A few things to keep in mind: 1. Both ours and Subminimal's angled wand technique work. This just happened to give us more consistent results and the 90C angle allows one to texture lower quantities of milk. Try both and see which one works for you. 2. During the 'Hold' phase, tweak the position and depth (note that these will be micro adjustments) so you create good circular motion in the milk. This will expedite the process of incorporating the bubbles into microfoam. 3. The little brush comes only with the Flowtip pitcher and not the Nanofoamer. 4. The button is quite hard to press which kind of annoying considering you have to keep this thing going for a min almost to complete texturing.
The light humour you include in these videos is great. Cool to see the improvements made between this version and your review of the newer version. Awesome video. Thanks!
I've been using it for 5 months now. I also use eneloop batteries (with a maha powerex charger), Ikea sells 2450mA batteries that are supposed to be the same. I hold it art and angle, like a steam-wand. I start in the middle, half-submerged for maximum 5 seconds. Then I move slightly to the side and a bit deeper, and focus on keeping a silent, deep vortex. If your vortex is noisy, you're still injecting air. It's a great tool, as is the flowtip jug!
Yup the angled technique is what Subminimal suggests but we found that a bit harder to get consistent results. Also, with our technique, since the screen is parallel to the surface of the milk, you can texture lower quantities of it without hitting the bottom.
@@aramse True, if your pitcher is filled below the 3rd line, it's definitely more difficult to get good results as your just slamming milk against the walls. I'll give the straight-angle-technique a go!
I used to texture milk in a French press. Most of the time, the milk texture would be a MISS. My mom broke my beloved French press yesterday (I love brewing coffee with my French press). So, I decided to give the NanoFoamer a go and purchased one yesterday! I'm an unemployed barista, and the only opportunity I ever got to practice lots of latte art was at the cafe I worked at. I still wanna practice latte art at home, but the French press isn't doing it for me. Thanks for making this review video! There's only a handful of reviews about the NanoFoamer online. It makes me feel more confident about my decision to purchase the NanoFoamer!
Great video. I've been thinking about getting one of these so I can make lattes and flat whites at home. I'm definitely going to get one even though it is a battery eater.
I have the V2 version and it foams nicely. Unfortunately the build quality has let it down. The motor doesn’t spin at full rpm unless I press against the main housing and then, over time, the shaft would start coming off as I used it. To Subminimal’s credit they sent a replacement shaft.
My superfine screen won't stay on either. Good to know that support will replace. My biggest issue is with the button, I lose strength quickly and it constantly stops. I hope it's automatic in the future
Yeah I'm surprised so many reviews don't mention the button. It's hands down the most annoying part of this device. If they just changed the button so it toggled on/off, I would be so happy.
For french press, it depends on the mesh (just like the fine and superfine nanofoamer screens). Two of my french presses are capable of delivering super smooth texture if you’re willing to plunge long enough. The texture is very similar to that achieved with the NanoFoamer. :)
Absolutely. We’ve tried a whole bunch of French Presses and with the right mesh it’s definitely capable of producing similar texture. What I meant was, we find it little harder to get repeatability and often end up with stickier foam, mainly due over aeration.
With the coffee maker French press I can plunge with the screen submerged mostly and get great nano foam! When it does get too tight to pull it's done. Consistency not bad that way. Whisks are ah... No. Great vid. Helps a lot. Cold milk of course gets thicker and stays. Double the screens and OMG! One more thing. A2 milk works best even with one screen.
I suggested that in my feedback on their site. An induction charger like the electric toothbrush ones would be ideal, but would obviously increase the price
How do you compare the subminimal milk pitcher to a regular milk pitcher, apart from the fact that you can heat it on the stove? Would you say it is a worthy investment given the pricing? Thanks.
It's a nice pitcher but nothing special. The flow tip also needs a bit of getting used to so you may just want to invest in a better known brand like WPM.
