Descaling a Breville Barista Express Impress with Citric Acid

The Breville Barista Express Impress uses a Thermocoil heating system with an integrated stainless-steel water path. Like all espresso machines, mineral scale gradually accumulates inside the machine and should be removed periodically to maintain performance.

Food-grade citric acid is an effective and inexpensive descaling agent. For routine maintenance, dissolve 25–30g of citric acid in 1 litre of warm water (approximately 50°C). If the machine has not been descaled for a long time or is exposed to particularly hard water, up to 50g per litre may be used.

What You’ll Need

• 25–30g food-grade citric acid
• 1 litre warm water (approximately 50°C)
• A container capable of holding at least 2 litres of liquid

Preparing the Descaling Solution

Add the citric acid to the warm water and stir until completely dissolved. Remove the water filter from the machine’s water tank before proceeding.

Descaling Procedure

1. Switch off the machine.
2. Empty the drip tray and water tank.
3. Fill the water tank with the prepared citric acid solution.
4. Press and hold the Power and 2-Cup buttons simultaneously until the indicator lights begin flashing and the machine enters descale mode.
5. Place a large container beneath the group head, hot-water outlet and steam wand.
6. Follow the machine prompts and run the descaling cycle until the tank is empty.
7. Empty and thoroughly rinse the water tank.

Rinsing the Machine

Fill the water tank with fresh water and run a complete rinse cycle through the machine. One full tank is usually sufficient, though a second or third rinse can be performed if the tanginess of the citric acid persists or if the water collected after rinsing still appears cloudy.

Notes

• Always remove the water filter before descaling.
• Do not use boiling water when preparing the solution.
• Do not leave the descaling solution sitting in the machine for extended periods.
• The frequency of descaling depends on water hardness and usage.
• If the machine is used with softened or low-mineral water, descaling may be required less frequently.

Recommended Descaling Intervals

As a general guide:

• Soft water: every 4–6 months
• Moderately hard water: every 2–3 months
• Hard water: every 1–2 months

The machine’s descale indicator should be treated as a prompt to inspect and service the machine rather than a strict schedule.

References

• Breville: How to Perform a Descale on the Barista Express Impress
• Alliance Chemical. "How to Descale an Espresso Machine with Food-Grade Citric Acid."