How to clean and descale the Breville espresso machine

Cleaning your coffee machine has a great impact on the flavor of your cappuccino or other coffee drinks. Similar is the case with the Breville espresso machine, so it needs to be cleaned regularly if you want to get a full-flavored coffee.

What are the causes of the bad taste of coffee?

Now the question arises what the reasons for coffee machines to start giving bad taste to coffee are. The reason is that there might be a residue accumulation from the natural oils found in coffee beans.

There might be mineral accumulation from the water which builds up inside the espresso machine and the impact of bitter or unpleasant flavor on your drink. Sometimes old coffee grounds residue might be the reason.

Regular Breville espresso coffee machine Cleaning

You have to perform regular Bravely espresso coffee machine cleaning to prevent all these things. Also, you should give deep and thorough cleaning monthly. In this way, you can combat the water flow issues and bad-tasting coffee. So if you think that your coffee has bad taste, you need to descale your coffee maker.

This post will discuss how to descale the Breville coffee maker and how to clean the machine. This is the step-by-step guide to cleaning and descaling the Breville espresso machine.

Although we will discuss everything in detail in this post, don’t worry, it is an easy process and does not take more than 30 minutes. But after cleaning, you will see an improvement in your coffee’s quality and taste.

Step 1: Remove the filter and empty the grounds.

After your espresso machine has finished brewing, you need to remove the filter holder. After this, empty the coffee grounds and range the filter and the filter holder with warm water. If you see the coffee grounds even after emptying them, you can use a nylon scrubber brush to clean them gently.

Step 2: Brewing plain water

Then place the empty filter in the filter holder to your Breville espresso machine. Then brew the plain water into a cup for up to 15 seconds. After that, dispose of the hot water in the cup.

Step 3: Rinsing the Froth Enhancer

After using the steam wand, remove the froth enhancer immediately and rinse it thoroughly under warm water.

Step 4: Eliminating the milk

Then you have to turn the selected control on the front of your Breville espresso machine. Here the machine comes in the same position for 2-3 seconds to eliminate any milk from the wand.

Step 5: Cleaning the Steam Wand

Keep in mind that before cleaning the same way, you have to unplug the espresso machine from the electrical outlet. At this point, you must turn the selector control to standby.

After unplugging the espresso machine, make sure that it cools completely before continuing. You can clean the opening on the steam wand by using the pin on the end of the cleaning tool that comes with your espresso machine.

It is possible to soak the tip of the cleaning tool in hot water if it is extremely dirty or seems blocked. To do this, simply twist the tip-off through the opening in the center of the cleaning tool.

Step 6: Cleaning of the drip tray

Then remove the drip tray from the base of the espresso machine and discard it into the sink. Ensure that you have watched all the drip tray parts with warm water and dish soap. After washing, rinse all the items and dry them before putting them again into the Breville espresso machine.

Step 7: Wiping the machine

Not only from the inside but outside the machine should be cleaned. So make sure you wipe down the outside of your espresso machine with a damp cloth.

Check out this video tutorial on how to clean your Breville espresso machine

Step 1: Descaling the Breville machine

Clean Breville espresso machine monthly is very much necessary, and for this purpose, you first have to set the machine to standby mode. Then unplug the electrical outlet and fill the tank with mixture of water and vinegar.

This is done to descale the Breville espresso machine. We can also call it our decalcifying method in which all the residue of hard water is removed. So if you think that you have hard water in your home, you should clean your machine through this process.

So use one part vinegar and one part of water to remove any mineral build-up inside the machine. To catch the vinegar and water mixture, place a large container on the drip pan.

Step 2: Brew the solution of vinegar and water

After doing the above process, turn on the machine. When the water in the cup gets heated up, light is on.This indicates that the water is hot, and here you have to turn the selected control to espresso. During this process, allow half of the water and vinegar mixture to run through the Brewing head and then into a large container.

Step 3: Steaming the vinegar solution

Steaming the vinegar solution will help in the proper cleaning of the espresso machine. Therefore, you have to switch the selector control to steam mode to position the steam wand over the container. The remaining mixture will flow out of the steam wand.

Step 4: Rinsing

Rinse your Breville espresso machine after filling it with clean, cold water.

Watch this video to learn how to descale Breville espresso machine

Many people do not know the importance of descaling the espresso machine. It is very necessary to enjoy the full taste of coffee. Here we will discuss what solutions are used for descaling and how to perform this process.

What is descaling?

As the name depicts, descaling means removing scales, which is very necessary for cleaning. It may be caused by mineralized water use in preparation for coffee. Hard water contains more minerals than soft water, which ultimately affects the functionality of your espresso machine. So for optimal performance and longevity, the descaling of the Breville espresso machine is very much necessary.

What can we use to descale the Breville espresso machine?

There are different products which you can use to descale espresso machines. But keep in mind that whatever product you are using, descaling is safe for your Breville espresso machine. A safe and effective cleaning solution or powder should be purchased directly from the manufacturer.

