Cleaning Cycle Tutorial: Using the Rubber Disc & Tablets

Hey there, fellow home barista! If you want to keep your espresso machine humming like day one, you’ve landed in the right spot. The Breville cleaning cycle—often called backflushing—is your machine’s best friend for removing coffee oils, residue, and buildup that daily wipes can’t touch.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll dive deep into everything from quick daily habits to the full cleaning cycle process using the rubber disc (aka silicone cleaning disc) and tablets.

Daily vs Weekly Cleaning: What’s the Difference?

As a home barista, consistency is key—but not every clean needs to be a full production. Daily cleaning is your quick-hit maintenance to prevent grime buildup, while weekly cleaning (or when the “Clean Me” light flashes) ramps it up with the full Breville cleaning cycle.

Daily Cleaning: Quick and Essential

Think of daily cleans as brushing your teeth—simple, fast, and preventive. After each session:

1. Knock out and wipe the portafilter

   • Tap grounds into knock box
   • Rinse basket under hot water
   • Scrub with a brush and dry thoroughly

2. Purge the group head

   • Run hot water through for 5-10 seconds
   • This flushes fresh grounds from the shower screen

3. Clean the steam wand

   • Purge for 10 seconds to clear milk residue
   • Wipe with a damp cloth
   • Purge again to clear the interior

4. Empty the drip tray

   • Rinse and wipe down
   • Clean exterior surfaces

Time required: Under 5 minutes

Pro Tip: Use a dedicated espresso cleaning brush—the bristles are designed not to scratch your machine.

Weekly Cleaning: The Deep Dive

Weekly (or when prompted by the “Clean Me” light), it’s time for the full Breville cleaning cycle. This isn’t just a quick wipe—it’s a chemical backflush that clears coffee oils from inside the group head, dispersion screen, and three-way valve.

What the Cleaning Cycle Does

The cleaning cycle works through a process called backflushing. Here’s what happens:

1. The rubber disc seals the portafilter, preventing water from flowing through
2. When you activate the shot, water is forced into the group head
3. The three-way solenoid valve releases pressure, along with oils and residue
4. The cleaning tablet dissolves, chemically breaking down coffee oils
5. The cycle reverses, pushing solution back through the system
6. Multiple pulses flush out all loosened residue

This process reaches places your brush and cloth never could—inside the valve, behind the shower screen, and in the discharge tube.

Required Tools and Supplies

Before starting, gather these items:

Essential Tools

• Rubber cleaning disc (included with your machine)
• Single wall 1-cup basket (important: must use this size!)
• Breville cleaning tablets (or Cafiza equivalent)
• Container to catch discharge water
• Fresh cold water in tank

Where to Find Them

• Rubber disc: Included with machine, or $10-15 replacement
• Cleaning tablets: Breville pack of 8 ($15) or Urnex Cafiza ($12 for 100)

Note: The rubber disc should be gray/black silicone. Don’t confuse it with the razor dosing tool.

Step-by-Step Cleaning Cycle Process

Follow these steps for a thorough clean:

Preparation

1. Empty the drip tray and reinsert
2. Fill water tank with fresh cold water to MAX
3. Remove any coffee from the portafilter
4. Locate your rubber disc and one cleaning tablet

Step 1: Insert the Cleaning Disc

1. Place the 1-cup single wall basket into the portafilter
2. Insert the rubber cleaning disc into the basket (flat side down)
3. Place one cleaning tablet on top of the disc
4. The tablet should sit centered on the disc

Step 2: Lock the Portafilter

1. Insert portafilter into the group head
2. Rotate firmly to lock in place
3. Position drip tray or container below to catch water

Step 3: Enter Cleaning Mode

Different Breville models use different button combinations:

Barista Express / Barista Pro:

1. Turn machine OFF
2. Press and hold 1-Cup + 2-Cup + POWER simultaneously
3. Hold for 3-5 seconds until lights begin flashing
4. Release buttons—machine is now in cleaning mode

Barista Express Impress:

1. Turn machine OFF
2. Press and hold GRIND + 1-Cup + POWER
3. Hold until lights flash
4. Release buttons

Bambino / Bambino Plus:

1. Turn machine OFF
2. Press and hold 1-Cup while pressing POWER
3. Steam light will flash indicating cleaning mode
4. Press 1-Cup or 2-Cup to start the cycle

Oracle / Oracle Touch:

1. Navigate to Settings → Maintenance → Clean
2. Follow on-screen prompts
3. Machine guides you through the process

Step 4: Run the Cleaning Cycle

Once in cleaning mode:

1. Press the 2-Cup button (or appropriate button for your model)
2. The machine will begin pulsing water through
3. You’ll hear the pump cycle on and off
4. Water will pulse through, then release through the discharge tube
5. The cycle runs automatically for about 5 minutes
6. Do not interrupt the process

Step 5: Post-Cycle Rinse (Critical!)

After the cycle completes:

1. Remove the portafilter carefully (may be warm)
2. Check that the tablet has fully dissolved
   • If tablet remains, run another cycle
3. Rinse the basket and portafilter under running water
4. Discard the rubber disc contents
5. Reinsert the empty portafilter (with basket, no disc)
6. Lock into group head
7. Run a 2-cup cycle to rinse the group head
8. Repeat rinse 2-3 times until water runs clear

Important: Never skip the rinse cycles! Residual cleaning solution tastes terrible and isn’t food-safe.

