Urnex Cafiza Cleaning Tablets (100ct) Review (2026)
★★★★★4.8 (1) · by Marcus Delgado · Updated Aug 5, 2026
Tested over 3+ weeks in our lab — see our methodology
$25 typical price
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Our Verdict
Cafiza is what actual cafés backflush with, in tablet form for home machines: 100 pre-measured espresso-machine detergent tablets that dissolve the rancid coffee oils silently ruining your shots. If your espresso has drifted bitter over months, this $25 jar is more likely the fix than any new gadget.
Test Scores
Key Specifications
| Count | 100 tablets (1.2g) |
| Use | Backflushing (blind basket) & soaking baskets/screens |
| Frequency | Weekly backflush for daily-use machines |
| Compatibility | Any machine with a 3-way valve (check manual) |
| Certification | NSF certified |
| Also | Powder format available |
Pros & Cons
What we love
- The industry-standard formula cafés run nightly
- Pre-measured tablets end detergent guesswork
- Dissolves oil buildup a water backflush can't touch
- 100 tablets = roughly two years of home use
What could be better
- Machines without 3-way valves (many single boilers) can only soak, not backflush
- Rinse cycles after cleaning are non-negotiable
- Not a descaler — that's a separate (also necessary) product
Performance Testing
We ran the classic experiment: a machine backflushed with water 'regularly' got one Cafiza cycle — and the blind-basket water ran brown, twice. The next day's shots tasted noticeably cleaner and sweeter, no hardware changed. Coffee oil oxidizes into literal rancidity inside group heads; detergent chemistry is the only thing that removes it. This is maintenance, not accessory shopping.
Cleaning & Maintenance
It IS the cleaning. Weekly: one tablet in the blind basket, five backflush cycles, then five plain-water rinse cycles. Monthly: soak baskets and screens in Cafiza solution and watch the horror dissolve.
Who It's Best For
Every espresso machine owner, no exceptions — and doubly so anyone whose two-year-old machine 'doesn't taste like it used to.'
How It Compares
Urnex Cafiza Cleaning Tablets (100ct) vs Urnex Dezcal (descaler)
Cafiza removes coffee oils; Dezcal removes mineral scale. Different chemistry, both required, not interchangeable.
Urnex Cafiza Cleaning Tablets (100ct) vs Breville Knock Box Mini
The maintenance shelf: knock box for the daily, Cafiza for the weekly, descaler for the quarterly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I backflush my machine?
Only machines with a 3-way solenoid valve (most E61s, Brevilles, Rancilios — check your manual). Others clean via basket/screen soaks instead.
Will it damage seals or boilers?
Used as directed — correct dose, thorough rinse — no. It's NSF certified and used nightly on commercial machines worth more than cars.
Tablets or powder?
Identical chemistry. Tablets are pre-measured convenience; powder is cheaper per clean and better for soaking odd items.
Guides featuring this product
- The Complete Espresso Machine Maintenance Schedule
- Common Espresso Problems and How to Fix Them
- Water for Coffee: The Ingredient You're Ignoring
- How to Backflush an Espresso Machine (Step by Step)
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