Why your cappuccino is lukewarm at home – and how to fix it with your Sage Touch
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Why Your Cappuccino Turns Lukewarm – and What to Do About It (for Sage Touch Users)
Is your cappuccino deliciously hot at your local espresso bar, but suddenly lukewarm at home? You're not alone. Especially with machines like the Sage Touch , which are known for their ease of use, some temperature issues can arise during milk frothing. But don't worry: it's not the machine, but the technology—and you can master it in no time with a few handy tips!
What's the problem?
A student asked me:
During your workshop, the cappuccino was warm, but at home—with our Sage Touch—the milk is suddenly lukewarm. Especially when frothing manually, the milk seems too watery and airy. What are we doing wrong?
A recognizable problem, and fortunately easy to solve!
1. Let the steam get going first
Many espresso machines, like the Sage Touch, release some condensation from the steam wand before the steam reaches full strength. If you start frothing immediately, that water will end up in your milk, resulting in a lukewarm cappuccino.
Tip:
Use a cleaning cloth to wrap around the steam wand, turn on the steam briefly to drain the water, and only then start frothing.
👉 Handy: our microfiber cleaning cloths are perfect for this – heat-resistant and reusable.
2. Pay attention to the foaming process: air + temperature = balance
Is your milk volume still doubling? Then you're probably steaming the surface for too long. This adds too much air, resulting in "XL cappuccino foam"—airy, but too cool.
Here's how to do it right:
- Stay on the surface only briefly (the “slurping sound” phase).
- Once you see a slight rotating movement in the milk, push the steam pipe a little deeper.
- Hold your free hand around the milk jug—once it gets too hot to hold, you're at around 65-70°C. Perfect temperature!
👉 A good milk jug helps you to feel this more precisely and prevents the milk from becoming too cold.
3. Clean and powerful steam: don't forget your steam pipe
A clogged or dirty steam pipe produces less power. This results in weak steam and therefore soggy milk. Therefore, clean your steam pipe regularly with a steam pipe cleaner to maintain optimal steam power.
👉 Our steam pipe cleaners make this job super simple and extend the lifespan of your appliance.
In summary:
✅ Let the steam run first
✅ Add air before body temperature
✅ Feel the temperature through the milk jug
✅ Clean your steam pipe regularly
With these tips, you can serve cappuccinos at home that are just as hot (and delicious!) as they were during the workshop.
💡 Any questions about your Sage Touch or frothing milk in general? Let us know or attend a barista workshop for even more tips & tricks!
Want to complete your barista setup? Then also check out our:
This way you keep your cappuccino warm and your machine in top condition.
