Descale the machine: Sage Barista Express

Before you start

Tools

None listed

Supplies

Sage descaling powder (1 sachet fully dissolved in 1 litre of cold tap water)

Warnings

• Hot steam can escape while descaling, so take care. Source: Sage the Barista Express BES875/SES875 quick guide (UK, EN)
• Never take out or run dry the water tank during descaling. Source: Sage the Barista Express BES875/SES875 quick guide (UK, EN)
• Do not descale with bottled water: its dissolved solids can leave deposits inside. Source: Sage the Barista Express BES875/SES875 quick guide (UK, EN)
• After 5 minutes with no action the machine switches itself off; the manual says to resume from its step 3 (the coffee-circuit run). Source: Sage the Barista Express BES875/SES875 quick guide (UK, EN)

Steps

1. Take the water filter out of the tank before any descaler goes in.

   From the manual: “Ensure that the water filter is removed from the water tank before adding the descaling powder”

2. Empty the drip tray and slide it back into place.

   From the manual: “Before descaling, ensure drip tray is empty and inserted.”

3. Dissolve one sachet of Sage descaling powder completely in 1 litre of cold tap water, then pour it into the tank.

   From the manual: “Fully dissolve one sachet of Sage descaling powder into one litre of cold tap water, then fill the water tank”

4. Hold the 2 CUP button, then also hold POWER, to enter Descale mode; POWER flashes while it heats.

   From the manual: “Press and hold the 2 CUP button and then press and hold the POWER button simultaneously to enter the Descale mode.”

5. Wait until POWER, 1 CUP, CLEAN ME and HOT WATER / STEAM are all lit steadily.

   From the manual: “The machine will indicate it is ready for descaling when the POWER button, 1 CUP button, CLEAN ME indicator”

6. Press 1 CUP to descale the coffee circuit; it runs about 25 seconds and the button stops flashing when done.

   From the manual: “Press the 1 CUP button to start the descaling for the coffee component of the machine.”

7. Turn the dial left to STEAM to descale the steam circuit, which takes about 13 seconds.

   From the manual: “Descale Steam component by turning the steam dial LEFT towards the STEAM icon.”

8. Turn the dial right to HOT WATER to descale the hot water circuit, which takes about 8 seconds.

   From the manual: “Descale Hot water component by turning the steam dial to the RIGHT towards the HOT WATER icon.”

9. About half a litre should be left; repeat the coffee, steam and hot water runs until the tank is empty.

   From the manual: “Repeat steps 4-6 above to complete the descaling process to empty the solution in the tank.”

10. Take out the tank, rinse it well and refill it with fresh cold water to its 2 litre maximum.

    From the manual: “remove the water tank and rinse thoroughly then refill with fresh cold water to the maximum capacity (2 litres)”

11. Run the coffee, steam and hot water descale steps again with the fresh water to flush out any solution.

    From the manual: “repeat steps 4-6 to further cleanse the machine of any residue of the cleaning solution thoroughly.”

12. Press POWER to leave Descale mode; the lights go out.

    From the manual: “Press 'POWER' to quit the descaling process.”

Sources

• Sage the Barista Express BES875/SES875 quick guide (UK, EN) Manual

Researched on 2026-09-23.

Published: the sentence is on the maker’s own page or in the maker’s own document.

Applies to

• Sage Barista Express