Coffee machine does not make foam: causes, repairs, prevention

We all love coffee and when the coffee machine stops functioning, we have to rack our brains about where to fix it or buy a new one. There can be many reasons for the breakdown. However, the main problem is considered to be with the cappuccino maker. If the coffee machine does not make foam, then do not be upset; you can try to solve the problem yourself or seek help from a specialist.

The principle of obtaining foam in a coffee machine

Expensive coffee machines have a special device called a cappuccino maker. The machine itself selects the dosage and starts preparing the drink. Cheap models also have a cappuccino maker, but it is started manually. The owner must independently monitor its operation.

It doesn’t matter whether the device is automatic or manual, the foam is whipped according to the same principle: steam under high pressure is introduced into the container into which the milk is poured.

How to clean pannarello

If previously the steam came out normally, but something happened and now there is less steam, you need to rinse the tube. For this:

The machine is turned on to heat the water.

Boiling water is poured into a cup.

Lower the spout and turn on the steam supply.

In this mode you need to stand for 5 – 6 minutes. This procedure helps clear the passages of milk fat.

On the milk tap in semi-automatic coffee makers you can see a small indentation through which the machine sucks in air to form foam. If it is clogged, the process will be slow. You need to take a toothpick (not a nail or a needle) and clean the groove. All this is done with the cappuccino maker disassembled.

Why doesn't foam come out?

The coffee machine may not produce foam for various reasons. However, the main ones are:

Incorrect operation of the device;
Technical problems.

Each item should be considered in detail to understand the cause of the malfunction.

Improper use of the device

Often, we use devices not as they should be, but in a way that is convenient for us. As a result, either the cappuccino maker does not work, or the device completely fails. This happens due to scale formation or because milk collects in the nozzle.

The remaining milk that collects in the nozzle allows steam to be supplied, but there will be no foam. Steam must be supplied under high pressure, and if the hole in the nozzle is clogged, this will not happen.

To remove the blockage you just need to wash the nozzles. Experts advise using a special brush or toothpick. But you should refuse wires and needles. The nozzle is plastic, so using metal objects may damage it.

Frequent use of the coffee machine leads to the formation of plaque on the internal elements. Its formation affects the steam supply. A small supply of steam leads to the fact that the foam practically does not whip up.

To eliminate this, you need to carry out decalcification. Modern models provide a similar procedure. There is a special button on the display that allows you to perform self-diagnosis and descale the elements.

The process will not take much time. Liquid is poured into the device or tablets are added. After this, you need to press the button, and the machine will self-clean the parts.

Technical problems

Foam may also not be obtained as a result of technical problems:

vapor block malfunction;
the pump broke;
temperature sensor failure;
the control module has failed.

If the steam unit breaks, there is no point in repairing it. It is worth changing the entire module. You should entrust the work to specialists, because they know the intricacies of each model and will select the part that is 100% suitable. The work will take no more than 1.5 hours.

The pump creates pressure. If this device fails, pressure will not be supplied and the milk will not froth. The problem can be solved easily. Simply replacing the part is enough.

The temperature sensor breaks very often. This detail is important for proper work, because the control board receives data from it. And if they are not correct, then the result is a completely different drink. A failure prevents the device from executing the program.

Problems with the temperature sensor directly affect the preparation of the foam and the taste of the drink itself. The replacement is carried out by a specialist.

Modern automatic and semi-automatic models are equipped with an electronic module. With its help, the device is controlled. The module controls all functions. If a failure occurs, the functionality of the device will be impaired. The machine may not dispense the finished drink or may not start.

If there is steam, but the milk cannot be frothed

If the device produces an impressive steam output, but the milk still does not froth, you should check the patency of the hole. It should be clean and not clogged from the last cappuccino preparation. You can clean the exit with a toothpick, acting very carefully and carefully.

In general, you should proceed like this:

the machine is disconnected from the network;
wait until the water in the boiler cools down a little;
carefully remove the protective cap from the nozzle of the pannarello nozzle by turning it counterclockwise;
carefully remove the nozzle itself;
we try to blow it out (this will reveal the presence of a plug);
If there is no blowing, clean the hole with a toothpick. There should be no milk residues in the canal;
install the nozzle and protective cap back.

