Milk frothers are handy kitchen appliances but they’re not without their faults. We have listed five of the most common problems with milk frothers below:
1. The milk frother is not functioning at high power.
2. The frother will not turn on.
3. The milk frother is clogged up.
4. The milk frother does not get thoroughly cleaned.
5. The frother has a broken frothing wand.
Read further to see how we address each of these issues and provide solutions to help your milk frother run smoothly.
1. Milk Frother Doesn’t Get Up to Speed
In order to properly froth milk, your milk frother needs to run at high power and speed. Be sure your milk frother is plugged into an outlet which provides the necessary energy output for it to function properly.
Another reason the milk frother may be slowing down is that it needs a good cleaning. If this is the case, take the appliance apart and clean each piece with a wet kitchen wipe, making sure to reassemble the milk frother according to the instruction manual when cleaning is complete.
2. Milk Frother Will Not Turn On
First and foremost, check to make sure the milk frother is plugged in. If it still will not turn on, check the instruction manual to ensure the appliance has been assembled properly. If that’s not the issue, then the frother wand may be misaligned.
For safety reasons, some milk frothers will not power on if the wand is not correctly aligned. There should be some visual indication to line up the two parts properly. In the event that you can’t find the alignment guide, check your instruction manual for guidance.
3. Milk Frother is Clogged
If your milk frother seizes up because it is clogged, the best option is to take it apart and clean all of the pieces.
The most common culprits of a clogged frother are solid particles from unground coffee beans which get caught in the mechanical parts of the appliance. Be sure to use find ground coffee or better yet, froth the milk first and then add the other ingredients to avoid clogging the machine.
Another common cause of clogging is trying to froth thicker liquids when your frother is not built to handle that. Check the instruction manual of your frother to ensure it has enough power to froth liquids thicker than milk before attempting to do so.
4. Milk Frother is Not Getting Cleaned Well Enough
Milk frothers can be complicated little appliances with delicate instruments. It is generally not recommended to put them in the dishwasher. To ensure a thorough cleaning, it should be taken apart completely, and each piece cleaned by hand with a wet kitchen wipe.
This will allow any small particles which may become trapped in the various small crevices of the device to be extricated and the appliance to run smoothly.
5. Milk Frother Wand is Broken
The frothing wand is perhaps the most important piece of the milk frother and is also very delicate. It is easy to snap the wand when trying to properly align it or when removing the container of freshly frothed milk. Some brands of milk frother have small parts such as magnets which allow them to function and can be easily lost.
Take extreme caution when handling the wand. Usually, replacement parts are available for purchase but may be difficult to reattach or expensive to purchase. Sometimes it’s more cost and time effective to simply replace the entire milk frother.
Recap
Milk frothers are handy appliances for those who enjoy making cappuccinos or froth topped lattes. However, they can be a bit finicky with common issues becoming clogged, not being thoroughly cleaned, having broken wands, not reaching high speeds, and not turning on.
All of these problems have simple solutions such as ensuring the apparatus has enough energy input, is taken apart completely to be cleaned, is used properly according to the instruction manual and is carefully handled.
If you make sure to follow the instructions in your milk frother’s user’s manual, you should avoid most issues that could arise and enjoy your frothy milk worry free.
