Coffee machines, like any other household appliance, require not only careful operation, but also proper care. Maintenance of such devices most often comes down to two tasks: protection from scale and oily residues. Accordingly, the use of specially designed products for decalcification and removal of coffee fats is required. These can be tablets, powders, liquids that effectively remove plaque, prevent blockages, and provide the necessary taste characteristics to ready-made drinks. The advantage of liquids is that they have the same chemical composition as tablets, but do not require prior dissolution. Pour directly into the water compartment. Today we will reveal rating of the TOP 8 best coffee machine cleaning products!
POLL: What drink do you prefer?
Types of coffee machine cleaning products
So, coffee machines require periodic cleaning to remove scale and deposited coffee oils. Scale is hard salt deposits that disrupt the operation of the hydraulic system: they impede the passage of water, increase the time for heating it, and worsen the taste characteristics of prepared drinks. Mineral deposits also accelerate the wear of parts and cause equipment failure.
Settled coffee grease poses no less of a threat to operation. It clogs the filter, gives the prepared drinks bitterness, an unpleasant aftertaste, and does not allow high milk foam to be achieved. Requires periodic cleaning with special products.
| Types of funds | Purpose | Main cast | Label |
| For decalcification | Cleaning scale and mineral deposits. | Maleic, sulfamic acid, enzotriazole, sodium bicarbonate. | The label may indicate Decalcifier, Descaling, CALC, “descaling”, “for decalcification”. |
| To remove oily residue | Removing coffee fats (degreasing) | Salts of citric, adipic, tripolyphosphoric acid, sodium carbonate and sodium lauryl sulfate. | The label may say Cleaning Clean or Cleans. Some people write “cleansing tablets.” |
Maleic acid in decalcifiers makes water softer, and sulfamic acid is responsible for disinfection and plaque removal. Sodium bicarbonate combats unpleasant odors, and ensotriazole prevents corrosion from destroying metal parts of the hydraulic system.
If we talk about Clean products, acid salts actively break down fats, kill bacteria, and prevent the formation of scale. Sodium carbonate acts as an abrasive, and lauryl sulfate does not allow dirt to accumulate on the walls and parts of the brewing group. A polymeric substance is often used as a disinfectant.
Saeco
Only proper care of your coffee machine will extend its service life. When everything inside is overgrown with scale, this smart technique displays the inscription “Descall” on the control panel.
The indicator also lights up. This indicates that it is time to clean the device.
One of the best products for removing plaque from Saeco is KAVA Descoling Agent and Saeco Liquid.
The first composition is cheap, it is enough for six uses. The second substance is expensive and is only enough for 2 cleanings.
How to clean the inside of a coffee maker from limescale deposits:
- 250 ml of liquid is poured into the reservoir, the rest is added with water.
- Then you should start the decalcification program and wait for it to complete.
- After which the device requires thorough flushing of the entire system.
It is important to clean equipment regularly. If you do not care for it correctly, this will lead to a decrease in the amount of drink dispensed, an unpleasant aroma of coffee, noisier operation of the device and the formation of unsightly foam.
Which coffee machine product is better?
Most often, branded coffee machine manufacturers independently produce cleaning products for their machines, conduct official testing, and issue quality certificates. For example, the companies Siemens, Delonghi, Jura, Bosch do this - they indicate a list of recommended decalcifiers in the operating instructions for the equipment. They guarantee compatibility with metal and safety of use.
Separately, there are companies that specialize specifically in the production of household chemicals. Their products are designed for a wide range of applications, not just one brand. It undergoes certification and is considered no less effective and more affordable.
When choosing a product, it is recommended to pay attention not only to its purpose (decalcification, removal of fat), but also to its composition. It may contain harmful chemical components, after which you need to rinse the device 3-4 times: start the cooking function, but without loading the beans.
The best products for coffee machines
| Means | Flaws | Release form | Purpose | Ya.Market |
| Jura | expensive | pills | degreasing | Go |
| BOSCH | expensive | pills | descaling | Go |
| URNEX | large packaging | powder | degreasing | Go |
| Miele | only for brand cars | pills | degreasing | Go |
| Nivona | expensive | pills | degreasing | Go |
| Filtero | not always effective | pills | descaling | Go |
| Melitta | only for brand cars | pills | degreasing | Go |
| Topper | May not fit some cars | pills | degreasing | Go |
Rating of products for degreasing and decalcifying coffee machines
Jura product
Certified products for cleaning and descaling. Effectively removes greasy deposits on the internal surfaces of the device, leaving no traces of limescale. Packaged in 6/9 pcs. in blisters or 25/36 pcs. in plastic bottles.
| Release form | pills |
| Purpose | degreasing |
| Price | 1 290 |
| Find in store | Yandex Market |
Advantages and disadvantages
- effective cleaning;
- careful care;
- foams well;
- different packaging options;
- compatibility with equipment from other brands.
- high price.
