How To Descale Breville Coffee Maker With Grinder: Easy Steps

What is the Breville coffee maker descaling process? The Breville coffee maker descaling process is a routine maintenance procedure to remove mineral buildup from the internal components of your machine. This buildup, primarily calcium and lime, can affect the taste of your coffee and the overall performance of your appliance. This guide provides simple steps for descaling Breville coffee makers with integrated grinders, ensuring optimal performance and longevity.

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Why Descale Your Breville Coffee Maker with Grinder?

Like all coffee makers, Breville machines are susceptible to mineral buildup from hard water. This buildup can cause a host of problems:

• Poor Coffee Taste: Mineral deposits alter the flavor, making it bitter or weak.
• Reduced Performance: Buildup restricts water flow, leading to longer brewing times and weaker coffee.
• Machine Damage: Over time, mineral deposits can damage heating elements and other critical components, leading to costly repairs or replacement.
• Inconsistent Grinding: Mineral deposits and coffee oils can clog the grinder, affecting the consistency of your coffee grounds.

Regular descaling is essential to prevent these issues and keep your Breville coffee maker functioning at its best. The Breville coffee maker descaling process is not difficult but should be performed regularly.

Identifying When to Descale

Breville coffee makers often provide indicators that it’s time to descale. Look for these signs:

• Descaling Light: Many models have a dedicated descaling indicator light that illuminates when descaling is required.
• Reduced Water Flow: If you notice that water is flowing more slowly than usual during brewing, it’s a sign of mineral buildup.
• Change in Coffee Taste: If your coffee tastes bitter or has an unusual flavor, mineral deposits could be the culprit.
• Unusual Noises: Strange gurgling or sputtering sounds during brewing can indicate mineral buildup obstructing water flow.
• Machine Prompt: Some advanced models, such as the Breville Barista Touch, will display a message prompting you to descale.

Consult your Breville coffee maker’s manual for specific descaling indicator information. Breville descaling instructions vary slightly by model.

What You’ll Need

Before you begin the Breville coffee maker descaling process, gather the following:

• Descaling Solution: Use a descaling solution specifically designed for coffee makers. Breville sells their own descaling tablets, but you can also use citric acid or white vinegar. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions on dilution. Using the correct descaling solution for Breville is vital.
• Water: Fresh, filtered water is best for rinsing.
• Measuring Cup: To measure the correct amount of descaling solution and water.
• Empty Container: To collect the descaling solution as it runs through the machine.
• Soft Cloth: To wipe down the exterior of the machine.
• Your Breville Coffee Maker’s Manual: For specific instructions related to your model.

Step-by-Step Breville Coffee Maker Descaling Process

Follow these steps for a comprehensive Breville coffee maker descaling process. Note that these are general guidelines, and it’s always best to refer to your machine’s manual for specific instructions.

Step 1: Preparing the Descaling Solution

1. Dilute the Descaling Solution: Mix the descaling solution with water according to the manufacturer’s instructions. If using Breville descaling tablets, dissolve them in the specified amount of water. For citric acid, use about 1-2 tablespoons per liter of water. If using white vinegar, mix equal parts white vinegar and water.
2. Pour into Water Tank: Pour the diluted descaling solution into the water tank of your Breville coffee maker.
   Remove the water filter if your machine has one
   

Step 2: Initiating the Descaling Cycle

1. Enter Descaling Mode: Consult your Breville coffee maker’s manual to find out how to activate the descaling cycle. The process varies by model.
   • Breville Barista Touch: On the Barista Touch, go to “Settings,” then “Maintenance,” and select “Descale Cycle.” Follow the on-screen prompts.
   • Breville Grind Control: On the Grind Control, you typically press and hold the “Program” button for a few seconds until the descaling light illuminates. Refer to your manual for exact steps.
2. Place Empty Container: Place a large empty container under the group head (where the coffee usually comes out) and the hot water spout (if your machine has one). This will collect the descaling solution as it runs through the machine.
3. Start the Cycle: Start the descaling cycle according to your machine’s instructions. The machine will run the descaling solution through its internal components.
4. Wait: Allow the machine to complete the descaling cycle. This may take 30-60 minutes, depending on the model.

