Hey all,

I'm wondering what people are using as a tool to etch designs in latte art.  Typically, we just use our thermometers, but we've started to notice that doing so is throwing them out of calibration.

Anyone using anything besides a thermometer?

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I'd actually be really interested to see if using them to etch really does throw them off, because it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me either. But the head honcho says it does, so I'm not going to argue.

What I DO know is that I calibrated them not more than three weeks ago, and then re-calibrated them the other day. The one we use for etching was almost 20° off, and the one that lives in the drawer was only like 4° off.





Brady said:
Not sure that I understand how using thermometer tips for etching could throw them out of calibration. Perhaps they are handled more and dropped more frequently?

Keep them on the bar, and keep them calibrated. I'd bet money that your health inspector will check their calibration if they are on the bar, despite any claims that they are "only used for etching". Also, even well-trained hands and ears should check themselves every once in a while... nobody's perfect, and customers DO care about the temperature of their drink. We've picked up plenty of customers that gave up on their old shops due to drinks that were too cold or burned... the baristas there consider themselves "well-trained".

Glad to see that you've gotten some good tips. I don't etch (or even freepour very well) so have nothing good to add...
Well, living in a drawer is great for keeping calibration. I'd be willing to bet that if you got an etching tool but still used the thermometer only for temperature measurement, that you'd see a similar drift.

Adam Wilson said:
I'd actually be really interested to see if using them to etch really does throw them off, because it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me either. But the head honcho says it does, so I'm not going to argue.

What I DO know is that I calibrated them not more than three weeks ago, and then re-calibrated them the other day. The one we use for etching was almost 20° off, and the one that lives in the drawer was only like 4° off.





Brady said:
Not sure that I understand how using thermometer tips for etching could throw them out of calibration. Perhaps they are handled more and dropped more frequently?

Keep them on the bar, and keep them calibrated. I'd bet money that your health inspector will check their calibration if they are on the bar, despite any claims that they are "only used for etching". Also, even well-trained hands and ears should check themselves every once in a while... nobody's perfect, and customers DO care about the temperature of their drink. We've picked up plenty of customers that gave up on their old shops due to drinks that were too cold or burned... the baristas there consider themselves "well-trained".

Glad to see that you've gotten some good tips. I don't etch (or even freepour very well) so have nothing good to add...
no, haha

Bryan Wray said:
Branden said:
thermometer tips

??? did you read the original question?

-bry
While I love free pouring as much as the next person... I also like throwing a dragon in the cup at times so both do pretty sweet things! I REALLY like using an ice pick...... it is sharp as (beep) so it cuts through milk nice and it's the perfect size to fit in a hand. It also doesnt waste resources like toothpicks. Give it a whirl!
'Cause lord knows that metal trees are in abundance these days... Give me a break...

-bry

Shuanna said:
While I love free pouring as much as the next person... I also like throwing a dragon in the cup at times so both do pretty sweet things! I REALLY like using an ice pick...... it is sharp as (beep) so it cuts through milk nice and it's the perfect size to fit in a hand. It also doesnt waste resources like toothpicks. Give it a whirl!
damn it... Looks like my last post DIDNT post so I shall re-cap!

I cant tell if that last comment was made with hearty laughter or if was really just a blatant D/B remark. If so... by all means... I invite you to give me shit over wanting to utilize resources. Toothpick or not. Instead of buying boxes of toothpicks you can ONE ice pick. God I must be out of my mind!
Shuanna said:
damn it... Looks like my last post DIDNT post so I shall re-cap!

I cant tell if that last comment was made with hearty laughter or if was really just a blatant D/B remark. If so... by all means... I invite you to give me shit over wanting to utilize resources. Toothpick or not. Instead of buying boxes of toothpicks you can ONE ice pick. God I must be out of my mind!

Nope, just a d/b remark... Thanks, though!

"And later in news at 6, Bryan breaks the hard truth that recycling is actually WORSE for the environment."

-bry
Alright buddy...keep being a d/b and see how far that gets you in life. I feel bad for you! Maybe you need a hug?
Shuanna said:
Alright buddy...keep being a d/b and see how far that gets you in life. I feel bad for you! Maybe you need a hug?

Honestly, calling me a d/b when you have never met me is pretty out of line. My comment was sarcastic, and it's my fault for not more clearly pointing that out, you can't *read* sarcasm after all.

Saying that using toothpicks for etching was a "waste of resources" was quite a stretch considering one tree can make tens of millions of toothpicks, that's all I was getting at... sorry to have offended you so deeply.

Appreciate each of us continually one-upping though, it puts me in like company and I don't come out looking like such a d/b after all.
;)

-bry

Bry,
I love your minute by minute news hour reports. I have met you and I will never call you a D/B.
Although that one halloween outfit you wore at that one party in MI, made me want to ask you for a date.
<];^)
Tons of extra smiley's on this one. Only someone who has really met you or a real D/B would say the above. Cheers, Bry I'm be in for your best 32oz Mecchiato to go as soon as I can pull myself off the roaster.
Hey, I found a box of plastic tooth picks made from recycled pepsi bottles for latte art. Haven't tried them yet. ;)
Joe

Bryan Wray said:
Shuanna said:
Alright buddy...keep being a d/b and see how far that gets you in life. I feel bad for you! Maybe you need a hug?

Honestly, calling me a d/b when you have never met me is pretty out of line. My comment was sarcastic, and it's my fault for not more clearly pointing that out, you can't *read* sarcasm after all.

Saying that using toothpicks for etching was a "waste of resources" was quite a stretch considering one tree can make tens of millions of toothpicks, that's all I was getting at... sorry to have offended you so deeply.

Appreciate each of us continually one-upping though, it puts me in like company and I don't come out looking like such a d/b after all.
;)

-bry
Shuanna said:
Alright buddy...keep being a d/b and see how far that gets you in life. I feel bad for you! Maybe you need a hug?

Wow. Way to jump right in to a new community. Calm down a bit and maybe learn a bit about the people you are insulting?

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