Coffee Machine Milk Frother

[scrummyyummy]

I have an oldish coffee machine which has the milk frother arm attached. I just want to know if it's normal when I'm using the frother, it actually spurts out water. I've not noticed how it works before but decided to use it without milk in the jug and water came out of it. I always just presumed it was steam which is warming/frothing the milk up but if water comes out, doesn't it just make the milk weak? I don't take milk in my coffee but I'm wondering if I've been giving my friends watered down milky coffee all this time! Maybe someone knows how the frother works and let me know if my machine is faulty? Thanks!

[bednobs]

what do you think steam is made from?

[Answerprancer]

Switch it to 'steam' wait for the light to come on then shoot the water off into an empty cup -steam should follow after a few seconds. It's normal for an espresso machine to shoot water before the pressurised steam comes.
When you get steam, put the nozzle about 1/2 inch below the surface of the milk, at a slight angle so it spins the milk round as it heats it - should take about 30 sec to get it to froth the milk - it's a bit of a knack.

[scrummyyummy]

Thanks for the useful tips, AnswerPrancer. I'll try that out when I next make coffee for my friends.

Bednobs: Of course I know what steam is made from!