Step-By-Step Guide: How to Descale Your Breville Barista Express

If you own a Breville Barista Express, then you know that descaling it is a necessary task. This step-by-step guide will show you how to descale your machine quickly and easily!

Overview of Breville Barista Express and Why Descaling is Necessary

The Breville Barista Express is a feature-packed home espresso machine that helps turn coffee lovers into baristas.

Ideal for those who want to make barista-style beverages in the comfort of their own homes, it is equipped with a digital temperature control, stainless steel conical burr grinder, and other functionality that ensures café quality espresso without having to bother the nearest espresso pro.

Along with all these great features, descaling your machine regularly is essential for maintaining its performance and longevity, so any cafe-quality beverage needs an added touch of TLC.

Descaling should be done as often as once every three months or whenever you notice an increase in brewing time - this quick maintenance act will keep your Breville Barista Express in good working condition and your sipping experience first-class.

Step-By-Step Descale Guide

1. Prepping Your Machine & Supplies

• Gather the following items: a descaling solution, a container or pitcher to pour the solution into, and a damp cloth or sponge.
• Fill the water tank with 1 liter of water.
• Remove any used coffee grounds from inside the machine’s portafilter basket and discard them.
• Turn the machine on and wait for it to reach its thermal stability (the Ready indicator will light up).

2. Descale Your Breville Barista Express

• Pour the descaling solution into the water tank until it reaches the “MAX” line or 1-liter mark, whichever comes first.
• Place your container or pitcher under the coffee spout and press the “Clean” button on the machine. This will begin a descale cycle that lasts for about 15 minutes, during which time you may hear loud noises as it cleans the internal parts of your machine.
• When the descale cycle is finished, remove the container or pitcher and refill the water tank with fresh water.
• Press the “Clean” button again to flush any remaining descaler from inside your machine.
• Wipe down the outside of your machine using a damp cloth or sponge to remove any excess liquid that may have spilled out during the descaling process.

3. Finishing Up

• Once the descale cycle and flushing are completed, turn off your machine and unplug it from the wall for at least 10-15 minutes to allow the internal parts of your machine to cool down before you use it again.
• Reassemble all the parts and replace the used filter.
• Refill the water tank with fresh, cold water and plug in your machine to restart it.
• Enjoy barista-style beverages from your Breville Barista Express.

Tips for Maintenance & Prevention of Limescale Buildup

Limescale buildup is the main cause of performance issues with espresso machines, and it can be avoided by following these tips:

• Use filtered or bottled water when filling up the machine’s tank - this will help prevent limescale from forming.
• Regularly backflush your machine to keep its internal parts clean and free of debris.
• Clean the portafilter basket and group head with a damp cloth regularly to remove any buildup or residue.
• Descale your machine as often as recommended by the manufacturer - usually every three months or so.

Conclusion

Descaling your Breville Barista Express regularly is essential for maintaining its performance and longevity. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can easily keep your machine up and running, ensuring a café-quality espresso experience each time.

Additionally, taking preventive measures such as using filtered water and regularly cleaning the portafilter basket will help to reduce limescale buildup and optimize your machine’s performance. With a little TLC, you can enjoy plenty of barista-style beverages from your Breville Barista Express.