Thanks for the review, very insightful. I've recently got mine and I haven't completely got the hold of it yet, I'm sure your tutorial will help :) I agree with your build quality comment, it feels a little cheap. If I'm being very picky, I also found that the button felt a little hard to push while texturing the milk (nothing terrible but could be better)
I had been struggling a bit with this gizmo but found a hack that works! So, to incorporate air I use the French press like the traditional method. To create the microfoam out of that, just plunge the nanofoamer and jump to step 2. The result is really good microfoam in less time and using less battery power :)
How do you deal with milk temperature dropping during the frothing period when using a French press ? I have experienced multiple people complaining that the finished drink is not hot enough. This is amplified by the fact that Indians love their Tea and Filter Kaapi piping hot
That's a great question. If you do have the flow tip pitcher then heating the milk in that means you won't have the heat loss of transferring to another vessel. If not then you'd need to pre-heat your pitcher. Lastly, the cups you serve in need to be warm or they'll suck a lot of heat out of the drink.
Just found your channel, subscribed, and am really enjoying it. In addition to this review, I watched your review of the Bellman steamer. On balance, which would you recommend more highly?
With a little practice you can get great results with either. The Bellman is more efficient as it heats and textures simultaneously and also produces a light more airy texture. The Nanofoamer on the other hand is way more portable but the workflow is a little less efficient and foam is a bit heavier.
Very well done! Got my Nano yesterday, and am looking to learn before I start experiencing.. What would your recommendation be for the heat of the milk? Using a french press/frother previously, I recognise what you say about variable results, and I found the temp to be the most important factor there.
Try cold milk foam as well. Something not possible in espresso machine. Also, cold foam is far sweeter and I make “cold” capachino with it. I am concerned that this machine cannot handle cold milk that is far heavier than hot one. Also, not a fan of rubber part. Should have been silicone at least.
I’ve enjoyed my nanofoamer but the propeller on it broke after a few months. I have been pretty careful but is seems like the quality of the plastic they use is very cheap. The fact that the meshes are a consumable part also confirms my thought since it is likely due to the cheap plastic wearing out
Hey that's fair. Sorry for assuming this to be common knowledge. The milk just needs to be heated to 55 - 65C to get the best results both in terms of taste and texture.
useful video :) waiting for my nanofoamer. the only thing that worries me going forward is whether i'll manage to find time in the middle of my workday, to make an espresso on my flair pro2 and then using the foamer to make a nice cup. purely a self-inflicted problem :) Any suggestions on what beans are working for you for the flair (from Indian roasters) to make a balanced cup of espresso which makes a good cortado?
As for coffees that work well with the flair there are a bunch. From bloom roaster Venkids and Vin Van Gogh, QBF - Badanekan and bettadhakan, Blue Tokai - Organic rosewood, El Bueno - Crystal Valley. If you're interested we have a bespoke subscription service. You can check it out here: shop.aramse.coffee/
It’s actually very different. The Aerolatte spins a loose wire spiral, whereas the NanoFoamer uses an impeller to drive air through a fine screen. So you froth the milk and then push that froth through the screen to break up the bubbles into microfoam
Can both the fine and superfine achieve texture for latte art? Or only the superfine screen? Will oatmilk (such as oatly) takes longer time to do the texturing?
All well and good but these products (and this review) clearly omit the critical aspect of this process - heating the milk. Effectively hearting milk without burning it is where steam comes in to a space all on its own (all direct heat will burn/taint milk).
This is by no means a mean or rude thing but just a practical thought This product cost 3500 approx to buy in India and from my point of view 3500 rs for a 50 rs motor 30 rs battery and a propeller that can be 3D printed for less than 200 rs is a very steep price to ask
Hey Amey, this line of thinking is common but often very flawed. The phrase "The whole is greater than the sum of its parts" should sort of explain why. We often ignore the months or even years of R&D, marketing expense, die/mould costs, packaging design and material cost and shipping costs. While not perfect, this product fills a niche, looks appealing and works as advertised. You also can't compare the cost of a product from a small company to something that is mass produced.
@@aramse that is understandable that it take a lot of time and effort to develop a product that works flawlessly But I just want to highlight the fact that it's not a product that needs to be so pricy. it's very simple product just a spinning propeller attached to a shaft and a mesh screen attached. It shouldn't be that expensive ,a French press that has more utility costs 1500- 2000 rs. I am guessing the cost here are so high coz it's impoted from another country and most of it is going into the shipping and intermediate dealers pockets. I just want to point out as of this day it's not worth the steep cost at least not for a coffee enthusiasts who would get a similar latte from other methods than a nano foamer
Hey there, are you using the fine or superfine mesh? Try to reduce the "Stretch" time. I.e. move to the hold position quicker. That way you'll incorporate less air.
