ESENDE

Gear

Cleaning and descaling: what your coffee machine needs

Use the descaler your machine’s brand recommends (De’Longhi, Philips) and, if you have a portafilter machine, Cafiza for the group head. That’s what extends its life.

Reviewed on 8 November 2026 · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

The quick pick

  1. For espressoUrnex CafizaSee price on Amazon
  2. Universal descalerUrnex DezcalSee price on Amazon
Coffee machine cleaning products next to an espresso machine
Illustrative image generated with AI.

Coffee oil and limescale from the water are what damage the taste and the machines most. Each brand says how often to descale: follow your machine’s manual.

What to check before buying

  • Scale or oil. Descaler for limescale; cleaner (Cafiza) for coffee oil.
  • Warranty. With bean-to-cup machines, use the brand’s descaler.
  • Grinders. Tablets such as SuperGrindz clean without taking it apart.

Urnex Cafiza

For espresso

Portafilter espresso machines: the listing recommends it for daily backflushing.

FormatPowder, 566 g
UseGroup head backflushing
  • Removes oils from the group and valves
  • Doesn’t remove limescale
See price on Amazon

Urnex Dezcal

Universal descaler

Drip, espresso and bean-to-cup machines.

FormatPowder, 900 g
Dose28 g per 946 ml of tank
  • Odourless, unlike vinegar
  • With bean-to-cup machines, the brand’s own is better
See price on Amazon

De'Longhi Decalk Care

Any De’Longhi coffee machine.

Format500 ml, 5 uses
Dose100 ml in 1 l of water
  • The one De’Longhi recommends
  • Designed for De’Longhi only
See price on Amazon

Philips Saeco descaler

Philips and Saeco.

Format2 × 250 ml (2 cycles)
CompatibleSeries 800 to 5500, GranAroma, Xelsis
  • Philips’ official one
  • Two uses per box
See price on Amazon

Urnex SuperGrindz

Grinders, including those in bean-to-cup machines.

FormatTablets, 330 g
Dose26 g of tablets, then 78 g of coffee
  • No need to take the grinder apart
  • Check your grinder’s manual first
See price on Amazon

My pick

Set a reminder every few months: descaling on time is cheaper than repairs.

Sources

I haven't tried all of these products in person. The data come from the manufacturer's website or, when I don't cite one, from the amazon.co.uk listing (each source says which). I write with the help of AI and check every figure against those sources. I don't publish prices because they change daily: the one that counts is the price you see on Amazon when you buy.

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