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Why Is My Keurig Milk Frother Not Working?

When you are trying to replicate a latte or cappuccino with your Keurig, being able to froth or steam milk is key. If you have a K-Cafe, there is a built in milk frother. If you have a Keurig K-Latte, the brewer came with a standalone milk frother accessory. You have also purchased this accessory if you have a different model. There are many reasons why the Keurig milk frother may not be working, especially if you haven’t been keeping it clean. Keep reading to learn about the most common problems and solutions.

Are You Using The Right Kind Of Milk?

Before I get into specific troubleshooting tips, if you are having issues with the quality or amount of foam or froth you should make sure you are using the right type of milk. Fresh dairy milk is best, specifically 2% or whole milk. These types of dairy milk have a fat content that works well for frothing. 1% milk could also work, but skim milk is unlikely to froth well. Don’t use creamer in the frother either. Keurig advertises that its frothers can also work with soy milk and almond milk, though users have reported mix results. Almond milks that list the controversial ingredient carrageenan should froth better than those that do not.

Keurig K-Cafe Milk Frother Not Working

Keurig K-Cafe With Milk Frother
Keurig K-Cafe With Milk Frother

Light On Frother Base Is Pulsing

If the light on the frother is pulsing in and out, you are probably trying to use the frother while the coffee is brewing. You can’t use them at the same time. Let the coffee finish brewing, then try starting the frother.

All Lights On Frother Base Are Flashing

There are a few potential issues that could trigger all lights to flash on your K-Cafe frother.

  • Make sure there is milk in the frother
  • Make sure there is a whisk in the frother and that is secure. Press down it on.
  • Do you regularly clean both the frother and the whisk? If not, there could be milk residue buildup that is triggering this issue. Use warm soapy water and a gentle sponge to clean. Dry thoroughly before using.
  • Make sure the frother is properly seated on the base. If the base looks dirty, wipe it down.

Keurig Milk Frother Not Working

Keurig Milk Frother

Indicator Light or Jug Does Not Work

Make sure the plug is securely plugged into the electrical outlet. Take it out and plug it back in. Are you confident the outlet is working? If not, try another one.

You should also check to make sure there is a secure connection between the jug and the powerbase. Lift the jug off of the base. If you see any dust or dirt on the base or on the underside of the jug, you need to clean it. Wipe it with a soft damp cloth and then fully dry before placing the jug back.

Jug Stops Working Shortly After Starting

Did you just use the frother? If so, the jug temperature might be too high. Let it sit for two minutes or rinse the inside of the jug with cold water to cool it down. Try to use it again.

Keurig Frother Motor Does Not Work / The Whisk Is Dirty

You should always clean the jug after you use it. If you don’t milk residue can build up on the base and around the whisk. The jug won’t start the motor if it detects this. Take out whisk and clean it and the jug with warm soapy water and a non-abrasive sponge.

If you regularly clean your frother, the issue could be with the whisk attachment. Make sure the black magnetic whisk piece is inside. Press down firmly on it before adding milk to the jug.

Milk Is Overflowing From The Jug

If you are using the whisk with the round ring around it to froth milk, you should only fill to the bottom line. If you fill it above that line, the frothed milk is likely to overflow.

The Frother Is Charring The Milk

One possible reason the milk may be getting charred is that you are using too much or too little milk. Be sure to follow the recommended milk dosage. If you are using the whisk with the round ring around it to froth milk, you should only fill to the bottom line. If you want to steam milk using the smaller whisk, you can fill to either the top or bottom max line. Never try to use the frother when the milk is below the bottom max line.

Not keep up with cleaning could be another cause of this issue. If you haven’t been cleaning the jug and whisk after each use, there could be milk residue that is preventing the jug from accurately sensing the temperature. Take out whisk and clean it and the jug with warm soapy water and a non-abrasive sponge.

Milk Is Not Frothing Well

When shopping for milk remember that the more milk fat, the better the froth. That makes whole milk the best choice. The closer you get to skim, the less well it will work. For non-dairy milks, oat and almond milk tend to work best. Use the “barista” version if available near you to get the most foam.

After your container has been opened for 3 or more days, the protein properties of the milk can start to change due to exposure to light and oxygen. This can make the same jug of milk froth less well than the day before. Shake up the milk before pouring into the frother to try to mitigate this.

Contact Keurig Support

If your frother is not heating milk at all or if you’ve tried all of the above fixes with no success, there may be a bigger issue with a component inside your frother. You should call Keurig customer support. The phone number is 1-800-361-5628.

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