Breville BES870XL - Barista Express - Descaling

Please see the updated video: • Breville 870XL/Barista...
This is my espresso maker descaling process that I do every 4 weeks or every other "Clean Me" light.
Descaling refers to the process of using a cleaning agent to remove any mineral buildup (scale) inside the working of the espresso machine. One might be tempted to use distilled or deionized water in the machine, but with the automatic machines, they need some ions in the water for the level sensing circuitry to work properly.
I use a 50:50 mix of water and white vinegar, per the Breville instructions (scan below), and run a full tank (2L) of that through the machine, letting it sit 5-10 minutes between cycles. This way, the hot vinegar can work away at any mineral deposits inside the machine.
Scan of the Breville "Decalifying" instructions:
drive.google.c...
Start to finish, descaling and cleaning takes me about an hour and I'll just hold the single shot button down as I pass by and run another 250ml of vinegar through the machine. Once the tank is empty, I rinse it out, then install the cleaning adapter and run the clean cycle, as shown earlier:
• Breville BES870XL Bari...
And I rotate my little reminder magnet 90* so the next time I only do the cleaning cycle.
And every other descaling, I change the water filter:
• Breville BES870XL Wate...
You can remove the filter element prior to adding your descaling liquid and then re-insert it after you rinse out the water tank.
It is more complicated to explain the process than it is to do it. I also like that the "Clean Me" light doesn't lock out the machine, I can still use it while the light is on. I'll usually wait until my last use of the day before running the descaling cycle.
And yes, there are descaling solutions you can buy. Here I try out the Dezcal descaling powder:
• Breville 870XL/Barista...
Overall, I am quite happy with this machine. It makes decent espresso and it does not take a lot of effort to keep it clean and in good working order:
• Breville 870XL Externa...
Here's a video where I explain the various filter inserts you have with an espresso machine:
• Breville BES870XL Bari...
Another cleaning tip is to throw the drip tray parts into the top rack of the dishwasher to clean them out as well. I find this cleans out those hard to reach corners:
• Breville 870XL Drip Tr...
If you have any questions on the descaling process, put those in the comments section below.
As always, thanks for watching!

[@The4Crawler]

For those saying "Don't use vinegar", yes, I agree. Initially, I was following Breville's descaling instructions that say to use white vinegar, as demonstrated in this video. At the suggestion of viewers of this video, I tried using a citric acid based descaling power, so be sure to check out the updated video on descaling with Dezcal (citric acid) powder: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mHuqfJaXqcuYn5Y And you might also be interested in making your own descaling powder to save money: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2KQdZSkhqp9e9k The citric acid powder works better, costs less and is far easier to store than bulky jugs of vinegar.

[@ariannaparisi9001]

Why not vinegar? I use it and it seems to work so well

[@The4Crawler]

@@ariannaparisi9001 I've also used it, per the Breville manual but some think it can affect some of the internal parts of the machine and can leave a vinegar smell/taste to the coffee if not fully rinsed out:: www.homegrounds.co/how-to-descale-an-espresso-machine/ I've found citric acid to work better, cost less and is much easier to store that white vinegar.

[@chrisellis9689]

This video is so much more user friendly then the silly booklet they supply with next to no help. I did this to mine and wow the crap that came out of it,, iv wanted both your vids now the one with the grinder maintenance was very helpful to, breville should be paying you for these highly helpful advice and straight forward layman's terms of servicing these machines, thanks a million 👍👍

[@The4Crawler]

Thanks for the comment and glad you find the videos helpful. Yes, those little picture tiles in the manual are kind of a joke. I need to get out a magnifying glass to enlarge each little tile and figure out what it's trying to show me. But I guess it's one less thing to translate.

[@sototallynatalie]

This is such a great video. And your description above has so many great links. I turn to it every time I clean my machine! Thanks for posting.

[@The4Crawler]

Thanks for the comment, glad you enjoyed the video. Also be sure and check out my updated video using a citric acid descaler: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mHuqfJaXqcuYn5Y I try to keep my routine maint. of the machine really simple. If it's simple, I'll do it, if it's too complicated, I tend to put it off and it may never get done.

[@ryand9642]

Some great advise there mate. I've had mine since last Christmas and I only just seen the light come on 4 months later. Looked up how to clean and found all your vids on this coffee machine useful. Thanks again for some helpful handy tips.

[@The4Crawler]

+Donnie Dongarz Glad you found the video informative. Since that light comes on somewhat infrequently, I find it useful to have a routine in place so I know what to do without having to go looking for the manual. If I do that, I find I will keep up with the maintenance on the machine.

[@amayamocha7421]

FINALLY Bought some Vinegar so I could do the descaling as you've demonstrated. I'm still in the process, but it's going well so far. Thanks again SO much for these videos, They've been just fabulous for me to easily learn what to do.

[@The4Crawler]

Glad you found the videos helpful. I learned the descaling process with my old Krups espresso makers and then I noticed the Breville manual listed a similar process. I've used anywhere from a 50:50 mix of vinegar and water to 100% vinegar. Every so often, you could always pick up the citric acid type descaling products and they probably work a little better. But you'll be running $5-$10 worth of cleaner through the machine each time.

[@robertdavis5714]

Vinegar has been proven as obsolete in this process and if anything does more harm than good. Please note the dirt and grime on that bacteria infested on-off switch. Yeah..........I am going to trust this guys confidence and expertise on cleaning a espresso machine.

[@1983Jacko]

They still have it on their site: www.brevilleusasupport.com/bes840xl/care-and-use/care/periodic-maintenance/

[@paultagl8598]

For those of you that have a solid CLEAN ME light that won't go away... My unit was serviced, it had a new core module installed. Now there is a new way to put the unit in decalcifying mode. The old method for decalcifying was to turn on the machine and wait for it to heat then start the process (What is in my original owners manual). The new method is to press the 2 cups and the power button to put the machine in decalcifying mode then start the process (confirmed over the phone with Breville). Once the whole process is done and the unit is turned off an on again, the clean me light will not come back on. Keep in mind there are 2 cleaning cycles: flashing clean me light = 5 minute cycle (power+1cup+2cup buttons) and solid clean me light = decalcifying (power + 2cup button). Hope this helps!

