Steamed milk is scalded or too hot
Milk tastes scalded or unpleasantly sweet-burnt, or is uncomfortably hot to drink.
Applies to: Espresso machine, Cappuccino, Latte, Flat white
Safety note
Milk hot enough to scald a mouth is also hot enough to scald skin. Test temperature by briefly touching the outside of the jug, not by tasting the milk directly, and be careful when pouring — a jug heated this way can be uncomfortably hot to hold without a cloth or handle.
Likely causes and adjustments
Try one adjustment at a time so you know what actually changed the result. Start with the first cause below — if it doesn't help, reveal the next.
Cause 1 of 1 · Commonly the cause
Milk heated well past the point proteins denature (roughly 65-70°C)
Are you timing the steam, or judging by touch/thermometer?
Judge temperature by touching the jug rather than by time — stop steaming once it's hot to hold but not painful.
Still not resolved after trying all of these? Consider checking the cleaning and descaling guide — a machine that needs maintenance can cause several of these symptoms at once.
Learn the technique
Step-by-step guides to the skills this problem comes from.