How Do You Reset a Breville Barista Express? Quick Guide

 

The first time my machine started acting up, I quickly searched online how to reset it. 

The instructions said it was simple, just hold two buttons for a few seconds.

Resetting your Breville Barista Express may seem simple, but there’s more to it than meets the eye. 

Did you know that if you don’t do it correctly, you could end up with worse coffee than before? 

Believe me, I learned the hard way.

In this guide I’ll spill all my secrets so you don’t have to learn through mistakes like me. 

I’ll show you exactly what to do and what not to do before, during, and after the reset. 

By the end you’ll be making perfect coffee again in no time flat!

KEY TAKEAWAY

How do you reset a Breville Barista Express?

To reset a Breville Barista Express, press and hold the “1 CUP” and “2 CUP” buttons simultaneously for approximately 5 seconds until they start flashing. (1)

This action resets the machine to its default settings.

Resetting Your Breville Barista Express: Step-by-Step Guide

Have you noticed your shots pulling slower or the crema not as rich lately? Maybe steaming milk has become a struggle.

These issues could be signs it’s time to reset your Breville Barista Express.

A reset is like giving the machine a refresh and can solve simple problems.

The first step is to make sure to clean the filter basket and group head with cafiza powder.

Getting these spots sparkling is key to a successful reset.

Losing built-up coffee oils and residues helps the machine’s performance.

Next, locate the small buttons on the bottom right.

Press and hold both the “Power” and “Single Shot” buttons for 5 seconds.

You’ll hear the machine make noises as it resets.

Once complete, those lights will flash briefly before resuming normal startup.

Give your steam wand and group head one last scrub to remove any remaining debris.

Now try pulling a test shot to see if the flavor is improved.

The reset may take a shot or two to see good results again.

If issues persist, further troubleshooting may be needed like backflushing or descaling.

But often a simple reset does the trick! Always reset after cleaning for best taste.

Understanding When to Reset Your Breville Espresso Machine

There are a few signs that indicate when it’s time to reset your Breville espresso machine.

One tell-tale signal is changes in shot volume.

Over time, shots may pour faster or slower.

Resetting recalibrates to ideal pressure.

Low steam power can also point to a reset being due.

If milk is taking longer to froth or not getting as hot, the reset may restore full steam performance.

Error messages or strange machine behavior should also prompt a reset.

Issues like overflowing water or unresponsive buttons could clear up after.

It’s generally good to reset a Breville espresso machine once a month for routine maintenance.

Even if no problems appear, the periodic reset keeps things running optimally.

This is especially important after deep cleans with Cafiza or descaling the machine.

Resetting restores your Breville to like-new working order.

Always try it first before contacting customer support.

Combined with regular cleaning, resets will help your espresso equipment last for many tasty cups.

Model-Specific Reset Instructions for Breville Espresso Machines

Each Breville model has its own reset process.

This allows setting preferences to how you like.

Let me share what worked for my machines.

My first machine was a Breville the Barista Express.

It stored grind amount and cup volume preferences.

Every few months, I’d reset to clear built up residue by holding the program button while turning it on.

This started a cleaning cycle.

Next, I set new grind and volume levels for my tastes.

My shots tasted fresher.

My current machine is a Breville Barista Touch. (2)

It stores more settings like grind size, dose times, and hot water volume.

Every 6 months or when changing water filter, I’d do a factory reset by pressing power and program button.

This wiped all settings to default.

I then followed the user manual to customize like new.

My shots were smoother and more consistent.

How Frequently Should You Reset Your Breville Espresso Machine?

The frequency depends on your machine and coffee habits.

For most owners, every 3-6 months is sufficient.

Monthly resets may be excessive.

Note signs your machine needs resetting.

Decreasing espresso shot quality, abnormal tastes, or buildup around grind amount dial could mean preferences need wiping clean.

Reset and recalibrate to your current coffee beans.

Keep sessions fresh for optimal extraction!

Running a Cleaning Cycle on Your Breville Espresso Machine

When it is time to clean your Breville Barista Express, follow these simple steps.

Empty the drip tray and grounds bin first.

Next, locate the instruction book or check the barista express instruction on the Breville website.

The book will tell you to press and hold the program button for three seconds.

Press and hold the program button until the machine beeps twice and “Auto” appears on the display.

This starts the automatic cleaning mode.

The machine will run water through the grouphead and show “Cln” on the display.

Let it complete the full cleaning cycle without interrupting it.