Step 6: Clean the Shower Screen

While you’re at it:

1. Use your cleaning brush on the shower screen
2. Wipe away any loosened residue
3. The screen should look clean and uniform

Post-Cleaning Verification

Before making espresso, verify everything is clear:

Visual Check

• Portafilter basket: Clean, no residue
• Shower screen: No buildup visible
• Drip tray: Clear discharge water (not soapy)

Taste Test

1. Pull a test shot using your normal coffee
2. Taste should be clean with no chemical notes
3. If you taste soap or chemicals, run more rinse cycles

Flow Check

• Water should flow evenly through the shower screen
• No unusual sounds during extraction

Model-Specific Notes

Barista Express (BES870/BES875)

• Button combo: 1-Cup + 2-Cup + Power
• Uses standard cleaning tablets
• Clean monthly or when prompted

Barista Pro (BES878)

• Similar process to Express
• Digital display may show cleaning prompts
• ThermoJet heats faster, so cleaning slightly different timing

Barista Express Impress

• Button combo includes Grind button
• Same tablets and disc work
• Check manual for exact sequence

Bambino/Bambino Plus

• Simpler process with fewer buttons
• Same tablets but check basket size
• Smaller water tank means more refills

Oracle/Oracle Touch

• Uses on-screen menu system
• More automated process
• May require specific branded tablets

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Problem: Cleaning Light Still Flashing After Cycle

Causes:

• Cycle didn’t complete fully
• Need to exit cleaning mode properly

Solutions:

1. Run the cycle again from start
2. Power cycle the machine (off 30 seconds, then on)
3. Ensure all rinse cycles completed

Problem: Tablet Didn’t Dissolve

Causes:

• Tablet too old or wet
• Wrong basket size used
• Insufficient water flow

Solutions:

1. Use fresh, dry tablets
2. Confirm you’re using 1-cup basket
3. Check water tank is full
4. Run additional cycle with new tablet

Problem: Soapy Taste in Espresso

Causes:

• Insufficient rinse cycles
• Tablet residue remaining

Solutions:

1. Run 3-4 more rinse cycles
2. Pull and discard several shots
3. If persistent, remove shower screen and soak in hot water

Problem: Poor Flow After Cleaning

Causes:

• Shower screen blocked
• Basket clogged
• Scale buildup (need to descale)

Solutions:

1. Remove and clean shower screen
2. Check basket holes for blockage
3. Consider descaling if long time since last

Maintenance Schedule Recommendations

Tailor your cleaning to your usage:

Usage Level	Daily Clean	Full Cleaning Cycle	Descale
Light (1-2 shots/day)	After each use	Every 2 weeks	Every 3-4 months
Medium (3-5 shots/day)	After each use	Weekly	Every 2-3 months
Heavy (6+ shots/day)	After each use	Every 3-4 days	Monthly

Additional maintenance:

• Monthly: Deep clean steam wand, polish portafilter
• Quarterly: Check gaskets, deep clean grinder
• Annually: Consider professional service for heavy use

Cleaning vs Descaling: What’s the Difference?

Many home baristas confuse these two essential maintenance tasks:

Cleaning Cycle	Descaling
Removes coffee oils and residue	Removes mineral scale
Uses cleaning tablets	Uses descaling solution
Targets group head and valve	Targets boiler and tubes
Weekly/bi-weekly	Monthly/quarterly
Uses rubber disc	No disc needed

You need both for optimal machine performance. They address different problems.

FAQs

How often should I run the Breville cleaning cycle?

Weekly for most users, or whenever the “Clean Me” light appears. Heavy users (6+ shots daily) should clean every 3-4 days.

Can I use powder cleaners instead of tablets?

No—tablets are specifically formulated for proper dosing. Powder can be too strong or clump improperly. Stick with tablets designed for espresso machines.

What’s the difference between cleaning and descaling?

Cleaning removes coffee oils from the group head using tablets. Descaling removes mineral deposits from the boiler using acidic solutions. You need both, but on different schedules.

Is this safe for all Breville models?

Yes, all Barista series machines use the same process with slight button variations. Oracle models have an on-screen menu. Always check your specific manual for exact instructions.

What if the cycle gets interrupted?

Restart from Step 1. Don’t try to continue mid-cycle, as this may leave residue in the system. A fresh start ensures complete cleaning.

Key Takeaways

• Daily quick cleans prevent 90% of issues; weekly backflush handles the rest
• Always use rubber disc + tablet in the 1-cup basket
• Don’t skip rinse cycles—run at least 2-3 after the cleaning cycle
• Verify with a test brew to ensure no chemical taste
• Cleaning removes oils; descaling removes scale—you need both
• Keep spare tablets on hand so you never skip a scheduled clean

Your Breville is now optimized for café-quality shots every time. Regular cleaning cycles are the secret to years of reliable, delicious espresso.

---

Related Guides:

• Complete Descaling Guide
• Water Filter Installation
• First Time Setup Guide