Last updated: October 2, 2026
The Breville Barista Express needs three different kinds of cleaning: daily coffee-residue cleaning, periodic backflushing with a cleaning tablet, and descaling to remove mineral buildup. They are not interchangeable. A cleaning tablet will not descale the boiler, and descaler will not remove oily coffee residue from the group head.
The basic routine is manageable, but the right supplies matter. You can save money on brushes and cloths; the cleaning tablet and descaling solution are where using the correct type is more important. The steps below apply primarily to the Barista Express models BES870 and closely related versions. Your machine’s manual takes priority if a control sequence differs.
What You Need to Clean the Barista Express
Before starting, gather a soft cloth, a small nylon cleaning brush, fresh water, and a container that can hold the rinse water. You may also want an espresso-machine detergent tablet and a manufacturer-approved or espresso-machine-specific descaler.
A generic espresso machine cleaning tablets can be suitable if the label says it is intended for espresso-machine backflushing. Avoid ordinary dishwasher detergent: it can foam excessively and may leave residues. For the water tank, use only a descaler intended for espresso or coffee machines, mixed according to its instructions.
| Supply | What it removes | Can you substitute? |
|---|---|---|
| Cleaning tablet | Coffee oils and residue during backflush cleaning | Use an espresso-machine tablet; do not substitute dish soap |
| Descaling solution | Mineral scale inside water passages and heating components | Use a coffee-machine descaler; avoid guessing with household acids |
| Nylon brush | Grounds around the group head and portafilter | A soft, clean toothbrush can work |
| Microfiber cloth | Milk, coffee, and water residue on exterior surfaces | Any soft, non-abrasive cloth |
Daily Cleaning After Making Coffee
See also: Best Espresso Knock Boxes: Size, Capacity and Counter Space Compared • Rocket Espresso Cleaning Tablets
Remove the portafilter and knock out the puck as soon as you finish brewing. Rinse the basket and portafilter under warm water, then wipe away coffee oils around the basket rim. If coffee has dried in the holes, use the supplied cleaning tool or a soft brush rather than a sharp metal object that could damage the basket.
Run a short water flush through the group head with no portafilter installed. This rinses loose grounds from the shower screen. Brush the underside of the group head gently while the machine is off or after the metal has cooled. Do not force the brush into the rubber seal.
Clean the steam wand immediately after every milk drink. Wipe the wand with a damp cloth, then briefly open the steam valve to purge milk from the tip. If a steam-hole opening is blocked, use the dedicated cleaning pin gently. Never leave milk on the wand to dry; baked-on milk is harder to remove and can block the tip.
Empty and rinse the drip tray before old coffee water becomes stagnant. Rinse the water tank with fresh water as needed, but do not put the tank, drip tray, portafilter, or filter basket in a dishwasher unless your manual specifically allows it. Dry the machine’s exterior with a soft cloth. Keep water away from the grinder controls and electrical area.
Weekly Cleaning: Group Head, Portafilter, and Grinder
Once a week, remove the filter basket from the portafilter and soak both parts in hot water with a small amount of espresso-machine detergent. Keep the portafilter handle out of the soak if it has a finish or components that could be affected. Rinse everything thoroughly and dry it before reassembly.
Wipe the group-head seal and shower screen with a damp cloth or nylon brush. If the screen has a heavy layer of coffee, remove it only as described in the Barista Express manual. A stripped screw or damaged seal is an avoidable repair.
For the built-in grinder, turn the hopper to the locked position and remove it according to the machine instructions. Brush loose grounds from the burr area and chute. Do not wash the burrs or pour liquid into the grinder. A small coffee grinder cleaning brush is usually enough for routine cleaning.
If the grinder chute clogs, the usual causes are oily beans, too-fine grinding, or an accumulation of compacted grounds. Empty the hopper before clearing the chute. Never push a utensil into a moving grinder, and do not operate the grinder with fingers near the burrs.
How to Run the Cleaning Cycle
The Barista Express signals that a cleaning cycle is due with its cleaning indicator. This cycle uses a tablet and the rubber cleaning disc supplied with the machine. It is a backflush: the pump builds pressure, the detergent dissolves coffee residue, and the dirty water exits into the drip tray.
- Make sure the water tank is filled and the drip tray is installed.
- Place the cleaning disc in the portafilter and put one cleaning tablet on the disc.
- Lock the portafilter into the group head.
- Start the machine’s cleaning cycle using the controls described in the manual.
- Let the cycle finish fully; do not interrupt it just because the pump stops and starts.
- Remove the portafilter, rinse it, and run one or more plain-water flushes.
The first rinse water may look cloudy or smell soapy. Continue rinsing until the odor is gone. A common failure mode is using a tablet without the rubber disc, which allows water to flow normally instead of creating the pressure needed for backflushing. Another is brewing coffee immediately afterward without rinsing the group head, leaving detergent residue in the next shot.
How to Descale the Barista Express
Descaling removes mineral deposits caused by hard water. You may notice slower water flow, unusual pump noise, reduced steam performance, or a descale indicator, but these symptoms can also come from a blocked screen or a grinder problem. Descaling will not fix every flow issue.
Use a proper espresso machine descaler solution and follow its dilution instructions. Empty the water tank, remove the water filter if fitted, mix the solution with water, and place a large container under the group head and steam wand. Start the Barista Express descaling program according to the manual, allowing the solution to pass through the appropriate outlets.
When the program calls for fresh water, rinse the tank thoroughly and refill it. Run the complete rinse cycle, then repeat with another tank of clean water if any chemical smell remains. Do not use undiluted vinegar unless Breville specifically permits it for your model. Vinegar can leave an odor, and an incorrect concentration may affect seals or finishes.
Homes with hard water may need descaling more often than homes using filtered water. A water filter can slow scale buildup, but it does not eliminate the need to descale. Replace the filter on its scheduled interval, and remember that filtration is usually cheaper and easier than dealing with restricted flow later.
Which Cleaning Supplies Are Worth Buying?
Buy the branded consumables if you want the lowest compatibility risk or if the price difference is small. Third-party tablets and descalers can be perfectly adequate when they clearly state their intended use and provide dosing instructions. The cheap option is fine for a nylon brush, microfiber cloth, or simple container; there is little benefit in paying a premium for those.
Do not economize by skipping the cleaning cycle or stretching a visibly exhausted water filter. That saves very little and can leave coffee oils, scale, or blocked passages that are more difficult to remove. Conversely, daily tablet cleaning is unnecessary for most home users and can waste detergent. Rinse after every use, run the tablet cycle when indicated or at the interval in the manual, and descale based on the machine’s warning and your water conditions.
FAQ
How often should I clean my Barista Express?
Rinse the portafilter, group head, steam wand, and drip tray after daily use. Clean the grinder and soak the basket weekly, run the tablet cleaning cycle when indicated, and descale when the machine requests it or mineral buildup is likely.
Can I use vinegar to descale a Barista Express?
Use the descaler specified for espresso machines unless your manual explicitly approves vinegar. A dedicated product gives clearer dilution instructions and is less likely to leave a strong smell.
Why is the clean me light still on?
The cycle may not have completed, or the indicator may need to be reset according to the model’s instructions. Confirm that the tablet, cleaning disc, and full program were used; do not simply ignore the light.
Can I put the Barista Express parts in the dishwasher?
Do not assume they are dishwasher-safe. Hand-wash the portafilter, basket, water tank, and drip tray unless your specific manual says otherwise, and keep water out of the grinder and machine controls.
