Urnex Cafiza Espresso Machine Cleaning Powder

Urnex Cafiza Espresso Machine Cleaning Powder 566g — Industry Standard for Backflushing You place the blind filter in the portafilter, dose half a teaspoon of Cafiza. Three grams of white powder on the stainless steel surface. You clip the portafilter into the group head, press the continuous button. Ten seconds of water through the system, ten seconds pause, five times. When you remove the portafilter after the rinse cycle, the water flows cleanly through — no more cloudiness, no coffee oil streaks. That's Cafiza in everyday life. Routine, unspectacular, effective. Cafiza has been the industry standard for backflushing in professional cafes worldwide for decades — developed by Urnex, the specialist in coffee equipment cleaning since 1936. NSF certified for metal compatibility and safety, Kosher (pareve). A 566-gram container lasts six to twelve months in a typical home espresso machine household. Made in the USA. We at Coffee Coaching Club are the exclusive Swiss importer for Urnex. What Cafiza is Made For Cafiza solves one specific problem: coffee oils and residues in your espresso machine's group head, valves, and water paths. During brewing, tiny amounts of oil remain in the lines. Over weeks or months, these oils become rancid — and rancid oils transfer their taste to every subsequent brew. Cafiza chemically dissolves these oils and makes them water-soluble so they can be flushed out of the system during the next rinse cycle. Active ingredients are Sodium percarbonate and Sodium carbonate — proven cleaning alkalis that break down fats and organic residues. Effective, NSF certified, but more chemical in formulation than the plant-based BioCaf line. Those who want maximum cleaning power will find it here. Those looking for a gentler, eco-friendly formula with equal efficiency should look at BioCaf. What Cafiza Is Not Cafiza is not a descaler. Limescale deposits from water are not dissolved — a separate descaler is needed for that. Cafiza is also not suitable for aluminum parts (such as classic aluminum Moka pots). Stainless steel components and group heads can tolerate its use. Application: Backflush Routine Prerequisite for backflushing: Your machine needs a three-way solenoid valve design. Most semi-professional home espresso machines with E61 or saturated group heads have this — pump machines without this function cannot backflush, there Cafiza is used for soak applications. Insert blind filter (also "blank filter" or "backflush disc") into the portafilter Up to half a teaspoon (3 g) of Cafiza powder into the blind filter Insert portafilter into the group head Activate brew button or continuous button for 10 seconds, pause for 10 seconds, repeat five times Remove portafilter, rinse under running water from the group head Reinsert portafilter without powder, activate brew for 10 seconds on, 10 seconds off, five times — clear rinse Replace blind filter with standard filter basket, pull a test espresso and discard Recommended frequency: daily backflush without detergent, plus Cafiza backflush every 50 shots or once a week for normal home use. Professional cafes perform Cafiza backflush daily at the end of their shift. Application: Soak for Portafilters and Filter Baskets Even machines without a backflush function benefit from Cafiza — through soaking. Portafilters, filter baskets, and shower screens can be soaked in a Cafiza solution. Add 6 g of Cafiza to 1 liter of hot water (about one teaspoon per liter) Place filter basket, shower screen, or portafilter metal parts (do not immerse wooden or plastic handles) Soak for 30 minutes Rinse thoroughly with clear water The soak solution may visibly darken — these are the dissolved coffee oils. Exactly what needs to come out. At a Glance Application Backflush and soak for espresso machines Form Powder, white, low odor Active Ingredients Sodium percarbonate, Sodium carbonate Certifications NSF (metal compatibility and safety), Kosher (pareve) Dosage Backflush 3 g (½ teaspoon) per shot Dosage Soak 6 g per 1 L hot water, 30 minutes Capacity 566 g (20 oz) Coverage Home Use approx. 6–12 months with weekly backflush Made in USA Note Not a descaler, not for aluminum Cafiza vs. BioCaf — Which One is Right for You? Cleaner Character Profile Urnex Cafiza Classic Sodium Percarbonate Formula Maximum cleaning power, industry standard, NSF certified Urnex BioCaf 500g Plant-based Eco-Formula Biodegradable, phosphate-free, gentler on seals, equivalent effectiveness for home use Both work. Cafiza is the established industry-standard solution, BioCaf is the eco-alternative from the same company. Those who want maximum aggressiveness for heavily oiled professional machines should stick with Cafiza. Those who value plant-based and biodegradable — and backflush less frequently at home — will find BioCaf equally effective. This is our observation from the showroom, one opinion among many. Matching Companions There's a separate product for grinders: Urnex Grindz Grinder Cleaner — Cafiza is exclusively for espresso machines. For the milk system: Urnex BioCaf Alkaline Milk Cleaner 1L. You can find the entire cleaning range in our Machine and Grinder Cleaning Collection. High-quality milk pitchers and barista tools in the Barista Equipment Collection. Ordering, Delivery, and Consultation Cafiza can be ordered online at Coffee Coaching Club or picked up at our showrooms in Zurich Oerlikon or Bern. Delivery throughout Switzerland and to Liechtenstein in 2–4 business days. As the exclusive Swiss importer for Urnex, we continuously stock the entire maintenance range. For questions about the backflush routine: office@coffeecoachingclub.ch. Frequently Asked Questions Can I use Cafiza in any espresso machine? For backflushing, you need a machine with a three-way solenoid valve — most semi-professional home machines with E61 or saturated group heads have this. Machines without this function can only use Cafiza for soaking, not for backflushing. How often should I backflush with Cafiza? For normal home use, once a week or every 50 shots. For professional volume, daily. Daily backflushing without detergent complements this routine — it does not replace the Cafiza application. Is Cafiza a descaler? No. Cafiza dissolves coffee oils and residues, but not limescale from water. For descaling, you need a separate descaler — for many machines via an integrated descaling program. Can I use Cafiza for my aluminum Moka pot? No. Cafiza is not suitable for aluminum — the formula can attack the surface. For aluminum Moka pots, only use water and possibly mild dish soap. Stainless steel Moka pots can tolerate Cafiza. How long does a 566-g container last? With weekly backflushing in a home household, about 6–12 months. Only 3 g are used per backflush. Stored dry and sealed, Cafiza has an almost unlimited shelf life. What is the difference between Cafiza and BioCaf? Cafiza uses a classic Sodium Percarbonate formula. BioCaf is plant-based, biodegradable, and phosphate-free. Both clean effectively — Cafiza is the industry-standard solution, BioCaf is the eco-alternative from the same company. Which grinder care product goes with this? There's a separate product for grinders: Urnex Grindz Grinder Cleaner. Cafiza is exclusively for the espresso machine, not for the grinder. Can I see the product live before buying? Yes. Both showrooms have the entire Urnex range on-site: Bern at Gerberngasse 44 and Zurich Oerlikon at Hagenholzstrasse 50b. Roastery Tip Cafiza backflushing is not optional if you truly want to experience the taste of your beans. My suggestion from showroom practice: schedule Cafiza backflushing as a fixed weekly routine, for example, Sunday evening after your last espresso. A bowl, the blind filter, the teaspoon, the powder — five minutes, and you'll have a clean system for a week. If you only backflush monthly, you might not directly notice it with darker beans like Cozy Chocolate. But with bright single origins like Wild Peach, it's very noticeable — old oils transfer their character, which immediately destroys fruity aromas. A clean system is a prerequisite, not a bonus. This is my view from the roastery, one of many.