How do you froth milk with an espresso maker?

[futurefashiondesiger]

I recently bought an espresso maker and I am having a very very difficult time frothing the milk. I probably made a mistake buying the cheapest espresso maker I could find. The brand is Mr.Coffee. I know, stupid move. But it was easier than using a french press and a pot on the stove. Anyway, what I'm wondering is simply, how do you successfully froth milk? Tell me everything there is to know about frothing. Is there a difference between foam and froth? I have been using 2% milk. I heard that is the best to use. I have been doing fine with making espresso. I have Starbucks espresso roast beans. Could anyone tell me how to do this? Or am I basically stuck because of the machine?
Oh, and please do not tell me to read the instructions that came with the machine because I have. Many times. It is vague and confusing. Mainly because the pictures don't match up with the machine.

[i2cute4words]

sounds like u got a dud machine but it is possible to froth milk (perhaps not very well) with even a cheap machine - I just bought a very cheap machine and have found frothing a bit of a pain. First thing is you have to purge the excess water from the wand, ie turn it on and make sure all the excess milk and water is out of the wand and so that the wand is spitting out steam (the more the better). If it's only dripping water or just blowing hot air, wait till it starts spitting steam. Then you should put the wand in the jug of milk so that the tip is roughly halfway deep in the milk. If you have a milk frothing thermometer, at around 30C u should pull the jug back so that the tip is about 1mm below the surface so that it starts making a well frothing sound is the only way I can think of it. If it's spitting, you've pulled it too far out. When you have enough froth, then you put the wand back into the middle of the jug, and finish heating to around 60C.

If the machine turns off (stops spitting steam) pull the jug out and purge the wand again till it starts spitting steam again and resume the process.