My beer tap is producing a lot of foam. What should I do?

Have you been dreaming of a lovely home-drawn beer, with just the right amount of head… only to end up with a glass that looks more like bubble bath than a properly poured pint? Don’t worry – beer that foams too much when using a beer pump or beer dispenser is a common problem. Before you blame your Krups, Beertender or other domestic beer dispenser, here are the right checks to carry out to ensure you get a nice, cold beer, served just right and, above all… with more beer than foam!

THE POTENTIAL CAUSES FOR THIS FAULT:

• Beer keg not chilled enough

• Incorrect use of the device

• Failure to maintain the beer pump

• Poor beer service

• Malfunction of the beer tap

WARNING
Before you do anything to your appliance, make sure you disconnect it from the power supply.
There is a risk of electric shock.

The beer keg isn’t cold enough

This is one of the most common reasons why a beer tap produces too much foam. A keg that is too warm generates higher pressure and releases more gas when the beer is dispensed. As a result, the beer comes out foamy, even if the machine is working properly.
Ideally, place the keg in the fridge at least 10 to 24 hours before use, depending on its initial temperature. If the keg has been stored at room temperature, it may take several hours to reach the correct temperature. On some beer dispensers, the beer can be kept at around 2 °C, but the machine will take time to cool a keg that is already warm.
After transport, also leave the keg to rest in a cool place, without handling it too much. A keg that has been shaken or moved just before serving will tend to produce a lot of foam. To avoid any unpleasant surprises at cocktail hour, the simplest solution is to keep a spare keg in the fridge.

Is the beer tap cold enough before the keg is fitted?

Even if your keg is nice and cold, your beer dispenser must also be ready. If you place a cold keg into a beer dispenser at room temperature, the machine will first need to stabilise the temperature. During this time, the first few glasses may be more frothy.
To minimise this, switch on the beer dispenser a few hours before serving, if the model allows it. A machine that is already cold will help maintain the correct temperature of the keg as soon as it is installed.
It is also normal to have a little more foam on the first two or three glasses after changing the keg. However, if the problem persists after several servings, you should look for another cause.

A lack of maintenance of the beer dispenser

Dried-on beer residue, deposits or a partial blockage in the spout can disrupt the flow. The beer no longer flows smoothly and quickly turns to foam.
Whenever you change the keg, it is recommended that you rinse the spout. On some models, it can be unscrewed or dismantled easily. Rinse it under cold water before use and clean the inside thoroughly. If the spout appears to be clogged, a clean cotton bud can help remove deposits from hard-to-reach areas, provided you do not leave any fibres inside. If the nozzle or beer outlet tube on your machine is damaged, it will need to be replaced.

Buy a tap nozzle for your beer tap here

The beer is not properly served

Sometimes, it’s not the tap that’s to blame: it’s the way the beer is poured that creates too much foam. To pour a beer from the tap properly, tilt the glass at an angle of about 45° and open the tap fully. It’s better to pour smoothly, without hesitation, rather than opening the tap only halfway or pouring too slowly.
Whilst filling the glass, keep the tap close to the liquid and guide the beer as it rises into the glass. When the glass is almost full, gently straighten it to create a controlled head.
The choice of glass also matters. A warm, dry or dusty glass encourages foam. Rinse it with cold water before serving. Plastic glasses are also less suitable: they often produce more foam than a traditional beer glass.

The beer pump is no longer producing enough cold air

If, despite these precautions, you end up with more foam than drink, this may mean that the machine is no longer able to keep the drink at the correct temperature. If the beer dispenser can no longer keep the keg at the correct temperature, the problem may lie with the cooling system, the fan, a cooling module, a sensor or the electronic circuit board, depending on the model.
In this case, check how the machine is behaving: is the display working normally? Does the temperature indicator remain red? Is the fan running? Is there adequate ventilation around the beer dispenser? If it is becoming abnormally hot or if the cooling system is no longer working, a more thorough diagnosis will be required.

Find spare parts to repair your beer tap here.