Breville Espresso Machine – Lights Flashing. How To Reset?

Approximately 50% of the American population consumes at least a cup of coffee daily. This figure amounts to around 150 million Americans, most of whom take their first cup at home. A Breville espresso machine is a perfect appliance to help you enjoy your first cup of joe of the day, but what does it mean if the lights are flashing? 

Your Breville espresso machine’s lights are flashing because the machine is dirty or clogged, it needs a cleaning or descaling cycle, or the steam wand is clogged or dirty. You can fix this by cleaning the machine, running a descaling cycle, or cleaning the steam wand.

Breville espresso machines come programmed with various flashing light alerts for different issues. Depending on the Breville espresso machine model, a different set of lights will flash, indicating a different problem. This article will discuss the common issues caused by a Breville espresso machine’s lights flashing, and how to fix them. 

When your Breville espresso machine has flashing lights, it often indicates that it needs to be cleaned. Cleaning your espresso machine on a regular basis helps to keep it working efficiently and ensures it will last you for many years. 

Running your machine through a clean flush cycle is an excellent place to start to keep it free from dirt and prevent clogging. However, you should also perform other essential maintenance regularly. 

Read: How To Fix Breville Espresso Machine Frother Not Working – Troubleshooting Guide

How To Fix?

Most espresso machines, including Breville models, come with a cleaning kit to help you resolve this flashing light. These kits often contain cleaning tablets and disks to help you perform a  cleaning cycle but you may also require a cleaning tool and brush. You can buy these from big box stores or online.

The cleaning tablets remove oil and coffee ground residue, and are manufactured using food-grade ingredients, making them safe for your espresso machine, and they do not corrode the internal parts. 

It is important to read the instructions carefully before using these tablets, as some may not be compatible with your machine, especially off-brand tablets.

You can use a cleaning disk when you run a flushing cycle. Place it in the center of the portafilter, and backflush the machine with it. 

Pro tip: Most flashing lights indicate a cleaning problem, and you must be careful which lights indicate which issue. Knowing the difference can save you a lot of time and effort, and I’ll discuss the other flashing lights issues in the rest of the article. 

Read: Why Breville Espresso Machine Not Grinding – Troubleshooting Guide

When you notice “1 cup and 2 cups” flashing on your Breville Espresso machine, it means that the machine requires a cleaning cycle. Your espresso machine will need a clean after brewing 200 espressos but it can vary, depending on your machine type.  

With regular use, your espresso maker can accumulate minerals from the water you use. While not harmful, these deposits may affect your machine’s performance, temperature, and water flow. It can also impact the espresso’s flavor.

How To Fix?

Follow these steps to perform a cleaning cycle on your Breville espresso machine:

1. Place a compatible cleaning disk into the filter basket in the portafilter. Thisis a spoon-shaped device attached to the group head and holds the coffee beans.
2. Place a single cleaning tablet in the appropriate indent on the cleaning disk.
3. Carefully but firmly lock the portafilter into the group head to ensure it’s secured in place.
4. Remove any residue on the drip tray and put it back into the machine. Place a 68 fl oz (2,011 ml) container on the drip tray, which is located under the portafilter and steam wand.
5. Remove and fill the water tank, being careful not to go beyond the ‘MAX’ line. Place it back into the machine.
6. Put your machine into cleaning cycle mode by pressing both the “1 cup” and “2 cups” simultaneously for at least 5 seconds.
7. The lights should remain lit, and you can press either of them to start cleaning. They will flicker and flash while cleaning is in progress.
8. After the cycle is complete, the machine will revert to ready mode, and you can remove, rinse, and replace the portafilter, cleaning disk, and drip tray.

Approximately 50% of the American population consumes at least a cup of coffee daily. This figure amounts to around 150 million Americans, most of whom take their first cup at home. A Breville espresso machine is a perfect appliance to help you enjoy your first cup of joe of the day, but what does it mean if the lights are flashing? 

Your Breville espresso machine’s lights are flashing because the machine is dirty or clogged, it needs a cleaning or descaling cycle, or the steam wand is clogged or dirty. You can fix this by cleaning the machine, running a descaling cycle, or cleaning the steam wand.

Breville espresso machines come programmed with various flashing light alerts for different issues. Depending on the Breville espresso machine model, a different set of lights will flash, indicating a different problem. This article will discuss the common issues caused by a Breville espresso machine’s lights flashing, and how to fix them. 

When your Breville espresso machine has flashing lights, it often indicates that it needs to be cleaned. Cleaning your espresso machine on a regular basis helps to keep it working efficiently and ensures it will last you for many years. 

Running your machine through a clean flush cycle is an excellent place to start to keep it free from dirt and prevent clogging. However, you should also perform other essential maintenance regularly. 

Read: How To Fix Breville Espresso Machine Frother Not Working – Troubleshooting Guide

How To Fix?

Most espresso machines, including Breville models, come with a cleaning kit to help you resolve this flashing light. These kits often contain cleaning tablets and disks to help you perform a  cleaning cycle but you may also require a cleaning tool and brush. You can buy these from big box stores or online.

The cleaning tablets remove oil and coffee ground residue, and are manufactured using food-grade ingredients, making them safe for your espresso machine, and they do not corrode the internal parts. 

It is important to read the instructions carefully before using these tablets, as some may not be compatible with your machine, especially off-brand tablets.

You can use a cleaning disk when you run a flushing cycle. Place it in the center of the portafilter, and backflush the machine with it. 

Pro tip: Most flashing lights indicate a cleaning problem, and you must be careful which lights indicate which issue. Knowing the difference can save you a lot of time and effort, and I’ll discuss the other flashing lights issues in the rest of the article. 

Read: Why Breville Espresso Machine Not Grinding – Troubleshooting Guide

When you notice “1 cup and 2 cups” flashing on your Breville Espresso machine, it means that the machine requires a cleaning cycle. Your espresso machine will need a clean after brewing 200 espressos but it can vary, depending on your machine type.  

With regular use, your espresso maker can accumulate minerals from the water you use. While not harmful, these deposits may affect your machine’s performance, temperature, and water flow. It can also impact the espresso’s flavor.

How To Fix?

Follow these steps to perform a cleaning cycle on your Breville espresso machine:

1. Place a compatible cleaning disk into the filter basket in the portafilter. Thisis a spoon-shaped device attached to the group head and holds the coffee beans.
2. Place a single cleaning tablet in the appropriate indent on the cleaning disk.
3. Carefully but firmly lock the portafilter into the group head to ensure it’s secured in place.
4. Remove any residue on the drip tray and put it back into the machine. Place a 68 fl oz (2,011 ml) container on the drip tray, which is located under the portafilter and steam wand.
5. Remove and fill the water tank, being careful not to go beyond the ‘MAX’ line. Place it back into the machine.
6. Put your machine into cleaning cycle mode by pressing both the “1 cup” and “2 cups” simultaneously for at least 5 seconds.
7. The lights should remain lit, and you can press either of them to start cleaning. They will flicker and flash while cleaning is in progress.
8. After the cycle is complete, the machine will revert to ready mode, and you can remove, rinse, and replace the portafilter, cleaning disk, and drip tray.