BOSCH product
Presented in separate series to combat mineral and greasy deposits. Allows you to carefully care for Bosch, Siemens, Tassimo appliances. Available in different packaging for ease of use. Quickly removes oily deposits and scale. Provides a pure taste of the drink, allows you to whip up the foam well.
| Release form | pills |
| Purpose | descaling |
| Price | 690 |
| Find in store | Yandex Market |
Advantages and disadvantages
- effective cleaning;
- protection of contact parts of the brewing group from corrosion;
- packaging options.
- high price;
- Recommended for use with specific brands of equipment.
URNEX product
Separately presented are products for combating oily residues (Cafiza 2 series) and cleaning the dairy system (Rinza series). The powder of this brand Dezcal 900 g is offered as a decalcifier. Products made in the USA have a quality certificate and are packaged in plastic bottles.
| Release form | powder |
| Purpose | degreasing |
| Price | 868 |
| Find in store | Yandex Market |
Advantages and disadvantages
- dissolves well and forms foam during the washing process;
- quickly copes with the removal of fat and salt deposits;
- effectively cleans the milk system;
- packaged in convenient plastic bottles for long-term use;
- suitable for equipment of different brands;
- inexpensive, considering the large number of tablets in the package.
- large packaging, which is not suitable for everyone.
Miele product
Intended for degreasing the surfaces of the brewing group in coffee machines of the same brand. It removes oily residues well, comes out with foam, and is completely washed with water. Does not leave a soapy aftertaste even after the second “run” of the device.
| Release form | pills |
| Purpose | degreasing |
| Price | 1 990 |
| Find in store | Yandex Market |
Advantages and disadvantages
- effectively dissolves and removes fats;
- foams well, washes out easily;
- leaves no aftertaste;
- protects metal parts from corrosion.
- recommended only for cars of a specific brand;
- tablets in blisters may crumble;
- expensive.
Nivona, NIRT 701 series
Next in the ranking is the original German chemistry for cleaning hydraulic systems from coffee oils. Supplied in tablets of 10 pcs. on the blister. Effectively copes with plaque on metal tubes, filters, and internal walls. Provides gentle care for coffee machines from different manufacturers.
| Release form | pills |
| Purpose | degreasing |
| Price | 1 350 |
| Find in store | Yandex Market |
Advantages and disadvantages
- effective but gentle removal of grease;
- corrosion protection;
- good wash (does not leave a soapy aftertaste);
- convenient packaging;
- compatibility with devices from different manufacturers.
- high price.
Filtero product
Available in separate series “anti-scale” and “for removing coffee oils”. Produced in Germany, packaged in 4/10 pcs. packaged. Recommended for use with Bosch, Rowenta, Tefal, Braun, Krups, Philips and other machines.
Tablets that remove fats actively interact with oxygen. This formula effectively dissolves oily deposits on internal surfaces and parts, including the fine filter mesh. The descaling agent copes with plaque even in hard-to-reach places.
| Release form | pills |
| Purpose | descaling |
| Price | 475 |
| Find in store | Yandex Market |
Advantages and disadvantages
- innovative formula for effective cleaning of grease and limescale;
- gentle effect on metal surfaces, rubber gaskets;
- good solubility;
- convenient packaging;
- compatible with all automatic coffee machines;
- affordable price.
- does not always effectively remove scale from some coffee machines (you need to disassemble the machine to check).
Melitta Perfect Clean Coffee Oil Cleaner
The package contains 4 tablets that gently remove greasy sediment from the surface of the brewing unit and effectively rinse the tubes. The product dissolves quickly and foams well. Washed out without residue, retains the taste of espresso and drinks based on it. Recommended for equipment of the same brand.
| Release form | pills |
| Purpose | degreasing |
| Price | 349 |
| Find in store | Yandex Market |
Advantages and disadvantages
- dissolves quickly;
- effectively removes oily deposits;
- washes out easily, leaves no aftertaste;
- conveniently packaged;
- inexpensive.
- the package may not contain Russian-language instructions;
- The cleaning effectiveness of other brands of coffee machines has not been studied.
Topper for removing oils, art. 3037
The rating is completed by tablets of 10 pcs/pack. They not only clean the nozzles, filter, and surfaces of the coffee machine from settled oily deposits, but also extend its service life. The oxygen formula works, which increases the activity of fat dissolution. Recommended frequency of use is every 500 cups of brewed coffee.
| Release form | pills |
| Purpose | degreasing |
| Price | 1 040 |
| Find in store | Yandex Market |
Advantages and disadvantages
- dissolves well;
- actively break down fats;
- easy to wash;
- provide additional protection to device parts;
- recommended for coffee machines of different brands;
- they are inexpensive.
- in practice may not be suitable for some coffee machines.
