Why Does Milk Sometimes Not Froth/Foam for Coffee?

neil on 15/02/2016 - 16:05
Last edited 15/02/2016 - 16:06

Another coffee question.

  • I almost always use Coles Fresh Lite Milk. It's cheap and they sell it at the servo for $2.
  • I have a Nespresso Milk frother but recently got the Breville Milk Cafe (not my choice to buy but meh).
  • I make cappuccinos.

Most of the time, the frothing/foam works fine. Get a great amount of foam to make a coffee. However, sometimes I get nothing. I have usually put this down to our old milk frother not working right but as I've now acquired the Ferrari of milk frothers, I've had the same issue. No froth/foam. So it appears that the rare batch of milk doesn't foam.

Why would 9 out of 10 bottles of Coles Lite milk foam but not odd one out? The latest bottle tastes fine and has an expiry of Feb 25. I've read that some milks work better than others but surely the same milk should work the same? Has anyone else experienced this?

Food & Grocery Coffee Milk Frother

Comments

  • djones145 on 15/02/2016 - 16:13

    Why won’t my milk foam?
    Usually this is because the milk is too old. Fat will brake down in the milk and the free glycerol is working against the protein in the milk. Try to use your milk within 3 to 4 days.

    https://coffeeinfo.wordpress.com/does-all-milk-foam/

    best ask a baristas! they should know best

    • neil on 15/02/2016 - 16:17

      Got the milk on Saturday. Expires Feb 25 (10 days from now).

      EDIT: I should mention I've had foam on the day of/before milk expires.

  • mooboy on 15/02/2016 - 16:31
    -1

    I recall talking to baristas in past that it can depend on the season - during some season's milk tends to have less protein due to the cow's seasonal diet. (Don't ask me, I thought it was always just grass!)

    I know one barista said they like to use Farm House, as it has the extra cream, therefore extra protein, and froths more easily. However, personally I find it too sweet for coffee.

    I started to use A2 milk after reading about it being a favourite with many on coffee snobs, but no idea where that original post I read is. Can have a look here: http://coffeesnobs.com.au/milk-froth-bubbles/32041-what-milk…

    And yes, I realise the idea of buying A2 milk will be abhorrent to many ozbargainers!

    (P.S. In all this I am assuming you've got your technique down - and it's only the milk that is varying).

  • spackbace on 15/02/2016 - 16:36

    Ex-Barista by trade

    Have seen batches that just wouldn't froth, was a real PITA

    Story I heard was that it was diet related :)

    Oh, and Vitasoy does not froth!

    • ProjectZero on 16/02/2016 - 13:04
      +1

      I find that Vitasoy froths really nicely though… I'm not a barista but I do know the very basics of using a steam wand and I've always been able to froth Vitasoy nicely.

  • altomic on 15/02/2016 - 16:58
    +2

    Some sort of gypsy curse?!

  • [Deactivated] on 15/02/2016 - 17:10

    I can see you've had success with Lite milk but I'm wondering whether full fat milk will have a better success rate.

    I know that you can't whip low fat cream so I'm wondering whether Lite milk has the same sort of problem.

  • QuickToThePointless on 15/02/2016 - 18:42

    I too have had this problem a few times recently over past 3-4 months , i buy hilo and lite varieties usually as its best for coffee and i dont care whats on cereal

    I theorize that milk suppliers are watering down milk stocks to meet demand requirements and suit the profit/transport logistics of coles and woolies

    Seasonal diet variations dont seem to make sense as this is the first season its occurred

    Age of milk by the time it reaches the shelf may be an issue with regard to protein breakdown as mentioned above, but if thats the case, i would again reckon thats its to do with transport/profit logistics of the supermarkets.

    Dotn think you can do much about it, short of getting your own cow

  • minas01 on 15/02/2016 - 19:48
    +1

    I've found that the temperature of the milk that you're about to froth has a lot to do with it. The colder the better (within reason).

  • Randxyz123 on 16/02/2016 - 00:03

    Some batches just don't froth properly. I've had it as well.

    Make sure the milk is cold when you pour it in the frother that can sometimes help.

    • QuickToThePointless on 16/02/2016 - 02:12
      -1

      Hmmm so you too are advising to refrigerate the milk?

      • Clear on 16/02/2016 - 08:40

        Nah just freeze.

      • Randxyz123 on 16/02/2016 - 10:10

        Assuming you are being sarcastic….

        I'm advising to use cold milk for frothing. If it has been out for 30 mins and then only put back for 10 mins it will still be too warm.

  • supnigs super skids on 16/02/2016 - 08:48
    -1

    I would like to bring to your attention there are hundreds of thousands of lactating cows being sexually violated as a means to supply commercial quantities of milk.

    This happens daily! Sometimes the same cow is violated by the cold steel funnels several times a day. It is an unspeakable non consensual act where the cow is prodded out to the back and left standing - shedding a tear where no one cares what just happened.

    It is an absolute outrage this type of cruelty continues to occur within Australia.

    The warm milk you consume is a byproduct of the sexual violation of a cow!

    PLEASE CONSIDER ANIMAL WELFARE

    Now, the frothing has to do with the amount of fat/proteins in it. This is why water doesn't froth much at all

  • cDNA on 16/02/2016 - 13:19

    Don't use cheap milk.

    Dairy Farmers is quite good. The machine you're using also plays a role. The one you have has multiple demos on youtube. It probably has to do with your milk

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