Breville Barista Express BES870
- Category
- Coffee and espresso machines
- Model number
- BES870
- Region
- North America (120 V edition in English, Canadian French and Mexican Spanish)
- Manual
- BES870 USCM revision X20
- Verified
- Rating label
- Underneath or on the back of the machine, on a sticker or moulded into the housing. Source: support page
- CLEAN/DESCALE flashing
- CLEAN/DESCALE solid
- FILTER SIZE LEDs flashing
- STEAM/HOT WATER light flashes at power-on
- No water from the group head
- Espresso only drips, or does not flow
- Espresso runs too quickly
- Espresso leaks around the portafilter
- No steam
- Coffee is not hot enough
- No crema
- Drip tray fills quickly or water appears under the machine
- Machine is on but stops working
- Grinder delivers no coffee or is loud
- Too much or too little espresso in the cup
- How to run the cleaning cycle
- How to descale
- How to replace the water filter
- How to clean the steam wand
- How to clean the burr grinder
- How to replace the group-head seal
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Indicator lights
| Indicator | Meaning | Checks |
|---|---|---|
| CLEAN/DESCALE flashing | A cleaning (back-flush) cycle is due. This is separate from descaling. | Checks |
| CLEAN/DESCALE solid | Descaling is due. | Checks |
| FILTER SIZE LEDs flashing | The bean hopper is not locked in place. | Checks |
| STEAM/HOT WATER light flashes at power-on | The STEAM/HOT WATER dial is not at STANDBY. | Checks |
Breville codes on other models
CLEAN/DESCALE flashing
The CLEAN/DESCALE light flashes. A cleaning (back-flush) cycle is due. This is separate from descaling.
- Run a cleaning cycle. See Run the cleaning cycle.
CLEAN/DESCALE solid
The CLEAN/DESCALE light stays on. Descaling is due.
- Descale the machine. See Descale.
FILTER SIZE LEDs flashing
The FILTER SIZE LEDs flash. The bean hopper is not locked in place.
- Remove the hopper, check for debris, then lock it back into position.
STEAM/HOT WATER light flashes at power-on
The STEAM/HOT WATER light flashes when the machine is switched on and it does not heat. The STEAM/HOT WATER dial is not at STANDBY.
- Turn the dial to STANDBY. The machine then heats normally.
Problems
- No water from the group head4 causes in the manual. First: the machine is still heating.
- Espresso only drips, or does not flow7 causes in the manual. First: coffee is ground too finely.
- Espresso runs too quickly3 causes in the manual. First: coffee is ground too coarsely.
- Espresso leaks around the portafilter4 causes in the manual. First: the portafilter is not inserted in the group head correctly.
- No steam6 causes in the manual. First: still heating. The STEAM/HOT WATER light flashes while it heats; water purging from the wand meanwhile is normal.
- Coffee is not hot enough5 causes in the manual. First: the cups are not pre-heated.
- No crema4 causes in the manual. First: coffee is tamped too lightly.
- Drip tray fills quickly or water appears under the machine4 causes in the manual. First: the auto purge feature releases water into the drip tray after the espresso, hot water and steam functions, so the thermocoil is at the optimal temperature.
- Machine is on but stops workingThe thermal cut-out may have tripped because the pump or grinder overheated.
- Grinder delivers no coffee or is loud4 causes in the manual. First: there are no coffee beans in the hopper.
- Too much or too little espresso in the cupGrind settings or programmed shot volumes need adjusting.
Machine is on but stops working
The thermal cut-out may have tripped because the pump or grinder overheated. Source: Troubleshooting, p. 32
- Switch the machine off with POWER and unplug it.
- Let it cool for 30–60 minutes.
Breville Consumer Support If it stops again, contact Breville Consumer Support. Contact: 1-866-273-8455 or breville.com/us/support.
Too much or too little espresso in the cup
Grind settings or programmed shot volumes need adjusting. Source: Troubleshooting, p. 33
- Try one change at a time: reset the default volumes, reprogram the shot volume, or adjust grind amount and size.
How-to
- How to run the cleaning cycleWhen the CLEAN/DESCALE light flashes. This back-flush cycle is separate from descaling.
- How to descaleWhen the CLEAN/DESCALE light stays on (not flashing).
- How to replace the water filterEvery 2 months, more often in hard-water areas. Remove the filter if you use filtered or bottled water.
- How to clean the steam wandAfter every use, and when steam is weak or the tip is blocked.
- How to clean the burr grinderWhen oil build-up on the burrs affects grinding, or the grinder is noisy or delivers no coffee. A blockage between the burrs and the outlet needs the advanced cleaning on page 25 of the instruction book.
- How to replace the group-head sealWhen espresso or water leaks around the portafilter because the silicone seal no longer seals.
