How To Fix A Breville Coffee Maker That Is Leaking Water [Barista, Dual Boiler, Bambino models]
If you notice that water is leaking from your Breville coffee maker, don’t panic. There are several reasons why the Breville Bambino, Barista, Dual Boiler and other models may leak. In many cases you will be able to detect the cause and solve it on your own. Keep reading to learn more using our troubleshooting guide.
If your Breville coffee maker is a Nespresso machine that uses capsules, see my related post on what may cause Nespresso machine leaks.
Breville Leaking From The Drip Tray
If the water leaking seems to be around the drip tray area in the front of your Breville coffee maker, the tray may not be attached securely to the machine or it may be full and overflowing. Runoff water from steaming and brewing is collected in the tray. If it is not emptied every couple days or so, it can start to overflow. If it is empty and the leak is still happening around there, make sure it is pushed in all the way and securely attached to the unit.
Also, be sure to never remove the drip tray too early. Your Breville machine will purge water at after pulling a shot or using the steam wand. Your drip tray needs to stay in place in order to collect this water. Wait until the machine has been turned off before removing the drip tray.
Breville Coffee Maker Leak From Water Tank
If the water leak is at the back of your Breville coffee maker, then the leaking may be from the water tank. This can happen for a few reasons:
- Water reservoir is not attached securely to the base of the machine
- There is a crack in the water tank
- The seal around the water tank outlet is worn down or broken
The easiest thing to do first is to remove the tank, fill it to the MAX line and then make sure you have placed it back firmly on to the machine. Do this a few times. Try to tighten up any screws you can see on it if they appear to be loose. If the leak still occurs back there, refill it to the MAX line. Now let the tank sit on a paper towel on your counter for an hour or so. If the paper towel gets damp, then a crack or a loose seal around the outlet is the likely cause. Empty the tank and inspect all parts of it closely to look for any cracks. Also inspect the seal at the bottom to see if it needs to be adjusted so that it sits right or if it looks broken. If you can’t determine the issue with the tank, you will want to contact Breville support to ask about getting a new seal or water tank.
Breville Coffee Machine Brew Head Leaking
The brew head (also known as the group head) is the part of the machine where you insert and lock the portafilter. Inside, there is a gasket which helps make a tight seal with the portafilter. This helps maintain pressure and heat during brewing. Over time, this gasket can wear down from the hot water used during brewing. Overpacking your grinds and brewing consistently at very high pressure can also cause the gasket to wear down quickly. It can also get dirty with coffee grinds and oil residue if you don’t regularly clean your machine. If your Breville coffee maker is leaking from the brew head, you should try replacing the gasket seal to see if this fixes the issue. You can contact Breville support to see if you can get a replacement gasket from them. If not, you can find some online, but be sure to check carefully before buying to ensure that it is compatible with your model.
Breville Steam Wand Leaking Water
Some Breville coffee makers like the Bambino, Barista and Dual Boiler have a built in steam wand for frothing milk. It’s normal for the machine to purge hot water through the steam wand into the drip tray after it has been used. However, if the leak you are experiencing doesn’t appear to be normal, there could be a couple other causes. If you don’t regularly descale your machine, the limescale buildup inside can wear down the metal or cause clogs that make your Breville’s steam wand leak.
If the steam wand is leaking near the top where it connects to the Breville coffee maker, it is possible the issue is just a loose connection. Carefully try to tighten the top nut. You may need a small wrench to do this.
Leak From The Breville Portafilter
Your Breville espresso machine may leak water or coffee from the portafilter if it is dirty. If you don’t regularly clean the various parts of your machine, coffee grinds and oil residue can buildup and cause clogs. These clogs in turn will cause leaks.
After each brew, you should rinse the portafilter and filter basket under hot water. This will rinse out any coffee particles and oils. If the holes in the filter or portafilter become blocked, put the filter into the portafilter without any coffee grounds in it. Lock it into the group head. Run water through the machine. Take your cleaning tool and clear the filter basket holes. If they remain blocked, dissolve a cleaning tablet in hot water and soak the filter basket and portafilter. Let them sit for 20 minutes and then rinse them well.
More Advanced Causes of Breville Coffee Makers Leaking Water
Breville coffee makers are complex machines with lots of components inside. Some of those components will wear down over time. If you’ve been descaling your Breville coffee maker with vinegar instead of a commercial descaling solution, it’s possible that the vinegar has damaged some of the metal pieces inside.
There are also many hoses inside your machine that carry hot water from the tank to the group head. This includes pressure hoses that, as the name suggests, help to pressurize the water for brewing. Over time, these can become torn, develop a hole or become clogged. When that happens, water will leak. If it is a hole or clog, the water leak will usually be slow. The leak will be much faster if the hose is torn.
If your machine is still under warranty, do not try to open it up to inspect it. Not only is this complicated, but it may also void your warranty. Instead, contact Breville support and explain the problem you are having.
How To Reduce The Risk Of Additional Leaks
Breville coffee makers are not cheap. While many models come with a warranty that is at least 1 year, you will want your coffee maker to last a lot longer than that. The best thing you can do to reduce the likelihood of leaks forming and to extend the life of your brewer is the take care of it. That means regularly cleaning all parts of it daily and weekly and running a descaling cycle with a high quality commercial solution every few months.