How to Descale Your Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine

How to Descale Your Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine

Created : June 2024

The clean/descale light will automatically illuminate to indicate when a descaling cycle is required.

What's the difference between Breville Cleaning Cycle vs Descaling?

Although it is easy to confuse an espresso Cleaning Cycle with Descaling, the cleaning cycle is specifically designed to clean the main coffee machine group head (where the main coffee water comes out of) by removing coffee oils for better tasting coffee.

Descaling is the process of cleaning out mineral deposits (scale) that builds up within the coffee machine, to ensure the efficiency and longevity of your espresso machine, ensuring that it brews coffee effectively and consistently.

If you need to run a cleaning cycle on your machine, check out our 'How to Perform a Cleaning Cycle on Your Breville Espresso Machine' article where we will guide you through step by step, on running a cleaning cycle for your Breville Coffee Machine.

Steps to Begin the Descaling Process

1. Prepare the Machine:
  • Ensure you have the descaler that came with your machine. (Otherwise you will need to purchase descaling agent before proceeding)
  • Empty the drip tray and water tank.
  • Remove the water filter.
2. Prepare the Descaling Solution:
  • Dissolve one packet of descaler in 1 litre (34 ounces) of warm water.
  • Pour the solution into the water tank and reinsert it into the machine.
3. Initiate Descale Mode:
  • With the machine off, press and hold the 2-cup button and then press and hold the power button simultaneously to enter descale mode.
  • The unit will heat up, and the power button will flash continuously during this process.
4. Descaling the Machine:
  • Place a 2 litre (68-ounces) container under the group head and steam wand.
  • When the power button, one-cup button, clean/descale indicator, and hot water/steam indicator are all illuminated, the machine is ready for descaling.
  • Press the one-cup button to start descaling the coffee component. This takes approximately 25 seconds. The one-cup button will flash continuously and remain constant once this process is finished.
  • To terminate the descaling within 25 seconds, press the one-cup button again.
5. Descaling the Steam and Hot Water Components:
  • Turn the steam and hot water dial manually.
  • Descale the steam component by turning the steam dial left towards the steam icon. This process takes approximately 13 seconds.
  • To descale the water component, turn the steam dial to the right towards the water icon. This process takes approximately 8 seconds.
  • Turn the steam dial back to the vertical position once the steam wand stops delivering water.
6. Complete the Descaling:
  • By now, there should be about half of the descaling solution left in the water tank. Repeat the previous steps to empty the solution.
  • Once the descaling solution is emptied, remove the water tank and rinse it thoroughly. Refill with fresh cold water to the max line and repeat the steps to further cleanse the machine of any residue from the descaling solution.
7. Finish the Process:
  • Press the power button to quit the descaling process. The LED lights will switch off to indicate completion. The machine is now ready for barista style coffee creation!

Looking for a new Breville Coffee Machine?

If this guide has ignited a desire to explore further—why not take a peek at our full range of Breville coffee machines? Whether you're content with your current model or feeling inspired to upgrade, there's no harm in looking - see what's new. From entry-level gems to top-tier espresso labs, each machine offers a unique coffee adventure.

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