It actually comes down to technique. With a little bit of practice we found the NanoFoamer to be more consistent and repeatable. You can get a thick head for cappuccino or a nice thin one for a flat white. We found this harder to control and achieve with the FP.
@@donh1572 hey it absolutely will. It depends on the impeller depth and the amount of time you churn it fully submerged. It's quite a powerful motor that's more than capable of evenly distributing the micro evenly across the entire volume of milk. The fact that one can pour detailed latte art is proof that the milk is very well textured. We're not saying the FP can't do this, it can, we just found it easier to do with the nanofoamer.
@@aramse I’ve heard people say this all the time but they failed when demonstrating it. I have been making espresso for decades, I was excited to get the nanofoamer. But after two months I threw it out because it’s to much work and gives subpar results. Latte art is not a sign of good consistency. You can still make great latte art while the rest of the milk is thin
I'm guessing you don't actually own a Bellman steamer. I recommend that you try it out for yourself. Like all methods, it has drawbacks and getting a workflow down takes a couple tries. But once you are used to it, it's by far the best value way to get actual steamed milk. I found them pretty easy to get on the used market as well.
Incorrect guess, also not the point of the video tbh and if you listened we clearly say "our preference...". The bellman is very capable of producing well textured milk, we never said otherwise, it just wasn't for us. We found the workflow a bit cumbersome -- just bringing it up to pressure and using it straight away produced very wet steam that ruins texture. So we needed to bring it up to pressure, purge well, bring back up to pressure then steam the milk. This was just a lot of time and effort, esp first thing in the morning.
I have one and it sucks. The only thing you'll end up with is a sore thumb. I literally get no froth. The build quality is cheap and the design is awful.
Sore thumb - agreed Poor build - agreed No froth - we'll have to disagree here and I'm sure the several thousand videos and images of amazing latte art using this tool will back us up on this. You either have a faulty unit or your milk is off or your batteries are low or it's being used incorrectly.
This is probably the most well-made online video review (of ANY product) that I have ever seen. Thank you! Subscribed.
Hey thank you so much! That's really kind of you.
You addressed it all! Lovely review and thank you for the shoutout 🙏🏽😊!!!
Hey thanks for stopping by. Love your account btw.
A few things to keep in mind:
1. Both ours and Subminimal's angled wand technique work. This just happened to give us more consistent results and the 90C angle allows one to texture lower quantities of milk. Try both and see which one works for you.
2. During the 'Hold' phase, tweak the position and depth (note that these will be micro adjustments) so you create good circular motion in the milk. This will expedite the process of incorporating the bubbles into microfoam.
3. The little brush comes only with the Flowtip pitcher and not the Nanofoamer.
4. The button is quite hard to press which kind of annoying considering you have to keep this thing going for a min almost to complete texturing.
to follow up, the button does break in over time but by that point the muscle that you have developed in your button digit it will be very strong .
@@merP.-YT haha yeah our thumbs have biceps now!
Great video. Thank you for taking the time to review the product over a long period to see how it really performs.
The light humour you include in these videos is great. Cool to see the improvements made between this version and your review of the newer version.
Awesome video. Thanks!
Thanks for the honest and thorough review, mate... Best one I saw on this product.
I've been using it for 5 months now. I also use eneloop batteries (with a maha powerex charger), Ikea sells 2450mA batteries that are supposed to be the same. I hold it art and angle, like a steam-wand. I start in the middle, half-submerged for maximum 5 seconds. Then I move slightly to the side and a bit deeper, and focus on keeping a silent, deep vortex. If your vortex is noisy, you're still injecting air. It's a great tool, as is the flowtip jug!
Yup the angled technique is what Subminimal suggests but we found that a bit harder to get consistent results. Also, with our technique, since the screen is parallel to the surface of the milk, you can texture lower quantities of it without hitting the bottom.
@@aramse True, if your pitcher is filled below the 3rd line, it's definitely more difficult to get good results as your just slamming milk against the walls. I'll give the straight-angle-technique a go!