Comparison table of characteristics
| Name | Manufacturer country | Release form | Compatibility |
| DeLonghi EcoDecalk | Italy | Liquid preparation | All brands |
| Philips Saeco Decalcifier | Germany | Liquid preparation | Saeco, Philips and Gaggia |
| Krups XS 3000 | Germany | Tablet form | KRUPS Espresseria Automatic and Barista |
| Bosch Descaling | Germany | Tablet form | Bosch, Siemens, Gaggenau, Neff |
| Top House | Germany | Liquid | All brands |
| Durgol Swiss Espresso | Switzerland | Liquid composition | All brands |
| TOPPERR 3006 | Germany | Concentrate | All brands |
Frequency of cleaning a coffee machine: indicators for prevention
Regardless of whether you use a branded espresso machine or an inexpensive Chinese machine, it is necessary to periodically clean it. Here the question arises: when and how often to do this?
Some professional models have a built-in diagnostic system that signals if the coffee machine is dirty internally. But most equipment does not have such a function. Therefore, you have to focus on the following indicators:
- changing the preparation speed - the coffee flows slower and in a thinner stream than usual;
- violation of taste characteristics - bitterness and unpleasant acid appear;
- the device is very noisy;
- There is a light thick sediment in the cup.
The frequency of purification directly depends on the quality of the water: if it is hard, you will need to carry out maintenance of the hydraulic system monthly (with daily use), and when it is soft, 3-4 times a year is enough.
Note! Soft water leaves less scale on the walls and parts. Accordingly, the likelihood of corrosion and overheating of the device is reduced, and the service life of the coffee machine is extended.
Technicians servicing espresso machines recommend cleaning every 200 cups of brewed coffee (about 30 liters of water poured). To do this, you can focus on the built-in counter, if available. Otherwise, we return to our signs of changes in taste, cooking speed, and the nature of the device’s operation.
How to use a coffee machine cleaning tablet: general recommendations
Getting rid of scale
Caring for any equipment begins with studying the instructions. Most often, this is where recommendations on the selection and use of a cleanser are found. Your device may have a built-in automatic cleaning function - use it.
- Heat 1 liter of water to 60 °C and dissolve a descaling tablet in it (without any residue).
- Pour the solution into the reservoir.
- Prepare a tray for waste fluid.
- Start the car.
Be prepared to add water periodically. Also keep an eye on how full the tray is.
If automatic cleaning is not provided, choose tablets (liquid, powder) and follow the general recommendations:
- remove the remaining coffee beans from the machine;
- prepare a warm solution as indicated above and pour it into the tank;
- wait 15 minutes;
- start the car, brew a couple of cups of coffee (no beans!);
- turn off for 10 minutes;
- Fill the tank with clean water and repeat the process 3-4 times.
Don't forget to place a drain pan to drain the waste liquid. Rinse the hydraulic system at least 3 times with clean water to eliminate any traces of mineral salts or detergent inside. Only after this, brew espresso, Americano, latte, and enjoy the taste and aroma of the drinks.
Getting rid of oily residues
As with descaling, automatic or manual cleaning is provided here. In the first case, the tablets are not dissolved in advance, but are placed in an empty compartment for ground coffee or in a specially provided hole. The device starts up and performs a series of washes. The procedure may take up to 20 minutes.
Advice! If there is no compartment for ground coffee, then the tablet must be placed directly on the filter of the brewing mechanism (made in the form of a small metal strainer).
In the second case, when there is no automatic function, you need to remove the brewing mechanism and disassemble it. Unscrew the filter, clean it with a brush and soapy water, and rinse well under the tap. If there are particles or traces of plaque left in the small holes of this strainer, it is recommended to remove them (for example, using a needle).
When to clean the device
If the coffee maker is used daily, it is recommended to remove sediment every month. Progressive models are equipped with an electronic control option, which automatically notifies about the degree of contamination of the equipment and the need for preventive cleaning. If such a system is not provided, you can take into account the number of portions brewed recently. The average is 200 cups of drink.
Cleaning Frequency
The frequency of decalcification of the coffee machine is determined by the degree of water hardness. The higher it is, the more often you will have to clean the device.
You can determine high salt concentrations using a kettle. If contaminants form frequently and quickly, it means the water is hard.
Alternative cleaning methods or what not to do
Owners of household coffee machines sometimes try to save on equipment maintenance and use improvised methods to clean it of mineral deposits and oily deposits. To do this, use citric acid or table vinegar. But they do not take into account that both products are less effective in combating coffee fat and salts than specially designed tablets. Moreover, such “preventions” accelerate the corrosion process, have a destructive effect on metal parts of the hydraulic system, and provoke rapid wear of rubber gaskets. As a result, the espresso machine breaks down more often and requires repair or replacement.
POLL: What drink do you prefer?
Can I make my own descaling liquid?
The issue is controversial: there are many ideas and recipes on the Internet for removing plaque from a coffee machine. They may be effective for cleaning a kettle, or even some coffee makers, but will damage yours specifically. It is difficult to realistically assess the required concentration and select an effective agent. We do not recommend using the following options:
- Vinegar;
- Coca Cola;
- Lemon juice;
- Lemon acid;
- Soda.
It’s better to go to the store and buy an inexpensive, universal, but branded liquid descaling agent for coffee machines, rather than experimenting with household chemicals.