[@The4Crawler]

Great information, thanks for sharing it. Is this is a function of new firmware in the new core module or is it a feature in older machines as well?

[@je4777]

The Power + 2Cup button method doesn't work on my machine. It makes it pull a double shot

[@1983Jacko]

I find best ways to remind yourself is to create recurring google events in your calendar. That way your phone will remind you when you need to do something. I use it pretty much for everything.

[@The4Crawler]

Great point, I do use my Google calendar reminders for a lot of things. But for this task, I try and use the built in Clean Me light since that comes on based upon use and not simply time. Then I just do the descaling every other Clean Me light. That way I can combine the descaling with the group set cleaning.

[@evandh1989]

This has been mentioned in previous comments, (and is more directed to other viewers, not you R Brown) but I can't help but stress that YOU SHOULD NOT USE VINEGAR to descale. It ruined the solenoid valve in my BES840XL Infuser; has done so for many other Breville owners; and the acetic acid can dry out internal seals for other components as well. The vinegar also cannot dissolve coffee oils that may be inside the machine, so it's a less-effective cleaning agent than some might think. Other products, like Dezcal, are both safe for the internal components and dissolve the coffee oils. Use those. I cannot understand why Breville still recommends vinegar in their written and online instructions -- they won't recommend it if you get them on the phone. Anyway, thanks for the vid, and happy cleaning! UPDATE (3/4/19): I just purchased a new Infuser yesterday, and the written instructions no longer recommend using vinegar. However, the online instructions still do, so be careful when relying on Breville’s website for maintenance info.

[@The4Crawler]

Great information there, good to hear actual issues caused by using vinegar. I've been using Dezcal/citric acid for descaling going on 2.5 years now: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mHuqfJaXqcuYn5Y It works great, costs less and is far easier to store than large bottles of vinegar.

[@infeeneetee]

@@The4Crawler hi . can i use any citric acid natural solution since it is difficult to get dezcal around here?

[@The4Crawler]

Sure, they are mostly all quite similar ingredients. I made my own mix here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2KQdZSkhqp9e9k

[@infeeneetee]

@@The4Crawler thanks!!

[@smuggridge8982]

Thank you for reassuring me and my girlfriend, that we are doing pretty well what we need to, to keep our machine clean. We are however, unsure what we need to do with the dispersion plate and allen key. We would be interested in hearing what you have to say about that. The tips with respect to the white vinegar and alternative cleaning tablets were also interesting.

[@The4Crawler]

I've never looked at those items. Perhaps in case things really get clogged up and you need to take the machine apart to clean it? The white vinegar info. is right out of the owner's manual. I may try a commercial descaling product like the Dezcal, Saeco or Gaggia products. Those run anywhere from $6 - $15/bottle though.

[@Delmar829]

Thank you for doing this. I learned.

[@The4Crawler]

+Delmar829 Glad the video was helpful. I kind or used some tips I learned on my old Krups machine as well as things picked up on-line and in the owner's manual. Been working for me so far. I like having a system for it, so I know exactly what to do at each Clean Me light. I find if I have to go and dig out the manual and look up what I need to do, I might eventually get around to it or I may not. Now I just have a simple check list to do and it's almost automatic.

[@terrywn46]

If you have left the filter in the water tank, it would seem to defeat the purpose o "Descaling & cleaning" the machine. Just saying!!

[@The4Crawler]

I always remove the filter if I'm planning on re-using the filter after descaling. But when I'm planning to replace the filter afterwards, I try to remove it but sometimes I forget. Doesn't seem any difference that I can detect in the descaling process, although the acid in the descaling solution likely affects the filter.

[@noluck33]

Vinegar is great, but if you use distilled, or RO water you do not need to descale the machine but every couple of years!!!

[@The4Crawler]

Good point, that is another option.

[@MarMai5]

Thank you, sir. This was perfect

[@The4Crawler]

Thanks for the comment and you are welcome. Be sure to check out the updated video where I use a citric acid cleaner instead of vinegar: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mHuqfJaXqcuYn5Y

[@speedpiet887]

I would not use vinegar. Not saying that is the case with this model. Vinegar contains acetic acid whereas most descaler solution is citric and milk acid. While vinegar might be able to slightly break down some deposits, it does not clean your coffee machine or remove oils as effectively as the recommended descaler for your model. Vinegar can damage the internal parts of the coffee machine, especially the seals and the rubber gaskets. In addition, it is very difficult to rinse, and its smell and taste will remain for a long time in the espresso machine. So if you want to destroy your expensive machine - just follow the video!

[@The4Crawler]

See the note in the video description. This video was documenting what Breville publishes in the Owner's Manual that comes with the machine. Apparently they've updated their recommendations (although the print copy still references white vinegar) and I cover using a citric acid descaler in the update video below: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mHuqfJaXqcuYn5Y

[@maldov145]

Si anyone knows how to eliminate the bad taste caused by vinegar?

[@durdicamac9662]

I was looking into buying Breville Infuser, but I have second thoughts...I am using Braun Barista Master 20 years, no descaling, cappuccino still tastes great. (Using regular tap water in Atl.) Retiring soon, but I am lil' afraid that I will not have enough time to service Italian espresso machine...Any advice?

[@The4Crawler]

It sounds like you have a good machine, it's probably a simpler design and tolerates hard water buildup. I had an old Krups espresso machine and I think it failed due to lack of routine maint. It was supposed to be descaled every few months. I did that at the beginning, but as time went by, I had no system in place to remind myself to do that maint. and over the years, that got less and less routine. One thing I liked about the Breville Barista Express is that it had a built-in cleaning reminder. I coupled that with the descaling process. Once I set up that system, it's quite easy to maintain as I know exactly what to do and when. With the cleaning reminder light on, it still lets the machine work normally, but gives a reminder that maint. is needed. Descaling does take some clock time, but I don't need to be there the whole time. I'll start it off then it can sit for 10 mins. until I go by the machine. Then I'll let it run another shot of solution through and then it'll sit until I come back. With my homemade citric acid descaling powder, it costs almost nothing to descale the machine.

