ECM steam tip set – three tips with 3, 4 and 5 holes for the steam wand
The milk spins faster, the vortex tightens, and within seconds the foam becomes so fine that the surface shines.
How fast that happens and how fine it gets depends on a part weighing just a few grams. The number and angle of the holes determine how the steam enters the milk: fewer holes give a stronger single jet and more time to stretch, more holes spread the steam wider and get the milk spinning faster. Both lead to good foam, only the way there feels different.
And the milk itself reacts to temperature. Proteins unfold within a certain range and stabilise the bubbles the steam has just introduced. If the milk gets too hot too quickly, you lose the sweetness that develops while frothing. A tip that suits your own pitcher and your own machine gives you a few more seconds of leeway here.
What's in the set
The set includes three tips: one with three holes, one with four and one with five. They simply screw onto the steam wand, with no tools and no modifications. That gives you three characters for the same machine – and over a few weeks you can feel your way to the one that suits your pitcher, your amount of milk and your pace.
There's no right or wrong here. No espresso laws, no espresso police. Some stick with the tip that was already fitted, others switch depending on the amount of milk. We like that you have the choice at all. Our opinion is one of many.
At a glance
| In the box |
Three tips: 3-hole, 4-hole, 5-hole |
| Fitting |
Screws onto the steam wand |
| Compatible with |
ECM steam wands |
| Brand |
ECM, made in Germany |
| Item number |
89453 (ECM AC100030-00) |
Who it's made for
For anyone with an ECM machine who wants more leeway when frothing milk – whether for a single cappuccino in the morning or half a litre at once. If you froth small amounts, you often get on better with fewer holes; if you steam large pitchers, with more. Nothing is set in stone, and that's exactly the appeal.
Just as much for anyone working on latte art right now. Fine microfoam is the foundation, and the tip plays a bigger part in it than hand technique. You'll find the other parts we have for around the machine in the ECM Collection. We're an ECM partner, and the Home Line machines are handmade in Milan.
What goes with it
A tip alone doesn't make foam – the pitcher is part of it. Among the milk pitchers, both routes sit side by side: the pitchers from Normcore for anyone who wants affordable and precise – the pitchers from Rhino and Weber Workshops for anyone who wants more. Shape and spout help decide how the vortex runs.
And because milk residue dries in the wand and narrows the opening, care is part of it. In machine and grinder cleaning you'll find the products for wand and group. At the group head, the same applies in parallel: a daily backflush without detergent, and about every fifty shots once with detergent, which takes around five minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Which tips are included in the set?
Three: one tip with three holes, one with four holes and one with five holes.
What difference do more or fewer holes make?
Fewer holes give a stronger, more focused jet and more time to stretch. More holes spread the steam wider and get the milk spinning faster. Which suits you better depends on the amount of milk, the pitcher and the machine.
Will the set fit my machine?
The tips are made for ECM steam wands and screw on. If you have a different brand or aren't sure, give us your machine's item number and we'll check it beforehand.
Do I need tools to change them?
No. The tips are screwed onto the steam wand by hand.
Can I see the product before buying?
Yes. You can see our range in person in Bern at Gerberngasse 44 and in Zurich at Hagenholzstrasse 50b. If you order online: delivery to Switzerland and Liechtenstein takes 2 to 4 working days.
From the roastery
Only what has body comes through in milk. Cozy Chocolate and Nutty Delight carry through the foam and bring caramel, chocolate and nut into the cappuccino. If you want maximum body without any acidity, go for Very Nutty. And if you're curious, try Wild Peach with milk too – fruity and surprising, a discovery on the side. That's our recommendation, one of many; any other bean works just as well.
