Making froth Please could someone tell me what steps I take to make froth and then return to the coffee functions. Is it like this: 1. Turn machine on 2. Press steamer button 3. Turn knob to steam 4. Froth with steam. Now at this point when I turn the knob back and then press the steamer button to turn the light off - the temp gauge justs keep flickering. Can someone please walk me through it

https://www.justanswer.co.uk/appliance/94x19-coffee-maker-delonghi-esam-5500-not-producing-steam.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yq9tBpAFHoY

I don't have an answer but I was glad to see someone else had the problem. So I came on to troubleshoot also and see if anyone else had an answer.

If you have access to the internet, go to Mr. Coffee's web site and see
if the answer to your problem is there. If you have no access to the
internet, tell me and I will get the instructions and forward them to
you.

your frothing mechanism is clogged with dried milk. The chrome spout and black rubber hose come off by turning the plastic collar and pulling down. refer to your manual for pictures and step by step cleaning and maintenance instructions. your machine came with a cheat sheet card that is yellow and has a clear plastic laminate over it. it was in the box with the accessories. refer to that for an exploded view of your frothing mech.

Unfortunately I do not have a solution, but I have the same problem! I'm hoping we'll get a solution....

You need to check (or replace) the air-intake nozzle which is located inside the coffee outlet. You will sure loose the good froth if that part is not clean or replaced. There should be proper amount of air input to produced the proper froth.
Rihel Calma Philippines

I think you have a chrome steam wand end.
To froth properly, there is a very small hole on the side of the chrome steam wand that injects small bubbles into the milk, the hole is located aprox 1/4" down from top of the chrome wand, if this hole blocks up you can only heat the milk, not froth. I commonly use a stripped tin tie wire or a sewing needle to clear the hole . Clean the hole,do not enlargen the hole.

Does this happen after you make several froths or the first time you start the machine? Try removing the panarello and froth milk that way then see if this is happening too without the panarello. I found that panarellos are great as a "quick learning to froth?- but they do have the tendency to froth milk too much without heating it up ( to the temperature that you like).

Your vinegar did the job: it as removed the deposits, now these deposits are clogging the four holes porcelain valve.....if the froth lever is not broken.
Remove all the screw you can see on the top and under the top of it, remove the cover, unscrew the frothing device down to the porcelain valve consisting of two 4 holes discs, clean them, and voila!