Question 1

the holes in my breville espresso machine filter basket are clogged, how do i clean them?

Accepted Answer

Coffee oils have solidified, blocking the basket holes. Clean it immediately after each use to prevent this. Rinse the filter basket and portafilter under hot water immediately after use. For clogged holes: Use the pin on the end of the provided cleaning tool to unblock each hole. IF THAT DIDN'T WORK: For persistent clogs, dissolve a cleaning tablet in hot water and soak the filter basket and portafilter in the solution for about 20 minutes. Rinse thoroughly afterwards. HEADS UP: Never clean filter baskets, portafilters, or any machine parts in the dishwasher. Use only warm water and a gentle dishwashing liquid by hand. Abrasive cleansers will scratch the surfaces.

Question 2

how do i descale my breville barista express? the light is solid on.

Accepted Answer

A solid Clean/Descale light means mineral buildup requires descaling. You'll need one Breville Descaling powder sachet. Dissolve one sachet into 34 fl oz (1L) of water, then fill the water tank. Press and hold the 2 CUP button, then press and hold the POWER button simultaneously. Release when the machine enters Descale mode (POWER button flashes, then all relevant lights go solid). Press the 1 CUP button to start descaling the coffee component (~25 seconds). The button flashes, then stays solid. Descale the steam component by turning the steam dial RIGHT towards the steam icon (~13 seconds). Descale the hot water component by turning the steam dial LEFT towards the hot water icon (~8 seconds). Repeat steps 3-5 to use about half the solution. About 17 fl oz (0.5L) should remain. Repeat steps 3-5 again to empty the tank. Rinse: Remove the tank, rinse it, refill with fresh cold water to max (68 fl oz / 2L), and repeat steps 3-5 twice more to rinse the system. Press POWER to quit descaling mode. HEADS UP: Never remove the water tank during descaling. The machine turns off after 5 minutes of inactivity in this mode; if that happens, restart from step 2.

Question 3

can i use bottled or filtered water in my breville barista express?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but you must remove the water filter if you do. The provided water filter is designed for tap water to reduce scale. Using it with already-filtered water is unnecessary and can affect taste. Remove the water tank. Pull up to unlock and remove the water filter holder assembly. Use the machine with just water in the tank. IF THAT DIDN'T WORK: If you're using tap water and want to prevent scale, use the water filter. Replace it every 2 months (soak new filter for 5 mins, rinse, install, set date dial). In hard water areas, replace it more frequently. HEADS UP: Breville does not recommend using de-mineralized or distilled water, as it can affect the taste of the espresso and machine performance. Use cold, filtered water instead.

Question 4

the drip tray on my breville barista express says empty me but it's not full, what gives?

Accepted Answer

Yeah, this one's common. The 'EMPTY ME!' indicator float is probably stuck due to coffee grounds or gunk. Remove the drip tray. Lift out the grid. You'll see the coffee grind separator and the red 'EMPTY ME!' indicator. Lift the separator and dispose of any grounds. The indicator itself can be removed from the drip tray by pulling it upwards to release the side latches. Wash the drip tray, grid, separator, and indicator in warm, soapy water with a soft cloth. Rinse and dry everything thoroughly. Reassemble and slide the tray back in. IF THAT DIDN'T WORK: If the indicator still doesn't move freely, check for damage. The storage tray behind the drip tray can also be removed and cleaned with a soft, damp cloth. Make sure nothing is obstructing the tray's seating. HEADS UP: Don't use abrasive cleansers or scouring pads on any part of the drip tray—it'll scratch. Clean this area regularly to prevent the float from sticking.

Question 5

my breville barista express is leaking water from the group head when i'm not even using it, help?

