The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Cleaning and descaling are separate jobs: a cleaning cycle removes coffee oils and residue, while descaling removes mineral buildup. The correct buttons, supplies, and amounts depend on your Breville model and regional manual. Check the model number on your machine and follow its manual rather than combining steps from different Breville models.
Cleaning cycle or descaling: which one does your machine need?
A cleaning tablet is for coffee oils and residue on parts such as the shower screen and filter basket; it is not a descaler. Descaling solution targets mineral buildup inside the machine. Breville’s espresso cleaning tablet listing describes the tablets as removing coffee oils and residues.
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Use the indicator and instructions for your exact machine. For example, the US BES870 manual says its CLEAN / DESCALE light flashes when a cleaning cycle is needed and stays solid when descaling is needed. The US BES840 manual also distinguishes flashing cleaning and solid descaling indicators, but controls and labels can differ across models.
How to run a cleaning cycle
Barista Express BES870 example
The following steps describe the US BES870 manual only. For another Breville model or regional version, use its own instructions and button sequence.
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- Place one Breville cleaning tablet in the filter basket.
- Fit the cleaning disc, then lock the portafilter into the group head.
- Activate the cleaning cycle using the button combination specified in the BES870 manual.
- Allow the cycle to run; the manual says it takes about five minutes. Check that the tablet has dissolved and repeat the cycle if needed.
For the exact BES870 controls and safety notes, consult Breville’s BES870 instruction manual. A cleaning cycle is not a substitute for a descale when the machine indicates that descaling is due.
How to descale a Breville espresso machine
Descaling usually runs solution through several internal paths, then requires a fresh-water rinse. The sequence, entry method, and solution amount are model-specific; use the manual for your exact model and region.
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- OFFICIAL BREVILLE CLEANING TABLETS: Extend your espresso machine's functionality and prolong its life by turning to the brand you trust; Use the cleaning tablets designed and manufactured by Breville
- FOR USE WITH BREVILLE MACHINES: Espresso cleaning tablets designed to remove coffee oils and residues from your appliance's shower screen and filter baskets; Suitable for use with all Breville espresso coffee machines
- ENGINEERED FOR THOROUGH CLEANING: Breville tablets feature precision dissolution time to provide optimal cleaning performance, so keeping your espresso coffee maker clean is simple and easy
- GENTLE AND SAFE: Contains all pharmaceutical and food grade ingredients; Cleaning tablets also feature a non-corrosive formulation to protect your Breville espresso machine
- CONSISTENCY IS KEY: While regular cleaning is a key ingredient to protecting your machine, it also allows you to produce delicious-tasting cream
Model examples: amounts and differences
| Manual | Specified solution | Scope and distinction |
|---|---|---|
| US BES870 | One Breville descaling powder sachet dissolved in 34 fl oz (1 L) of water | Runs coffee, steam, and hot-water components, repeats cycles as directed, then flushes with fresh water. Its manual also says not to remove or completely empty the tank during descaling. |
| US BES840 | One sachet dissolved in one litre | Uses its own descale mode and button sequence; cycles coffee, steam, and hot-water components, then flushes with fresh water. |
| Australia/New Zealand BES875 | One-litre solution | Its manual says to remove the water filter from the tank before adding descaling powder; its button sequence differs from the US BES870. |
These are examples, not interchangeable recipes. Do not assume a BES870 amount or sequence applies to a BES840, BES875, or another Breville model. Breville’s US BES840 manual and Australia/New Zealand BES875 manual give their respective instructions; consult the manual matching your machine before starting.
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Safety and rinse steps
For the BES870 specifically, Breville’s manual warns: “Do not immerse power cord, power plug or appliance in water or any other liquid.” It also states: “The water tank should never be removed or completely emptied during descaling.” Follow your model’s safety instructions; do not assume the BES870 wording or tank instruction is identical across all Breville machines.
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On the cited BES870 and BES840 procedures, descaling includes the coffee, steam, and hot-water paths and a fresh-water flush. Follow the exact manual for the order and how to prepare and use the solution. Breville’s general espresso-machine cleaning guidance likewise directs owners to their machine manual because procedures vary.
Why descaling matters, even with a water filter
Minerals from hard water can accumulate in internal components. Breville’s BES870 manual says this buildup can reduce brewing flow, brewing temperature, machine power, and espresso taste. Breville’s Barista Express descaling tutorial notes that minerals can build up in heating elements even when a water filter is fitted. A filter therefore does not eliminate the need to follow the machine’s descaling instructions.
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- 2 BOTTLES, 4 USES: This package comes with 2 bottles of Breville descaling solution, for a total of 4 uses. It can be used in any model of Breville machine
Routine cleaning between prompted cycles
For the Barista Express, Breville recommends a clear-water backflush after each brewing session. That rinse is routine care; it does not replace the cleaning-tablet cycle or descaling when indicated. See Breville’s clear-water backflush tutorial for that model.
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- Suitable for Virtually All Types of Machines - Suitable for cleaning automatic machines, manual machines, pod / capsule / cup machines, filter machines, commercial machines, cappuccino machines, kettles and electric water heaters
How often should you clean and descale?
The consulted Breville manuals and tutorials do not establish one numerical interval that applies to every model and water condition. Follow your machine’s indicator and manual rather than relying on a universal schedule. If you cannot identify the model or the indicator is unclear, locate the matching manual before running a cycle.
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