CodeFix
Error 23Breville

Breville / Sage Oracle Error 23: flow meter signal problem

Error 23 means: Flow meter signal problem during brewing.

The Breville / Sage Oracle shows this code with identical meaning and fix as the Oracle Touch. Full guide for ER23.

Applies to: Oracle.

Short answerThe machine expects pulses from the flow meter while the pump runs and is not seeing them during brewing. Either no water is moving (empty or unseated tank, air in the circuit, a blockage, a weak pump) or water is moving and the flow meter cannot count it (scale or debris, or a failed meter). Breville does not publish this code table, so the meaning comes from third-party service tables.
Part at faultflow meter
Severitymedium
DIY difficultymoderate
When it appearswhile brewing or steaming

How to fix Error 23

  1. Fill and firmly reseat the water tank. Run the hot water outlet for 30 seconds and then the brew button with no portafilter to purge air.
  2. Descale as the manual describes if it is due. Scale on the flow meter is a plausible cause.
  3. Remove the portafilter and run water through the empty group head. Good flow here but a code with coffee in suggests the grind or basket is the blockage, not the meter.
  4. Listen to the pump. A loud buzz with no water suggests a dry or failing pump or a blocked inlet; a silent pump suggests no power to it.
  5. If the code persists, a technician would inspect the flow meter on the tank-side water path, which means opening the machine.
Flowchart for fixing Error 23: work through each step, stop as soon as the code clearsError 23 appears1. Fill and firmly reseat the water tank.Fixed?yesDone2. Descale as the manual describes if it isdue.Fixed?yesDone3. Remove the portafilter and run waterthrough the empty group head.Fixed?yesDone4. Listen to the pump.Fixed?yesDone5. If the code persists, a technician wouldinspect the flow meter on the tank-sidewater path, which means opening the machine.Still showing?If you see water leaking from the machine,stop and have the leak found first.
The same steps as the list above, cheapest first. Stop as soon as the code clears.

When to stop and call a repairer

If you see water leaking from the machine, stop and have the leak found first.

What it costs

PartsNot published by Breville. Ask an authorised service centre for a quote.
ServiceNot published by Breville. Ask an authorised service centre for a quote.
Worth repairing?Descaling is cheap and worth trying first. For a flow meter or pump, ask for a quote.

How to check the error log

Leave the machine plugged in but switched off. Press and hold 1 CUP, 2 CUP and POWER together for at least one second. After the long beep the LCD shows the firmware version (starts with "Fr"). Press the SELECT dial once to open Error Storage, then rotate it to step through errors 1 to 32 and the stored count for each. Scroll past error 32 to "ErSt" and hold SELECT for 3 seconds to clear the log.

Clear the log after a repair so you can tell whether the fault has really gone.

Beyond the fix

Did you knowThe booklet defines a good espresso as starting to flow within roughly 8 to 12 seconds including pre-infusion, and says a grind that is too fine stops water flowing through the coffee even under pressure.

Tips and tricks

  • Run a short flow through the group head before fitting the portafilter, as the booklet describes, to purge residue and stabilise temperature.manufacturer manual
  • If the espresso starts after about 12 seconds, coarsen the grind slightly.manufacturer manual
  • Prime the system and descale if flow is weak; the booklet links scale to reduced brewing flow.manufacturer manual

Common mistakes

  • Grinding very fine to slow the shot, then reading the resulting no-flow stall as a faulty flow meter.

Easily confused with

  • ER22 is the startup version of the flow meter signal problem.

Further reading

Questions

What does Error 23 mean on the Breville / Sage Oracle?

Flow meter signal problem during brewing. The machine expects pulses from the flow meter while the pump runs and is not seeing them during brewing. Either no water is moving (empty or unseated tank, air in the circuit, a blockage, a weak pump) or water is moving and the flow meter cannot count it (scale or debris, or a failed meter). Breville does not publish this code table, so the meaning comes from third-party service tables.

Can I fix Error 23 myself?

DIY difficulty: moderate. Fill and firmly reseat the water tank. Run the hot water outlet for 30 seconds and then the brew button with no portafilter to purge air. Descale as the manual describes if it is due. Scale on the flow meter is a plausible cause.

How much does it cost to fix Error 23?

Not published by Breville. Ask an authorised service centre for a quote. Not published by Breville. Ask an authorised service centre for a quote.

Is it worth repairing?

Descaling is cheap and worth trying first. For a flow meter or pump, ask for a quote.

Error 23 during startup or during use?

Breville / Sage Oracles report Error 23 while brewing or steaming. That timing is a useful clue when narrowing the cause.

Can I keep using the machine with Error 23 showing?

Usually you can finish the drink you are making, but do not ignore it — the underlying fault rarely heals itself. Work through the cheap checks first.

Will Error 23 clear on its own?

Sometimes. Try the reset and cleaning steps first — they cost nothing and clear the milder cases. A code that returns within a day or two needs the parts fix.

How long does the repair take?

Thirty minutes to an hour if you are comfortable opening the case; budget an afternoon the first time.

How reliable is this page?Breville and Sage do not publish a table of error codes for these machines in the documents we found. The meanings on this page come from third-party repair references and owner reports, so treat them as lower confidence. If your machine shows a text alert, follow the on-screen text first. Model revisions can differ: if your machine behaves differently, tell us. See our editorial policy.