Maintenance
| Task | When | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Wipe and purge the steam wand | After every use | Source: Care & Cleaning: Cleaning the steam wand, p. 26 |
| Rinse the filter baskets and portafilter under hot water | Immediately after use | Source: Care & Cleaning: Cleaning the filter baskets and portafilter, p. 26 |
| Check the water level and replace the water | Daily | Source: First use, p. 11 |
| Replace the water filter | Every 2 months; more often with hard water | Source: Care & Cleaning: Replacing the water filter, p. 23 |
| Run the cleaning cycle | When CLEAN/DESCALE flashes | Source: Care & Cleaning: Cleaning cycle, p. 23 |
| Descale | When CLEAN/DESCALE stays on | Source: Care & Cleaning: Descaling, p. 24 |
| Empty and wash the drip tray | Regularly, and whenever EMPTY ME! shows | Source: Care & Cleaning: Cleaning the drip & storage tray, p. 26 |
| Wipe the shower screen and purge the group head with an empty basket | Periodically (no fixed interval given) | Source: Care & Cleaning: Cleaning the shower screen, p. 26 |
Settings
| Setting | Options | Default | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grind size | Numbered; lower is finer | Start at 5 | Source: General operation: Setting the grind size, p. 12 | |
| Grind amount | LESS to MORE dial | Start at the 3 o'clock position | After tamping, the tamper's metal cap should be level with the basket rim. | Source: General operation: Setting the grind amount, p. 12 |
| Shot volume | Programmable for 1 CUP and 2 CUP | About 1 oz (30 ml) and 2 oz (60 ml) | Program: press PROGRAM, press 1 CUP or 2 CUP to start, press it again to stop; two beeps confirm. Reset: hold PROGRAM until three beeps (also resets the temperature). | Source: Functions: Re-programming shot volume; Resetting default volumes, pp. 14–15 |
| Brew water temperature | Default ±4 °F in 2 °F steps | Default | With the machine off, hold PROGRAM and press POWER (one beep), then within 5 seconds press PROGRAM for default, 1 CUP for +2 °F, 2 CUP for +4 °F or FILTER SIZE for −2 °F. Two beeps confirm. | Source: Advanced temperature mode, pp. 17–18 |
| Sleep and auto off | Fixed | Sleep after 1 hour, off after 3 hours | Press any button except POWER to wake it. | Source: Sleep & auto off mode, p. 17 |
Parts and consumables
| Item | Replace or refill | Specification | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water filter | Every 2 months | Replaceable filter in a holder inside the tank. Breville directs owners to Consumer Support to buy filters. | Source: Care & Cleaning: Replacing the water filter, p. 23 |
| Cleaning tablets | When CLEAN/DESCALE flashes | One tablet per cleaning cycle; also used to soak blocked baskets. | Source: Care & Cleaning: Cleaning cycle, p. 23 |
| Descaling powder | When CLEAN/DESCALE stays on | Breville descaling powder, one sachet per 34 fl oz (1 L) of water. | Source: Care & Cleaning: Descaling, p. 24 |
| Group-head silicone seal | When it no longer seals | Available from Breville Consumer Support. | Source: Care & Cleaning: Using the Allen key, p. 27 |
Specifications
Espresso machine with a built-in conical burr grinder, 54 mm portafilter, pressure gauge, steam wand and a 67 fl oz (2 L) water tank with a replaceable filter. Source: Components, p. 8
Rated 120 V, 60 Hz, 1650 W. Source: Components (rating information), p. 9
It shows no error codes. The CLEAN/DESCALE light flashes when a cleaning cycle is due and stays on when descaling is due. Source: Care & Cleaning, p. 24
| Water tank | 67 fl oz (2 L), removable | Source: Components, p. 9 |
|---|---|---|
| Portafilter | 54 mm stainless steel | Source: Components, p. 8 |
| Electrical | 120 V, 60 Hz, 1650 W | Source: Components (rating information), p. 9 |
| Basket doses | 1 CUP basket about 8–11 g | Source: Functions, p. 19 |
Recalls
No exact-model match for BES870, Barista Express in the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recall database, checked . Recalls can name model families, so also check current recalls for Breville.
Service contact
Breville Consumer Support: 1-866-273-8455, breville.com/us/support. United States (Canada: 1-855-683-3535; Mexico: 1-800-953-1668). Source: Back cover, p. 112
Sources
- the Barista Express Instruction Book, BES870 (English, Canadian French and Mexican Spanish edition). Breville Pty Ltd. Document BES870 USCM, revision X20, 2020, 112 pages, en-US. assets.breville.com (PDF). Retrieved 12 November 2026.
Page numbers are the numbers printed in the manual. Where this page and the manual differ, follow the manual.
All Breville handbooks. Report an error to hello@modelhandbook.com.