[@agata4883]

this is amazing!Thank you!

[@Delmar829]

Well you still have good info. Appreciate it all. Tyvm

[@The4Crawler]

+Delmar829 I did see a mention of the new dual boiler model not needing regular descaling. So always good to check as each machine is different.

[@mac7608]

@R Brown thanks for your informative videos - I'm having issues with my Sage Barista Express which is the European branding for Breville, technically same machine as shown here…The problem being is I have notice a drop in steam pressure when frothing milk, it also screeches no matter where I situate the steam wand (just to keep everyone informed on reading this post - I have good knowledge of steaming milk, so this issue is not related to positioning of the wand) there is a lack of pressure very noticeable to when I first bought the machine about two years ago…I have taken the machine apart but cannot find any blockages within the relevant pipework…I have carried out a number of descaling flushes but still the same issue - Could this be related to the thermocoil, pump or solenoid?

[@The4Crawler]

It may be the safety or over pressure valve leaking or set at too low a pressure and/or the pump not putting out enough flow to maintain the pressure: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ame4c5iYg69gq9E

[@mac7608]

@@The4Crawler Great thanks! I just bought another brand of liquid descale solution which supposed to be rapid breakdown of limescale or other mineral build-up, claiming 2-3mins cleaning times (a bit skeptical but I think I will choose that over vinegar for fear of taste/odor lingering)…I will try another descale, if that doesn't work then I will do another teardown to inspect the valve and pump again and hopefully let you know how it turned out…thanks for your help! 👍

[@mac7608]

@@The4Crawler Did another flush, all sorted back to full steaming pressure…no problems steaming milk and getting a silk smooth texture throughout and the solution was fast at cleaning as advertised. If it helps anyone out there I used "DeLonghi EcoDecalk" for espresso machines not sure if it's available in the U.S but as Mr Brown showed in this tutorial use a premixed liquid solution rather than dissolving descaling powders/tablets, I found this method to be more effective. Thanks for your help and keep up the tutorials!

[@The4Crawler]

@@mac7608 Good to hear. Have not tried any of the pre-mixed liquid descalers before. Sounds like that might be a good choice for use when you start noticing a drop in pressure.

[@mac7608]

@@The4Crawler I was skeptical because I first used "Puly Caff" descaler which is highly rated in Europe…but it was powder not liquid. After viewing your post I decided to try a liquid, I was surprise to see how clean the group head filter was when I removed it from the machine, while there was very little debris - when I wiped it off it looked new, no exaggeration! So I can only imaging the same for the pipework and Thermocoil. I think everyone should give it a try even if there's no issues, easy to use, fast and minimal mess vs using powder.

[@changgooey]

vinegar is acetic acid which attacks rubber seals and other metal parts, also boilers can absorb order and taste of the vinegar and there are no surfactants to release coffee residues.

[@The4Crawler]

Breville's own instructions recommend a 50:50 mix of white vinegar and water. I scanned the relevant section of the manual below, see step #2: drive.google.com/open?id=0B89_DmuFw50kRDRoRnhjMXZ1cUk

[@365daysinparadise]

R Brown doesn't make it right dude

[@g0at3]

Chris Chang there is no boiler. It's a heat exchanger.

[@Tchae]

please my comment - vinegar is no longer recommended - Sage/Breville confirmed this and so did their independent engineer - they realise it has caused issues

[@MrPony2005]

Hi Mr. Brown! After the cleaning process the clean me light will be going off automatically?

[@The4Crawler]

Yes, if you hold the one+two cup buttons and press the power switch to start the cleaning cycle, the Clean Me light should go out at the end. One time, I messed up pressing the buttons and the light wouldn't go out as normal. In that case, I made a note on my calendar to re-try the cleaning cycle in a few weeks (such that the Clean Me light would have come back on normally). At that cleaning cycle, the Clean Me light went off like normal. The Clean Me light won't go out after running a descaling cycle. That's why I like to do the descaling first, then run one tank of clean water through, then run a cleaning cycle with the 2nd tank of clean water to reset the light. This way, if I get interrupted and don't finish the cleaning cycle, the light will still be on to remind me that I need to finish.

[@MrPony2005]

Perfect! Tks a lot! 😁👍🏼

[@pandugadu10]

had issues by doing a vinegar descalling. issues with my unit causing buzzing sound and breville just replaced it with a new one. i used it for a month and buzzing sound is back. so...returning my machine. Breville is working on removing vinegar cleaning from their manual

[@The4Crawler]

Interesting, good to know. I did a follow up video using Dezcal (citric acid) descaler: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mHuqfJaXqcuYn5Y It seems to work quite well and about the same cost as vinegar.

[@Tchae]

yes that’s correct, engineer visit today said vinegar is NO LONGER recommended - they sell their own descaler now - but I believe it must be based on similar makes (it's a lot more expensive unfortunately) - My machine was repaired free of charge a long time after it was purchased - so i think their vinegar advice has caused issues

[@mariaeve4525]

About a month the CLEAN / DESCALE pilot light went on, the cleaning and decalcification process was carried out as indicated in the manual, the pilot light never went out and I continued using it. Now the coffee does not filter well, very little quantity comes out, I have modified the type of grinding (thick to thin) as indicated in the manual without success. pleas help me!!! thanks

[@The4Crawler]

I once hit the wrong button combination for a cleaning cycle (maybe the Program and Single Cup) and it seemed to go through a cleaning cycle but the Clean Me light never went out. The machine would not start a new cleaning cycle at that time. But I waited a few weeks then retried the cleaning cycle and it worked and the light did go out then. If that doesn't clear the light, it might be worth contacting Breville customer support. On the grinder setting, are you trying coarser (larger) or finer (smaller) numbers? Also, try the dual wall filter with a coarser grind and see if you get the proper volume of coffee out. If that works, then the machine is working normally and it's just the grinder settings that need to be dialed in.

