Have you ever woken up in the morning excited to make your first cup of morning coffee and espresso for the day? But then your excitement suddenly turns to disgust as you notice there’s a buildup of mineral deposits on parts of your coffee machine. You’re scared to drink coffee that comes out of there. Even if your espresso comes out looking okay, it’s probably not going to taste good.
So, what can you do to prevent this and make sure every cup you make tastes its best? With a Breville espresso machine, regular cleaning after each use and every month will prevent mineral buildup and keep it producing mugs of coffee smoothly for years.
Descaling, by the way, is just another fancy word for the cleaning process. So, here’s how to descale a Breville Coffee Maker!
How to Descale a Breville Espresso Machine Daily
After you make your daily espresso, cleaning the machine will prevent gunk and debris from building up. If you don’t clean it frequently, it can lead to clogged heating elements, as well. If you live in a state with hard tap water sources, descaling will also reduce calcium and lime deposits and improve your water flow.
What You’ll Need
- Warm water
- Allen key
- Cleaning agent
- Cleaning disc
- Cleaning brush or tool
- Soft cloth or rag
- A plastic container large enough to hold water from the machine.
- Nylon scrubbing brush
Some of these tools may have come with your Breville Espresso Machine, such as the Allen key and cleaning brush. If you’re unsure whether you received them or have misplaced your set, you can try contacting the manufacturer for a replacement.
Step 1: Take Out the Filter and Dump Your Coffee Grounds
After your espresso machine is done brewing and you’re ready to clean up the kitchen, remove the filter. Dump the remaining coffee grounds in your trash. Then, rinse the filter and filter basket with water to clean them off. You can use the nylon scrubbing brush to get rid of any stubborn coffee grounds.
Step 2: Make a Pot of Water
No, that’s not a typo. While you probably don’t want to drink hot, plain water under most circumstances, brewing a pot of it will help rinse out the inside of your machine. Once you’ve placed the filter and filter holder back in, go ahead and brew a cup of water. After the machine is done, dump the water into your sink’s drain. It will be hot, so be careful!
Step 3: Blow Out the Milk
If you’ve used milk to make your espresso, you’ll want to blow out any remaining residue from the wand. You can do this by turning the machine’s selector control to steam. Let it run for up to three seconds before shutting the control off.
Step 4: Rinse Your Froth Enhancer
This step is another simple one. You’ll need to remove the froth enhancer from the steam wand. Then you’ll rinse it under some warm water until it runs clean. Wipe it down, if desired, and put the enhancer back in place.
Step 5: Clean Out the Steam Wand
Now we’re back to the more complicated stuff! For this step, you’ll turn your selector control to stand by. Be sure to unplug your espresso machine next and let it cool down. Make sure there’s no sign of warmth before you start to clean the wand.
When you’re ready, you’ll clean the opening of the wand using the cleaning brush or tool that came with your machine. If this doesn’t work to remove any blockages, you can remove the tip with the cleaning tool. Then soak the tip overnight in hot water or a cleaning solution.
Step 6: Clean Up the Drip Tray
This is the tray located at the bottom of your espresso machine. Disconnect your machine from its power source. Then go ahead and take out the tray and empty the contents into your kitchen sink. Get ready to lather up some warm water and gentle dish soap as you wash the tray! Then rinse and dry with a soft cloth or paper towel before placing the tray back into the machine.
How to Descale Your Espresso Maker Every Month
As we say in the biz, your monthly cleaning or descaling process is more extensive than the daily cleanings. Here’s a quick cleaning guide to help you. By performing a thorough, consistent descale, you’ll be helping all the parts of your machine do their job.
What You’ll Need
- Commercial cleaning solution or a homemade version with water and white vinegar
- A plastic container large enough to catch water from the machine
- Cold water
Step 1: Make Your Cleaning Solution
If you don’t have any commercial cleaning solution on hand, you can make your own mixture of water and vinegar. Use a 50/50 ratio of water and white vinegar. However, keep in mind that some people don’t like the temporary bad smell that vinegar leaves behind.
Step 2: Prep Your Espresso Machine
Go ahead and select stand-by on your machine and then unplug it from your outlet. Then fill the water reservoir with your cleaning solution or vinegar water. Finally, place the large plastic container on the drip pan to hold the solution once it comes out.
Step 3: Brew the Cleaning Solution
After you prepare your machine, plug it back in and turn it on. Once the orange temperature light says the water is warm enough, turn the control to espresso. Let the machine brew half of the cleaning solution. This will allow the cleaning solution to really scrub out the coffee residue and minerals from the water passages.
Step 4: Rinse Your Machine
For this step, you’re going to repeat the first three steps until your water tank is empty, but with clean water instead. Then stand back as the machine brews through the fresh water! This will prevent the daily cleaning from affecting the taste of coffee brewed by your machine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some commonly asked questions.
Should I clean the bean grinder and hopper?
You should clean these parts every two weeks. For the bean hopper, rinse it off. Take a brush to the bean grinder, removing any stuck coffee beans or grounds.
What about the water filter?
You’ll want to remove the water filter from its holder, soak it in a cleaning solution for five minutes, and then rinse.
Where can I buy a commercial cleaning solution?
You can usually find Breville cleaning tablets on online sites like Amazon. Some of these sites also have solutions labeled as “descalers.” You can also call the manufacturer to see if they can sell you tablets and cleaning solutions directly.
What if I miss a cleaning?
Daily machine cleaning is the best way to keep it operating flawlessly for years. However, your machine won’t fall apart if you miss a cleaning but may need extra TLC the next time to maintain a steady water flow.
