Backflushing is one of the most important — and most misunderstood — aspects of espresso machine maintenance. If you've just bought a Sage, De'Longhi or Breville espresso machine and want to keep it running perfectly, this complete UK guide is for you. We'll cover everything from what backflushing actually is, to exactly how to do it step by step — including which machines support it and how often you should be doing it.
Backflushing is the process of forcing water and cleaning solution back through the group head and internal valves of your espresso machine — in the opposite direction to normal water flow. This dislodges and flushes out coffee oils, grounds and residue that accumulate with each shot.
It is only possible on machines fitted with a three-way solenoid valve — which includes most prosumer home espresso machines and all commercial machines. Pod machines and basic capsule machines cannot be backflushed.
The term "backflush" comes from the fact that you are reversing the normal direction of water flow through the group head. Instead of water flowing forward through the coffee puck and into your cup, it is forced backwards through the shower screen and internal valve — carrying dissolved coffee oils and residue with it.
Every time you pull an espresso shot, coffee oils, fine grounds and residue are left behind in the group head and internal valve of your machine. Over time these oils oxidise and go rancid — making every subsequent shot taste increasingly bitter and stale, no matter how good your beans are.
Without regular backflushing, the build-up of coffee oils can also cause:
Italian baristas backflush their machines every single day — it's a fundamental part of professional espresso machine maintenance. For home baristas, backflushing once per week is the recommended standard.
The following popular UK espresso machines all support backflushing with a blind basket and cleaning tablet:
Machines that cannot be backflushed include most pod and capsule machines (Nespresso, Dolce Gusto), as well as basic single-boiler machines without a three-way solenoid valve. Check your machine's manual if you're unsure.
Do not use regular washing up liquid or other household cleaners in your espresso machine. Always use a purpose-made espresso cleaning tablet that is specifically formulated to be food-safe and dissolve completely without leaving residue.
The exact process varies slightly between machines, but the general method is the same for all machines that support backflushing:
Remove your regular basket from the portafilter and insert the blind basket in its place.
Place one cleaning tablet into the centre of the blind basket. For Qualità Napoli tablets, one tablet per session is sufficient.
Insert the portafilter into the group head as normal and lock it securely in place.
Run the pump for 10 seconds, then stop for 5 seconds. Repeat this cycle 5–8 times. The tablet will dissolve and be forced through the group head, cleaning all internal surfaces.
Remove the portafilter and rinse the blind basket thoroughly under hot running water.
Reinsert the clean blind basket (without a tablet this time) and run 3–4 cycles of clean water to flush out any remaining cleaning solution residue.
Remove the portafilter, rinse it again, reinsert your regular basket and your machine is ready to brew.
Sage espresso machines — including the Barista Express, Barista Pro, Barista Touch and Barista Touch Impress — all support backflushing and require a cleaning tablet for their automated cleaning cycle.
Qualità Napoli espresso cleaning tablets are fully compatible with all Sage espresso machines and are a significantly more affordable alternative to the official Sage branded cleaning tablets. Sage branded tablets typically cost £1.80 or more per tablet — Qualità Napoli tablets start from just 67p per tablet in the 30-pack.
How to backflush a Sage espresso machine with Qualità Napoli tablets:
Sage recommends running the cleaning cycle when the cleaning alert activates — approximately every 200 shots. Qualità Napoli tablets dissolve completely in Sage machines leaving zero residue, making them the ideal affordable Sage cleaning tablet alternative for UK customers.
De'Longhi pump espresso machines — including the La Specialista, La Specialista Arte, La Specialista Maestro and Dedica Arte — support backflushing with a blind basket and cleaning tablet.
Qualità Napoli cleaning tablets are fully compatible with all De'Longhi espresso machines that support backflushing. They are a much more affordable alternative to De'Longhi branded cleaning tablets.
How to backflush a De'Longhi espresso machine:
De'Longhi recommends cleaning approximately once per week for daily-use machines. One Qualità Napoli tablet per session is all you need — they are fully compatible and dissolve completely leaving no residue in your De'Longhi machine.
In the UK, Breville espresso machines are sold under the Sage brand — but if you have a Breville machine imported from Australia or the USA, it supports the same backflushing process as Sage machines.
Qualità Napoli cleaning tablets are compatible with all Breville espresso machines including the Barista Express, Barista Pro, Barista Touch and Bambino Plus. The process is identical to the Sage backflushing method described above.
One Qualità Napoli tablet per cleaning session is sufficient for all Breville machines. The tablet dissolves completely in under 60 seconds and leaves zero residue — making it the ideal Breville backflush tablet for UK customers.
The Gaggia Classic, Classic Pro and Classic Evo all support backflushing using a blind basket. Unlike Sage and De'Longhi machines, Gaggia machines do not have an automated cleaning cycle — you run the backflush manually.
Qualità Napoli tablets are fully compatible with all Gaggia Classic models. Use one tablet per session and run the pump in 10-second on, 5-second off cycles for 6-8 repetitions. Then rinse with 3-4 clean water cycles.
The general recommendation from most espresso machine manufacturers is to backflush every 200 espresso shots, or approximately once per week for a machine used daily. However, many home baristas find that backflushing more frequently — every 3-4 days — keeps their machine in even better condition.
You should also backflush immediately if you notice any of the following:
Some baristas perform a quick water-only backflush after every session — without a cleaning tablet. This involves inserting the blind basket, running a few pump cycles with clean water, then removing and rinsing. This daily water-only backflush helps keep residue from building up between full cleaning sessions with a tablet.
A water-only backflush is not a substitute for a proper tablet backflush — you still need to use a cleaning tablet at least once per week to fully dissolve and remove coffee oil build-up.
These are two separate maintenance tasks that are often confused:
Backflushing removes coffee oils and residue from the group head, shower screen and internal valve using a blind basket and cleaning tablet. This should be done weekly.
Descaling removes limescale build-up from the internal water boiler and pipes using a descaling solution that is run through the machine's water circuit. This should be done every 2-3 months depending on your water hardness.
Both are essential for keeping your espresso machine in perfect condition — they clean different parts of the machine and cannot substitute for each other.
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Get Your Qualità Napoli Tablets →Can I backflush my Nespresso machine?
No — Nespresso and other pod/capsule machines do not have a three-way solenoid valve and cannot be backflushed. They require descaling instead.
How do I know if my machine has a blind basket?
Check the accessories that came with your machine. Most prosumer home espresso machines include a blind basket. It looks identical to your regular basket but has no holes in the bottom.
Can I use any cleaning tablet for backflushing?
Use only tablets specifically designed for espresso machine backflushing — such as Qualità Napoli cleaning tablets. Do not use dishwasher tablets, descaler or any household cleaning products.
My machine has a cleaning alert light — what does that mean?
This means your machine is telling you it needs a backflush clean right now. Insert the blind basket, add a cleaning tablet and run a cleaning cycle as described above.
How long does backflushing take?
The full process — including rinsing — takes approximately 5 minutes. It's one of the quickest maintenance tasks you can do for your espresso machine.