After it is finished,discard the water in the drip tray.

To check the filter size, remove the portafilter and look inside.

Make sure all holes are cleared of any scale buildup.

Run another rinse cycle if needed.

Be sure to thoroughly clean the steam wand area as well following the book instructions.

For future cleans, buy Breville precision brewer cleaning tablets.

Drop one tablet into the empty water tank following the next steps in the instruction manual.

Troubleshooting Clogs in Your Breville Espresso Machine

If water is not flowing through or the machine is not heating properly, there may be a clog.

First, check the factory settings haven’t been reset by accident.

On the display, see if it shows “Cln” or an error code.

If so, try resetting to factory settings by pressing and holding both water volume buttons for 5 seconds.

This may solve the issue.

Next, remove the shower screen and dispersion block found under the portafilter.

Soak both parts in white vinegar to loosen any mineral deposits or scale buildup overnight.

Wash thoroughly afterward.

Remove the water tank and look inside for any float stuck in the up position.

Gently move it down so it can rise freely again.

Check the water inlet filter located in the water tank area isn’t clogged with ground coffee.

Remove and rinse.

If your machine still isn’t functioning properly after trying all of the above, there may be further clogs inside the boiler area.

The easiest solution at this point would be to order a Breville espresso maker cleaning disk online from a reputable source like Amazon.

Insert the tab end of the disk into the grouphead and turn the handle vigorously for 2 minutes.

More often than not, this will clear any hardened coffee oils or mineral deposits restoring full function.

Make sure to run water through for 5 minutes after each use.

With regular monthly cleans using the proper techniques and products, you can keep your Breville machine running smoothly for many trouble-free years to come.

Fixing Issues: Why Your Breville Espresso Machine Isn’t Steaming

Have you noticed your Breville espresso machine isn’t producing good microfoam when steaming milk? There are a few common issues that could cause this.

First, check if limescale has built up inside the steam wand.

Remove the tip and soak it in white vinegar to dissolve any hard water deposits.

After, run the steam for a few seconds to clear out vinegar.

Next, ensure your machine is up to temperature by letting it sit in standby mode for 30 minutes before steaming.

The boiler or thermoblock may need to be descaled if minerals have accumulated.

Brew an espresso shot to see if water temperature is correct.

If not, run cleaning cycles with a descaling solution like part of the Breville Oracle Touch cleaning kit following the manual.

Check online videos on how to do a full manual descale if needed.

Lastly, the steam pressurestat may need replacing if more than 3 years old.

Breville parts are available via the manufacture’s store or websites like Amazon.

With basic descaling and cleaning every 2-3 months, you can keep your machine steaming perfectly for thermocoachability.

Customizing Espresso Shot Volume on the Breville Barista Express

Did you know you can adjust the shot volume on the Breville Barista Express? 

It’s actually pretty easy using the display controls behind the front of the machine. By default, it is set to automatically stop at 1 oz but you may prefer more or less.

From the home screen, press the three buttons on the right simultaneously for 3 seconds. This unlocks additional settings.

Use the top two buttons to scroll until “LIGHTS” appears.

Press the lower right button to enter grind control settings.

Scroll again until “VOL CE” is displayed and press the lower button. 

The display will flash “VO” with default time below (1.0 oz).

Use the top buttons to increase or decrease time by 0.2 oz increments up to 2.0 oz.

When done, press the lower button to save.

Test the new setting by pulling a shot.

For reference, a single shot is usually 1-1.5 oz while a double is 1.5-2 oz.

Changing the volume allows customizing the amount of espresso for your personal tastes without adjusting grind size manually each time.

And it will stay set even if you need to reset your Breville barista machine.

Handy for baristas on the go! Make sure to use your Breville machine accordingly.

Conclusion

In conclusion, always remember to clean the brew group with cafiza before and after resetting your Breville Barista Express.

Following these steps will ensure your machine is good as new and coffee stays top-notch.

Before you go though, did you know there’s an even easier way to keep your espresso tasting fresh beyond just resets? 

In my next article, I’ll show you a simple trick using just two ingredients to deep clean your machine without any disassembly required.

It works like a charm! Don’t miss out – look for “Deep Clean Your Coffee Machine Without Taking it Apart” coming next week.

See you then!

References

1. https://karmacoffeecafe.com/how-to-reset-breville-espresso-machine/
2. https://www.breville.com/inspiration/en-us/tutorials/the-barista-touch-impress/customizing-your-machine/how-to-perform-a-factory-reset

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