Bean-to-cup milk frother not working

Clean the milk system properly

Milk proteins dry into a film that narrows the tiny holes in the frothing head. Most machines have a quick clean or rinse function that pushes steam and hot water through the system after each milk drink. Use it every time. On top of that, take the system apart and wash it regularly, often daily if you make milk drinks every day.

1. 1

   Switch off or select the clean function as the manual describes, and let parts cool.

2. 2

   Remove the carafe, lid, frothing head and milk tube.

3. 3

   Separate every piece the manual shows can be removed, including small valves and seals.

4. 4

   Soak in warm water, then wash with mild washing up liquid if the manual allows it.

5. 5

   Clear any holes with the cleaning tool supplied, not a pin that could scratch.

6. 6

   Rinse well, let dry and refit each part firmly, checking seals sit flat.

Note:The milk outlet and steam connector get very hot. Let them cool before removing parts.

Check the froth setting and fit

Many carafes have a dial or knob that sets froth level, or a position marked for cleaning. If it is turned to clean, or to the lowest froth, milk will come out hot but flat. Turn it to the froth level you want for the drink. On De'Longhi carafes, for example, the knob has positions for froth and for clean, so check it before anything else.

An air leak also spoils foam. If the carafe is not pushed fully onto the connector, or a seal is missing or twisted, the system sucks air in the wrong place and the milk spits or bubbles in large blobs. Refit carefully until it clicks. A milk tube that is not in the milk, or is split, causes the same thing.

Cold milk and the right fat content

Milk foams best when it is cold. Milk that has been sitting out produces thin, short lived froth. Fill the carafe straight from the fridge and put it back in the fridge between uses if the manual says it is safe to do so.

Whole milk gives the most stable, creamy foam. Semi-skimmed works well too. Skimmed produces lots of foam that collapses quickly. For plant milks, barista versions are made to foam under steam and usually work far better than standard cartons. If one milk works and another does not, the machine is fine.

Scale and steam problems

The frother needs strong steam. If scale has built up in the heater or steam path, steam weakens and milk comes out lukewarm and flat. If your machine has been asking to descale, or it is a while since you did, run the descale cycle with the maker's descaler. Our hard water guide explains why this matters more in much of England.

If coffee is fine but there is no steam at all to the milk system after cleaning and descaling, contact the maker. For brand specific faults on De'Longhi models, see De'Longhi bean-to-cup problems.

If you are thinking of changing machine

Automatic milk systems are convenient but need daily care. Simpler designs with fewer parts tend to be easier to clean. A steam wand needs more skill but has fewer channels to block. Our milk frother or steam wand comparison explains the trade off, and the best bean-to-cup machines with automatic milk and bean-to-cup machines with a steam wand guides list current options.

Frequently asked questions

Why is my De'Longhi milk frother not frothing? Check the froth knob is not on the clean setting, the carafe is fully clicked in and the frothing head is clean. Then try cold whole milk.

Why does my bean-to-cup machine spit milk? An air leak from a loose carafe, a missing seal or a split tube is the usual cause. Dried milk in the frothing head can do it too.

How often should I clean the milk carafe? Run the quick clean after every milk drink and take the system apart to wash it regularly, often daily with daily use. Follow the manual.

Does the type of milk matter? Yes. Cold whole milk foams most reliably. Plant milks usually need a barista version to foam well.