Accepted Answer

This is often caused by a worn or damaged silicone seal around the shower screen. It needs to be replaced. Press the POWER button to switch off and unplug the machine. Carefully remove the water tank and drip tray. Clean the center of the shower screen screw of any coffee residue with a skewer. Insert the shorter end of the provided Allen Key into the screw. Turn counter-clockwise to loosen it. Remove the screw and the stainless steel shower screen. Note which side was facing down. Remove the old silicone seal with your fingers or long-nose pliers. Insert the new seal, flat side first, so the ribbed side faces you. Re-insert the shower screen (correct side down) and the screw. Tighten with the Allen Key until the screw is flush with the screen. Do not overtighten. Re-insert the drip tray and water tank. IF THAT DIDN'T WORK: If leaking continues after seal replacement, the issue could be internal. Contact Breville Consumer Support for service. HEADS UP: You can order replacement silicone seals directly from Breville. Regularly wiping the group head interior and shower screen with a damp cloth after use can help prolong the seal's life.

Question 6

how do i clean the grinder on my breville barista express? it's getting sluggish.

Accepted Answer

Oil build-up on the conical burrs is impeding performance. Perform the grinder cleaning cycle. Unlock and remove the bean hopper. Empty it. Replace and lock the hopper. With no beans in the hopper, press the PUSH TO GRIND button and run the grinder empty for about 30 seconds. Unlock and remove the hopper again. Unlock and remove the top burr assembly. Clean the top burr, lower burr, and grinder chute with the provided brush. IF THAT DIDN'T WORK: If there is a blockage between the burrs and the grinder outlet, advanced cleaning is required. This involves:Setting the GRIND SIZE dial to 1 (finest). Using a 10mm socket to loosen (clockwise) the nut on the lower burr only. Setting the GRIND SIZE dial to 16 (coarsest). Removing the nut, spring, flat washer, grind fan, and washers to access and clean the exit chute. HEADS UP: The grinder burrs are extremely sharp. Handle with care. Reassemble components in the correct order: washers, grind fan, lower burr, flat washer, spring washer, nut. Tighten the nut counter-clockwise.

Question 7

breville barista express steam wand is blocked, how do i unclog it?

Accepted Answer

Milk residue has hardened inside the steam wand tip, blocking the holes. First, wipe the wand with a damp cloth after each use. Then, with the steam wand tip over the drip tray, briefly turn the STEAM/HOT WATER dial to the STEAM position to clear remaining milk. If holes are still blocked: Set the STEAM/HOT WATER dial to STANDBY. Press POWER to switch off and let the machine cool. Use the pin on the end of the provided cleaning tool to unblock each hole. IF THAT DIDN'T WORK: For a severe blockage, remove the steam wand tip using the integrated spanner in the cleaning tool. Soak the tip in hot water. Use the pin tool to unblock the holes before re-attaching. HEADS UP: Always purge the steam wand after texturing milk to prevent this. Direct the steam over the drip tray, not your hand or cup.

Question 8

my breville barista express is flashing the clean/descale light, what does that mean?

Accepted Answer

A flashing Clean/Descale light means it's time for a back-flushing cleaning cycle, not a descale. A solid light means descaling is required. Insert the 1 CUP filter basket into the portafilter, then the supplied cleaning disc, followed by 1 cleaning tablet. Lock the portafilter into the group head and place a large container under the spouts. Fill the water tank with cold water and ensure the drip tray is empty. Press the POWER button to switch the machine off. Press and hold the 1 CUP, 2 CUP, and POWER buttons together for about 10 seconds. The cycle runs for about 5 minutes. Water will flow intermittently from the portafilter. Two beeps signal completion. Remove the portafilter and check that the tablet has fully dissolved. If not, repeat the cycle. IF THAT DIDN'T WORK: If the light is solid (not flashing), then descaling is required. You'll need a Breville Descaling powder sachet dissolved in 34 fl oz (1L) of water to fill the tank, then enter Descale mode by holding the 2 CUP and POWER buttons simultaneously. HEADS UP: Never remove or completely empty the water tank during a descaling cycle. The machine will turn off automatically if there's no action for 5 minutes in descale mode.

Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine BES870XL

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