How To Descale Breville Coffee Maker? (Step By Step Guide)

The Breville espresso machine is one of the finest inventions in the coffee industry. We know Breville coffee machines for their sleek and efficient designs that produce high-quality coffee in the blink of an eye.

But even the most excellent of kitchen appliances can malfunction and ruin your day, but you need not worry when your Breville shows errors. All you have to do is, descale it.

The following article explains how to descale your Breville coffee maker and why it is necessary. And everything else you need to know to let nothing ruin your cup of coffee.

What is Descaling?

As the coffee machine heats, minerals from the water, such as magnesium and calcium, accumulate in the water tubing and the heating element of the coffee maker.

To prevent scale build-up from compromising the brew quality and coffee brewer efficiency, you must descale it regularly.

The descaling process removes hardened mineral deposits from your Breville machine, restores normal water flow, and extends lifespan.

How to Tell if You Need to Descale Your Coffee Maker?

Leaving your coffee brewer too long without descaling will give error signals by indicating some malfunctions or through alert lights.

Some models, like the Breville Barista Express, have an alert light that illuminates when it needs cleaning or descaling.

On the other hand, some Breville models, like the Barista Touch, show a descaling message on the screen.

There are also other ways to know if your brewer needs descaling. Not deep cleaning your Breville might also affect the taste and volume of your coffee. Due to build-up, coffee might dispense slowly from the spout, or you get no coffee at all.

In addition, if all the mineral deposits, gunk, and dirt mix up with the coffee, it will have an awful taste and weird odor. The coffee will be of poor quality and full of bacteria, making it hazardous for your health.

Other signs of a dirty coffee brewer include your coffee not being as hot as usual. The clogging in the heating chamber will not let the coffee reach the optimal temperature.

Preparation for Descaling Breville Coffee Maker

These preparatory steps are mandatory to make the descaling process effective.

• Remove the charcoal water filter from the water tank and discard it.
• Remove the water tank and drip tray of your Breville.
• Wash the water tank and drip tray thoroughly.
• Attach the water tank and the drip tray back to the coffee maker.
• Place a large mug on the drip tray.

Related Read: Best Espresso Beans for Breville( Top 9 Picks)

How To Descale Breville Espresso Machines?

To descale a Breville coffee machine, follow these steps:

Equipment

Breville Espresso Machine

Ingredients

• Descaling solution or White vinegar
• Water

Step 1: Prepare the Descaling Solution

A descaling solution works like a charm to remove build-up from every nook and corner of the coffee brewer. The type of descaling solution you use depends on your preference.

You can either use a commercially made descaling solution or white vinegar. While using a store-bought descaling solution, empty the bottle into the water reservoir and fill the rest with plain water.

Or Mix equal vinegar and water to make a vinegar solution to descale your Breville brewer.

Step 2: Activate Descale Mode on Your Breville

To activate the descaling mode, press the “power button” and “2-cup button” simultaneously and keep the buttons pressed till the power button of the brewer starts flashing.

Once the power button starts flashing, it indicates the coffee machine is heating up. The coffee maker will enable the descaling process when you see its “1-cup button”, “power button,” and the “descale button” illuminated.

Activating the descaling mode on your brewer differs from other models, so it’s best to refer to its user manual.

Step 3: Your Breville is Descaling

Once the coffee machine is ready to descale, press the “1-cup button” to start the process.

The descaling solution will clean the brewer thoroughly, removing the hardened mineral deposits.

Step 4: Descale the Steam Wand and Water Component

Cleaning the steam wand and hot water component is as important as cleaning the other parts of the coffee maker.

Turn the steam wand down in the steaming position. It will take only up to 8 seconds to complete the cleaning process. Once done, turn the steam wand back to its original position.

Now, turn the steam dial towards the hot water icon to descale the hot water spout. It will take around 13 seconds to clean the spout.

Note: Upon finishing descaling the components, return the steam dial to its original position.

Step 5: Repeat the Brew Cycle

Repeat the brew cycle till the water tank runs out of water, and the brewer displays the “add more water” sign.

Step 6: Fill the Water Reservoir

Once the coffee machine runs out of water, remove its reservoir and wash it thoroughly.

Fill the water tank with fresh water. Then, run at least 3 to 4 rinsing cycles to ensure no lingering descaling solution taste or smell in the coffee machine.

If you skip this step, your coffee will likely taste weird if the brewer has a leftover descaling agent or vinegar.

Step 7: Your Breville is Ready to Brew!

Place a new charcoal water filter in the water reservoir and attach the reservoir back to the brewer.

Now add fresh water to the reservoir and start brewing your coffee!

Alternatives to Descaling Solutions

No descaling solution? No problem. I have the best alternatives for you.

Lemon Juice

Lemon Juice contains citric acid, which works great for cleaning the brewer. Mix two parts of water with one part of lemon juice to descale your coffee machine.

Citric Acid

Citric acid contains no additional chemicals, so it’s a safer alternative to descaling solutions and leaves behind a nice-smelling brewer.

Mix one tablespoon of citric acid pellets with a gallon of water. Next, pour the citric acid mixture into the water tank, and descale your coffee maker.

Baking Soda

Baking soda is a household ingredient and is readily available. You can descale your coffee machine by mixing a teaspoon of baking soda with a liter of warm water.

Using warm water is essential as it quickly dissolves baking soda.

The Takeaway

Maintaining the Breville espresso machines is integral to keeping them in good working condition.

Breville coffee makers are straightforward to descale, and it shouldn’t take more than 30 minutes.

To effectively remove mineral deposits and limescale from coffee makers, you can purchase a descaling solution or use ingredients from your kitchen, such as vinegar solution, baking soda, lemon juice, or citric acid.

If you are a coffee lover who will look after your Breville, your Breville will look after your caffeine needs!

FAQs

Why do I need to descale my coffee machine?

You must descale your coffee maker to keep it working correctly and eliminate bacteria and gunk. Descaling is also essential to ensure good quality coffee and for your brewer to last a long time.

How long does the descaling cleaning process take?

Descaling doesn’t take more than 30 minutes if you do it properly. 

What Is Backflushing An Espresso Maker?

The term “backflushing” refers to the cleaning of both professional and domestic espresso machines. It involves forcing water and cleaner through the espresso machine to remove any build-ups. As a result, the espresso machine will remain in pristine condition.

What Is Limescale?

Limescale is the residue of mineral build-up that accumulates on a surface that frequently comes into contact with hot water, like inside kettles or coffee machines. Particularly calcium and magnesium deposits from the water stick to the surface and, over time, turn into limescale.