Breville BES500 froth and temperature lights flash together
The froth and temperature lights flash together. Steam function error, or the water tank may be empty.
Cause 1 of 2Steam function error. Source: Troubleshooting, p. 20
First checkPress and hold STEAM for 3 seconds to purge the system.
Causes and checks
Steam function error. Source: Troubleshooting, p. 20
- Press and hold STEAM for 3 seconds to purge the system.
Water tank empty. Source: Troubleshooting, p. 20
- Fill the water tank.
All 2 causes checked. Contact Breville Consumer Support: 1-866-273-8455.
Service
If the checks above do not clear it, contact Breville Consumer Support: 1-866-273-8455, breville.com/us/support. United States (Canada: 1-855-683-3535; Mexico: 800-649-0543). Source: Back cover, p. 72
Other BES500 indicators
- 1 CUP and 2 CUP flash alternately: 200 extractions have been made since the last cleaning cycle; the group head needs a cleaning (flush) cycle. This is separate from descaling.
- 1 CUP and STEAM alternate with 2 CUP for 15 seconds: Descaling is due. Pressing any of these buttons cancels the alert and returns to ready mode.
- 1 CUP, 2 CUP and STEAM lights off: The water level in the tank is low.
- MILK TEMP and MILK FOAM lights run downwards: Lower steam wand alert: the steam wand was left raised after texturing milk.
- MILK TEMP and MILK FOAM lights all flashing, STEAM light off: The machine detected a blocked steam wand and stopped texturing. The lights flash until the wand has been cleared.
Sources
- the Bambino Plus Instruction Book, BES500 Series (English, Canadian French and Mexican Spanish edition). Breville Pty Ltd. Document BES500 USCM, revision Y25, 2025, 72 pages, en-US. assets.breville.com (PDF). Listed on the manufacturer's support page. Retrieved 13 November 2026.
Page numbers are the numbers printed in the manual. Where this page and the manual differ, follow the manual.