In this guide
TL;DR: Use the espresso maker's specified basket-care method and approved cleaner. Basket soaking, reservoir cleaning and backflushing are separate jobs; a tablet labeled for the reservoir does not establish permission to soak a blocked basket.
Let the machine cool before removing parts
Follow Breville's portafilter safety guidance: finish brewing, switch off, unplug and let the machine cool fully. Never force or remove a portafilter under pressure. Keep the powered housing, cord and plug out of washing water.
Use the BES870 basket-cleaning method
The BES870 manual, page 25, specifies:
- Rinse the filter basket and portafilter with hot water after use to remove coffee oils.
- For blocked basket holes, use the pin on the supplied cleaning tool.
- If blockage remains, dissolve the approved cleaning tablet in hot water, soak the basket and portafilter for about 20 minutes, then rinse thoroughly.
Do not enlarge holes or pry parts apart. Keep accessories out of the dishwasher; dry before dosing.
Check what the cleaning tablet is approved to do
Breville's U.S. espresso-cleaning tablet listing identifies coffee oils and residue on filter baskets and shower screens as its purpose. That is a different use from a product whose directions treat a brewer's water reservoir. Tablet shape alone does not establish interchangeability.
GOHALL coffee maker cleaner tablets use a fully dissolved tablet in the reservoir of a compatible brewer, followed by fresh-water rinses. For espresso equipment, the current listing requires checking the approved cleaner and procedure. Those directions do not authorize a basket soak or backflush. Use the reservoir compatibility and rinse guide only after that fit is confirmed.
If the basket is clean but espresso still only drips
Grind size, dose, tamping and tank seating can also affect flow. Use the BES870 manual's troubleshooting rather than repeating chemical treatments. Contact Breville if the fault persists.
Basket-cleaning question
Is washing the basket the same as backflushing?
No. Basket washing treats the removable part. Breville's Barista Express cleaning-cycle instructions use the machine's controls, a cleaning disc and the specified tablet. Follow that separate program as directed. The shower-screen guide covers the surface above the basket.