Nespresso Frother Blinking Red Light [8 Reasons & Solutions]

Published: 08/08/22 •  9 min read

The Nespresso Aeroccino milk frother is a retro-style machine for frothing hot and cold milk. But is the blinking red light stopping you from making your favorite coffee? It is a protective feature that prevents the machine from operating unnecessarily.

These issues are often minor, like dis-positioning or improper cleaning of the whisk, incorrect milk proportion, or a problem with the circuit.

So, Scroll down to read some life-saving tips and tricks to get your Aeroccino milk frother back in shape.

Key Takeaways
  • Aeroccino Milk Frother, an automatic touch slim body device, frothing hot and cold milk at different temperatures.
  • Fixing Aeroccino Blinking includes cleaning, preventing overuse, improper milk ratio, damaged whisk or thermocouple and using pure milk.
  • For a creamy froth, whole milk or Barista oat milk is preferable to other milk products.
  • If that doesn’t fix the problem, contact Nespresso support.
  • Similar troubleshooting procedures apply to the Nespresso Aeroccino 3 and 4 models; the main distinction is that the Aeroccino 4 is dishwasher-safe, while the Aeroccino 3 can only be washed by hand.

What is a Aeroccino Milk Frother?

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07/26/2024 07:40 pm GMT

Aeroccino Milk Frother is an automatic frothing machine with a non-stick surface made from stainless steel. Its slim body makes it space friendly.

Its functionality requires a 1-second touch on the button for hot milk foam, whereas an exact 2-second touch on the milk button for making cold milk froth. Its black plastic is used to help it heat up between 140-160 degrees Fahrenheit quickly.

Nespresso Frother Blinking Red Light – Reasons & How to Fix:

1. Overuse use of the Aeroccino Milk Frother

The repeated use of the milk frother can make the Nespresso machine overheat as it’s an electric machine. The overheating raises the milk temperature and causes the machine to show a red light. Remember that leftover milk residue mixed with new milk can cause the machine to overheat.

Solution:

Let the Nespresso machine rest for about 15-20 mins to prevent overheating. Otherwise, if you want to use it immediately, then after unplugging it, rinse the jug, lid, and frother with cold water and for other areas, use a paper towel or a dry cloth.

Please wait for the Aerrocino to dry and return to its normal temperature before continued use.

Then, plug the coffee machine in to check if it’s working or not. If its still having issues, contact the Nespresso Customer Support helpline.

2. Dirty Aeroccino Whisk or Jug

The leftover milk residue on the jug or whisk can create problems for the machine, forcing it to require more power to spin the milk frother with this heavy amount of additional residue.

This can overheat your Nespresso milk frother and trigger the thermostat by flashing the warning red light.

Solution:

Make sure to clean the Aeroccino every time between its walls and the base so that the residue doesn’t build up. The best way to do this is using a non-stick scourer or a scrubbing sponge with cold water. 

Some people mix water and dish soap, fill it to the bottom line, and switch the Aeroccino on for safe cleaning.

This hack will help clean your Nespresso’s sensitive areas. Also, don’t rush because sudden pressure can damage its parts.

The Aeroccino 3 should not be washed in the dishwasher as it could damage the machine.

3. Incorrect Milk Level

Adding milk below 4oz can cause the machine to malfunction due to a lack of liquid.

For frothy milk and lattes, set it to a lower MAX level, and increase it to a higher MAX level for coffee. Going beyond these limits can cause the machine not to heat up properly, causing Nespresso frother lights to blink.

Solution:

Make sure to pay attention to the fill levels.   

You must fill it to the bottom line with a coil on the whisk. Without the coil, it’s your choice to either fill to the bottom or top line.

4. Weak Power Supply

Using an extension cord and not directly plugging the machine in can cause a weak power supply, thus making your Nespresso stop working.

Alternatively, the whisk needs to be correctly placed in the jug, causing a loose connection, hence leading to the Nespresso frother blinking red.

Solution:

Firstly, remember that you have to have a solid connection to electricity for the machine to work properly.

It’s always recommended to directly plug the machine into the outlet rather than using an extension cord.

If you are using an extension cord, position your Nespresso closer to the outlet and check if this was the cause of the red light.

5. Damaged or Missing Whisk

The machine will blink red due to the whisk missing or not properly placed. Further, a cracked or loose whisk can create problems for the machine and its functionality.

A broken magnetic whisk could be caused by using different quality milk that needs more energy to get frothed compared to suitable Aeroccino milk such as oat milk.

