E-cigarette tastes burnt – what to do? Causes and solutions

A burnt, harsh draw is one of the most common reasons customers bring their device to our shop. The good news: the device itself is almost never broken. In most cases the coil or the pod is the cause. In this guide we show you how to find the cause and what you can do.

Why does my e-cigarette taste burnt?

Almost always the cotton in the coil is too dry or already burnt. Common triggers are used-up coils, an empty tank, excessive power or insufficient priming.

The manufacturer Vaporesso names four typical causes in its FAQ:

1. The coil or pod has reached the end of its life.
2. Vaping continued even though there was hardly any liquid left in the tank.
3. The liquid is very thick (high VG content).
4. The new coil was not sufficiently saturated with liquid.

With devices with a wattage setting excessive power can also be a cause.

What should you do immediately?

Stop drawing, check the fill level and let the coil rest for a few minutes.

Don’t keep drawing on a device that tastes burnt, as every further draw can damage the cotton further. Then check step by step:

1. Fill level: Is the liquid above the openings of the coil? If not, refill.
2. Resting time: Leave the device for a few minutes so that the cotton can absorb liquid again.
3. Power: On adjustable devices, set the watts to the lower value of the recommended range.
4. Test draw: Take a short, gentle draw.

If it tastes normal afterwards, the cotton was just too dry (dry hit). If it still tastes burnt, the coil is damaged.

When does the coil or pod need to be replaced?

If the burnt taste remainseven though tank, resting time and power are right.

Burnt cotton doesn’t recover. In this case Vaporesso recommends changing the coil or pod and not continuing to vape. With pods with a built-in coil you replace the whole pod; with other devices just the coil head. Which replacement fits your device is stated in the product description; an overview can be found under pods and coils.

How do you install the new coil correctly?

• Put drops of liquid on visible cotton (with replaceable heads).
• Fill the tank or pod and wait at least a few minutes.
• Start with low power.

We explain this in detail in the guide 7 tips to avoid burnt coils.

Can the liquid be the cause?

Yes. Thick and heavily sweetened liquids put more strain on the coil.

Thick liquids with a high VG content soak into the cotton more slowly, especially with small MTL coils. Heavily sweetened liquids leave residues that gunk up the coil. In both cases it tastes burnt sooner. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendation for your atomizer.

And if it just tastes “different” after the liquid?

Not every change in taste means a burnt coil. If you change flavours, the old taste may linger in the cotton for a short time. This disappears after a few draws or, at the latest, with the next coil.

Is a burnt draw a health concern?

Continuing to vape with a burnt coil is not advisable.

The BfR points out that the composition of the vapour depends, among other things, on draw intensity, fill level and battery power, and that harmful substances such as formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and acrolein can be produced when liquids are heated. If it tastes burnt, that is a clear signal to fix the cause rather than carry on.

Which questions do we hear most often in the shop?

My pod is new and still tastes burnt. Why?

Usually it was drawn on straight after filling. The cotton was still dry. Give new pods a few minutes. If the taste doesn’t go away after resting, the cotton has already been damaged.

Can the device itself taste burnt?

The battery/mod doesn’t vaporise anything and has no taste. The taste is always produced in the pod or atomizer. A defect in the device tends to show up as error messages, failure to fire or an incorrectly displayed resistance.

How long does a coil normally last?

That depends on the liquid, the power and your vaping habits. There is no fixed period. More on this in the guide What is a coil in the atomizer?.

Note: This guide is intended exclusively for adults. We sell all products only to persons aged 18 and over. Nicotine is a highly addictive substance. This article does not replace medical advice. If you want to quit smoking, you can find free help on the rauchfrei portal of the German Federal Institute for Public Health.

About the authors – Team Dampfstelle Freiburg: We are an owner-managed specialist shop in Freiburg-Zähringen and have been advising customers in our shop every day since August 2022. Our team has been vaping for over 10 years and knows the devices, liquids and typical problems from personal experience.

Last updated: 14.10.2026

Which sources is this article based on?

1. Vaporesso: Vapes FAQ – “What should I do if it tastes burnt?” (manufacturer FAQ, in English). https://www.vaporesso.com/vapes-faq
2. Vaporesso Blog: Why does my vape taste burnt? (manufacturer, in English). https://www.vaporesso.com/blog/guide-to-vaping/why-does-my-vape-taste-burnt
3. Vaporesso Store Blog: How to Prime a Vape Coil (manufacturer, in English). https://store.vaporesso.com/blogs/news/how-to-prime-vape-coil
4. German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR): E-cigarettes: anything but harmless – questions and answers, as of 08.04.2025 (in German). https://www.bfr.bund.de/fragen-und-antworten/thema/e-zigaretten-alles-andere-als-harmlos/
5. German Federal Institute for Public Health: rauchfrei portal (in German). https://www.rauchfrei-info.de/