Breville BES870 how to run the cleaning cycle
When the CLEAN/DESCALE light flashes. This back-flush cycle is separate from descaling.
You need
- 1 CUP filter basket
- Cleaning disc
- 1 cleaning tablet
- Large container
Steps
- Put the 1 CUP basket in the portafilter, then the cleaning disc, then one cleaning tablet.
- Lock the portafilter into the group head and place a large container under the spouts.
- Fill the tank with cold water and empty the drip tray.
- Switch the machine off with POWER.
- Hold 1 CUP, 2 CUP and POWER together for about 10 seconds.
- Wait about 5 minutes while water flows from the spouts at intervals. Three beeps mark the end.
- Remove the portafilter and check the tablet has dissolved. If it has not, repeat the cycle.
Source: Care & Cleaning: Cleaning cycle Source: Care & Cleaning: Cleaning cycle, pp. 23–24
Used for
- CLEAN/DESCALE flashing: A cleaning (back-flush) cycle is due. This is separate from descaling.
Other BES870 procedures
- 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.
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.