[@peterhrkal8165]

not sure its a big deal but maybe take the carbon filter out first.

[@The4Crawler]

Yes, good suggestion. I change my filter every other descaling. On those cycles where I'll be using the same filter afterwards, I do remove it and set it aside while descaling. On the cycles where I'll be changing the filter, I may take it out beforehand or I may leave it in place. Then I'll replace the filter after I've finished the descaling process.

[@TOBYCAT93]

Can you use malt vinegar instead of white vineger? As i currently dont have white vinegar on hand Thankyou your video is 3asy to follow.

[@The4Crawler]

Probably not a good idea as that stronger flavor might be hard to flush out of the machine afterwards. Also, vinegar is probably not the best thing to use, despite Breville's instructions. Instead, get a hold of some citric acid, like Dezcal, I cover that in the video below: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mHuqfJaXqcuYn5Y It costs less than vinegar, it's safer for the machine and way easier to store. I have a 1 kg (2.2 lbs) bottle of Dezcal that I've been using for a few years now, cost about $15. You can also get the citric acid powder for canning at most any grocery store.

[@mmguzek]

Why not speed up the whole process and do both descaling and group head cleaning at the same time? 1. Insert cleaning tab into single cup head gasket 2. Fill water reservoir with descal cleaning solution 3. Activate cleaning mode by holding both single and double cup buttons and turning power ON 4. Let it go through the entire reservoir which takes around 10 minutes 5. Repeat the whole process again but this time with only clean water and without the cleaning tab to rinse out any remaining solution Wouldn't this work as well?

[@The4Crawler]

I suppose that would work as well. Many ways to do the process. In my case, I do the cleaning tablet while I'm doing the last part of the clean water rinse after the descaling process. I do one tank full of clean water then on the 2nd tank, I run the cleaning tablet at that point. I do need to let the machine cool down a few minutes in order to start the cleaning cycle with the two buttons at that point, so your technique would save that amount of time. Not sure if there would be any interaction of the cleaning tablet and the descaling solution with each other.

[@7down10]

Because the tablets clean the dispenser of oil from the espresso beans and have a specific chemical makeup to do that job and shouldn't be mixed with an acid like vinegar.

[@zacharywheeler]

I have a 870xl with NO water flow. It was given to use for free, so no surprise theres some issues. What do you recommend as a first step of trouble shooting? It turns on, sounds like its working and trying, but no water except for a few drips when trying to do the hot water/steam wand. I would love your advice!

[@The4Crawler]

Follow the water: kzbin.info/www/bejne/b52wqGmlpM6khqs Find out where the water is going and not going and that'll point you to the problem. Could be a clogged in-line filter, pump might be worn out, 3-port solenoid valve may be sticking or burned out, etc. Check out all the videos in this playlist and most of those things are covered.

[@zacharywheeler]

Update: tried descale and clean, but water can’t get through at all. Opened up the back and saw some calcification on the outside of one of the fittings, but took it apart and didn’t see a clog. Still no water flow but seems like valves are firing or trying to when plugged in. I’m at a loss.. love the videos, they are helpful!

[@The4Crawler]

@@zacharywheeler You might try cleaning the valves separately: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m53NeYaVd7d9js0 They might have hard water deposits inside that can stop the plungers from moving or sealing properly. If the 3-way valve doesn't fully open, water takes the path of least resistance and that's to the drip tray.

[@ElijahIan]

Hello thank for the video I’m at the halfway mark in watching 🤓 quick question do you remove the filter from the tank prior to starting this process?

[@The4Crawler]

Yes and no in my case. As I generally replace the filter every 2 descaling cycles, I'll remove the filter during descaling on the cycle where I plan to reuse it for the next month. On the next descaling, where I'll be replacing the filter, I may leave it in place. Then I'll change it out once I finish descaling and go on the the flush part of the cycle.

[@NOURA1556]

I placed a new filter and did the cleaning cycle with vinegar 😥 is it bad ? Should I put another one or it’s ok?

[@joannematheson4255]

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[@ChicChocs]

I have a question. I followed your instructions to descalate my Breville espresso machine and cleaned it, but the descalate-clean light on my machine doesn’t turn off. Do you know what I can do?

[@The4Crawler]

The Clean Me light won't go out with the descaling process. You need to run the Cleaning/Backflush cycle. And you need to let the machine cool down 15-30 minutes before you can run the cleaning cycle after descaling. Once I must have done something out of order and the Clean Me light stayed on and Cleaning cycle wouldn't start. So I waited ~2 weeks and tried the cleaning cycle again, it worked and the light went off.

[@johnwagner4634]

Thanks for the insight.

[@nateo745]

Thx for the video. Wondering how to off the clean/descale light

[@The4Crawler]

The Clean Me light should go off automatically when you run the internal cleaning cycle. I have another video that covers that. Basically, you press and hold the Single and Double cup buttons and then press the On button to start the cleaning/backflush cycle with the cleaning tablet and adapter in a single cup filter basket. I run a cleaning cycle after I run the descaling cycle and am flushing clean water through the system to remove the descaling liquid.

[@kimiko412]

What magnet? Can you show that please?

[@The4Crawler]

See this video for an explanation: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z3e3hZ-tecZmbMk I use a simple fridge magnet to keep track of what part of the machine maint. cycle I need to do at any given time the Clean Me light comes on. With my usage, I have 4 steps in a full cycle: 1. Cleaning tablet 2. Descaling + cleaning tablet 3. Cleaning tablet 4. Descaling + cleaning tablet + new water filter Magnet has 4 sides, rotate it 90* each step in the cycle.

Hello Mr. Brown. I did the cleaning cycle with the cleaning tablet as indicated in the manual, but the cleaning light did not go out. What I can do?. Greetings.

[@The4Crawler]

My machine did that one time, I think I messed up with the multiple button presses. Anyway, I couldn't get the light to go off either. I put a note in my calendar to try again in about 2 weeks. I then repeated the cleaning cycle with the 1-2 cup press-hold then hitting the power button. Cycle ran to completion and the light went off.