I used to texture milk in a French press. Most of the time, the milk texture would be a MISS.
My mom broke my beloved French press yesterday (I love brewing coffee with my French press). So, I decided to give the NanoFoamer a go and purchased one yesterday!
I'm an unemployed barista, and the only opportunity I ever got to practice lots of latte art was at the cafe I worked at. I still wanna practice latte art at home, but the French press isn't doing it for me.
Thanks for making this review video! There's only a handful of reviews about the NanoFoamer online. It makes me feel more confident about my decision to purchase the NanoFoamer!
Been waiting for a video this detailed. Gonna try your technique soon!! Saw you on Hoffman’s channel a while back if I remember right. Thank you!
Hey thanks so much for stopping by. Do let us know how you get on once you've had a chance to try it. And yes we were on James' channel back in Feb.
Great review! Exactly my observations after 3 months of usage.
The best review of the NanoFoamer I’ve seen yet. Really thorough, and no punches pulled. 🙏
Such great content. So well organized and thorough and elegant. Thank you so much.
Thanks for adding more input to my purchasing decision. Great vid
Good review, and very consistent with my experience since I got mine in December
This was very helpful. Thanks for the detailed review!
Thanks for the detailed explanation
One of the best reviews I've ever seen
Great review, I finally found something to match a manual espresso machine :D
Most useful review I've seen so far! Great video!
thank you for the wonderful review!
Great video. I've been thinking about getting one of these so I can make lattes and flat whites at home. I'm definitely going to get one even though it is a battery eater.
Thank you for this review! Will be of much help, since Im expecting mine to arrive tomorrow! Im excited to try your technique
I have the V2 version and it foams nicely. Unfortunately the build quality has let it down. The motor doesn’t spin at full rpm unless I press against the main housing and then, over time, the shaft would start coming off as I used it. To Subminimal’s credit they sent a replacement shaft.
My superfine screen won't stay on either. Good to know that support will replace. My biggest issue is with the button, I lose strength quickly and it constantly stops. I hope it's automatic in the future
Yeah I'm surprised so many reviews don't mention the button. It's hands down the most annoying part of this device. If they just changed the button so it toggled on/off, I would be so happy.
For french press, it depends on the mesh (just like the fine and superfine nanofoamer screens). Two of my french presses are capable of delivering super smooth texture if you’re willing to plunge long enough. The texture is very similar to that achieved with the NanoFoamer. :)
Absolutely. We’ve tried a whole bunch of French Presses and with the right mesh it’s definitely capable of producing similar texture. What I meant was, we find it little harder to get repeatability and often end up with stickier foam, mainly due over aeration.
With the coffee maker French press I can plunge with the screen submerged mostly and get great nano foam! When it does get too tight to pull it's done. Consistency not bad that way. Whisks are ah... No. Great vid. Helps a lot. Cold milk of course gets thicker and stays. Double the screens and OMG! One more thing. A2 milk works best even with one screen.
Excellent information, thank you. Is this suitable for making flat white? And how does the technique differ from that used making latte art?
Maybe they should have a base on which you leave the frother to recharge it, battery life would be less of an issue...
I suggested that in my feedback on their site. An induction charger like the electric toothbrush ones would be ideal, but would obviously increase the price
Incredible review - helped me a lot thanks
Glad to hear it!
Thank you for all that work!
What a great review!
Thank you
How do you compare the subminimal milk pitcher to a regular milk pitcher, apart from the fact that you can heat it on the stove? Would you say it is a worthy investment given the pricing?
Thanks.
It's a nice pitcher but nothing special. The flow tip also needs a bit of getting used to so you may just want to invest in a better known brand like WPM.
@@aramse may i know which WPM would u recommend? Handless ?
Thanks for the review, very insightful. I've recently got mine and I haven't completely got the hold of it yet, I'm sure your tutorial will help :)
I agree with your build quality comment, it feels a little cheap. If I'm being very picky, I also found that the button felt a little hard to push while texturing the milk (nothing terrible but could be better)
Yes the button is a touch on the harder side but it gets easier with time.
