How to Clean Your Breville Espresso Machine to Stop Mold Before It Starts

If you need coffee first thing in the morning to feel functional, you probably consider your Breville espresso machine to be one of the most essential appliances in your home. To ensure it keeps running smoothly for years to come, we've assembled this guide on the best way to clean your Breville espresso machine.

Unlike a regular old coffeepot, you can't just wipe it down every once in a while or toss the pot in the dishwasher when it's looking icky. Espresso machines require a little more hands-on maintenance. Below, we've outlined the cleaning tasks you should do every couple of days, weekly, every few weeks, and monthly. It may sound like a lot, but the good news is that many of these steps only take a few minutes.

Here's why you don't want to skip cleaning your Breville espresso machine: It's easy for mold to grow in the moist, warm environment of your machine. Cleaning it regularly ensures that mold doesn't build up over time. In addition to being gross (who wants to be drinking mold in their morning latte?), mold can also disrupt how well the machine functions.

So put on your favorite playlist, grab your coffee, and start cleaning with this simple guide.

1. Knock out the used coffee puck from the portafilter.

2. Remove the filter basket from the portafilter, since coffee grounds can get trapped underneath it.

3. Clean the filter basket and portafilter.

4. Dry all parts thoroughly with a clean, dry towel.

Once you're done using the machine for the day, run a quick backflush. Every couple of days, conduct a more thorough backflush as outlined below. This quick process, which only uses water rather than any cleaning solutions, removes loose coffee grounds, oils, and residue.

Here's how to do a clear water backflush after you've made a cup of coffee and before you turn the machine off:

1. Remove and empty the drip tray, give it a quick rinse, and put it back in place.
2. Refill the water tank to full capacity.
3. Take the portafilter and insert the one-cup filter basket and silicone cleaning disc.
4. Lock the portafilter into the group head.
5. Press the one-cup button on the machine, allowing pressure to build up for 20 seconds.
6. Press the button again to stop and discharge water into the drip tray.
7. Repeat the process three to four times.

Additionally, clean the steam wand after every use following the steps below.

1. Grab a clean, damp cloth and wipe the steam wand immediately after use to remove any milk residue.
2. Turn the steam on for a few seconds to make sure no milk remains inside the wand.

1. Dampen a clean microfiber cloth with water and wipe down the exterior of the espresso machine.
2. Take a new, dry microfiber cloth and immediately wipe the exterior dry to prevent water spots from forming.

1. Fill a cup with boiling water or an espresso machine cleaning solution.
2. Submerge the steam wand in the water or cleaning solution for up to an hour.
3. Remove the wand tip and use the cleaning tool included with the machine to pierce through the holes on top of the tip.
4. Scrub the tip clean, reattach it, and run the steam for a few seconds to remove any cleaning solution residue.

1. Remove the water tank and the water filter.
2. Thoroughly wash the water tank with warm water, mild dish soap, and a bottle brush that gets into the depths of the tank. Make sure to get in all the nooks and crevices to remove any buildup.
3. Dry the water tank well before putting it back in place and inserting the water filter.

A Breville espresso machine has one of two types of coffee grinders: a burr grinder or a blade grinder. Below, discover the essential steps for how to clean your coffee grinder effectively.

Burr Grinder

1. Remove coffee beans from the grinder and run it to discard any remaining coffee.
2. Unplug the grinder, disassemble the removable parts and use a soft-bristled cleaning brush to remove small and large coffee particles and dust.
3. Use a dampened cloth to remove any oily residue from all components, and once they are clean and dry, reassemble the grinder.
4. Plug the grinder back in and add a small amount of coffee beans, grinding them to season the grinder before the next use.

Blade Grinder

1. Remove coffee beans from the grinder and run it to discard any remaining coffee.
2. Unplug it and use either a soft brush or compressed air to get rid of any coffee dust.
3. Use a dampened cloth to carefully wipe down the chamber and blades to remove any oily residue.
4. Once all components are completely dry, plug the grinder back in.

Every one to three months, follow the below steps to deep clean your espresso machine. Make sure you check the manufacturer's manual for your appliance, as the brand makes several different coffee machines and some models may include additional or slightly different cleaning directions.

1. Start by turning the espresso machine off, emptying the drip tray and refilling the water tank.
2. Place the 1-cup filter basket into your portafilter, and add the silicone cleaning disk and a Breville cleaning tablet.
3. Select the clean cycle option on the machine and allow the self-cleaning cycle to run its full course, which is approximately five minutes.
4. Once done, remove the portafilter to ensure that the cleaning tablet has dissolved completely. If it has not, repeat the cleaning cycle. If it has, remove the silicone cleaning disk and press the 2-cup button to run a rinse cycle that eliminates any remaining residue from the group head.

In addition to deep cleaning the machine, descale it every one to three months to keep it in good working condition. If you have hard water, descale it every month, if you have soft water, every two to three months is sufficient.

1. Start by emptying the drip tray and the water tank.
2. Remove the drip tray.
3. Combine the directed amount of warm water and a pouch of Breville descaler.
4. Pour the mixture into the water tank.
5. Select the "descale" mode on the espresso machine.
6. Place a large empty container under the group head and steam wand.
7. Press the one-cup button on the machine and allow it to run, then turn on the steam wand and let it run for a couple of seconds.
8. Turn on the water mode to descale the water component.
9. Repeat the process until the water tank is empty.
10. Rinse the water tank, fill it with water and run a final cycle to get rid of any remaining descaling solution.

Check the manufacturer's directions for your specific Breville espresso machine model and change the water filter as directed. Typically, the water filter should be changed every three months. The harder the water, the more frequently the water filter will need to be replaced.

Maria Sabella

Maria Sabella is a lifestyle writer with a passion for home and interiors — from paint colors and holiday decor to the latest design trends. Her work has appeared in outlets including Better Homes & Gardens, The Spruce, BuzzFeed and Bustle.