Moreover, if you use a damaged whisk, it will cause the Aeroccino milk frother to keep flashing a red light as a warning sign!

Solution:

After cleaning, you should check to ensure the whisk is positioned correctly. 

Further, if the whisk is broken or gets loose due to the quality of the milk, then you should change the milk and try the ones that best fit your milk frother.

6. Damaged Thermocouple

Thermocouples measuring the temperature of the frothed milk can be faulty or damaged, thus giving wrong signals to your Nespresso to stop operating and show the red light.

Also, due to overuse, it might wear out, causing it not to work correctly.

Solution:

If your thermocouple shows a reading below 25 mv, you should get it replaced. Removing thermocouples varies with the type of machine you have.

Also, you should consider that the new thermocouple tip is corrosive and has a smooth surface.

While repairing it with other experts, you must maintain an accurate distance between the thermocouple and the flame.

7. Mishandling of the Machine’s Electronics

Some parts of the machine are electric and should not be washed with water.

A mishandled motor being dropped or run in water can make it behave strangely and cease working.

The grease or muck in the bottom of the machine can negatively affect your Nespresso, causing the flashing red light.

Solution:

Check if the milk jug or the magnetic whisk attachment is cleaned correctly and connected to the base, as it is the power hub for the frother to function correctly. Keep an eye on the base plastic to ensure it isn’t damaged or melted.

Further, you can fix a damaged motor by cleaning it properly and removing the gunk, but if it’s still not functioning correctly, you’ll need to get a new one!

8. Milk Type

The type of milk you put into the machine can cause the blinking red light. The milk that works best for Aeroccino should be rich in a froth. This includes whole or oat milk as it contains a lower protein content than other milk, hence using less power and heating than dairy milk.

glass filled with milk

Solution:

Use oat or whole milk with your frother for the best experience.

You can also choose the “Barista” edition of oat milk, which provides more fat and foam.

Does the Nespresso Aeroccino 3 and 4 Use the Same Troubleshooting Steps?

YES, Nespresso Aeroccino 3 and 4 models use similar troubleshooting steps. The only difference is the Aeroccino 4 is dishwasher safe, whereas Aeroccino 3 is hand wash only.

Now, let’s look at solving these troubleshooting steps:

1. Aeroccino doesn’t start or work.

First, ensure that the whisk is appropriately secured and the jug is safely set on a clean bottom.

Also, ensure the connectors are completely dry before turning on the machine.

2. Poor Milk quality

For a potential froth, use a 39-42° F semi-skimmed or whole milk. Milk can be refrigerated, not frozen, as it will not froth.

Only use special barista edition oat milk for the best results.

Also, you must add all the flavoring into the jug rather than while frothing, as it can damage the inner coating of the machine and cause extra cleaning.

3. Fast blinking red light.

The main reason is overheating, and it can be cured by rinsing it with cold water, letting it dry and then checking it.

The milk level is not on one of the max bottom lines of the base.

Other possible reasons are the connectors are wet, dirty, or parts like the jug or whisk are not properly placed or are broken.

When to call Nespresso support?

If none of the solutions works, you can easily contact Nespresso Support using their helpline customer support.

Keep the machine with you for technical questions, as they can directly tell you the possible solutions.

If that doesn’t work and you are unsatisfied with the product quality, you have to call the helpline or fill out an online form describing all the possible defects you are facing.

For replacement, you need to have the machine packaging in hand to share the production code with the team to trace the production batch number. You can get a free repair if you have a warranty card, which lasts for two years after you purchase.

Further, to claim your warranty, you have to provide all of the required information, and if the product is broken, you can get a free repair.

What kind of milk is good for Nespresso Aeroccino?

Whole milk or Barista Oat milk is better used for a creamy froth than other milk products. See below to learn more:

Barista Oat MilkOther Milks 
Creates thicker lighter froth Creates thicker foam, but stiff
Lower fat content Lower protein content 
Easily creates creamier foamDifficult to create froth

FAQS:

Where can I Download Nespresso milk frother Manual?

You can download it from the Nespresso website. Click here:

Why is Nespresso Aeroccino not foaming milk properly?

Check the whisk spin. Re-magnetize the magnet on a hard surface, e.g. table. Check the milk level and see if it is fresh and cold.

Can you put cream in a Nespresso milk frother?

Yes, it’s confirmed by Nespresso itself that these frothers can work while adding cream.

Can you froth cold milk?

Yes, hold down on the button until the blue light appears, indicating that the frother is whipping coal foam.

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Hans Mast

Hans loves coffee and loves teaching about coffee