I had been struggling a bit with this gizmo but found a hack that works! So, to incorporate air I use the French press like the traditional method. To create the microfoam out of that, just plunge the nanofoamer and jump to step 2. The result is really good microfoam in less time and using less battery power :)
How do you deal with milk temperature dropping during the frothing period when using a French press ? I have experienced multiple people complaining that the finished drink is not hot enough. This is amplified by the fact that Indians love their Tea and Filter Kaapi piping hot
That's a great question. If you do have the flow tip pitcher then heating the milk in that means you won't have the heat loss of transferring to another vessel. If not then you'd need to pre-heat your pitcher. Lastly, the cups you serve in need to be warm or they'll suck a lot of heat out of the drink.
Nice! Always love your breakdowns. Are you using the superfine or fine screen In this video? Sorry if you said in the video and I missed it haha
Thank you! Superfine.
Can you please elaborate more on the milk temperature, do you do it with cold milk?
To get the best texture and taste you wanna be around 55-65C on the milk temp.
Just found your channel, subscribed, and am really enjoying it. In addition to this review, I watched your review of the Bellman steamer. On balance, which would you recommend more highly?
With a little practice you can get great results with either. The Bellman is more efficient as it heats and textures simultaneously and also produces a light more airy texture. The Nanofoamer on the other hand is way more portable but the workflow is a little less efficient and foam is a bit heavier.
I just can't get the silky milk. How much milk to use? And how deep should the pitcher be? I can't get the subminimal jug here.
Great review but How about taste? None of the reviews I watched compare the taste/mouth feel of the nanofoamer milk vs steamed milk
Very well done! Got my Nano yesterday, and am looking to learn before I start experiencing.. What would your recommendation be for the heat of the milk? Using a french press/frother previously, I recognise what you say about variable results, and I found the temp to be the most important factor there.
You can heat on the stove or microwave. Just don't go over 65C.
Try cold milk foam as well. Something not possible in espresso machine. Also, cold foam is far sweeter and I make “cold” capachino with it.
I am concerned that this machine cannot handle cold milk that is far heavier than hot one. Also, not a fan of rubber part. Should have been silicone at least.
I’ve enjoyed my nanofoamer but the propeller on it broke after a few months. I have been pretty careful but is seems like the quality of the plastic they use is very cheap. The fact that the meshes are a consumable part also confirms my thought since it is likely due to the cheap plastic wearing out
I’m using skim milk and the foam keeps getting too foamy, like for a cappuccino. What am I doing wrong?
Would have like to see you address heating the milk!
Hey that's fair. Sorry for assuming this to be common knowledge. The milk just needs to be heated to 55 - 65C to get the best results both in terms of taste and texture.
useful video :) waiting for my nanofoamer. the only thing that worries me going forward is whether i'll manage to find time in the middle of my workday, to make an espresso on my flair pro2 and then using the foamer to make a nice cup. purely a self-inflicted problem :) Any suggestions on what beans are working for you for the flair (from Indian roasters) to make a balanced cup of espresso which makes a good cortado?
As for coffees that work well with the flair there are a bunch. From bloom roaster Venkids and Vin Van Gogh, QBF - Badanekan and bettadhakan, Blue Tokai - Organic rosewood, El Bueno - Crystal Valley.
If you're interested we have a bespoke subscription service. You can check it out here: shop.aramse.coffee/
hey! just wondering what brand of bottled water u guys would recommend for the best tasting coffee. Great video!
I like the technique break down.
How does this device compare to an AeroLatte? It seems really similar.
It’s actually very different. The Aerolatte spins a loose wire spiral, whereas the NanoFoamer uses an impeller to drive air through a fine screen. So you froth the milk and then push that froth through the screen to break up the bubbles into microfoam
Do you have any tutorial on how to use French press frothing milk for latte art? Thank you. New subs here. :)
Can both the fine and superfine achieve texture for latte art? Or only the superfine screen?
Will oatmilk (such as oatly) takes longer time to do the texturing?
All well and good but these products (and this review) clearly omit the critical aspect of this process - heating the milk. Effectively hearting milk without burning it is where steam comes in to a space all on its own (all direct heat will burn/taint milk).
