HOW TO RUN A COFFEE CLEANING CYCLE ON A SAGE BARISTA EXPRESS

When the CLEAN ME light illuminates on your Sage Barista Express, the machine is asking for a coffee cleaning cycle. This backflushing process removes coffee oils and residue from the brewing system and is separate from descaling the machine.

PREPARE THE PORTAFILTER

Insert the 1 CUP filter basket into the portafilter. Place the supplied cleaning disc into the basket, then place one cleaning tablet onto the cleaning disc.

LOCK IN THE PORTAFILTER

Insert the prepared portafilter into the group head and lock it securely into position. Place a suitable container beneath the portafilter spouts.

CHECK THE WATER AND DRIP TRAY

Make sure the water tank contains sufficient cold water and empty the drip tray before starting. The cleaning programme repeatedly flushes water through the brewing system during the cycle.

SWITCH THE MACHINE OFF

Press the POWER button to switch the Barista Express off. The cleaning cycle is started using a specific button combination while the machine is switched off.

START THE CLEANING CYCLE

Press the 1 CUP and 2 CUP buttons simultaneously, then also press the POWER button. Hold all three buttons together for approximately 3 seconds to start the cleaning cycle.

ALLOW THE CYCLE TO RUN

The cleaning cycle takes approximately 5 minutes. During the programme, the machine intermittently flushes water into the portafilter to dissolve the cleaning tablet and backflush the group head. Allow the programme to complete without interrupting it.

CHECK THE CLEANING TABLET

When the cycle has finished, remove the portafilter and check that the cleaning tablet has completely dissolved. If tablet material remains, repeat the cleaning cycle until it has fully dissolved.

RINSE THE BREW HEAD

Once the tablet has completely dissolved, remove the cleaning disc and reinstall the portafilter. Place a cup or container underneath the spouts and press the 2 CUP button to rinse the brew head and remove remaining cleaning solution.

WIPE DOWN THE MACHINE

Once the rinse has finished, remove the portafilter and wipe away any water or cleaning-solution splashes with a soft dry cloth. The Barista Express is then ready to return to normal use.

Why is the CLEAN ME light on my Sage Barista Express?
The CLEAN ME light illuminates when the Barista Express requires a coffee cleaning cycle. This is a backflushing process that cleans coffee oils and residue from the brewing system. It is separate from descaling, which deals with mineral deposits inside the water system.
How long does the Sage Barista Express cleaning cycle take?
The automatic cleaning cycle takes approximately five minutes. During the cycle, water is intermittently flushed into the portafilter to dissolve the cleaning tablet and backflush the group head. Allow the programme to finish before removing the portafilter.
What should I do if the cleaning tablet has not dissolved?
Remove the portafilter after the cleaning cycle and check the tablet. If it has not completely dissolved, Sage instructs you to repeat the cleaning cycle until it has. Once dissolved, remove the cleaning disc, reinstall the portafilter and use the 2 CUP button to rinse the brew head.

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Engineer Tip

Don't use the CLEAN ME cycle as a substitute for descaling. The cleaning tablet is designed to tackle coffee oils and residue around the brewing system, while descaling deals with mineral deposits in the machine's water circuit. Treat them as two separate parts of your Barista Express maintenance routine. Sage likewise describes the cleaning cycle as separate from descaling.

How to Run a Coffee Cleaning Cycle on a Sage Barista Express