Several months ago, I started making cappuccino and then I stopped for a while. Back when I was making it on a regular basis, I had no problems steaming/frothing the milk and getting it nice and fluffy. Now that I have gotten back into it, I can't get the milk to "fluff" no matter what I try; 2% milk, skim milk.. doesn't matter. Shortly after I add the steamed milk to my espresso, it pretty much looks like regular coffee, with no thick layer of foam.

Same machine as before, same cups, etc.. Is it possible that the brand of milk has an effect? That's the only difference that I can think of, the skim milk I'm trying to use now is a different brand than before. Any secretes??

I need a machine that can make an awesome cappuccino. I don't care much for espresso in itself, just cappuccino, cafe latte and the like. I was considering the Rancilio Silvia or maybe the Francis Francis. Any advice would be helpful at this point.

Can I make ice coffee, cappuccinos, espresso, etc? Also, does anyone know the difference between the models? B60, B70 and the Special Edition?
II didn't even know they had one that doesn't have a water tank; but are there any additional options between them? There's a difference pricewise.

I bought a used Krups combination espresso and coffee machine that came with all the parts but without the instructions for use. The only numbers I can find on it at 1108HT and Krups type 171. Can you help me? Thanks.

What do you like about it? Why do you choose to drink despite the taste?

There are now alternative methods to get caffeine.
I mean coffee that isn't just espresso and milk and those little starbucks things or whatever, but actual brewed up coffee.

The taste is shocking.

Rather unusual question coming up... I like automation and I love the idea of a machine which will wake-up on a timer and make me a cup of coffee with steamed milk - whatever I program. I don't mind programming it every evening before bed (otherwise while I'm on vacation it might make lots of coffees onto my floor). I have no upper-limit on my budget although I don't want to waste money and I have owned super-automatic machines before.

I have looked at the Jura Milk Cooler so I can keep milk by the machine overnight(s) without becoming cheese and I have looked at a number of machines which have a one-touch system to make the espresso and the steamed milk without having to press random buttons. These are the high-end of the super-automatics and cost above 00 in general. Many claim to have a "TImer" which wakes them up at a certain time but none claim to actually make a certain cup of coffee when they wake.. and that's really all I want - something clever enough to not only start up at 6am, but something to start up AND make me a latte/capp/whatever with espresso and milk without me having to do anything other than lie there and smell the beans (and put up with the sound). I intend to have this by my bedside and to place a cup under the spout(s) every night, ready to wake me with the grinding noise and the smell of beans, followed by the slush of steamed milk coming from the refrigerated Jura Cooler (or similar) - which I would only clean out and refill once a week or so.

Do you know of any machines which can do this?

I've decided to get serious about my coffee. I have a crappy automatic maker, is there a good one? Or do you suggest a different method? Will I need to spend a lot of money?
I'm talking about regular brewed coffee, not espresso.

I've been looking at several websites for help but I can't seem to find the right answer. I have a Mr Coffee ECM 160, and it seems that as soon as I put the wand deep into the machine, it starts forming huge bubbles just like when water boils on a stovetop. I have successfully created some microfoam by tilting it at an angle, but the milk and the foam wouldn't mix together. As soon as i pour the milk to the espresso, it just mixes as if you are adding milk to coffee

I do like black coffee or espresso and almost everyday I drink them 5 or 6 cupps in a day. Is it too much to drink in a day?

I drank too much coffee and instead of getting the jitters like i usually do, i got like a buzz and i feel really light headed and my heart feels like its beating kind of fast, and its a tiny bit harder to focus my eyes. Anyway I'm not incredibly alarmed but i would like to know if anything serious could possibly happen. I drank about 3-4 cups of espresso (espresso made in a regular coffee machine so not as concentrated), and I'm 5 9' and weight about 130 lbs, and have a moderate caffeine tolerance.