Descale and clean the Barista Touch BES880
Keep the single ThermoJet thermocoil and 54mm group free of scale and coffee oils by running the machine's built-in descale and flush cycles and a periodic cleaning-tablet backflush.
Run the descale cycle when the touchscreen prompts you and follow the interval in the manual; check your manual and adjust for your water hardness rather than relying on a fixed calendar date.
| soft | roughly every 3 months or when the machine prompts (check your manual) |
| moderate | roughly every 2 months or when the machine prompts (check your manual) |
| hard | roughly monthly or when the machine prompts (check your manual) |
Check your manual: Intervals and cycle steps vary by unit and water hardness; always check your manual (the US BES880 instruction book) for the exact descale and cleaning procedure and use only manufacturer-approved solutions.
Step by step
- Empty and rinse the drip tray, remove the tank water filter, and watch for the machine's on-screen descale or flush alert before starting.
- Fill the tank with descaling solution mixed to the manufacturer's ratio and run the machine's descale cycle so solution passes through both the group head and the steam wand, then rinse thoroughly with two or more fresh-water tank cycles.
- Run a cleaning-tablet backflush using the supplied blind cleaning disc and one cleaning tablet in the group, following the on-screen clean cycle.
- Reinstall a fresh tank water filter, wipe down the group and steam wand, and note the date so you can track the next service.
What you'll need
- Espresso machine descaling solution (Breville or compatible)
- Backflush / cleaning tablets
- Blind cleaning disc
- Replacement tank water filter cartridge
See the Breville Barista Touch upgrade guide →
Breville Barista Touch maintenance questions
How often should I perform descale and clean the barista touch bes880?
Use the cadence above as a planning reminder, then follow the Breville Barista Touch manual because water hardness, usage, model revision, and machine alerts can change the interval.
Can I substitute a different cleaning procedure or product?
Do not assume procedures are interchangeable. Intervals and cycle steps vary by unit and water hardness; always check your manual (the US BES880 instruction book) for the exact descale and cleaning procedure and use only manufacturer-approved solutions.