Sage machine care
Sage Dual Boiler care, made simple.
Descaling, cleaning cycles, water filtration, steam-wand care and troubleshooting — brought together in one practical guide.
Maintenance overview
Sage Dual Boiler
A simple routine for the jobs that matter most.
DailyFlush group head · Rinse basket and portafilter · Wipe and purge steam wand
RegularlyClear-water backflush and wipe the shower screen
When CLEAN ME appearsRun the tablet cleaning cycle — typically after around 200 shots
Every 3 months / 40LReplace the water filter; check your machine batch for filter type
As neededDescale through the dESC menu when scale build-up is present
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 Dual Boiler
The Dual Boiler has a dedicated descale mode for its two boilers. Because the procedure involves draining hot pressurised boilers, the machine must be switched off and allowed to cool for at least 4 hours before you begin.
Important: only descale through the machine’s dESC menu and follow the boiler-drain sequence carefully.
Before you begin
You will need
- Ventori Descaling Tablets
- 1 litre of warm water for the descaling solution
- Fresh water for flushing
- Flat-head screwdriver
- Cloth and empty drip tray
01
Cool the machine and enter the advanced menu
Empty and reinstall the drip tray. Switch the machine off and allow it to cool for at least 4 hours. With the machine off, hold 1 CUP and POWER together for 3 seconds until rSEt appears on the LCD.
02
Select dESC
Use the UP or DOWN arrow until dESC appears on the LCD, then press MENU to enter descale mode.
03
Drain both boilers
Remove the grey silicone DESCALE ACCESS cover and place a cloth over the drip tray. Slowly open the right valve with a flat-head screwdriver; steam may escape. When fully drained, close it without overtightening. Repeat on the left valve.
04
Empty the drip tray and remove the tank
Carefully empty the drip tray, then remove and empty the water tank.
05
Remove the water filter
Remove the fitted water filter before adding descaling solution.
06
Prepare the descaling solution
Prepare 1 litre of warm descaling solution according to your descaler instructions.
07
Fill and reinstall the water tank
Pour the prepared descaling solution into the water tank and lock the tank back into position.
08
Begin the descale soak
Press 1 CUP. The LCD starts a 20-minute countdown while the boilers fill with descaling solution and heat. Allow the timer to reach zero for the full soak.
09
Drain the boilers again
Place the cloth over the drip tray again and repeat the boiler-draining procedure on the right and left valves. Empty and reinstall the drip tray.
10
Refill with fresh water and flush
Rinse the water tank and fill it to MAX with fresh water. Press 1 CUP to begin the 20-minute fresh-water boiler flush.
11
Drain and repeat the fresh-water flush
Drain both boilers again, rinse and refill the tank with fresh water, then repeat the boiler flush once more to remove residual descaling solution.
12
Exit descale mode and return to use
Press POWER to exit descale mode. Reinstall the correct water filter for your Dual Boiler batch, then return the machine to normal use.
Water filtration
Dual Boiler water filter
Later BES920 machines — batch 1749 and above — use the Sage ClaroSwiss filter. Earlier BES920 machines use the older charcoal filter, so check your machine batch code or existing filter holder before ordering.
Replacement: approximately every 3 months or 40 litres; Sage allows up to 60 litres in softer level-2 water.
Quick information
- Later BES920
- ClaroSwiss — batch 1749 and above
- Earlier BES920
- Charcoal filter — batch 1748 and earlier
- Replace
- Approx. every 3 months / 40L
- Priming
- Soak for 5 minutes, then rinse
Cleaning cycle
Run the Dual Boiler cleaning cycle
The LCD displays CLEAN ME after approximately 200 shots. The guided cleaning cycle backflushes coffee oils from the brew path and counts down from 370 seconds.
Before you begin
You will need
- 1 CUP filter basket
- Supplied cleaning disc
- Ventori Backflush Tablet
- Cold water and an empty drip tray
01
Fit the 1 CUP basket and cleaning disc
Insert the 1 CUP filter basket into the portafilter, followed by the supplied cleaning disc.
02
Add one cleaning tablet
Place one backflush cleaning tablet on the cleaning disc.
