Steaming should be quiet after the first few seconds. Loud noise means something is wrong with the tip position.
The sounds and what they mean
A gentle hiss or tearing in the first seconds — correct. That is air being drawn in during stretching.
Near silence with a visible vortex — correct. That is texturing.
A loud screech or shriek — the tip is too deep and pointed wrongly, churning the milk rather than spinning it.
Loud spluttering and bubbling throughout — the tip is too shallow, or has come out of the milk. You are blasting air in.
The fix
For screeching: raise the jug slightly and angle the tip off-centre to create a whirlpool. The noise stops as soon as the vortex forms.
For spluttering: submerge the tip further. It should be under the surface, not at it, once stretching is over.
The position
Off-centre, around a third of the way from the wall to the middle, angled so the milk rotates.
Dead centre gives churning and noise. Too close to the wall gives no rotation.
The jug angle
Tilting the jug slightly helps establish rotation, particularly with smaller volumes.
The other cause
A partially blocked tip. Milk dried in one hole makes the steam jet asymmetric and noisy.
Soak the tip and clear the holes with a pin.
Last reviewed 8 August 2026