Descaling powder or solution

The fastest and easiest way to descale your Breville espresso machine is the use of scaling powder or solution. These are ready-made solutions and prove to be very effective in descaling. Overall, these solutions and powders are easy to use and store.

Vinegar

Vinegar is considered to be the most popular and effective way of descaling. As we all know, vinegar is an acidic solution, and it comes up with endless benefits and uses. It is considered very effective in cleaning. However, you should rinse it thoroughly since it’s an acidic solution. Overall, vinegar solution is low cost, easily available, acidic, and effective.

Baking soda

From my point of view, baking soda is not an effective option in cleaning or descaling your Breville espresso machine. It does not completely dissolve in water and has different issues, such as shutting down or clogging. However, on the other hand, it proved to be effective as an exterior cleaner. It is also low cost with no smell and is readily available like vinegar.

Lemon

Just like vinegar, lemon is also acidic and is best for descaling. The best thing about the lemon is that they are affordable and do not have a bad smell. So just take the fresh lemon, squeeze them and use it as a descaling
solution. Squeeze the lemon juice in a particular amount of water and then use it for descaling. Finally, run plain water until you can no longer smell lemon. They are low cost and are readily available with a pleasant smell.

Citric acid

Another popular and highly efficient descaling solution is citric acid. Citric acid is not only cheap but odorless as well. Citric acid does not produce any chemical residue, making it an excellent descaling option. Two tablespoons of citric acid and one liter of water are required for the procedure. Pour the ingredients into your water tank and mix them thoroughly.

Before descaling, the first and foremost thing is that you have unplugged your coffee machine.

Step 1: Filling up the Reservoir

Normally, vinegar solution is used in descaling the Breville espresso machine. First of all, pour four cups of white vinegar into the Reservoir of the Breville coffee maker.

Then fill the Reservoir with warm water. With a Breville 12 cup machine, you can make a strong cleaning solution using four cups of water and eight cups of white vinegar.

Do half vinegar and half water if you have a smaller coffee maker. One cup of vinegar added to a half-full tank of the Breville machine works better than two cups. After the vinegar and water mixture is in, plugin and start your machine.

Step 2: Rinsing your coffee maker

Allow the mixture to sit in the machine for about 30 minutes. During this time, all the mineral deposits break down and disintegrate.

Step 3: Running a descale cycle

It depends on your Breville espresso machine which type of descale settings you have. First of all, you have to push and hold the strength button for 5 seconds, and then it starts descaling.

If it does not have this function, you have to turn the machine and brew the liquid in the way you normally do. At this time, when you run the machine, all the water and vinegar solution goes to the coffee pot.

As you descale your Breville, you will hear the water flowing through it, but no coffee or espresso will be made. This warm mixture then runs to the whole machine and cleans out all the mineral deposits attached inside the machine. The entire process takes about 3 minutes, but it can be longer depending on the machine and the amount of scale build-up.

Then you have to put the freshwater into the Reservoir and push and hold down the strength button for 5 seconds. Therefore, the descaling mode is activated, and water passes through the device.

When simple water passes through the device, all the smell and taste of the vinegar go away. Next, you have to brew until the unit is empty. After that, you can repeat this whole process if you think there might be some mineral build-up in the machine yet.

So you have to run another batch of water and white vinegar mixture. So when you repeat this process 2 times, the machine clears all the residue, which cannot be broken down the first time.

Step 4: Repeating steps 2 to 4 if needed

After emptying the vinegar and water, you should refill your coffee maker with fresh water. Run the machine through another water cycle. Continue doing this until the machine no longer smells of vinegar.

By running clean water through the system a few times, any traces of vinegar will be removed. Following your coffee or espresso preparation, you can continue as normal. Congratulations! Now you have descaled a Breville coffee maker with vinegar!

Many machines are available that come with cleaning tools or cleaning kits in the market. Before purchasing the cleaning tools separately, ensure that you have checked all the accessories that come with the Breville espresso machine.

• Cleaning sponges
• Cleaning process of different sizes
• Cleaning tool to clear steam holes
• Cleaning cloths
• Vacuum
• Allen key
• Descaling solutions or powders
• Cleaning cycle discs
• Cleaning tablets

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is it important to descale your Breville machine?

  It is very important to describe your Breville machine because the machine’s performance will affect the building of mineralized water inside the machine. You will also have to drink a bad taste or rancid coffee if you do not descale your Breville machine. So it is highly recommended to regularly skin and clean your machine to increase its lifespan and ensure the best taste of coffee.

  What is the best way to clean calcium deposits from an espresso machine?

  For those who don’t have any decalcifying cleaner on hand, you can use a mixture of water and lemon juice. This mixture contains citric acid, which helps dissolve calcium deposits. Some espresso machines come equipped with a built-in descaling cycle.

• What is the Breville descale solution?

  You can fill up the water reservoir of your coffee maker with vinegar and water if you mix one part vinegar with one part water. Pour the vinegar-water solution into the Reservoir (or descaling solution if you prefer). Repeat several times until the vinegar solution is used up. Fill the Reservoir with water.