Machines
How to descale an espresso machine
Oct 11, 2026 · 5 min
When to descale, which descaler to use, and what Breville and Gaggia say for the Bambino Plus and Classic E24. Follow your own manual for the steps.
Why descale at all
Hard water leaves mineral scale inside the machine. Breville’s Bambino Plus manual says that build-up in the inner parts can reduce brewing flow, brewing temperature, the machine’s power and the taste of the espresso. Gaggia says scale is a normal result of using the machine and depends partly on your water. Descaling removes it. Your machine’s booklet has the exact steps.
How often
There’s no single interval. Gaggia suggests descaling the Classic E24 every 2 months, or sooner if you notice the water flow drop. The Bambino Plus tells you when: the 1 CUP and STEAM light and the 2 CUP light flash alternately for 15 seconds. Pressing any of those buttons clears the alert, but the machine still needs descaling. Neither maker gives a hardness chart.
Which descaler
Use what your maker names. Gaggia says to use only its own descaling product for the Classic E24, and to avoid vinegar and other descalers. It also says never to use descalers based on mineral acids such as sulfuric, hydrochloric or sulfamic acid, which may damage the pipes and tubes. Breville packs a descaling powder in the Bambino Plus box. Don’t swap in a household cleaner unless your manual says you can.
What the Bambino Plus does
Breville’s steps, in short: empty the drip tray and put it back, take the water filter out of the tank if you use one, fill the tank to the DESCALE line, and add the descaling agent. Put a 2 L (68 fl oz) container under the portafilter and steam wand, turn the machine off and let it cool. With the machine off, press and hold 1 CUP and STEAM for 5 seconds to start descale mode. When the solution runs out, it pauses: refill the tank to the MAX line, empty the waste container, and press 1 CUP or STEAM to resume. Breville says never to remove or empty the water tank during descaling. When it finishes, rinse the drip tray and tank and dry them well.
What the Classic E24 does
Gaggia’s US manual for the Classic E24 has you remove the portafilter, empty the tank, add half the descaler bottle and fill to MAX with fresh water. You run 2 cups (about 150 ml each) of water through the steam wand and 2 through the group, switch off and let the solution work for about 20 minutes, then repeat the dispensing until the tank is empty. After that, rinse the tank, run clean water through the steam wand and the group, and repeat the rinse so that you’ve cleared 4 tanks in total. Gaggia warns never to drink the solution or anything dispensed until the cycle is finished.
After descaling
Dry the parts the manual says to dry. If flow is still weak after descaling, check your grind and dose: our grind-size guide covers where to start, and a grind that’s too fine can choke the shot. Still no flow? Contact the maker.
What this guide doesn’t cover
It doesn’t cover other machines, and it isn’t a substitute for your manual. Breville and Gaggia revise manuals between versions, so check the one that came with yours, or download the current one from the maker’s site. For the two machines side by side, see the Bambino Plus vs Gaggia Classic Pro E24 comparison.
Sources
Get gear picks
Occasional shortlists when we update tiers.