Fair point but you can quite easily heat milk directly without tainting it if you stir or swirl the vessel constantly. Works great :)
This is by no means a mean or rude thing but just a practical thought
This product cost 3500 approx to buy in India and from my point of view 3500 rs for a 50 rs motor 30 rs battery and a propeller that can be 3D printed for less than 200 rs is a very steep price to ask
Hey Amey, this line of thinking is common but often very flawed. The phrase "The whole is greater than the sum of its parts" should sort of explain why. We often ignore the months or even years of R&D, marketing expense, die/mould costs, packaging design and material cost and shipping costs. While not perfect, this product fills a niche, looks appealing and works as advertised. You also can't compare the cost of a product from a small company to something that is mass produced.
@@aramse that is understandable that it take a lot of time and effort to develop a product that works flawlessly
But I just want to highlight the fact that it's not a product that needs to be so pricy. it's very simple product just a spinning propeller attached to a shaft and a mesh screen attached. It shouldn't be that expensive ,a French press that has more utility costs 1500- 2000 rs.
I am guessing the cost here are so high coz it's impoted from another country and most of it is going into the shipping and intermediate dealers pockets.
I just want to point out as of this day it's not worth the steep cost at least not for a coffee enthusiasts who would get a similar latte from other methods than a nano foamer
I never. had a problem with screens or warping, I rinse it immediately after texturing takes like 2 seconds
Mine end up with a lot of foam. Any tips?
Hey there, are you using the fine or superfine mesh? Try to reduce the "Stretch" time. I.e. move to the hold position quicker. That way you'll incorporate less air.
@@aramse I'm using superfine.
@@TheKMov Cool so yeah basically you want to reduce the stretch phase.
Tried multiple times with the fine one. But the milk won't float.
You sure the the heat is correct? Around 60 degrees celsius
I think the French press makes better, slightly thicker more even texture in the mouth feel
It actually comes down to technique. With a little bit of practice we found the NanoFoamer to be more consistent and repeatable. You can get a thick head for cappuccino or a nice thin one for a flat white. We found this harder to control and achieve with the FP.
@@aramse but the nanofoamer will never be consistent through the entire milk, like they way a French press can
@@donh1572 hey it absolutely will. It depends on the impeller depth and the amount of time you churn it fully submerged. It's quite a powerful motor that's more than capable of evenly distributing the micro evenly across the entire volume of milk. The fact that one can pour detailed latte art is proof that the milk is very well textured. We're not saying the FP can't do this, it can, we just found it easier to do with the nanofoamer.
@@aramse I’ve heard people say this all the time but they failed when demonstrating it. I have been making espresso for decades, I was excited to get the nanofoamer. But after two months I threw it out because it’s to much work and gives subpar results. Latte art is not a sign of good consistency. You can still make great latte art while the rest of the milk is thin
Any recommendations for the best cheap grinders online for making drip/filter coffee?
Love your videos btw!
The Timemore C2 is amazing for the price. We wouldn't recommend any of the cheaper ones.
Is it just me or anyone else find nanofoamer button hard to press? I usually have pain in my thumb after the process.
Yup it's definitely hard and quite annoying.
So it’s the same as an aerolatte
My experience has been terrible. Have tried different brand milks, followed the technique shown in these video but terrible results.
I'm guessing you don't actually own a Bellman steamer. I recommend that you try it out for yourself. Like all methods, it has drawbacks and getting a workflow down takes a couple tries. But once you are used to it, it's by far the best value way to get actual steamed milk. I found them pretty easy to get on the used market as well.
Incorrect guess, also not the point of the video tbh and if you listened we clearly say "our preference...". The bellman is very capable of producing well textured milk, we never said otherwise, it just wasn't for us. We found the workflow a bit cumbersome -- just bringing it up to pressure and using it straight away produced very wet steam that ruins texture. So we needed to bring it up to pressure, purge well, bring back up to pressure then steam the milk. This was just a lot of time and effort, esp first thing in the morning.
avoid the black pitcher. the paint comes off way too easily. poor qc. get the steel version instead.
Who told you about my temper 🤭
I have one and it sucks. The only thing you'll end up with is a sore thumb. I literally get no froth. The build quality is cheap and the design is awful.
Sore thumb - agreed
Poor build - agreed
No froth - we'll have to disagree here and I'm sure the several thousand videos and images of amazing latte art using this tool will back us up on this. You either have a faulty unit or your milk is off or your batteries are low or it's being used incorrectly.