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Nespresso Frother Not Working? Try My 7 Easy Ways To Fix It

Nespresso Milk Frother Not Working
Nespresso Aeroccino 3 Milk Frother Not Working

Is your Nespresso frother not working? How can you fix it so you can get back to making cappuccinos and lattes? There are seven potential causes that I have experienced or seen other users mention on social media. Fortunately, you can fix most of these issues pretty easily. Keep reading to learn more.

Cause #1: Missing or Broken Whisk

use whisk with coil ring for frothed milk for cappuccino
Leave coil ring on to froth
use whisk without coil ring for steamed milk for latte
Remove coil ring to steam

Depending on when you purchased your Aeroccino, you’ll either have two separate whisks or one that combines the ring with the coil. Either way, you need to make sure the magnetic whisk is in your machine otherwise it won’t work. But you have to know how to use the frother whisk properly.

If you want frothed milk leave the coil around the whisk and be sure to only fill to the bottom line. However, to steam milk for a latte, remove the coil before putting the whisk in. Without the coil, you can fill to either the bottom or top line. If you lost your whisk, you’ll need to get a new one. You can get a model 3 replacement or a model 4 replacement on Amazon.

#2: Back To Back Uses Of The Aeroccino Cause It To Overheat

If you are trying to use your frother multiple times in a row, it is possible that it has overheated. The Nespresso Aeroccino has an internal thermostat that will stop it from operating if the temperature gets too high. This feature is a safety precaution to prevent it from burning out.

To fix this, wait 15-20 minutes for it to cool down. If you really must use it right away, rinse the jug and lid with cold water to cool it down. Just be sure to not get the electrical contacts on the base wet.

#3: Nespresso Milk Frother Jug Or Whisk Not Cleaned Properly

You should clean your Nespresso milk frother machine after each use. If you don’t, then traces of milk may be left inside the jug. This is most common at the bottom of the jug, but it could also be on your whisk if you don’t remove it and rinse it after each use. This buildup of milk residue will cause the frother to heat up faster than it should. In turn, this will trigger the thermostat and stop your frother from working.

Clean the jug with cool water and a non-abrasive sponge. If you have the Aeroccino 3, make sure to wash by hand because it is not dishwasher safe. You’ll want to clean it until the walls and base are clear of any residue. Alternatively, some users have added hot water and a little dish soap up to the bottom max line in the frother and then turned it on to clean it.

You should also clean the whisk to remove any milk residue left on it after each use. However, if the gunk on the magnetic whisk is really hard to get off, try soaking it in vinegar overnight. In the morning, scrub it with a toothbrush or small wire brush. Then rinse it well until you can’t smell the vinegar.

#4: You Did Not Add Enough Milk

nespresso frother min and max lines
Nespresso frother min and max lines

Be sure you fill your frother to one of the two max lines. If you have the coil on the whisk, only fill to the bottom line. Without the coil, you can fill to either the bottom or top line. Nespresso recommends that you use cold whole or reduced fat milk for best results. More on that below.

#5: Dirty or Loose Connection

This base is how the frother gets its power. It is possible that something is interfering with the connection between the jug and the base station. Ensure that the jug is securely positioned onto the base. Make sure the connectors at the bottom of the jug and the top of the base look clean. If you’ve ever had milk overflow from the jug, it may be that it has crusted onto the base if it wasn’t cleaned.

If you see milk residue or any other type of gunk like dirt on the electrical contacts, unplug it and use a damp cloth to clean it. You can also scub it with a toothbrush or gentle sponge if it is really stuck on there. Dry the base and bottom of the jug off and try it again. If the frother is still not working, you may want to try to hold the jug firmly on the base and then push the button to try to start it.

#6: Nespresso Aeroccino Not Frothing Well

Some Aeroccino users have complained that all of a sudden the same milk they always use (even used the day before) is not frothing like it normally does. Why would that be? For starters, it always helps to clean the jug and the whisk. Also, be sure that you are have the coil attached to the whisk since it won’t froth without it.

use whisk with coil ring for frothed milk for cappuccino
Leave coil ring on to froth

If your frother is clean, the problem may be with the milk you are putting in there. You can test this by seeing if your frother creates foam when you add water to the bottom max line with a little bit of dish soap. If the soapy water foams, then the milk you are using is probably why your Aeroccino is not frothing well.

Dairy Milk

dairy milk

How long has it been since you opened your dairy milk? 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. You can try to shake it up before adding it to the frother, but that will only help so much.

Also, remember that the more milk fat, the better the froth will be. That makes whole milk the best choice if you want a lot of froth. The closer you get to skim, the less froth there will be.

Non-Dairy Milk

Have you changed brands or products recently? If so, that could be the issue. Some brands work well, others don’t. You may need to deal with some trial and error. Oat milk and almond milk are the type of milk that usually work best. The “barista” versions will give you the most foam. It is also a good idea to shake up the non-dairy milk before adding it to the frother!

#7: The Aeroccino Whisk Is Not Moving or Spinning

You may have noticed that when you lower the whisk into the Aeroccino, it gets pulled down the base. This is magnetism creating a connection between the whisk and the milk frother. It is this force that holds it in place and makes it spin. If your Aeroccino is not spinning, it could be because the whisk has become demagnetized. There are a few things you should do to fix this:

  1. Remove the whisk and gently tap the milk frother on a hard surface like a counter or table. If the magnet in the base became dislodged, this can help put it back in place.
  2. Run a magnet around the edge of the whisk with the coil attached.
  3. Remove the coil, and then run a magnet around the edge of the whisk again.

You may also need to clean the whisk, the inside of. the jug and the base.

Nespresso Frother Not Working Caused By More Advanced Issues

If you’ve tried all of these steps and your frother still isn’t working, you should call Nespresso support.

It is possible that there is a more advanced issue that will be difficult for you to fix on your own. For example, your frother may have a defective or burnt out heating element or damaged thermocouple. This is the piece that enables the unit to gauge temperature and shut off at the right time. Instead of opening up the frother and voiding your warranty, it is best to contact Nespresso support. The toll free number is 1-800-562-1465.

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