Sage machine care
Sage Bambino Plus care, made simple.
Descaling, cleaning cycles, water filtration, automatic steam-wand care and troubleshooting — brought together in one practical guide.
Maintenance overview
Sage Bambino Plus
A simple routine for the jobs that matter most.
Daily
Flush group head · Rinse basket and portafilter · Wipe steam wand
When prompted
Run the cleaning cycle / backflush — typically after around 200 extractions
Monthly
Clean shower screen · Check and clear steam-tip holes
Every 3 months / 40L
Replace the ClaroSwiss water filter
When indicated
Descale according to the machine alert, water hardness and use
For this machine
Products you will need
Keep the essentials on hand so routine maintenance is quick when your machine needs it.
Water filtration
Ventori Sage compatible water filter
Coming soon
Descaling
Descale your Sage Bambino Plus
Calcium and limescale naturally build up inside the machine over time. The Bambino Plus will indicate when a descale cycle is required.
Recommended: follow the machine alert and adjust for local water hardness and use.
Before you begin
You will need
- Ventori Descaling Tablets
- Fresh water
- A large jug or container to collect water
01
Empty the drip tray and prepare the tank
Empty the drip tray. Remove the water tank so you can prepare the descaling solution.
02
Remove the water filter
Remove the ClaroSwiss water filter before adding descaling solution.
03
Prepare the descaling solution
Prepare your coffee-machine descaling solution according to the product instructions.
04
Fill to the DESCALE line
Fill the water tank to the indicated DESCALE line with the prepared solution.
05
Return the water tank
Reinstall the water tank and make sure the drip tray is correctly positioned.
06
Place a 2L container underneath
Place a 2L container beneath the group head and steam wand to collect the discharged solution.
07
Enter descale mode
Turn the machine off by pressing 1 CUP and STEAM together and allow it to cool. With the machine off, hold 1 CUP and STEAM together for 5 seconds. When those buttons illuminate, press either 1 CUP or STEAM to start descaling.
08
Refill for the fresh-water rinse
When the descaling solution has been used, the cycle pauses. Rinse and refill the water tank to MAX, empty the collection container, then press 1 CUP or STEAM to resume.
09
Let the cycle finish
When descaling is complete, the machine returns to standby. Empty the wastewater container and rinse the drip tray and water tank thoroughly.
10
Reinstall the water filter
Refit or replace the ClaroSwiss water filter before returning the machine to normal use.
11
Ready to brew
Your Sage Bambino Plus is now descaled and ready to make coffee again.
Water filtration
Sage ClaroSwiss BES008 water filter
The Sage Bambino Plus uses a Sage ClaroSwiss water filter. Sage recommends replacing it after approximately three months or 40 litres of water to help reduce scale build-up and maintain water quality.
Remember: a water filter helps reduce scale build-up, but it does not replace regular descaling.
Quick information
- Filter type
- Sage ClaroSwiss BES008
- Replace
- Approximately every 3 months or 40L
- Priming
- Soak and flush before first use
- Descaling
- Still required according to water hardness
Cleaning cycle
Run the Bambino Plus cleaning cycle
After around 200 extractions, the 1 CUP and 2 CUP buttons flash alternately to indicate that the brew group needs cleaning. The cleaning cycle backflushes coffee oils and residue from the internal brew path.
Before you begin
You will need
- Portafilter and filter basket
- Cleaning disc
- Ventori Backflush Tablet
- 2L container
01
Insert the cleaning disc
Insert the supplied cleaning disc into the filter basket in the portafilter.
02
Add the cleaning tablet
Place one cleaning tablet on top of the cleaning disc and lock the portafilter into the group head.
03
Prepare the machine
Empty the drip tray, fill the water tank to MAX and place a 2L container underneath the portafilter and steam wand.
04
Enter cleaning-cycle mode
Press and hold the 1 CUP and 2 CUP buttons together for 5 seconds. The buttons remain illuminated when the machine is ready to begin the cleaning cycle.
05
Start the cleaning cycle
Press either 1 CUP or 2 CUP to begin. The two buttons flash alternately while the cleaning cycle is running.
