After using the Breville Barista Pro regularly, you will notice a DESCALE alert on its display. It is essential to run a descaling cycle if you receive this alert, as the water used to brew the coffee can cause mineral buildup in your coffee maker. Although not harmful, this buildup can affect the machine’s performance, temperature, water flow, and even the taste of the coffee. Descaling is a crucial part of a coffee maker’s regular maintenance and should not be ignored. However, there is no need to worry as this article provides a guide on how to descale your Breville coffee maker
If I Don’t Descale My Coffee Machine, What Will Happen?
Mineral buildup can cause damage to the machine.
If the machine is unable to reach its ideal brewing temperature, it will not be possible to fully extract the flavour of the coffee.
The buildup can also prevent adequate water flow, and if it is not removed, the machine can stop working altogether.
In addition, if the temperature of the coffee is not sufficient, it may not be satisfying to the user.
How to Descale Breville Coffee Maker?
Before descaling a coffee maker, there are a few things you should know. Firstly, it’s worth noting that most Breville coffee makers come equipped with a water tank and filter. Therefore, if you encounter any issues with the coffee’s taste or quality after use, you can descale it by filling the tank with freshwater and pressing the designated button once the water has been changed. Additionally, many Breville machines also come with a cleaning brush and soap for maintenance purposes.
What do You need for a Breville Machine Descale
To clean your machine, select one of the following four options:
- White vinegar
- Lime juice
- Citric acid
- A descaling solution
Before choosing a method, kindly refer to your owner’s manual to check if there are any limitations or if they recommend a different approach.
Homemade Descaling Solutions:
Vinegar is usually the first option people consider for descaling their coffee maker due to its affordability. However, using vinegar to descale a Breville espresso maker is not recommended. This is because vinegar has some drawbacks compared to using a descaling solution, the most significant of which is its reduced effectiveness.
If you prefer not to use vinegar, there are a couple of alternative descaling methods available. Citric acid is the second most popular option after vinegar, and it is effective in dissolving mineral deposits due to its acidic properties.
Using citric acid instead of vinegar offers several advantages, one of which is a considerably milder aftertaste. Even if you choose citric acid over vinegar, we recommend thoroughly rinsing the machine after 3-5 brewing cycles. However, if some residue is left behind, it will not have as significant an impact on the flavour of your coffee.
If neither vinegar or citric acid is appealing to you, lemon juice, which has a substantial concentration of citric acid, is a good alternative. A mixture of one-part lemon juice to two-parts water is ideal for achieving the desired strength. Lemon juice is the most sensible option if you are concerned about taste retention, and it is more widely available than citric acid.
How To Descale Your Breville Machine Step-by-Step?
Let’s follow these steps to solve the problem: How to descale a Breville coffee maker?
1. Select the descaler you’ll use:
You can choose the method that works best for you. Lemon juice, vinegar, and citric acid are all-natural ingredients. If you use commercially produced powders, pills, etc., it is recommended that you use only all-natural descaling solutions.
Once you have chosen a routine, you will have a favourite and effective “go-to” descaling solution or product. You may decide to make your own homemade espresso machine descaler with vinegar or citric acid, or you may choose to purchase a descaling product, or alternate between them once a month
Here is an example of how to use vinegar to clean a Breville espresso maker:
2. Mix It Up:
Choosing between a commercially produced product or a DIY remedy may require different steps. If you opt for vinegar, make sure to dissolve it in water, and if you choose citric acid, mix the powder thoroughly with water. In case you decide to use a commercial product, it is crucial to follow the instructions provided.
3. Rinse with Breville machine descaler:
Although each machine may be different, the general procedure for cleaning an espresso machine remains the same. In this stage, similar to brewing coffee, the reservoir should be filled with a cleaning solution, which is a mixture of water and the cleaning agent. The solution passes through the boiler before moving through the machine and should also be run through the steam wand. This cleaning agent is essential for removing impurities, debris, and mineral build-up left by the water components passing through the espresso maker. As a result of the cleaning process, these particles break down, preventing them from accumulating and clogging the pipes. If you live in an area with hard water, it is recommended to repeat this step twice to ensure all dirt has been removed.
4. Rinse the rinse out:
After completing the descaling rinse, refill your reservoir with water only and rinse it out again. This step is important to ensure that any remaining citric acid, vinegar, or commercial descaling product has been completely removed from your machine. This will prevent any unwanted flavours from affecting the taste of your morning espresso.
5. Examine the water:
After completing the rinse-and-repeat process, take a deep sniff of the water that has just emerged to ensure it smells only like water, without any hint of citric acid, vinegar, or other substances. If you detect any of these smells, repeat the rinse process again. Moreover, it is advised to restart the ENTIRE procedure if the water appears even slightly foggy. You must observe clean water to ensure that there is no descaling product flavour left behind. Once the water is clear and smells like water, you can start making coffee.
Conclusion:
Descaling your Breville coffee machine is a simple task and should not take more than 30 minutes to complete. To effectively remove mineral deposits and save money, we recommend using vinegar. However, if you prefer, you can purchase a descaling solution. Lemon juice also works well and has the added benefit of leaving a pleasant aftertaste. In the event that some lemon juice is left in the machine after rinsing, it will not affect the taste of your coffee. We hope that you now understand how to descale your Breville coffee maker.
