I wrote about the Breville Precision Brewer (Amazon link) not too long ago, and I kind of harped on how complicated it is. Here’s the full review.

This coffee maker is a high-end jack-of-all-trades, and part of that package includes a fancy little digital display that tells you what the machine is doing.

And that’s where the error codes come in. It’s digital, so if something goes wrong, it’s going to tell you. Or at least it will attempt to.

I’m sorry to say that I don’t have any magic-bullet solutions for each of the Breville Precision Brewer error codes, but at the very least we can take a look at the user manual and get some idea of what each error code means.

Before we get started, click here to download the PDF version of Breville Precision Brewer User Guide (1.7 mb download). Error codes (in English) are explained on p. 20-21 of the user guide.

Also, you might notice that there is no “Error 6.” The user manual covers Errors 1-5 and Error 7, but apparently there is no Error 6 to worry about.

The instructions below are quoted directly from the user guide. My comments will be in italics.

Breville’s customer support phone number is 1-866-273-8455 Monday through Friday 8a – 5p Pacific Time. If you’re in Canada, call 1-855-683-3535.

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Err1, Err2, Err4, Err5

Possible cause: Internal system error.

What to do: Unplug unit and let cool and retry. Call Breville Consumer Support if problem persists.

Internal system error! Eww. Unplugging the unit seems like it’s akin to restarting your computer when it glitches, and in computer terms, that actually seems to work quite often. Hopefully restarting the coffee maker does the trick.

If you’re at your wit’s end and don’t feel like making a phone call, page 18 of the user guide gives instructions for doing a factory reset of the coffee maker:

This is to reset the machine to the factory settings, including water hardness setting. Hold the START button, the SELECT button, and AUTO START button altogether for 3 seconds. When LCD shows “rES” (flashing), press SELECT button to start. Then next prompt asks “YES” or “no” to confirm. Rotate and press SELECT dial/button.

The factory reset will wipe out any customized settings you might have saved, but *maybe* that will fix your “Err” problem.

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Err3

Possible cause: The issue indicates an unstable power supply.

What to do: Unplug and check plug connections and power supply with caution. Let cool and retry. Call Breville Consumer Support if problem persists.

For what it’s worth, page 5 of the user guide states the following:

• Fully unwind cord before use.
• To protect against fire, electric shock, and injury to persons, do not immerse cord, plug or appliance in water or any other liquid.
• Do not let the cord hang over the edge of a bench or table, touch hot surfaces, or become knotted.
• It is recommended to regularly inspect the appliance. Do not use the appliance if the power supply cord, power plug, or appliance becomes damaged in anyway.

Short version: Check to make sure the power cord isn’t wet, damaged, sharply bent, or knotted up in anyway.

Page 6 says “If an extension cord is used, (1) the marked electrical rating of the cord set or extension cord should be at least as great as the electrical rating of the appliance, (2) the cord should be arranged so that it will not drape over the counter-top or table where it can be pulled on by children or tripped over unintentionally and (3) the extension cord must include a 3-prong grounding plug.”

In other words, use a 3-prong extension cord. If you’re using an extension cord and you get “err3,” try changing the extension cord. It seems like a long shot, but who knows.

And on page 7: “Do not use an adaptor or modify the plug in any way. Do not connect the appliance to an external switch or device (such as a timer, monitor or remote circuit) that can be switched on and off.”

The Breville Precision Brewer is programmable, so I’m not sure why anyone would need to plug it into an external timer. Still, if you have your Breville plugged into anything but the wall outlet, that could be your problem.

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Err7

Possible cause: There is a blockage in the system.

What to do:

• Empty the tank, remove any blockage, and wipe.
• Cool down and run FAST cycle with 60oz / 1L.
• Descale the unit.
• Call Breville Consumer Support if problem persists.

Ruh-roh. If you’re getting Error 7 on your Breville Precision Brewer, it may be because you’re not cleaning and/or descaling it often enough. Regular descaling is a must for all coffee makers regardless of make, model, or price.

Here are Breville’s instructions for descaling (page 18 of the user guide):

It takes approximately 15 minutes to complete descaling cycle.

1. Empty the tank. Prepare a descale solution in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions. Pour this solution into the empty water tank.
2. Place the basket and the carafe into position under the drip stop outlet (Ensure the carafe is empty and the lid is securely locked).
3. Press SELECT button for 3 seconds to start descaling cycle. LCD with show “dSL” for 1 second and then tell remaining time of descaling cycle.
4. When the descaling process is finished, the LCD screen will go back to the main menu. To completely remove residual water in the tank, invert the machine and brew with fresh water twice. Discard the water from the carafe and rinse thoroughly.

It’s kind of weird that they say “prepare a descale solution in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions” and then don’t give any instructions for the descaling solution! Breville even says the exact same thing on their descaling instructions PDF file.

I have tweeted Breville to see if they can recommend a descaling solution. A default descaling solution for most coffee makers would be a 50/50 mix of water and distilled white vinegar.

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