Same code, same fix on the Oracle. Everything below applies to both.
Applies to: Oracle Touch.
How to fix ER23
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- If the code persists, a technician would inspect the flow meter on the tank-side water path, which means opening the machine.
Run water through an empty group head. Good flow suggests the grind and basket, not the machine. Weak or no flow suggests descaling first, as the manual describes, then a technician checking the flow meter and pump.
Breville does not publish part prices. Ask an authorised service centre for a quote if the code persists.
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
| Parts | Not published by Breville. Ask an authorised service centre for a quote. |
|---|---|
| Service | Not 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
Switch the machine off at the wall. Hold the front Power button, switch the wall power back on and release when the logo appears. Enter the service password 00000, then open Error Counter (stored faults) or Live Debug (live temperatures and water levels). One technician video says the entry method differs between machines built before and after 2018, so if this does not work, do not keep trying.
Clear the log after a repair so you can tell whether the fault has really gone.
Beyond the fix
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 ER23 mean on the Breville / Sage Oracle Touch?
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. ER23 is listed as a flow meter signal problem during brewing: the coffee pump is running but the flow meter is not counting water. Air in the circuit, scale on the flow meter or a weak pump are plausible causes, and a grind so fine that little water moves can look the same.
Can I fix ER23 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 ER23?
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.
ER23 during startup or during use?
Breville / Sage Oracle Touchs report ER23 while brewing or steaming. That timing is a useful clue when narrowing the cause.
Can I keep using the machine with ER23 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 ER23 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.