Step 3: Rinsing the Machine

1. Empty and Rinse: After the descaling cycle is complete, empty the container that collected the descaling solution. Thoroughly rinse the water tank to remove any remaining descaling solution.
2. Refill with Fresh Water: Refill the water tank with fresh, filtered water.
3. Run Rinse Cycles: Run several rinse cycles to flush out any remaining descaling solution. Follow your machine’s manual for instructions on running rinse cycles. Typically, you’ll run the machine as if you were brewing coffee, but without coffee grounds.
4. Repeat: Repeat the rinse cycle at least twice to ensure all traces of descaling solution are removed.

Step 4: Cleaning the Grinder (Breville Grind Control and Similar Models)

Cleaning Breville Grind Control or any Breville coffee maker with an integrated grinder is crucial for maintaining performance.

1. Empty the Bean Hopper: Remove any remaining coffee beans from the bean hopper.
2. Grind Out Remaining Coffee: Run the grinder to grind out any remaining coffee beans.
3. Brush the Burr Grinder: Use a small brush (often included with the machine) to clean the burrs of the grinder. This will remove any coffee grounds that are stuck.
4. Clean the Bean Hopper: Wash the bean hopper with warm, soapy water. Rinse thoroughly and allow it to dry completely before reattaching it.
5. Clean the Coffee Outlet: Use a dry cloth or brush to clean the coffee outlet where the ground coffee comes out. This prevents clogs and ensures consistent grinding.
   • For a deeper clean, some users carefully use a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment to remove stubborn coffee grounds. Be very gentle to avoid damaging the grinder.
6. Grinder Cleaning Tablets Grindz™ Grinder Cleaner is a product that is an option to clean the grinder and can be found online

Step 5: Reassembling and Testing

1. Reassemble: Reassemble all parts of your Breville coffee maker, including the water filter (if applicable) and the bean hopper (if you removed it for cleaning).
2. Test Brew: Brew a test cup of coffee to ensure the machine is functioning correctly and that there is no residual descaling solution affecting the taste.

Descaling Different Breville Models

While the general Breville coffee maker descaling process is similar, some models have specific instructions. Here’s a brief overview of descaling specific Breville models:

Breville Barista Touch

• Accessing Descaling Mode: Navigate to “Settings” > “Maintenance” > “Descale Cycle” on the touchscreen.
• On-Screen Prompts: The machine will guide you through the descaling process with on-screen prompts.
• Water Hardness: The Barista Touch allows you to set the water hardness level, which affects the frequency of descaling. Adjust this setting in the “Settings” menu.

Breville Grind Control

• Activating Descaling Mode: Press and hold the “Program” button for a few seconds until the descaling light comes on.
• Rinsing: Ensure you run multiple rinse cycles after descaling to remove any residual solution.
• Grinder Cleaning: Pay close attention to cleaning the grinder to maintain optimal performance.

Breville BES870XL Barista Express

• Descaling Light: The “Descale” light will illuminate when descaling is necessary.
• Combination Button Press: Descaling mode is often activated by pressing and holding multiple buttons simultaneously. Consult your manual.
• Thorough Rinsing: This model benefits from extra rinsing cycles to eliminate any aftertaste from the descaling solution.

Troubleshooting Descaling Issues

If you encounter problems during the Breville coffee maker descaling process, here are some common troubleshooting tips:

• Descaling Light Won’t Turn Off: Ensure you have completed the entire descaling cycle, including all rinse cycles. Sometimes, the light requires several rinse cycles to turn off.
• Machine Not Entering Descaling Mode: Double-check the button combination or menu option required to activate descaling mode in your machine’s manual.
• Water Not Flowing: Check for any clogs in the water tank or lines. Ensure the water filter (if present) is not blocked.
• Strange Taste After Descaling: This usually indicates that not enough rinse cycles were performed. Run additional rinse cycles until the taste disappears.
• Error Codes: If you encounter error codes, consult your Breville coffee maker’s manual for troubleshooting information.

