Why Breville Espresso Machine Not Heating Up – 6 step Troubleshooting Guide

Breville espresso machine not heating up? Like every other electronic device, there will be a time when your coffee machine starts giving you trouble. If your Breville Espresso Machine isn’t heating up, don’t worry, as this is a common problem.

Your Breville Espresso Machine may not be heating up because of a damaged or clogged heating element. The problem could also be due to a blown thermal fuse, faulty thermostat, worn-out power switch, or corrosion in the heating block’s wiring. 

This article explains in-depth why your Breville Espresso Machine isn’t heating up. It’ll also provide you with fixes so you can try to repair your device. If all the solutions below fail, get in touch with a certified technician to look at your appliance. 

1. Incorrect Settings

Before assuming something is wrong with your coffee machine, the first thing you ought to do is check the settings of your device. If someone else used the appliance or you were in auto-pilot mode as you were in a hurry to make coffee, this can be a possibility. 

Fortunately, if this is the case, the fix is relatively easy, and you won’t have to spend hundreds of dollars to fix your device.

How to Fix?

Follow the steps highlighted below to correct your Breville Espresso machine’s settings:

1. Turn the coffee machine on by pressing the ‘Power’ button.
2. Wait for the device to reach its operating temperature and switch to ‘Standby’ mode.
3. Move the dial to the ‘Hot Water’ setting and wait for the light indicator to stop flashing. This  indicates the device has completed the heating process, and water will start to flow.
4. Wait five seconds and turn the dial to ‘Standby’ to stop the water flow.
5. Touch the drip tray to see if it’s hot.
6. Can you feel the heat? If yes, congratulations on fixing your device. 

However, give the next solutions a shot if the drip tray and the water are cool.  

Read: Why Breville Espresso Machine Not Pumping Water? – Troubleshooting Guide

2. Clogged or Damaged Heating Element

Over time, the heating coil will wear out and stop functioning correctly. It can also stop heating up or the heating performance could reduce if there are internal clogs. 

How to Fix a Clogged Heating Element?

You may be wondering how your Breville Espresso Machine could have a blockage in the heating element. 

The manufacturer recommends that you avoid using distilled or demineralized water in your device, as this can change the taste of your brew. Although regular drinking water is the way to go, it can cause problems in the long run. Minerals such as calcium and magnesium leave a residue behind upon evaporation. Slowly, they accumulate inside the heating element, reducing its efficiency. 

If this is the case for your espresso machine, you need to descale the device. When you use the descale feature, it removes the buildup of these minerals. How often you should do this depends on the hardness of your water and how many cups of espresso you make in a day. 

Given below are the steps you need to follow to descale your Breville Espresso Machine. 

1. Check if the ‘Clean/Descale’ light is on. Generally, if your coffee machine needs cleaning, it will let you know. However, there are also instances where the device doesn’t detect the buildup of minerals.
2. Mix one packet of Breville descaling powder to 33.81 fl oz (0.26 gal or 1 liter) of water. Add this mixture to the device’s water tank.
3. Get the device’s user manual to obtain information on how to descale your machine. Depending on the model, there are specific instructions on how to descale the appliance. The user manual is also available on Breville’s website. 
4. Enter your device’s model number and download the user manual. You can start the descale process by searching for ‘descale’ using the find feature (For Windows, use Ctrl + F; For Mac, use Cmd + F).
5. Make sure to empty the solution from the water tank. Also, after you complete the descaling process, you will need to perform a descale operation without the descale powder to remove any residue from the cleaning mix. 
6. Check if the espresso machine is heating up. If your device still doesn’t produce heat, proceed to the other steps in this article. 

Read: 4 Common Ninja Coffee Maker Problems

How to Fix a Damaged Heating Element?

It’s natural for your coffee machine’s heating element to stop working due to natural wear and tear. 

You can confirm this is the problem with your device by checking whether it can conduct electricity. To do this, you’ll need a

multimeter to help you get a reading. And since you’ll have to open the device to access the heating element, you’ll need a screwdriver. 

Take the following steps:

1. Turn off your device.
2. Search for your coffee machine’s model number on YouTube to see how to get inside your appliance.
3. Follow the instructions to open your device.
4. Set the multimeter to the lowest resistance mode setting (Ω) and calibrate it.
5. Touch the probes to the heating element and see if you get a reading. If it stays at zero or there is a minimal change in the reading, the heating element is faulty, and you will need to replace it.

The heating elements are inexpensive and shouldn’t be too hard to replace. If you’re not comfortable with do-it-yourself (DIY) solutions, reach out to Breville’s customer support. They will guide you to a service center nearby.

Read: Cuisinart Coffee Maker Troubleshooting

3. Faulty Thermostat

The thermostat is a part inside your coffee machine that keeps track of the device’s internal temperature. When the liquid in your appliance reaches the desired temperature, the thermostat will cut power to stop the heating process.

However, if you were using your device beyond its operational temperature, it would prevent your appliance from functioning. 

How To Fix?

1. Power down your appliance. 
2. Open up the coffee machine and locate the thermostat. The Breville Espresso Machine will have two thermostats. 
3. Use a multimeter. Set it to resistance mode (Ω). It should be at the lowest resistance setting. 
4. See if you are getting a reading when you touch the probes to the thermostat. Your thermostat is faulty if it doesn’t show a reading or the change is minute.

As always, if you’re not sure about opening up your device and testing it with a

multimeter, you can always ask a certified technician to take a look.

4. Blown Thermal Fuse

Think of the thermal fuse as your device’s safety mechanism. When the coffee machine overheats, it cuts off power to the heating element, preventing further damage. If the thermal fuse is blown, your device won’t heat up.

How To Fix?

1. Turn off the appliance.
2. Find your device’s thermal fuse. If you can’t locate it, search for your coffee machine’s model number on YouTube.
3. Set your multimeter to the lowest resistance mode (Ω) setting and calibrate it for accuracy.
4. Touch the multimeter‘s probes to the thermal fuse. If the reading in the multimeter shows a value greater than 0, the thermal fuse did cut power to the heating element.
5. Replace the thermal fuse, and you’re good to go. 

A certified technician can always assist you if you’re unsure about opening the device and replacing the component yourself. 

Read: 4 Common Keurig Coffee Maker Issues

5. Worn-Out Power Switch

The power switch is responsible for allowing your Breville Espresso Machine to turn on. Due to power surges or regular wear and tear, it can stop functioning.

How to Fix?

If the issue with your Breville Espresso Machine is a worn-out power switch, then the solution is pretty straightforward. It’s super easy to identify whether the power switch is functioning correctly; the device simply won’t turn on.  

If your device doesn’t turn on even after you move the button to the ‘on’ position, you’ll need to replace this part. 

6. Corroded Wiring in Heating Block

The heating block houses the heating element. Water or steam leaks inside your coffee machine can cause the wiring to corrode. As a result, it won’t allow current to flow through to the heating element.

How to Fix?

1. Turn off your appliance.
2. Open the device and look at the wiring attached to the heating block. Corroded wires will have a different color when compared to conventional cables.
3. Clean or replace the corroded wires.

As you also have to identify the source of the leak, it’s always better to ask an expert to look at your appliance.  

Read: Why Is My Ninja Blender Power Light Blinking? How To Fix?

Conclusion: Breville espresso machine not heating up

There could be several reasons why your Breville Espresso Machine isn’t heating up including Incorrect settings, a damaged/clogged heating element or a faulty thermostat.

Replacing faulty components will fix the heating problem with your coffee machine. Alternatively, requesting an expert to look at your device can help save time as they can identify the root cause of the heating issue and fix it quickly.