How to Clean Breville Barista Express: Complete Guide

How to Clean a Breville Barista Express

Breville's Barista Express (BES870) book splits cleaning into a few everyday jobs and two cycles the machine asks for with its CLEAN/DESCALE light. Neither cycle needs anything beyond Breville's tablets, descaler and the tools in the box:

• Every use: wipe and purge the steam wand, rinse the basket and portafilter, and empty the drip tray (Empty Me!).
• CLEAN/DESCALE light flashing: run the cleaning cycle, a back-flush with the cleaning disc and one tablet.
• CLEAN/DESCALE light solid: descale.
• Regularly: clean the conical burrs.

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Step 1: Steam Wand (After Every Use)

What the book says: wipe the wand. Then, with the tip over the drip tray, briefly turn the STEAM/HOT WATER dial to STEAM "to clear any remaining milk from inside the steam wand".

Blocked holes: turn the dial to STANDBY, switch off and let it cool, then clear the holes with the pin on the cleaning tool. Still blocked: remove the tip with the spanner built into the cleaning tool, soak it in hot water, clear the holes and refit.

Time: 1 minute
Difficulty: Easy

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Step 2: Basket, Portafilter and Drip Tray

• Rinse the filter basket and portafilter after each shot. Clear blocked basket holes with the pin.
• Empty the drip tray when Empty Me! shows, and push it firmly back in. After espresso, hot water and steam, the machine auto purges into the tray. That's normal.

Time: 2 minutes
Difficulty: Easy

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Step 3: Cleaning Cycle (Light Flashing)

It's a back-flush, "separate from descaling".

1. Put the 1 CUP basket in the portafilter, then the cleaning disc, then one cleaning tablet. Lock it in.
2. Place a container under the spouts. Fill the tank and empty the drip tray.
3. Press POWER to switch off. Press 1 CUP + 2 CUP together, then also POWER, and hold all three for about 10 seconds.
4. It runs about 5 minutes and finishes with 2 beeps.
5. If the tablet hasn't dissolved, run it again. Rinse the basket and portafilter.

Time: About 10 minutes
Cost: One cleaning tablet
Difficulty: Easy

More: espresso machine backflushing.

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Step 4: Descale (Light Solid)

1. Remove the water filter. Dissolve 1 Breville descaling sachet in 34 fl oz (1 L) of water in the tank.
2. Hold 2 CUP, then also hold POWER. POWER flashes while it heats. It's ready when POWER, 1 CUP, CLEAN/DESCALE and HOT WATER/STEAM are all solid.
3. Press 1 CUP for the coffee part (about 25 s). Turn the dial right for steam (about 13 s), then left for hot water (about 8 s).
4. Repeat until the tank is empty. Then rinse with a full 68 fl oz (2 L) tank the same way, and press POWER to exit.

"The water tank should never be removed or completely emptied during descaling." It switches off after 5 minutes without action; restart from step 3.

Time: About 30-45 minutes
Cost: Breville descaler
Difficulty: Easy

More: Barista Express descaling.

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Step 5: Clean the Conical Burrs

What the book says: cleaning "removes oil build-up on the burrs which can impede performance".

1. Unlock the hopper, empty it, then refit and lock it.
2. Run the grinder empty.
3. Unlock and remove the hopper. Unlock and lift out the top burr.
4. Brush the top burr, the lower burr and the chute.
5. Refit the burr and hopper.

⚠️ Unplug before cleaning the grinder. Advanced cleaning (10 mm socket) is only "required if there is a blockage between the grinding burrs and the grinder outlet".

Time: 10 minutes
Difficulty: Easy

More: Breville grinder not working.

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Step 6: The Shower Screen

The book's leak row says the silicone seal around the shower screen eventually needs replacing. To take the screen off: power off and unplug, then remove the tank and drip tray. Undo the centre screw counter-clockwise with the short end of the Allen key, and remove the screen, noting which side faces down. Wash and dry it, then refit it, tightening the screw until flush without overtightening.

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FAQ

How often should I clean my Breville Barista Express?

Wipe and purge the steam wand and rinse the basket after every use. Run the cleaning cycle when the CLEAN/DESCALE light flashes, and descale when it's solid.

What's the difference between cleaning and descaling?

The cleaning cycle back-flushes the group head with a tablet. Descaling removes scale from the water circuit with descaler. The light flashes for cleaning and goes solid for descaling.

Can I use Cafiza in the Barista Express?

The book uses Breville cleaning tablets and the supplied cleaning disc, and doesn't mention other products.

Can I put the parts in the dishwasher?

Several Breville books say no part goes in the dishwasher. Wash by hand.

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Related Breville Guides

• Barista Express & Pro Maintenance Schedule
• Barista Express Descaling Guide
• Barista Express Not Working?
• Breville Empty Me!
• Barista Express vs Bambino Plus

Sources: Breville Barista Express BES870 instruction book (USCM V23).