Why a cleaner machine makes better coffee

Every coffee you make leaves something behind. Coffee oils, grinds, dried milk, and limescale slowly build up over time. Left alone, old oils turn rancid, milk residue blocks lines and encourages bacteria, and scale restricts water flow and heating. The result is flat, harsh coffee and a machine working way harder than it needs to.

A home coffee machine is a real investment, and a simple and trusted cleaning routine is the cheapest way to keep every cup tasting right and keep that machine running for years.

Cafetto has been making cleaning products for the coffee industry for more than 20 years. Born in Adelaide, it now supplies over 70 countries. Walk behind the counter of almost any café and you'll find Cafetto. It's the industry standard for good reason, with every product formulated specifically for coffee equipment.

No. Branded tablets and descalers are made to suit your machine, but they aren't the only option. What matters is using the right type of cleaner for each job, at the right dose, according to the cleaning cycle in your machine's manual.

Worried about your warranty? We've covered that in Can non-genuine cleaning chemicals void your warranty?

Cafetto S15 Tablets: for bean-to-cup machines

S15 tablets are made for super-automatic (bean-to-cup) machines with a built-in cleaning program. When your machine asks for a clean, simply place a tablet into the cleaning opening and let the cycle run. It removes coffee oils and residue from the brewing unit using pharmaceutical and food-grade ingredients. S15 isn't designed for manual machines that backflush with a blind basket.

Cafetto Espresso Clean Single Use Sachets: for manual machines

Espresso Clean was Cafetto's very first product. Each single-use sachet holds a measured 5 g dose for backflushing manual espresso machines: fit a blind basket, add the sachet and run the cycle in your manual. It lifts coffee oils, grounds and stains and leaves no odour. Only use it if your machine can backflush.

Cafetto Liquid Organic Descaler: for scale

Scale builds up anywhere hot water runs. LOD is a certified organic liquid descaler that Cafetto rates as nine times more effective than white vinegar, with practically no odour. It's safe on aluminium, brass and stainless steel, phosphate-free and biodegradable. Descale as your manual directs, then rinse at least twice with fresh water.

Cafetto MFC Tabs Red: deep clean for milk systems

If your machine froths milk automatically, its milk lines need more than a rinse. MFC Red is an acidic tablet that breaks down milk-stone, the hard mineral deposit that forms inside milk lines and frothers over time. Dissolve a tablet in warm water and run it through the milk system.

Cafetto MFC Powder Eco: the everyday milk clean

MFC Powder Eco is an alkaline cleaner that lifts milk fats and proteins from automatic frothers, milk lines and steam wands. It's part of the Cafetto Organic range, phosphate- and GMO-free.

Cafetto Inverso: for milk jugs and steam wands

Dried milk on your jug or steam wand tip? Dissolve a heaped teaspoon of Inverso in hot water, soak for 30 minutes and rinse clean. It also lifts coffee stains from cups.

While this guide is a handy way to guide you in the right direction, your machine's manual and instructions come first.

Ten minutes of cleaning protects years of good coffee, shop the Cafetto range