[@MrPony2005]

Hi Mr. Brown! I always use distilled water. It’s supposed to increase the live time of my coffee maker machine?

[@The4Crawler]

Interesting. Is that in this same machine or a different model? I had heard that some machines may have issues with water level/flow sensors when used with distilled water. Not sure i that applies to this exact machine, though.

[@lazeryth03]

Interesting video regarding using distilled/DI in espresso machines. kzbin.info/www/bejne/h5TIeJqidryqmbs

[@The4Crawler]

Great video, thanks for sharing!

[@baoquitrung3487]

but the Cleanning light dont turning off ???

[@The4Crawler]

That only turns off after the internal cleaning (tablet) cycle. I run that after I finish the descaling process. But before you can run that cleaning cycle, the machine has to have cooled down sufficiently (~15 mins) before it'll allow that cycle to be initiated.

[@saundrakielborn2201]

Okay, so you learn something new everyday, still a bit confused about the magnet 🧲 part though. “descale. (ˌdiːˈskeɪl) vb (tr) (Chemistry) to remove the hard deposit formed by chemicals in water from (a kettle, pipe, etc)”

[@The4Crawler]

The magnet is only my reminder system, it serves no other purpose. The orientation of the magnet tells me what stage of my maintenance routine I need to do when the Clean Me light comes on, which is about every 2 weeks. In weeks 2, 4, 6 and 8 I do the cleaning tablet back flush cycle: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z3e3hZ-tecZmbMk In weeks 4 and 8 I do the descaling cycle (this video): kzbin.info/www/bejne/mHuqfJaXqcuYn5Y And in week 8, I replace the water filter in the tank: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qIm1gZWCd7eolcU I suppose I could add a note on my calendar, but it's trivial to just rotate the fridge magnet 1/4 turn. Then 2 weeks later, I see it's orientation and know what to do when the Clean Me light comes on. It sounds complicated to describe the system, but in practice, it's very simple and effective. If instead, I had to go dig out the Owner's Manual and figure out what I had to do each time that light came on, I may not bother after a while. That's how my old espresso machine failed, I tried to remember to clean and descale it every so often. Worked OK at the beginning, but over the years, that maintenance was delayed and skipped enough that the machine finally stopped working.

[@speedpiet887]

But vinegar is good for normal coffee machines, and some espresso machines. Use vinegar when you do your laundry instead of fabric softener with all kinds of bad perfumes and chemicals that are bad for our environment. The vinegar will soften your close and remove all bad smells. And it will also descale your washing machine. Thanks for your video anyway ;)

[@The4Crawler]

Yes, vinegar is handy to have around, thanks for the suggestions. I still have 2 gal. of vinegar I used to descale my tankless water heater last year. Perfect stuff to dump in the dishwasher or clothes washer, as you mention.

[@svetlaencheva6382]

Did the steady clean/rescale light go off after you finish the process?

[@The4Crawler]

No and yes would be the answer. No as in the descaling process itself has no effect on the Clean Me light. But yes, since I time my descaling with the Clean Me light cycle, I follow the descaling process up with an internal cleaning cycle and that does extinguish the Clean Me light.

[@svetlaencheva6382]

I did both and my light is still on.any other suggestions what can I do? Thank you

[@The4Crawler]

I had one time where the Clean Me light didn't go off after a descale/clean cycle. Not sure why but if I tried to run a cleaning cycle again, the light stayed on. So I waited about 2 weeks and then re-ran the cleaning cycle and the light went off. I suspect there's an internal counter of some sort that needs to be reset then counts up to some threshold before turning on the Clean Me light again. Just that some times, the step of turning the light off gets missed.

[@lukasfilipas8367]

helpful video

[@adilel9765]

very good

[@nicolegeorgoulis2474]

How does the descaling light get turned off afterwards?

[@The4Crawler]

There is no "descaling" light, per se. The "Clean Me" light is shut off after you do the cleaning cycle with the cleaning table and rubber disc in a filter basket. That cycle in initiated by holding the 1-cup and 2-cup buttons down and then pressing the power button. In my maintenance routine, I do descaling every other cleaning cycle and at that time, I run the descaling process, then let the machine cool down for 15 minutes or so and then run the cleaning cycle at the end. This both clears the Clean Me light and also finishes flushing the machine after descaling. But if you are doing a descaling cycle alone, the Clean Me light will not go off it is was on.

[@FelixAgosto]

I'd Rather see your videos, the instructions on cleaning/descaling are not this clear! Thanks!

[@The4Crawler]

Felix Agosto Thanks Felix. I do agree the included instructions are a hard to interpret. I tried to bring my experience with my older machine and combine it when what I thought Breville was trying to say and put together this video.

[@maureentarrobago6321]

Hi..i just want to ask how to use porperly the steamwand.. because sometimes when i use it.. its not giving me the right pressure to steam my milk :( badly need your advice

[@The4Crawler]

Unfortunately, I'm the wrong person to ask about this. I never use the frothing feature. If you do a search here on KZbin for "barista express milk frothing" there's a long list of what look like good instructional videos on that topic.

[@maureentarrobago6321]

I do research but still couldnt find.. but thank you for your reply. 😊

[@The4Crawler]

It may be the steam wand is partially plugged so you can run some of the descaling solution through that side of the machine. There is a mention of that in the owner's manual. This video shows use of the steam wand towards the end: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJTOYaSlpMR5eqs

[@howartthou]

If you have a thermal pump for the steam wand instead of a boiler (the more expensive models have double boilers - one for the water and one for the wand) you will not get the quality you do with a double boiler. But you can still get good texture with the thermal pump steam wand. Start by letting some steam out of the wand, turn off the wand and put it in the milk just about 2 cm deep then turn the wand on again. Slowly bring the wand close to the surface but not all the way out or the milk will splash everywhere. Hold at the surface for a while then submerge the wand deeper until you get the milk as hot as you like, then turn the off the wand. That's it. For more froth hold the wand at the surface longer. For less froth hold the wand at the surface for a shorter time. I find that for skim milk the wand only needs to be at the surface for a short time. For fat milk the wand should be at the surface for longer. For Almond milk even longer. Simply put, when the wand is on the surface it is generating the troth. When the wand is submerged it is not making froth. If you have it on the surface too long you get too much troth, too little and you get not enough troth. Simple really. Also when the milk is ready swirling it with the jug flat on the bench, or flat on a board, helps with the texture. If you have too much troth then spoon some out and next time you make coffee hold the wand at the surface for a shorter time.

