcher

I've tried using the 12oz pitcher and same results.

Of course, it's most consistent when I do them individually w/ the 12oz pitcher.

FWIW, I use the 4-hope 9mm tip. I started w/ the slower 2-hole but now prefer the 4-hole whether
I'm steaming for 1 or 2 capps. I also use Rattleware pitchers.

Re: Pitcher size

Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2012 7:55 pm
by oton
Split method. You need to pour part of the milk into a second pitcher. Make the first cappa with the contents of the first pitcher. For the second cappa, pour the second pitcher into the first, swirl and pour.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnXPXWGHwxY

I usually preheat the second pitcher with the steam wand to not lose temp, or better keep the pitcher in the warm tray.

Re: Pitcher size

Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 8:23 pm
by expy98
ah, neat trick. But I suppose for home use, it's not much slower so mind as well steam twice, it takes but 10-15 secs with the
4-hole tip per steaming.

Re: Pitcher size

Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2012 9:58 pm
by MichaelS
GDK wrote: Do you use this 16oz pitcher for single or two lattes at a time? I find my 20oz Espro a bit too big for single, and my other 12oz pitcher too small for a single.
I generally make an 18-20 oz drink with 2 luongo's so end up using 8 ish oz of milk. That pitcher is amazing and the foam quality literally shot up to respectable in one shot. It confirmed that the pitcher is very important to me (more than i had realized) and that I like a handle less pitcher - that rubber outer sleeve is much thicker than I thought and does an amazing job of keeping the warm contents from getting your hands too toasty.

Hope that adds some value, but bear in mind I am still climbing this mountain to the coffee guru at the summit. (and having one amazing time and experience doing it :)

michael