Breville Barista Express & Barista Pro Maintenance Guide (BES870, BES878)

What the Barista Express and Barista Pro Books Ask For

Breville's books for the Barista Express (BES870) and Barista Pro (BES878) set the routine by prompt, not the calendar. Run a cleaning cycle (backflush with the cleaning disc and a tablet) when the machine asks: the CLEAN/DESCALE light flashing on the Express, or FLUSH on the Pro's LCD. Descale when it asks again: the light solid on the Express, DESCALE on the Pro. Change the water filter every 2 months, clean the burrs and steam wand, and keep the drip tray emptied. That's the core.

The books have no yearly gasket swap and no monthly Cafiza routine. They also have no "annual service". This schedule follows the books instead.

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Before You Start

• Check the panel. Express: CLEAN/DESCALE flashing means clean, solid means descale. Pro: FLUSH or DESCALE on the LCD.
• Find the cleaning disc and tablets that came in the box, and the cleaning tool with the pin and spanner.
• Unplug and cool before removing the shower screen or cleaning the burrs.

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Barista Express and Pro Schedule

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Step 1: Daily Care

1. Steam wand: wipe it straight after texturing, then purge briefly (Express: turn the dial to STEAM; Pro: wand down over the drip tray, steam dial on). Clear blocked tip holes with the pin on the cleaning tool. If they stay blocked, unscrew the tip with the tool's spanner and soak it in hot water.
2. Basket and portafilter: rinse after each shot. For blocked holes, use the pin; the Pro book adds a 20-minute soak in a dissolved cleaning tablet.
3. Drip tray: water in it after shots, hot water and steam is the machine's auto purge, and it's normal. Empty it when it's full.

Time: 2 minutes
Difficulty: Easy

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Step 2: Run the Cleaning Cycle When Asked

The cleaning cycle backflushes the group head. Breville keeps it "separate from" descaling.

1. Fit the 1 CUP basket, the cleaning disc and one cleaning tablet, and lock the portafilter in.
2. Fill the tank and empty the drip tray.
3. Barista Express: switch off with POWER, then hold 1 CUP + 2 CUP, then also POWER, for about 10 seconds. It runs about 5 minutes and ends with two beeps.
4. Barista Pro: tank to MAX, then MENU → FLUSH → 1 CUP.
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: how to backflush an espresso machine.

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Step 3: Descale When the Machine Asks

1. Remove the water filter first.
2. Barista Express: with the CLEAN/DESCALE light solid, dissolve 1 Breville descaling sachet in 34 fl oz (1 L) of water in the tank. Hold 2 CUP, then also hold POWER. Then run the coffee (1 CUP, about 25 s), steam (dial right, about 13 s) and hot water (dial left, about 8 s) parts, and repeat until the tank is empty. Rinse with 68 fl oz (2 L) of fresh water the same way, then press POWER to exit.
3. Barista Pro: fill to the DESCALE line with descaler, then MENU → DESCALE → 1 CUP. Turn the steam dial when the LCD tells you; the three stages are coffee, hot water and steam.
4. Never remove or empty the tank part-way through.

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

Full steps: Barista Express descaling · Barista Pro descaling.

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Step 4: Change the Filter and Clean the Burrs

1. Water filter: replace it every 2 months. Express book: remove it entirely if you use filtered or bottled water.
2. Burrs: unlock the hopper and empty it, run the grinder empty, then remove the top burr. Brush the top burr, the lower burr and the chute. This "removes oil build-up on the burrs which can impede performance".
3. Advanced cleaning is only for a blockage between the burrs and the outlet. It needs a 10 mm socket; follow the book step by step.

Time: 10-15 minutes
Difficulty: Easy (advanced cleaning: Moderate)

⚠️ Safety: the burrs "are extremely sharp". Unplug the machine before cleaning the grinder.

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Step 5: Replace the Shower-Screen Seal (Barista Express)

The Express book's leak row says the silicone seal around the shower screen "needs to be replaced to ensure the portafilter is properly secured", and "Over time, the silicone seal surrounding the shower screen will need to be replaced."

1. Power off and unplug. Remove the tank and drip tray.
2. Clean the centre of the screw with a skewer, then undo it with the short end of the Allen key (counter-clockwise).
3. Remove the screw and shower screen, noting which side faces down. Wash and dry the screen.
4. Refit the screen and screw: 2-3 turns by hand, then the key until flush. Don't overtighten.
5. For a replacement seal, contact Breville Consumer Support.

Time: 15 minutes
Difficulty: Moderate

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Signs It Needs Attention Now

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FAQ

How often should I backflush a Breville Barista Express?

When the machine asks: the CLEAN/DESCALE light flashes. On the Barista Pro, it's when FLUSH shows on the LCD. Use the cleaning disc and one tablet.

How often should I descale a Barista Express or Pro?

When the machine asks: the light goes solid on the Express, and DESCALE shows on the Pro. The books give no fixed month interval. Using the water filter reduces scale.

Do I need to replace the group gasket every year?

The books give no interval. The Express book describes replacing the shower-screen silicone seal "over time", when a worn seal stops the portafilter sealing properly.

Can I use Cafiza instead of Breville tablets?

The books use Breville's cleaning tablets and the supplied cleaning disc, and don't mention other products.

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Related Breville Guides

• Breville Barista Express Not Working?
• Breville Barista Pro Not Working?
• Breville Descale Light Won't Turn Off?
• Breville Grinder Not Working?

Sources: Breville Barista Express BES870 (USCM V23) and Barista Pro BES878 instruction books.