Breville Compact Café BES250 Questions

Hussain v.1y

Hi Guys what the size of the portafilter?

Tori A.2y

Hi, I’ve just inherited a second hand breville bs250bss and she has lost the tamper for the machine. Do you know the size tamper I will need to get? TIA

Michael B.4y

I have cleaned the filters and decalcified the machine as recommended by Breville using vinegar and water but when I turn it on to espresso water will still not come through the head even with no coffee in it. Any help?

Dan5y

water spurts out round edge of machine group head /rubber seal when fully pressurised and when should be forcing its way through the coffee! Have replaced the rubber seal and still does it! have tried different filter folders supplied and cleaned machine through with vinegar and checked no blocked up filters anywhere. The only thing I can think of is that the pressure has warped the metal grid on base of machine /group head...1 coffee per day 2 years. cheers

jethro 5y

I had exactly the same problem. I think that they only have a 2 or 3 years life. A friend very kindly bought me a fully automatic DeLonghi Magnifica S much better coffee ☕ I've had it for a year. I'm happy so far. A relative has had the same machine De Longhi for about 4 years still working well

Dan 5y

cheers mate will look into it

Walter W. 4y

The group head may need tightening from the inside. Over time screws come loose and it does not get a good seal under pressure and causes a gap to release water everywhere.

Bryan R.5y

The selector control on my machine is becoming very “tight” - how can it be made easier to turn please?

Isabelle B. 4y

just purchased a Breville compact café machine, coffee won't filter through properly, and burns coffee, does anyone know how to solve this

Alana P.5y

hi, when i run a shot through the machine, it does not stop when it i should, and continues to run until there is almost no espresso coming out and it’s essentially water, and i have to manually turn it off as it does not do it itself. is there any way to fix this or should i try to return the machine?

Bec P. 5y

Mine does the same. And then it doesn’t taste good no matter what I do??

Maor O. 5y

This is a completely manual machine, you decide when it stops the water flow, it doesn't stop on its own

Valeria B.6y

How do I use the breville espresso cleaner tablets on my Café Venezia?

RonP6y

Hi can I use the cleaning tablets I see advertised to remove any oil or residue . The more expensive machines have a cleaning cycle I understand and I have seen a rubber washer that fits in coffee basket to create back pressure . I am very happy with my simple machine

Bob_WA 6y

Without knowing what is in the "cleaning tablets" I can't say anything about that. What the Breville manual recommends is not to use any other chemical products but run a jug of 50/50 vinegar & water through it a couple of times a year. How often depends on the "hardness" of your tap water.

RonP 6y

Thanks . Was not about the residue of hard water but the oil from the coffee . So putting one in the basket that holds the coffee . As the coffee baskets are double layer there can be oily residue from coffee in there . .

Valeria B. 6y

I have the same question, so I put the tablet in the basket that holds coffee and then?

Valeria B. 6y

I bought the tablets because they said they could be used with all breville espresso machines. But don't know how to use them with the cafe compact since it doesn't have a cleaning cycle.

Theuns O.6y

I would like to buy a decent tamper for my Venezia. What would the correct size be?

Jieyang C. 5y

I bought a 50mm today and it seems just a touch too small. Can't guarantee that 51mm will fit, but I suspect that it would, and that it would be better.

Lynette H.6y

Why does the machines spit the coffee everywhere and not in cup

jethro 6y

My machine was working well for a couple of years and started doing the same spitting the coffee everywhere. Most frustrating! Breville don't seem to be worried about the problem.. is your one still under warranty ?.

William6y

I have both BES250 and 800. Somehow I’d found out that 250’s shower screen screw is extremely hard to be removed. Upon removal, I’d found out it’s a self tapping screw (BES800 comes with a machine screw). Is this a way Breville design and manufacture it’s entry level machine to be hard for even some simple diy servicing? And, perhaps making it a throw-a-way junk? Don’t get me wrong, this is a good machine though.

Bob_WA 6y

William, could you clarify what is a "shower screen", where is the screw you are talking about (top, bottom, back or side), and what problem you are trying to fix?

hako 6y

Mine is a coarse self tapper and I only removed ours once to clean properly - that was over a thousand coffees ago ( 3 a day for a year) and haven't bothered to clean this part again as I really don't think it makes the coffee taste better. Every time you make a coffee it gets flushed so really no need to clean.

Sarah M.6y

Hi. I was given a second hand BES250. When you turn on the power and it is in standby mode about 20ml water flows into the drip tray. It does it again after you have made your coffee. Is this normal?

Wendel 6y

It's normal, it's purging, cleaning itself.

william n.6y

Does the machine use ground coffee or beans

Wendel 6y

Only ground. If you purchase beans you will have to grind them yourself, which is a bit of a chore really. Best to get already roasted ground beans.

Steve W. 6y

Grinding the beans yourself is definitely worth the effort. A decent grinder only costs $40. Ground coffee goes stale in a few days; factory-ground arrives stale. Why bother with an espresso machine if grinding the coffee is too much effort?

Sally D.6y

The heating light is not coming on when I switch on the machine. It makes a repeated knock sound like when the steam wand starts up. Any ideas?

Wendel 6y

Sounds weird. Maybe take it back and get a new one?

Sally D. 6y

Thanks Wendel - not a technical or helpful response.

JessH 6y

Do you have any signs of steam anywhere? If not there may be a cardboard insert still present at the base of the water tank

Sally D. 6y

This machine is just out of warranty and has worked ok till now. Couldnt get it fixed and so bought a different machine - thanks

DKohl6y

Hi there,

I have just inherited this machine, and when trying to make coffee I get a fine strong jet of water spraying into the cup from the center hole instead of coming out of the two sides of the filter eject system. Sorry in advance if this is an ignorant question, but this is surely not normal. I have tried cleaning the filter but no change. What am I doing wrong?

Wendel 6y

Never happened to me before. Suggest you contact Breville to get assistance. Sorry can't help more. Good luck.

JudieA6y

It says you can use the spanner in the cleaning tool to take the end off the steamer to clean it. Which way does the end turn? Clockwise or anti-clockwise? It is quite tight, and I don't want to force it the wrong way!

Wendel 6y

Sorry can't help you there, I've only got the cleaning tool for the steamer wand not a spanner.

William 6y

You may remove the steam end but like how you normally removing a screw. Depends on your posture/position looking at the end bit. If you are looking down on the end bit, and the steam spout is pointing downwards away from your view, then turn it clockwise for removal.