Learn what to do if you're having difficulty frothing or steaming with the steam wand on your Gaggia Anima.
Difficulty Frothing
As with brewing, frothing is highly dependent on technique. If the machine is producing steam then an adjustment to technique may need to be made. Frothing is very sensitive to technique, so there is a steep learning curve. The video below shows proper frothing technique for pannarello style wands.
This machine also utilizes a special nozzle attachment called a pannarello. The pannarello nozzle needs to be regularly cleaned and properly attached to the machine in order to function. This machine uses a 3-piece style of pannarello instead of the normal 6-piece style. The video below describes how to properly clean and maintain this 3-piece style of wand. The machine in the video is the Gaggia Brera, but the steam test and wand cleaning instructions also apply to the Gaggia Anima. To intiate steaming, simply press the steam button.
Alternatively you can try frothing on the machine without the pannarello attachment. The naked wand can also produce a tight microfoam, and is preferred by some users. The major disadvantage of frothing with the naked wand is that it reduces the length of the steam wand by several inches.