HOW TO DESCALE A SAGE BARISTA EXPRESS

Mineral deposits can gradually build up inside the Sage Barista Express and affect water flow, brewing temperature and coffee quality. The BES875 descale programme treats the coffee, steam and hot-water circuits before the machine is thoroughly rinsed with fresh water.

PREPARE THE DESCALING SOLUTION

Fully dissolve one sachet of Sage descaling powder in 1 litre of cold tap water, then fill the water tank with the solution. Have a suitable container ready to collect liquid from the group head, steam wand and hot-water outlet.

ENTER DESCALING MODE

Press and hold the 2 CUP button, then press and hold the POWER button at the same time. The POWER button will flash while the machine heats. Wait until the POWER, 1 CUP, CLEAN ME and HOT WATER/STEAM indicators are all illuminated steadily.

DESCALE THE COFFEE CIRCUIT

Place the container beneath the group head and press the 1 CUP button. The coffee component runs for approximately 25 seconds. The 1 CUP button will flash during the process and remain steadily illuminated when this stage is complete.

DESCALE THE STEAM CIRCUIT

Position the container beneath the steam wand and turn the steam dial left towards STEAM. The steam component takes approximately 13 seconds. Return the dial to STANDBY when complete.

DESCALE THE HOT-WATER CIRCUIT

Position the container beneath the hot-water outlet and turn the steam dial right towards HOT WATER. The hot-water component takes approximately 8 seconds. Return the dial to STANDBY when complete.

USE THE REMAINING SOLUTION

After completing the coffee, steam and hot-water stages, approximately 0.5 litres of descaling solution should remain in the water tank. Repeat the three processes to pass the remaining solution through the machine.

RINSE THE WATER TANK

Once descaling is complete, remove the water tank and rinse it thoroughly. Refill the tank with fresh cold water to its maximum 2-litre capacity.

FLUSH WITH FRESH WATER

Repeat the coffee, steam and hot-water processes using the fresh water. This flushes residual descaling solution from the internal water circuits before the machine is returned to normal use.

EXIT DESCALING MODE

Press POWER to leave the descaling programme. The indicator lights will switch off. The Sage Barista Express can now be prepared for normal use.

How often should I descale a Sage Barista Express?
Sage recommends descaling approximately every 90 days at water-hardness level 4 and every 60 days at level 6. The actual amount of scale that develops will depend on your water and filter use, so don't ignore visible scale build-up simply because the suggested interval has not been reached.
Is descaling the same as the CLEAN ME cycle on a Sage Barista Express?
No. The CLEAN ME cycle is a backflushing cycle designed to remove coffee oils and residue from the brewing system, and Sage specifically states that it is separate from descaling. Descaling targets mineral deposits within the machine's water system.
Do I need to rinse the Sage Barista Express after descaling?
Yes. Once the descaling solution has been used, Sage instructs you to thoroughly rinse the water tank, refill it with fresh cold water to the 2-litre maximum capacity and repeat the coffee, steam and hot-water stages to flush remaining solution from the machine.

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Engineer Tip

Don't confuse a CLEAN ME warning with scale removal. Coffee oils and mineral scale build up in different parts of the machine and require different maintenance procedures. Keep the cleaning cycle, descaling and water-filter replacement as separate parts of your Barista Express maintenance routine.

How to Descale a Sage Barista Express