Breville Barista Pro Not Heating? 5 Fixes (BES878)

When the BES878 Goes Cold

A Barista Pro pouring lukewarm espresso usually needs a warmer cup and portafilter, or its shot temperature raised in the menu. That's the first answer in Breville's BES878 instruction book: "Coffee not hot enough" means cups or the portafilter aren't preheated, or the brew temperature should go up. A machine that stops working mid-session may have tripped its safety thermal cut-out. Let it cool for 30-60 minutes. Scale is the third cause, and the LCD shows DESCALE when it's due.

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Quick Checks Before You Start

• Water tank: filled above MIN and pushed down to lock. "Water doesn't come through (the machine makes loud noise)" means the tank is empty or below MIN.
• Wait for it to be ready. Water won't flow from the group head until the machine reaches operating temperature.
• The LCD shows FLUSH when a cleaning cycle is due and DESCALE when descaling is due.

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Fix 1: Preheat the Cup and the Portafilter (Works About 35% of the Time)

The first two causes in Breville's "not hot enough" row are cups not preheated and portafilter not preheated.

1. Rinse your cup with hot water from the hot water outlet just before brewing.
2. Lock the empty portafilter into the group head and run water through it to heat it, then dry the basket before dosing.
3. Brew straight into the warmed cup.

Time: 1 minute
Cost: Free
Success Rate: About 35%
Difficulty: Easy

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Fix 2: Raise the Shot Temperature (Works About 25% of the Time)

The book's remedy is to "increase the brew temperature". On the BES878:

1. Press MENU.
2. Turn the GRIND AMOUNT dial to SHOT TEMP and select it.
3. Turn the dial towards HOTTER and press to confirm.

Time: 1 minute
Cost: Free
Success Rate: About 25%
Difficulty: Easy

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Fix 3: Texture the Milk Longer (Works About 15% of the Time)

For milk drinks, the book lists "milk not hot enough", and its fix is to texture the milk longer. Check that the steam wand isn't blocked, because a blocked tip hole reduces frothing performance.

1. Purge the wand for a couple of seconds before and after texturing.
2. Texture for longer than you did, as the book suggests, then check the temperature.
3. Blocked tip? Clear it with the pin on the cleaning tool. If that doesn't work, unscrew the tip with the spanner in the middle of the tool and soak it in hot water.

Our Breville steam wand guide covers the rest.

Time: 5 minutes
Cost: Free
Success Rate: About 15%
Difficulty: Easy

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Fix 4: Let the Thermal Cut-Out Reset (Works About 15% of the Time)

For "Machine is on but ceases to operate", the BES878 book says: "the safety thermal cut-out may have activated due to the pump or grinder overheating."

1. Switch off and unplug.
2. Let it cool for about 30-60 minutes.
3. Plug in and switch on.
4. If the problem persists, call Breville Support at 1-866-273-8455 in the U.S. or 1-855-683-3535 in Canada.

The book gives no button, reset switch or internal part for this. Cooling is the reset.

Time: 30-60 minutes
Cost: Free
Success Rate: About 15%
Difficulty: Easy

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Fix 5: Descale When the LCD Asks (Works About 10% of the Time)

Scale reduces flow and temperature. On the BES878:

1. Take the water filter out of the tank. Fill the tank to the DESCALE line with water and Breville descaler.
2. Press MENU, turn to DESCALE, and press 1 CUP to start.
3. The cycle runs in three stages: coffee, hot water and steam. Turn the STEAM dial to the hot water and steam positions when the LCD tells you to.
4. Rinse the tank and run fresh water through as the screen guides you.

Also run the FLUSH cleaning cycle when it appears, using the cleaning disc and a cleaning tablet. Our Barista Pro descaling guide has the full steps.

Time: About 30 minutes
Cost: Breville descaler
Success Rate: About 10%
Difficulty: Easy

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When DIY Won't Work

If coffee is still cold at a higher shot temperature, with warm cups and portafilter and a fresh descale, or the machine keeps cutting out after cooling, call Breville Support: 1-866-273-8455 in the U.S., 1-855-683-3535 in Canada. The book describes no heater, thermostat or cut-out an owner replaces.

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Prevention: Keep the BES878 Heating Right

• Preheat the cup and portafilter every time.
• Set the shot temperature once, to suit your beans.
• Descale when DESCALE shows, and FLUSH when asked.
• Keep the tank above MIN and locked.
• Purge the steam wand after every use.

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FAQ

How do I make my Breville Barista Pro espresso hotter?

Preheat the cup and portafilter with hot water, then raise the shot temperature: MENU → SHOT TEMP → turn towards HOTTER → confirm.

My Barista Pro stopped working in the middle of a session. Is it broken?

The BES878 book says the safety thermal cut-out may have activated from the pump or grinder overheating. Switch off, unplug, let it cool for 30-60 minutes, then try again. Call Breville if it happens again.

Why is my Barista Pro making a loud noise and no water comes through?

The tank is empty or below MIN. Fill it and push it down to lock.

Does descaling help a Barista Pro heat better?

Scale affects flow and temperature, so descale when the LCD shows DESCALE. It runs in three stages, and you turn the steam dial when the screen prompts you.

Is there a reset button on the Barista Pro?

The book doesn't describe one for heating faults. Its remedy for a cut-out is to unplug the machine and let it cool.

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Related Breville Guides

• Breville Barista Pro Descaling Guide
• Breville Not Heating Water
• Breville Steam Wand Not Working
• Breville Descale Light Won't Turn Off

Sources: Breville the Barista Pro BES878 Instruction Book.