[@yewonjoo5411]

I just ran the cleaning cycle and descaled it. But, the light “clean me” is still on. Do you know why the light is still there? Thank you in advance and I appreciate your video.

[@The4Crawler]

You might try again in a few weeks. I had that problem once when I may have pressed the wrong button combination. It did a cleaning cycle but the light stayed on. So I wanted a few weeks (with the Clean Me light on) and then ran a cleaning cycle on it's own and that reset the Clean Me light. My reasoning was that when I messed up that first time, the light would not go out if I tried re-running the cleaning cycle right away. So letting it go some time until it would internally trigger the Clean Me light to come back on normally, then the clean cycle worked normally and the light did go out.

[@yewonjoo5411]

R Brown Okay. I might run the machine for several weeks with the light on and re-do the cleaning and descaling cycle again to see what happens. Thanks you so much for all your INSTANT help! Have a great day!

[@The4Crawler]

You might want to just do the cleaning cycle by itself this one time. I've noticed that strange things can happen when the machine is heated up, like after a descaling cycle, and you try to do a cleaning cycle. I find it works the most reliably if the machine is either cold or at least has been sitting something like 30 minutes since it's last use.

[@yewonjoo5411]

R Brown Oh, this is so helpful. I will try as you suggested. Thanks again.

[@wahwill]

Thank you for your videos. Does your "clean me" light really come on around every 50 extractions? I was afraid something was wrong with mine since it doesn't come on that often. I contacted Breville and they said the light comes on around every 200 extractions.

[@The4Crawler]

+wahwill Well I use the machine about 3 times a day (double shots) and the light comes on about every 2 weeks or so, so that is where I came up with 50 double shot extractions. Now I also run a single shot of water through to warm up the group head before so perhaps that is also getting counted. And if they are counting a double shot as 2 single shots, then that is 3 x 50 or around 150. The 2 week interval is approximate, I know that 4 of those cycles comes in around 2 months but I've never counted cycles exactly.

[@isidrocarrillo3409]

hello I have some trouble with. my Breville machine. I have enjoy my espresso machine. couple day ago my espresso machine it doesn't pump any water to make espresso please I need help

[@The4Crawler]

I would check the obvious things first. Like is there water in the tank in back. If that ran low, it can take a bit of running the pump to get everything primed and water flowing again. Also check and make sure you didn't leave the cleaning block-off plate in the filter basket as that can restrict water flow. If you don't hear the pump trying to run at all, might be worth contacting Breville to see if they have any troubleshooting tips.

[@anulkazyrafka]

Great instructions. I have exactly the same coffee machine so it's very helpful. I would also like to ask about the sound your machine makes once you start running a water through it / making a coffee. My machine sounds exactly the same and I've wondered what the reason of that could be. Do you have maybe any idea? I really don't like the sound and it wasn't like that at the beginning so if possible I would like to do sth with it. Thanks :)

[@The4Crawler]

anulkazyrafka I guess I never noticed a change in the sound of mine. I imagine that is when they purge the thermo-coil of air to make sure its full of water before heating it up.

[@robertunsworth8186]

I have had the same issue after 4 years of owning and using my machine. After some research, it seems it's due to scale build up in the solenoid valve which generates a high frequency tapping of the valve seal which is responsible for that buzzing sound. A normal descaling rarely solves the issue, you will need to remove the solenoid valve piece and soak it in white vinegar. If that doesn't resolve the issue, then you have to purchase a new one. They're around $50 in the US, but not available in Europe. (Part number SP0020444)

[@angelonicassio7131]

What magnet?

[@The4Crawler]

A fridge magnet I use as a reminder of what to do next: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iovNe3mJdtCBh5I

[@Goriwife]

Hello Mr. Brown, I have been searching for a replacement group gasket (steam ring) (part no. SP0001474) for this machine everywhere. Breville never has it in stock. Did you experience replacing it. If so, any recommendation on where to find it. Thanks!

[@The4Crawler]

Looks like that part shows up as a Breville 54mm Steam Ring. If you search for that string, you'll find lots of options, including these on Amazon: amzn.to/2rDTR07

[@jopiper4400]

How do you get the flashing rescaling light to go off?

[@The4Crawler]

The Clean Me light comes on and goes off when an internal cleaning cycle is run: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z3e3hZ-tecZmbMk I just happen to do the descaling cycle in sync with the Clean Me light and do the cleaning cycle (with the cleaning tablet and adapter) after I finish descaling. You do need to let the machine cool down ~30 mins. after descaling before you can start the cleaning cycle with the 1-cup and 2-cup buttons held and the power button pressed.

[@Delmar829]

I called Breville and asked about the descale. There response was it does not need the descale until it has the needs service on the indicator. Am wondering if it needs to be descaled sooner than that.

[@The4Crawler]

+Delmar829 My owners manual says descale (or decalcify) about once a month, so for me that is every other "Clean Me" light. So my "Clean Me" schedule is clean, then descale/clean, then clean and finally descale/clean and a new filter element, over about a 2 month time period and 4 "Clean Me" light cycles.

[@Delmar829]

R Brown I have the double boiler stainless steel and the book does not like the idea of the descale. They are telling me a factory only kind of a thing. Although I like your thinking.

[@The4Crawler]

+Delmar829 Sounds like you have a different model than I do, so I for sure would go by what Breville says. Mine has the thermo-coil type heating element.

[@ftakenouchi1464]

any ideas on cleaning the grinder?? does that need cleaned? can you show us do a video too ? thanks!!