06
Rinse and finish
When the cycle is complete, the machine returns to ready mode. Remove and rinse the portafilter, cleaning disc, drip tray and collection container.
Ventori tip
Don’t confuse descaling with backflushing. Descaling removes mineral limescale from the water circuit; backflushing removes coffee oils from the brew group. Both matter for a well-maintained espresso machine.
After every use
Clean the steam wand
Milk residue can quickly build up around the automatic steam wand. Wipe it after every use, then lower it so the Bambino Plus can run its automatic purge.
Recommended: after every use.
01
Wipe the steam wand
After milk texturing, wipe the steam wand immediately with a clean damp cloth.
02
Lower the wand for automatic purge
Lower the steam wand into the down position. The Bambino Plus will automatically purge the wand.
03
Check for a blockage
If steam performance drops or the machine detects a blockage, inspect the steam-tip holes for dried milk residue.
04
Clear the steam tip
Use the supplied steam-tip cleaning tool to clear blocked holes. Remove the tip for cleaning if required, then refit it securely.
05
Ready for the next use
Your automatic steam wand is clean and ready for the next drink.
Ventori tip
Wipe the steam wand immediately after texturing milk, then lower it to allow the automatic purge to run. If the tip becomes blocked, clear the holes with the supplied cleaning tool.
Troubleshooting
Having a problem?
If your Sage Bambino Plus is showing signs of poor performance, start with the symptom that best matches what you are seeing.
Why is the CLEAN ME light on?
Why is my coffee not hot enough?
Why is my steam pressure low?
Why does my espresso taste bitter?
Why is my espresso pouring too fast?
Why is my espresso pouring too slowly?
Why is my machine making loud or unusual noises?
Why is my coffee machine leaking water?
Why does my espresso taste sour?
Keep exploring
Helpful resources
Use these tools and deeper guides when you need more than the maintenance overview.
Common questions
Sage Bambino Plus FAQs
How often should I descale a Sage Bambino Plus?
The Bambino Plus will indicate when descaling is required. Water hardness and machine use affect how quickly scale forms, so hard-water households may need to descale more frequently.
Does the Sage Bambino Plus need backflushing?
Yes. Sage calls this the cleaning cycle. It uses the supplied cleaning disc and a cleaning tablet to backflush coffee oils from the brew path.
When should I run the cleaning cycle?
The machine detects approximately 200 extractions since the previous cleaning cycle. When cleaning is due, the 1 CUP and 2 CUP buttons flash alternately.
How do I start the Bambino Plus cleaning cycle?
Fit the cleaning disc and tablet, fill the water tank to MAX and place a large container underneath. Hold 1 CUP and 2 CUP together for 5 seconds, then press either 1 CUP or 2 CUP to begin the cycle.
How often should I replace the ClaroSwiss water filter?
Sage recommends replacing the water filter after approximately three months or 40 litres of water.
Can I use the Bambino Plus without a water filter?
The machine can operate without the filter, but the supplied ClaroSwiss filter helps reduce scale build-up. If you stop using a filter, monitor scale more closely and descale when required.
How do I start the Bambino Plus descale mode?
Turn the machine off using 1 CUP + STEAM and allow it to cool. With the machine off, hold 1 CUP + STEAM for 5 seconds. When those buttons illuminate, press either 1 CUP or STEAM to begin.
Why isn't my Bambino Plus steaming milk properly?
Dried milk can block the steam-tip holes. Wipe the wand after every use and let the automatic purge run when the wand is lowered. If the machine detects a blockage, clear the steam tip and perform a manual purge.
Why is my espresso pouring slowly?
First check grind size, coffee dose and tamp. If those are correct, a dirty brew path or scale build-up may be restricting flow, so a cleaning cycle or descale may be required.
Can I use vinegar to descale my Sage Bambino Plus?
Use a descaling product intended for espresso machines rather than household vinegar, and follow the Bambino Plus descale programme.
What cleaning tablets should I use?
Use cleaning tablets designed for espresso-machine cleaning cycles. They are intended to remove coffee oils and residue from the brew path when used with the Bambino Plus cleaning disc.
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