Why is my Nespresso frother not working? (Reasons why Nespresso frother is not working, how to fix + more information)
Do you want some creamy, foamy drink but have just realized your Nespresso frother is not working? The first question that pops into your head is, ‘why is my Nespresso frother not working? Read on to find out.
I love my drinks with a creamy and foamy texture. And that is why I invested in a quality Nespresso frother. But even with the bucks I spend on it, it sometimes fails. And I have come to accept that these issues are not that serious. If your Nespresso frother has failed and you are considering replacing it with a new one, read on to find out why it might have failed, and try to fix it before concluding it’s totally damaged. This will save you a lot of coins.
Table of Contents
Reasons why your Nespresso frother is not working and how to fix it
You are frothing excess milk
As petty as this may seem, too much milk might cause your Nespresso frother to fail. Sometimes, it might spill milk everywhere. However, other times it might just decide to do nothing.
Solution
To know the correct amount of milk you can froth, you should read the Aeroccino in your frother. It has two lines at the 4 ounces and at 8. The 4-ounce mark indicates the maximum amount of limit you can froth. While the 8-ounce mark is the milk, you can add it if you are not frothing. If you go against these amounts, you might face issues with your Nespresso frother, which might fail to work.
Wrong milk type
Another issue that might make you think your frother is not working and maybe it’s just your mistake is if you are trying to froth unsuitable milk type. Fats and proteins are the key elements responsible for foaming and holding the foam together when milk is frothed. This is why dairy milk is the best option when it comes to frothing. However, some plant-based kinds of milk like oat milk and almond milk also have a substantial amount of proteins and fat, hence can be frothed.
Solution
Some milk types do not work when it comes to frothing and are best avoided. Most of them are plant-based, like soy, coconut, and macadamia milk. Though they might form a few bubbles, they will disappear as soon as you are done frothing, and that might make you think your Nespresso frother isn’t working.
Dirty electric contacts
The canister of the Nespresso frother has a male and female connector that has to be connected electrically for your frother to function well. This is because too much dirt on the connectors limits the power supply from getting to the frother. The dirt in these connectors is mostly a combination of milk residue and dust.
Solution
The good thing is that this issue can be easily fixed with a small brush, contact cleaner spray, a towel or wipe, soapy water, and alcohol. To fix this issue, first, unplug your frother, dip a brush into the soapy water, and scrub off the dirt from the electric contacts. Rinse the contacts and dry them completely. And repeat the same process with alcohol.
Magnetic whisk has gunk on it.
If you do not clean your Nespresso frother after use, milk residue and dust will build up on the whisk and limit it from functioning properly, or it might even fail to work at all. This issue can be solved easily by using a wire brush, salt, a small brush, and vinegar.
Solution
To clean up the gunk on your Nespresso frother’s magnetic whisk, simply mix salt and vinegar and deep the whisk inside the solution. Allow the whisk to soak in this solution for over 20 hours for the dirt to clear. Use a small brush to scrub off any remaining dirt. And if the dirt is stubborn, you can use the wire brush.
Faulty magnetic whisk
A clear sign of a broken or faulty whisk is if it’s failing to ship, yet the frother is heating up. A broken magnetic whisk might result from the wrong positioning of the whisk.
Solution
The primary downside of a damaged magnetic whisk is that you cannot replace it but have to buy a new one.
Your Nespresso frother’s heating element is burnt out
This issue deals with electricity; hence, it might be difficult to fix, especially if you are unfamiliar with such things. There are copper traces on your Nespresso frother’s printed circuit board which the Aeroccino uses as a heating element. These copper traces quickly fail and primarily impact your machine’s functioning.
Solution
Suppose you suspect that this might be the issue. You can simply open your Aeroccino and examine the printed circuit board for burned patches. If any, the best way to fix this issue is by replacing the copper traces, as once they are spoilt, repairing is quite challenging. The good thing is that it is pretty easy to replace these traces, and they are also affordable.
FAQ Section
Do I need to replace a Nespresso frother that is not working?
It is common for Nespresso frother not to work at times. However, if you troubleshot the frother with the solutions given above and it still does not work, then it might be time to replace your frother.
Which parts of a Nespresso frother can be replaced if it’s not working?
A component that can be replaced in your Nespresso frother if it’s not working is the thermocouple. This component is mounted on the printed circuit board in your frother and can be easily removed and replaced. Other elements that can be replaced include the magnetic whisk and the copper traces in the heating element.
How long do Nespresso frothers last before they stop working?
When used and maintained well, Nespresso frothers can last for years. However, when they fail, as they are usually prone to fail from time to time, simply fix the issue instead of buying a whole frother.