Causes of cappuccino maker malfunctions

The cappuccino maker may not work for various reasons. Eg,

Formation of blockage. Experts believe that this is a common type of breakdown. The blockage occurs as a result of incorrect selection of milk. It may be too greasy or the coffee machine manufacturer does not recommend this brand. Failure to follow the proper usage technique can also result in the milk not frothing. Dealing with blockages is easy and simple. The instructions contain tips that will help you fix everything. If you cannot cope with the problem, then you should call a specialist.
Malfunctions that occur in the steam pump. You can immediately understand that the steam pump is broken. If the steam stops flowing or comes out from all sides, then the coffee machine needs to be turned off. The reasons for the breakdown may be the following:

overheating of the part. This happens if the device is not allowed to rest and many servings of the drink are prepared;
the defect was immediate. Long-term use of the device leads to the fact that the situation only gets worse.

Incorrect settings. Very often the factory settings are lost. After this, steam practically stops flowing. This happens because the user involuntarily presses different keys and cancels the program. To return the settings, just follow the tips from the instructions.
Malfunctions that occur in the control module. The problem can be easily fixed. Simply replacing the part is enough.
The milk tube does not suck in milk or has deviated from its original position. It should be corrected and after that the device will work.

Not all problems can be fixed on your own. Incorrect and untimely repairs can lead to more serious damage.

Step-by-step disassembly of the Delonghi ECAM 350.55 coffee machine with photos and description of the internals

In addition to the usual Phillips and flat-head screwdrivers, for a more cunning tool we will need a head (bit or a separate screwdriver) of size T20H , popularly called a “ hexagon with pin ”.

It is on these screws that the back cover is attached, which must be removed first.
After this, both side panels need to be moved back over the entire area and removed by pulling down and sideways by the lower edges.
We can see the insides from 3 sides. I labeled the main nodes in the photographs. Why is it that in the general noise of all Delonghi ECAMs, the main violin is played not even by the coffee grinder, as is customary with most coffee machines, but by the motor and gearbox of the brewing unit? Because the coffee grinder, like the pump, is attached to the body chassis through rubber hangers, which significantly reduces the noise from them. But Delonga’s brewer gearbox is louder than its competitors.
Get it out by simply pulling the grinding adjustment knob, which is located in the bean hopper, gently but firmly vertically upward. Remember the position in which she stood!
Unscrew the two screws at the back and lift the entire top panel along with the grain hopper. Lift it from the back. The front edge of the top panel is secured with 4 latches to the front panel of the coffee machine. You just need to carefully pull the entire top panel back.
If you are not going to disassemble the coffee grinder of the Delonghi ECAM coffee machine, then you do not need to pull/twist the shank/gear of the grinding regulator. Just in case, remember the position; you can put two marks on both gears with a black marker.
To remove the front panel, you need to unscrew 3 screws on one side and 2 on the other. Plus, disconnect the yellow wire on top that goes to the power button. There's just a spring-loaded metal tongue.
After that, we look at the car from the front. You will notice that the front cladding consists of two, and in fact even three parts. The upper half with the screen module and the lower half, divided into two parts, the left panel is mounted on the outlet of the cappuccino maker, the central one is under the screen module. But they are connected and there is no need to separate them in order to remove them. You just need to take the lower half by both parts and pull their lower edges towards you and up - they should bend and jump out of the grooves. It is clear that at the last moment the panel needs to be removed from the outlet of the cappuccino maker - it remains in place. By the way, under the cappuccino maker, or rather the water/steam outlet, there is a jug end switch. There is another limit switch above the water/steam outlet, it is not visible, it also belongs to the milk jug.
We do the same with the upper half of the front panel - pull the bottom edge towards you and up. We just move the sidewalls a little further - there are lugs on the sides from which we unscrewed the screws, and they cling to the chassis of the case with them. As a result, we get access to the front button board and the screen module. You can remove the board by unscrewing 4 screws here and one small one below, not visible in the photo.
Read also: What to give yourself and your coffee machine? Espresso accessories
This is what the front looks like without facing. The coffee dispenser is mounted on a frame, which is screwed with 4 self-tapping screws. Also here the silver tip has already been removed from the dispensers; it was attached to one screw located at the bottom end right in the middle of the coffee dispensing nozzles.
After removing the frame, you need to remove the moving part directly with the dispenser and nozzles. It simply stretches upward on runners, but caution is needed here. ATTENTION! A stop-lock moves along the back of the left guide, which is made in the form of a plastic pimp on a spring. When you pull the dispenser up, catch the spring and the pimp, they will fly out like a bullet to the left.
Having taken out the dispenser module, we remove the lid from it, there is a simple latch, and we find the reason for the uneven division of the coffee flow into two nozzles - a small coffee speck in the left channel. In the photo this is a brown spot near the stiffener. It was already enough to narrow the channel, which is why the coffee mainly flowed through the right hole.