03
Lock in the portafilter
Lock the portafilter into the group head. Fill the water tank with cold water and make sure the drip tray is empty and correctly inserted.
04
Select CLEAN CYCLE
Press MENU until CLEAN CYCLE flashes and PUSH is shown on the LCD. Press the illuminated MANUAL button to start the cleaning cycle.
05
Let the 370-second cycle finish
The CLEAN CYCLE icon flashes while the LCD counts down from 370 seconds. Allow the programmed cycle to complete.
06
Check, rinse and finish
Remove the portafilter and check that the tablet has fully dissolved. If not, repeat the cycle without adding another tablet. Rinse the filter basket and portafilter thoroughly before use.
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 inside the steam tip. Wipe the wand with a damp cloth and purge it immediately after texturing milk.
Recommended: after every use.
01
Wipe after texturing milk
Immediately after texturing milk, wipe the steam wand with a clean damp cloth.
02
Purge the steam wand
Lift the STEAM LEVER for a few seconds to purge residual milk from inside the wand.
03
Clear blocked tip holes
If a steam-tip hole becomes blocked, make sure the STEAM LEVER is closed and use the pin on the supplied cleaning tool.
04
Remove and soak the tip if needed
If the blockage remains, use the integrated spanner on the cleaning tool to remove the steam tip and soak it in hot water.
05
Refit and purge
Refit the steam tip securely with the cleaning-tool spanner, then purge the wand before the next use.
Ventori tip
Wipe and purge immediately after texturing milk. If the tip remains blocked after using the cleaning pin, remove the tip with the cleaning-tool spanner, soak it in hot water, then refit securely.
Troubleshooting
Having a problem?
If your Sage Dual Boiler 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 Dual Boiler FAQs
How often should I descale a Sage Dual Boiler?
There is no single interval that suits every home because scale formation depends on water hardness and filter use. Sage recommends descaling if scale is visible in the water tank, and the procedure should only be run through the dESC menu.
How do I enter descale mode on the Dual Boiler?
Switch the machine off and let it cool for at least 4 hours. With the machine off, hold 1 CUP and POWER together for 3 seconds until rSEt appears. Use the UP or DOWN arrow to select dESC, then press MENU.
Why must the Dual Boiler cool before descaling?
The descale process requires the steam and espresso boilers to be manually drained through the front access valves. Allowing the machine to cool reduces the risk from hot water and escaping steam.
What does CLEAN ME mean on a Sage Dual Boiler?
The machine displays CLEAN ME when approximately 200 extractions have been completed since the previous cleaning cycle. It is a brew-group cleaning reminder, not a descaling reminder.
How do I start the Dual Boiler cleaning cycle?
Fit the 1 CUP basket, cleaning disc and one cleaning tablet, lock in the portafilter, fill the water tank and empty the drip tray. Press MENU until CLEAN CYCLE flashes and PUSH appears, then press the illuminated MANUAL button.
How long does the cleaning cycle take?
The LCD counts down from 370 seconds, so the programmed cleaning cycle takes a little over six minutes.
Which water filter does my Dual Boiler use?
BES920 machines from batch 1749 onward use the Sage ClaroSwiss filter. Batch 1748 and earlier use the older charcoal filters. Check the machine batch code or existing filter holder before ordering.
How often should I replace the Dual Boiler water filter?
Sage recommends replacement after approximately three months or 40 litres of water. The manual notes that users in softer level-2 water can extend this to around 60 litres.
Should I clear-water backflush between tablet cleaning cycles?
Yes. Sage recommends periodically inserting the cleaning disc without a tablet, pressing 1 CUP to build pressure, and repeating several times to remove residual coffee oils.
How should I clean the steam wand?
Wipe the wand and purge it immediately after texturing milk. If a steam-tip hole blocks, use the cleaning pin. If it remains blocked, remove the tip with the cleaning-tool spanner, soak it in hot water and refit it.
Is descaling the same as the CLEAN ME cycle?
No. The CLEAN ME cycle removes coffee oils from the brew path. Descaling removes mineral scale from the two boilers and uses a completely different procedure.
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