Breville Barista Express Leaking Water? 4 Fixes (BES870)

Breville's Three Leak Causes for the BES870

Breville's Barista Express (BES870) book gives three reasons for "water leaking", and the first isn't a fault. After every espresso, hot water and steam, the machine auto purges water into the drip tray to bring the thermocoil back to temperature. If the tray isn't pushed fully home, or isn't emptied when it fills, that water ends up on the counter. The other two causes are a water tank that isn't locked in, and a worn silicone seal around the shower screen, which stops the portafilter locking in securely.

There's also water that looks like a leak but is normal: while the machine heats for steam, "condensed water may purge from the steam wand". The book lists no internal hose, valve or tank seal for owners to fix, and nothing about loose collar screws.

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Try This First

• Look at the drip tray. If its Empty Me! indicator is up, empty it and push it back firmly.
• Lift the tank and push it back down until it locks.
• Watch where the water appears during one shot: under the tray, behind the machine, or around the portafilter.
• Note when it happens. Water from the steam wand while the STEAM/HOT WATER light flashes is normal condensation.

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Where Is the Water?

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Fix 1: Empty the Drip Tray and Push It Home (Works About 40% of the Time)

Auto purge is designed in. Immediately after the espresso, hot water and steam functions, the machine releases water into the drip tray so the thermocoil sits at the right temperature for the next shot. Breville's remedy: "Ensure the drip tray is firmly pushed in place and emptied whenever the indicator is displayed."

Signs it's this one:

• Water appears just after a shot or after steaming
• The Empty Me! indicator is showing, or the tray sits slightly proud

1. Slide out the drip tray and empty it.
2. Wipe the area under it dry.
3. Push the tray firmly back until it seats fully.
4. Empty it whenever Empty Me! pops up, not when it overflows.

Time: 1 minute
Cost: Free
Success Rate: About 40%
Difficulty: Easy

The cleaning cycle also sends water into the tray, so start every cleaning cycle with an empty tray, as the book says.

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Fix 2: Lock the Water Tank In (Works About 25% of the Time)

The book lists "water tank is not fully inserted and locked into position" as a leak cause, and also as a reason water doesn't flow. A tank that's sitting slightly high can let water out at the back.

Signs it's this one:

• Water collects behind or under the back of the machine
• It started after refilling

1. Lift the tank out and check its base is clean.
2. Refill it with fresh cold water.
3. Push it down completely until it locks into position.
4. Wipe up, pull a shot, and check the back.

Time: 2 minutes
Cost: Free
Success Rate: About 25%
Difficulty: Easy

During descaling, never take the tank out. The BES870 book says the tank "should never be removed or completely emptied during descaling".

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Fix 3: Replace the Shower Screen Seal (Works About 25% of the Time)

The book's third leak cause: "The silicone seal surrounding the shower screen needs to be replaced to ensure the portafilter is properly secured into the group head." It also says this is expected with age: "Over time, the silicone seal surrounding the shower screen will need to be replaced." A tired seal lets water escape around the portafilter during the shot.

Signs it's this one:

• Water or coffee runs down the outside of the portafilter during extraction
• The handle turns further than it used to before it feels tight
• The machine has a few years of daily use

⚠️ Safety: the group head gets very hot. Switch the machine off with POWER, unplug it, and let it cool before you touch the shower screen. Removing the screen is the only step the book describes. Don't open the housing.

Get the seal from Breville. The book says: "Contact Breville Consumer Support or visit www.breville.com for replacement silicone seals or for advice." It shows how to take off the shower screen, but not how to fit the seal, so ask Breville for advice when you order.

To remove and clean the shower screen with the supplied Allen key (book p. 26):

1. Press POWER to switch off, and unplug the machine.
2. Remove the water tank and the drip tray.
3. Clean out the centre of the shower screen screw with a skewer.
4. Using the short end of the Allen key, turn the screw counter-clockwise and remove the screw and shower screen. Note which side faces down.
5. Wash the screen in warm soapy water, then dry it.
6. Refit the screen and screw: two or three turns by hand, then the Allen key until flush. Don't overtighten.
7. Refit the drip tray and tank.

Time: About 30 minutes, plus cooling
Cost: The price of a replacement seal from Breville
Tools: The Allen key supplied with the machine, a skewer
Success Rate: About 25%
Difficulty: Moderate

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Fix 4: Recognize the Normal Steam-Wand Purge (Works About 10% of the Time)

When you turn the dial to steam, the STEAM/HOT WATER light flashes while the machine heats. The book says: "During this time, condensed water may purge from the steam wand. This is normal." When the light stops flashing, the wand is ready.

Signs it's this one:

• Water drips from the steam tip only while the light is flashing
• It stops once steam is ready

1. Point the steam tip over the drip tray while it heats.
2. After steaming, wipe the wand, then briefly turn the dial to STEAM with the tip over the tray to clear milk from inside.
3. Return the dial to STANDBY.

Time: A few seconds
Cost: Free
Success Rate: About 10%
Difficulty: Easy

If the wand drips with the dial at STANDBY and the machine fully heated, that's not in the book's normal list, so contact Breville.

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When DIY Won't Work

Stop using it and call Breville if:

• Water pools under the machine with the tray emptied and pushed in, and the tank locked
• Water appears under the base with no shot or steam running
• The machine stops working mid-use. The book's answer is a thermal cut-out: switch off, unplug, let it cool 30-60 minutes, and call Breville if it persists.

Support: 1-866-BREVILLE (1-866-273-8455) in the U.S., 1-855-683-3535 in Canada. Don't open the housing: internal hoses, valves and seals aren't owner parts in the book.

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Keep It Dry

• Empty the drip tray at Empty Me!, and always push it fully home.
• Lock the tank down after every refill.
• Run the cleaning cycle when the CLEAN/DESCALE light flashes. Flashing means the back-flush cycle, and solid means descale.
• Descale when the light is solid, keeping the tank in place throughout.
• Watch the portafilter. If it starts turning further to lock, plan a seal replacement.

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FAQ

Why is there always water in my Barista Express drip tray?

That's auto purge. After espresso, hot water and steam, the machine releases water into the drip tray to bring the thermocoil to the right temperature for the next use. It's normal. Keep the tray pushed in and empty it when Empty Me! shows.

Why is water leaking around my portafilter?

Breville's book says the silicone seal around the shower screen needs replacing when the portafilter no longer secures properly in the group head. Order a seal from Breville Consumer Support or breville.com. The book shows how to remove the shower screen with the supplied Allen key.

Does the Barista Express have a collar screw problem?

Nothing in Breville's BES870 instruction book mentions loose collar screws or a batch with untreated screws. The book's leak causes are auto purge, an unlocked tank and the shower screen seal. If you suspect something else, contact Breville rather than opening the machine.

Is this the same on the Barista Express Impress?

The Impress (BES876) has its own book, which we haven't read for this page, so check its troubleshooting section. Breville's general leak causes, auto purge and the tank, are covered across models in our Breville leaking guide.

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Related Breville Guides

• Breville Leaking Water?: leak causes across Breville's espresso machines
• Breville Won't Brew Coffee?: when nothing comes from the group head
• Breville Steam Wand Not Working?: steam tip blockages and purging
• Breville Error Codes and Lights: the CLEAN/DESCALE light, flashing vs solid

Sources: Breville Barista Express BES870 Instruction Book (USCM V23).