We've all become fans of the velvety texture and natural sweetness of coffee at coffee shops and get disappointed when homemade coffee doesn't taste like that. However, it's not just about the coffee, it's the milk that's making the difference. The milk has to be steamed to perfection to give that flavor. Several coffee recipes like Espresso Macchiato, Cappuccino, Caffé Latté, etc. recipes call for addition of steamed milk in them. The addition of steamed milk is what makes all the difference in terms of flavor. Steamed milk always tastes better and sweeter than milk heated by any other method. A cup of coffee prepared with freshly prepared steamed milk is something we all definitely need after a long day of work. Today, we have several kinds of milk steamers available in the market that can be bought and used to prepare that perfect cup of coffee! Milk Steamers Milk steaming works on two basic concepts: stretching and spinning and the milk steamers manufactured work on these two principles. During stretching, the air from the steam wand is introduced into the milk. This air will increase the volume. Moreover, during spinning, the steamed milk is whipped into the desired consistency. Spinning is what is responsible for that lovely velvety texture that we are so fond of in the coffee we get at coffee shops. Milk steamers are used to steam or froth the milk to a certain level by applying a certain combination of heat and pressure. The aim is to form delicious foamed milk that can be added to cappuccinos and creamy lattes. These steamers or frothers are perfect kitchen appliances to get perfectly steamed and frothy milk. There are different kinds and styles of milk steamer machines such as electric milk steamer, milk steamers for coffee, etc. available in the stores. How to Steam Milk Using a Steam Wand A steam wand is a device that ejects steam to froth the milk. The tip of the wand is dipped into the milk, after which the milk is stretched and spun, so as to give perfect frothy milk for a cup of refreshing coffee. To steam milk take a stainless steel pitcher and place it into the refrigerator. Also place some skimmed milk into the refrigerator and allow it to become as cold as possible. Once both the pitcher and the skimmed milk is really cold (remember the colder the better). Pour the milk into the cold pitcher. Since the froth produced will need space, only fill the pitcher halfway with milk. Now place the tip of the steam wand into the milk and turn on the power. Gradually allow ¼ to ½ inch of the tip of the steam wand to be immersed into the milk. Fluffy foam will be formed in the milk. Remember, you are to just steam the milk and not boil it, as boiled milk tastes burned and burned milk tastes awful! To know when the milk is done, touch the sides of the pitcher. If the pitcher is warm enough, it is ready to be used for preparing coffee. Moreover, do not lift your steam wand above the surface of the milk, because it can cause the milk to spurt around. Always keep it just below the milk surface to obtain great tasting, fluffy and frothy steamed milk. Cleaning a steam wand can be irksome, because the tiny holes in the wand tend to get clogged up. To get rid of the blockage, after cleaning the wand with a cloth, allow some steam to escape from the wand for some seconds. Next, close the steam valve and wait for a few seconds. Take some cold water in a jug and immerse 2-3 inches of the steam wand into the cold water. Then allow the wand to spit out the cold water. All solid milk particles and other residues that were stuck will come off and the next time you use the steam wand, it will give off more steam. While selecting your milk steamer, make sure it can be conveniently handled and cleaned. Owning a milk steamer is a blessing to coffee lovers. They can quickly prepare their favorite beverage in the perfect manner possible and have it in the comforts of their homes itself.