There’s nothing more frustrating than wanting a creamy, frothy coffee only to find out that your Keurig frother isn’t working. Luckily, if a frother isn’t working properly, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s broken.
If your Keurig frother isn’t working, try adjusting the steam wand, soaking the frother in warm, soapy water, and securing the frother properly to the base. Ensure you also use whole or 2% milk and add milk only until the max line.
Fortunately, most issues with a Keurig frother are easy to resolve. Let’s take a closer look at why your milk frother isn’t working and how you can fix it.
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Why Is the Keurig Frother Not Working?
If your Keurig coffee machine makes three short beeping sounds, it’s a sign that your frother isn’t working properly. Here are a few reasons why this might happen and what you can do to fix it:
1. You’re Trying to Froth Milk and Brew Coffee Simultaneously
If your frother isn’t working and you notice a flashing light on the front of your coffee maker, don’t worry. The light simply means that you’re trying to froth milk and brew coffee simultaneously.
Unfortunately, a Keurig coffee maker doesn’t allow you to perform both tasks together. So, wait for your coffee to finish brewing to get a working frother. If you try to froth milk after the brew cycle has finished, you shouldn’t have any issues.
2. Frothing Wand Is Misaligned
A poorly aligned frothing wand can also prevent you from enjoying creamy, frothed milk in your coffee. To determine whether there’s a misaligned wand or a far more serious problem behind your malfunctioning frother, you’ll need to perform a steam test.
Here’s what you need to do:
- Test the steam with a cup of water.
- Check the wand for any dirt, milk residue, or misalignment.
- If you find dirt, clean the milk frother with warm, soapy water and use the steam again.
- If the problem persists, adjust the wand. Make sure you consult the user manual for this step, so you don’t have to deal with similar issues in the future.
3. You’re Using the Wrong Milk
Milk froth is incredibly delicate, especially if you prefer a silky microfoam with your cappuccino. Remember that you can only have good milk froth if you use quality milk.
And since the number of proteins and fats varies from milk to milk, the quality of your froth will depend on the type of milk you use. It’s best to use whole or 2% milk, as milk with more fat gives a smoother and silkier froth.
While you can make froth with 1% skim milk, the result won’t be as satisfying as with high-fat milk. Remember that non-dairy milk, like almond milk, won’t froth, but you might still be able to get some bubbles here and there.
4. Guck Buildup on the Whisk
Like almost every other kitchen appliance, you must also regularly clean the Keurig milk frother. Since the whisk uses magnetic force to run, accumulated residue can negatively affect its functionality and disable the frother.
Luckily, this is an easy fix! Simply wash the frother thoroughly and soak the whisk in soapy water. Make sure you do this after every use to prevent milk residue from building up in the future.
5. You’re Using Too Much Milk
The max line in your Keurig frother helps prevent you from overfilling it with milk. If you add too much whole or skimmed milk (above the max line), your frother may stop working.
Check the max line and pour out any extra milk that passes above it. Then, try using the frother again to see if the issue is fixed.
6. Frother Isn’t Fixed Properly to the Base
If your frothing jug isn’t properly secured to its base, it won’t function even if there’s no physical damage. Ensure that the frother sits exactly where it should on your coffee maker.
Then, add milk, cover your frother with its lid, and check if that fixes the issue.
7. The Temperature of the Jug Is Too High
If you just used your Keurig frother, the jug’s temperature may be too high. This could cause the whisk to malfunction and stop working properly.
Before you use the frother again, cool down the temperature of the jug by letting it sit for around two minutes or by rinsing it with cold water. Once the jug returns to its normal temperature, try using the frother again.
FAQs
Which Milk Is Best for Frothing?
Full cream or whole milk creates a thicker, creamier froth, adding more body and richness to your coffee. Skim and low-fat milk are much lighter, creating foam with larger air bubbles. This makes them perfect for more delicate drinks, like a cappuccino or latte.
While you can use non-dairy alternatives, such as almond milk, oat milk, and soy milk, in your frother, keep in mind that the results will be quite thin.
Can You Froth Coffee Creamer?
You can froth any creamer with your Keurig machine, including powdered and liquid ones. However, keep in mind that the results won’t nearly be as satisfying as with regular whole milk.
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