[@The4Crawler]

I did a video on that, link below: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q6CceGmda9mNldk For a quick cleaning, I've heard of using white rice (uncooked) and running some of that through the grinder. But it's not too hard to open up for a proper cleaning and check inside.

[@tennislover2849]

Please I am not getting steam form the wand but it is coming from the coffee screen. What to do.

[@The4Crawler]

Has it ever come out of the wand? If so, make sure to rotate the selector dial to either the steam or hot water setting. Maybe try the hot water setting and run the descaling solution through. Also try inserting a paper clip or something up the wand to see if there is a clog inside.

[@aznebb]

Does this operation help with increasing the pressure?

[@The4Crawler]

Zack Nebbaki It might if your thermo-coil is plugged up with scale deposits. If so, you might want to try one of the stronger commercial descaling products. You can find those at a local kitchen/bath type store or on-line. Something like Saeco, Dezcal or Durgol seem to be popular.

[@Gtx3R]

So basically do I have to clean the machine every two weeks & four weeks cycle or every-time the clean light illuminate?

[@The4Crawler]

+Wise Guy I work off the Clean-Me light cycle on my machine. For my usage pattern, that's about every 2 weeks, give or take. The only two items I see listed on a specific time basis are descaling monthly and the water filter replacement on a 2 month cycle. So if you Clean-Me light comes on once a month, you could descale and clean every light cycle and change filter every other cycle.

[@Gtx3R]

+R Brown (4Crawler) most of your video really helped alot! not too detail but precise. Keep it up. Thank you!

[@The4Crawler]

+Wise Guy Thanks for the feedback. I tried to fill in a little more detail than what was provided in the Breville Owners Manual and what I've learned from my earlier espresso machines. There are likely many ways of doing all this, but I tried to come up with an easy to follow system that works for me. Every time that light comes on, I know exactly what to do. And more importantly for me, I just do it then rather than waiting until I can dig out the manual and figure out what to do, which usually never happens :)

[@saundrakielborn2201]

Confused about magnet and de scaling 😉

[@The4Crawler]

That's my reminder system. I work off the Clean Me light, which for me comes on about every 2 weeks. Every time it comes on, I do the cleaning tablet cycle and rotate my fridge magnet 1/4 turn. Then every 2 cycles, I do the descaling cycle followed by a cleaning tablet cycle and rotate the magnet 1/4 turn. Finally at ~2 months, the magnet has done a full 360* turn when I descale, clean and replace the water filter in the tank. This way I don't have to remember what part of that 2 month cycle I'm on. Instead, I just look at the magnet and it tells me if I am at step 1, 2, 3 or 4 in that cycle.

[@lip4111]

Love your videos, question... Do you remove the water filter before you descale? Thanks!

[@The4Crawler]

+Philip Le Thanks, glad you enjoy the videos. I've done the descaling both ways, at first I never thought about the filter. Later I decided to try removing it. Didn't notice any difference as I would rinse out the water tank and filter after descaling and then also run a cleaning cycle. This was with the vinegar-water mix, so the only potential issue with descaling w/ the filter in place would be some residual vinegar taste. Now if using one of the commercial descaling products, for sure take out the filter since those cleaners might have some not-so-good-for-you ingredients.

[@drmytan]

When to use tablet cleaning? is vinegar cleaning the same? thank you

[@The4Crawler]

They are two different processes. I use the cleaning tablet every time the Clean Me light comes on. On my machine and with my usage, that's about every 2 weeks. Then every other Clean Me light, or about once per month, I do the descaling. Initially with vinegar and now with the DezCal citric acid cleaning powder. I have a video on the cleaning tablet process below: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z3e3hZ-tecZmbMk

[@TheRbzza]

Hi, Thank you for the video, i have the same unit, but recently The espresso tastes very sour, what do you think it can be cause in it?

[@The4Crawler]

+Raquel Barraza Hi Raquel. I'm far from an expert barista, so no definite ideas. But it may be the coffee has changed, maybe try checking the whole beans (assuming that's what you use) for under ripe ones: www.home-barista.com/home-roasting/advanced-sorting-culling-coffee-beans-t4034.html Or maybe something with the water changed or the brewing temperature in the machine (you can adjust it +/- 2*C as I recall). Might try using different water and different coffee and see if that makes any difference and/or try the same coffee and water on another coffee machine and see if it tastes any different there.

[@TheRbzza]

I am sorry i didnt take the time to answer you this before. Thank you for the time.

[@Hearthmusic]

Thanks for the vid! much easier than just reading the instruction. I've had the unit for a couple months and really like it; my question is regarding the shot volume. If you buy a double shot at a coffee shot, it seems to be more ounces than a double shot from the Breville. Any way to adjust the water quantity, or not recommended?

[@The4Crawler]

+John Elkins Thanks glad you found the video helpful. I tried to make it fairly simple w/o all the jargon. Yes, easy to program the single and double shot volume, I run mine about twice the double shot volume, I left the single shot volume at the default. Just hit the Program button to enter Programming mode. Then hit the 2 Cup button and follow the steps on about pg. 16 of the user manual. You basically start and stop the cycle manually and then the machine remembers that volume in the future.

[@Hearthmusic]

+R Brown (4Crawler) awe, much better. thanks for the help!

[@The4Crawler]

+John Elkins No problem, the do a pretty good job of hiding little tidbits of info. in that user manual. Took me a while to find that one.

[@teddy12012Y]

Hi. How do you know when to descale and when to use the tablet? And if I use bottled water only do I have to descale? Ta

[@The4Crawler]

In my earlier video, I discuss my cleaning routine: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z3e3hZ-tecZmbMk In short, with my usage, the Clean Me light comes on every 2 weeks or so. I do a tablet cleaning at that time,. Then every other Clean Me light, or once a month, I do the descaling procedure (I use filtered tap water). Then every 4th Clean Me light, I change the water filter. I guess the descaling would depend on the mineral content of the bottled water you use. Maybe you could do the descaling less frequently that Breville recommends (once per month) if the water is fairly soft.