Choosing the Best Descaler for Your Breville

Selecting the right descaling solution is crucial. Here’s a comparison of common options:

Descaler	Pros	Cons
Breville Tablets	Specifically formulated for Breville machines, ensuring optimal performance.	Can be more expensive than other options.
Citric Acid	Natural, effective, and readily available.	Requires careful dilution; too much can damage the machine.
White Vinegar	Inexpensive and readily available.	Can leave a strong odor and may require more rinse cycles to remove the taste. Some manufacturers caution against using vinegar due to its acidity affecting some components.
Commercial Descalers	Formulated for coffee machines, often effective and easy to use.	Choose a descaler specifically designed for coffee makers to avoid damaging the machine. Ensure it is non-toxic.

Consider the pros and cons of each option and choose the one that best suits your needs.

Breville Coffee Machine Maintenance Tips

Beyond descaling, regular maintenance will keep your Breville coffee maker in top condition. Here are some tips:

• Clean the Water Tank Regularly: Wash the water tank with warm, soapy water every few weeks.
• Replace Water Filter: Replace the water filter according to the manufacturer’s instructions (usually every 2-3 months).
• Clean the Drip Tray: Empty and clean the drip tray daily to prevent buildup and odors.
• Wipe Down the Exterior: Wipe down the exterior of the machine with a soft cloth to keep it clean and free from coffee stains.
• Clean the Steam Wand (if applicable): Purge the steam wand after each use and wipe it down with a damp cloth. Periodically soak the steam wand tip in a descaling solution to remove milk residue.

How to Descale Espresso Machine

The basic Breville coffee maker descaling process for espresso machines like the Barista Express or Barista Touch is similar: use a descaling solution, run a descaling cycle, and rinse thoroughly. However, pay extra attention to cleaning the group head and portafilter. Backflushing with a cleaning solution is also crucial for espresso machines.

Fathoming the Frequency of Descaling

The frequency of descaling depends on the hardness of your water and how often you use your machine. If you have hard water, you may need to descale more frequently. As a general guideline:

• Soft Water: Descale every 4-6 months.
• Medium Hard Water: Descale every 2-3 months.
• Hard Water: Descale every month or as indicated by the machine.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I use vinegar to descale my Breville coffee maker?

A: Yes, white vinegar can be used to descale a Breville coffee maker. However, it can leave a strong odor and may require more rinse cycles to remove the taste. Some manufacturers caution against using vinegar due to its acidity affecting some components.

Q: How often should I descale my Breville coffee maker?

A: The frequency of descaling depends on the hardness of your water. Soft water: every 4-6 months. Medium hard water: every 2-3 months. Hard water: every month or as indicated by the machine.

Q: What is the best descaler for a coffee maker?

A: The best descaler is one specifically designed for coffee makers. Breville descaling tablets are a good option, but citric acid or a commercial coffee machine descaler can also be used.

Q: How do I know when my Breville coffee maker needs descaling?

A: Look for the descaling light to illuminate, reduced water flow, a change in coffee taste, or unusual noises during brewing. Some models, like the Breville Barista Touch, will display a message prompting you to descale.

Q: Is descaling necessary for my coffee maker?

A: Yes, descaling is necessary to remove mineral buildup, which can affect the taste of your coffee, reduce performance, and damage the machine.

Q: What happens if I don’t descale my coffee maker?

A: If you don’t descale your coffee maker, mineral buildup will accumulate, leading to poor coffee taste, reduced performance, and potential damage to the machine.

By following these steps and tips, you can ensure your Breville coffee maker with grinder stays in excellent condition, delivering delicious coffee for years to come. Proper Breville coffee machine maintenance is key to longevity.