DIY repair

The fact that the coffee machine is not working correctly becomes immediately noticeable. Some problems are visible to the naked eye. To prevent the situation from getting worse, you need to understand the situation. There are instructions for this that should be studied in detail. Of course, not all breakdowns can be fixed on your own. Experts advise not to disassemble the car unless you have special tools or experience.

You can only cope with some problems on your own. For example,

clean the machine from scale or remove the blockage;
return to the previous settings if, as a result of operation, the factory settings have been lost and the coffee machine begins to work incorrectly;
carry out decalcification. When carrying out this procedure, it is worth remembering that special substances must be used that “kill” scale. Usually the manufacturer recommends certain products;
analyze the ingredients that were used and replace them if necessary. You should choose ingredients for making coffee strictly according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Incorrect selection can lead to serious damage.

More serious damage should be entrusted to a specialist . He has special tools at hand and can quickly make a diagnosis. A professional approach will return the coffee machine to operation and it will work without interruption.

The steam is too weak - not enough to froth the milk.

The reason for the lack of steam of sufficient strength may be the presence of scale. The addition of calcium deposits to the internal elements of the machine affects both the water temperature and the pressure required to supply water and steam. In this case, decalcification should be carried out; you can do this yourself, following the instructions.

In addition, the reason why the coffee machine has stopped frothing milk may be a malfunction of some element: pump, sensors, heating element, etc. For example, the temperature of the water used to make coffee should reach 90-95 degrees. If the heating element malfunctions, the water temperature will be lower than necessary; if the sensor fails, the temperature is difficult to control. If the pressure is insufficient due to a malfunction of the pump, frothing milk also becomes impossible. In such cases, repair or replacement of the failed part may be required.

Prevention

Every owner wants his equipment to work without interruptions and not break down. You can extend the life of your favorite devices; to do this, you need to take preventive measures in time:

You need to take care of your equipment and if any problems arise, you should immediately seek help from specialists. Regular diagnostics will allow you to identify problems and fix them immediately.
The device must be treated with care and try to protect it from mechanical damage. It is very important to select the right ingredients and not to force the coffee machine to work without rest.
Timely cleaning of components also plays a huge role. If you don't wash the parts, milk and coffee will remain on them. As a result, the machine will not be able to operate as usual.

A little about the general

The coffee grinder in automatic coffee machines performs one main function - grinding coffee beans into ground powder. It is then used for brewing, entering the brewing unit.

Essentially, the unit performs the same load as freestanding coffee grinders. However, if we talk about the type, in coffee machines it can only be a millstone . There are no controls, a separate housing or similar things.

In general, there are two key components in the built-in coffee grinder:

Block functionality

As was said, the primary task is to prepare ground coffee of the fraction specified in the settings. This technological process cannot be called complex.

However, it follows a strict sequence:

the control board supplies voltage to the motor;
the millstone mechanism begins to rotate;
the grains are ground into powder and placed into the brewing unit.

In this case, one part of the millstones rotates on the engine rod, the second is fixed on the coffee grinder body. There is a mechanism whereby they can press together, which increases the grind and makes the coffee powder finer. Conversely, you can spread the millstones of the mill, increasing the degree of grinding.

The millstone material can be:

conclusions

A coffee machine is an item that requires careful handling. The coffee grinder hopper should always be kept with the lid closed, which will prevent accidental ingress of water and foreign objects . If a minor breakdown occurs, you can act independently - I told you how. In all other cases, I recommend contacting an authorized service.

Problems with grinding will not allow you to make delicious coffee if the machine is equipped with a built-in coffee grinder, even if all other components are working properly. What to do about it? – I’ll talk about this further.