[@teddy12012Y]

R Brown ta so much. My machine is arriving tomorrow and your videos are giving me the confidence I need to deal with the cleaning process.

[@The4Crawler]

I just tried to set up a simple to follow procedure that I knew I could stick with. With my previous Krups machine, I wasn't very good at cleaning it and I think that finally did it in. I just went by when I thought it was due for cleaning then had to dig out the manual and see what I was supposed to do. With the Breville machine, the Clean Me light is great. It keeps track of when the machine should be cleaned (with the cleaning tablet). then I just found out what frequency that came on at with my usage of the machine (I assume the machine counts the number of shots or something like that for the light) and worked that into my procedure. I use a simple 4 sided fridge magnet and rotate that 90 degrees each Clean Me light and based upon which side it up, I know exactly what to do. I don't have to remember what I did the time before or how long it was since I cleaned the machine, the light and magnet tell me all I need to know at that point in time. Now your usage may be different that mine so you need to figure out what sort of time there is between cleaning lights and how to work that into the other maintenance activities. But just come up with something simple, that's easy to follow and stick to it.

[@ChinhNguyen-uw1sv]

Thanks but 7mins? Really?

[@mardukl]

what is the part number for the solenoids? i need mine replaced

[@mardukl]

mine split in half the plastic casing :( so my wand doesnt spray steam anymore

[@The4Crawler]

@@mardukl Part number and replacement information below: kzbin.info/www/bejne/b2espn6fqq51a6M The new Ceme solenoids are the plastic housings, the older Olab solenoids are the brass construction, I think the p/n is on ereplacementparts.com.

[@mardukl]

@@The4Crawler cheers, guess ill buy a whole block, but in the plastic bit, there a crack, and there is a bit of burned plastic on top

[@The4Crawler]

@@mardukl There are 2 main parts of the Ceme valves, the plastic housing where the water flows inside and that valve switching happens. Then there is the electrical coil on top that's in a square plastic case with the wires attached. You can swap out the coil easily but the valve body, if that's leaking water, would need to be replaced with a new valve. The earlier Olab solenoids are similar but they have an all-metal base. From what I can tell, you can't just swap out one plastic/Ceme valve for a metal/Olab valve because they mount and connect up differently. So you would need to get a new solenoid block with the different valves on it. The entire solenoid block does swap out perfectly, be it Olab or Ceme.

[@mardukl]

@@The4Crawler thanks, ill just buy the whole block i guess, 150aud with shipping

[@allisonobrien6976]

Quite a good video but gave up as too slow. Can you speed it up and stop all the aahs and uhms and excess verbals?

[@constructiveresilience5368]

I always watch my KZbin videos on at least 1.5x speed. Under the video on the righthand side there what looks like a little cog wheel. Click on that then on video speed select 2x and you can watch any and all videos on 2x speed. Just saying.

[@rjdbcn9051]

Tablet!! They make tablet for this!!

[@The4Crawler]

We as well as liquids and powders, like I use now: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mHuqfJaXqcuYn5Y kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2KQdZSkhqp9e9k

[@changgooey]

don't use vinegar in any machine

[@The4Crawler]

This is done per the descaling instructions in the Breville owner's manual. I have recently switched to a citric acid based descaler: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mHuqfJaXqcuYn5Y

[@skyer82]

Confusing. I get the idea, but for people who do it for the first time - watch other vids lol. Steam wand and hot water tap needs to be de-scaled too, which is only mentioned but not actually shown here. Poor presentation, mate.

[@Buget-Holodeck]

Your machine is really dirty my man. Clean the outside of it as well as the inside.

[@The4Crawler]

Yes, that is covered that in a separate video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hmHVkHmHpZp7aNk

[@grays486]

Dear R Brown, thanks for your video. After descaling my 870XL my machine is making a funny buzzing sound, exactly as shown in this video (with a different breville machine) kzbin.info/www/bejne/nJPSdJ56fb6YeM0. Are you able to provide any insight on what the problem might be? Thanks

[@The4Crawler]

+Gray Segars Mine will do that from time to time. It usually does it if I hit the brew button a little off center. It'll do that a time or two then go back to normal for a few weeks. I suspect it is something with the switch contacts. Never contacted Breville about it as it doesn't stay that way long enough. Maybe contact them and send them a link to that video and see what they say.

[@grays486]

+R Brown (4Crawler) Thanks for getting back to me!

[@The4Crawler]

+Gray Segars If you get any information about this, feel free to post it here. Like I mentioned, I get that noise from time to time, but it's never repeatable to the point I an capture it on video or in a phone call to Breville.

[@grays486]

+R Brown (4Crawler) I certainly will, it seems I am not the only one experiencing this, and while the machine still functions I want to make sure I'm not damaging it in ignoring the sound. I've sent an email to breville and will relay any helpful information. Thanks again

[@grays486]

+R Brown (4Crawler) Just updating - I was still under warranty so I sent my machine in. It came back fixed, but I didn't get any info about what was wrong. So the mystery lives on...

[@reneepropps7962]

I just completed the descaling process (twice) on this machine. The light won't go off. It's a very new machine. Do you have any suggestions?

[@The4Crawler]

Renee Propps Hi Renee. I've not run into that issue on mine yet (knock on wood). Mine has always reset the Clean Me light after doing the clean cycle; pressing and holding the one and two cup brew buttons with the machine off and then pressing and holding the power button until it starts the cleaning cycle. You might try unplugging the machine for a few minutes then plug it back in again and maybe try running another clean cycle. If that doesn't help, then maybe contact Breville customer support: - www.breville.com/

[@reneepropps7962]

R Brown Thank you. I've tried all of your suggestions and the light is still on. I think it might just me a sensor problem. The machine works great otherwise. I will call Breville.

[@The4Crawler]

Renee Propps Yes, might be some sort of internal issue. Perhaps Breville has a way to reset the machine to get it back to normal mode. Will be interesting to hear what they have to say.

[@sakhnoiul]

Clean me button is not for decalcification. This is a back-flushing cycle and is separate from decalcifying. It's all in your user manual