After watching a lot of reviews, I finally took the plunge and ordered the White Steel Duo after watching your video. Super excited until EP advised they are sold out and new pre-orders will not ship until end of August. My fault but for waiting. Now I see Ascaso factory is releasing a newer version Steel Duo PLUS which seems to include all the extras I was considering.
Spot on review from someone who owns this unit. I’m looking forward to the steam pressure upgrade although the current level is quite decent. The hot water spout switch doesn’t allow flow control but you eventually figure out when to stop it for reaching the amount desired if used for Americanos.
Definitely! The steam is not a dealbreaker but I’m still looking forward to trying to boost. The wood dial is a nice touch too! Was always jealous that the uno had that and the duo didnt
@@DaddyGotCoffee I noticed 30Coffee in the EU is selling the 110V upgraded DUO, so hopefully it won’t be long before we can purchase the steam upgrade kit 🤞🏻
You know what this was probably one of my favourite espresso machine reviews to date. I like the simplicity and proven track record of using it for a year. Thanks!
I’m 6mths in to my Ascaso (my first ever espresso machine), and I love it. Beautiful design and great feature set for the price. The baskets and tamper are pretty crappy…I recommend VST 18 and 22g, bottomless portafilter and a 58mm tamp (Normcore is pretty good). Also, it does have energy saving standby mode….it times out to standby mode after 30/60/mins (from memory….it can be programmed through the menu).
Yes, I upgraded to a triple size basket and oversized tamper as well. I can’t believe I missed the standby thing but did correct it in my description! Hard to find in the menu thoigh
This is our second K-Classic. We had our first one for many years, so when we had to replace it, we wanted nothing else but this exact ua-cam.com/users/postUgkxBrV-RbF5Nk0Rlt9i15aao-YMzqzTG8Vf model. We use it for about three people everyday in the morning. The taste and quick brew is one of the reasons we like it so much. There are so many choices of brands of coffee that we would grab what was on sale and test the different brands from there. I would definitely recommend trying different brands of coffee to find the ones you like the most because there are brands that quite frankly taste horrible.
I have the new version myself and it is AMAZING(while also frustrating) I really love the fit and finish I love how fast it heats up (Agrre on the standby mode being a miss, I plug mine into amsart outlet and have it turn on and off at set times so the basket and cups ar ewarm when I want them to be) I love the steam power and the no burn wand(However I might have to play with some settings, mine doesn't steam back to back without it self purging and shutting the steam off, its probably a setting I haven't messed with yet) I love the steam knob (however the knob is very small and low profile which takes time to get used too, I'm waiting for a 3rd party lever option to hit the market) I love the two shot timers (though they are inconsistent, I pull 3 shots in a row, all the same 20g of the same beans with 5 sec of pre and the shot varied from 27.8s/40g, 27.3s/51g, & 27.1s/52g. I have to run some more tests to narrow down what is causing the weight diff, but the time diff make some pause on trusting it) With all that, I LOVE this machine and it is the perfect machine for our household and the way we do coffee. I would without a doubt recommend it to anyone looking for this level of machine
The inconsistency in the shot output is likely due to the design of the volumetric programming. The flow meter comes BEFORE the OPV in the plumbing. So, if you hit the pressure ceiling of the OPV and it discharges water back into the reservoir, this water is included in the volumetric dose, even though it’s not in the output. For this reason unless I’m perfectly dialed in I don’t use the programming most of the time. Agreed - great machine and I can’t wait to review the new version!
Without being in physics class(barely graduated😅) it's water going into your cup. That's the only answer. Now why? Something is measuring the dosage wrong on the machine. It's not you, your measurements. It's the machine.
two notes: 1. since 2022 the upgraded steam circuit is build in by default. I have been told it makes a huge difference, and it's possible to upgrade the older version. I think I will invest these extra bugs for the upgrade sooner or later. 2. There is a volumetric for the programmable espresso shots, which sound very nice in theory. BUT it's shitty design... the OPV behind the volumetric, so the water going back to the tank through the OPV is measured as well. Even perfect prepared baskets have different resistances. So the amount of water going through the OPV variate from shot to shot, and this results in an annoying variation of espresso volume from shot to shot. I don't know why these parts are build in this order, but it makes the volumetric obsolete, especially for light roasted specialty coffees. I and most people I talked to just set the program to a much higher water volume, control the espresso volume with a wage and stop by hand. Machines in higher price segments don't even have a volumetric, but if you include a feature, do it right or just leave it... That said, I still love this machine!
Sven! I love it when people have REALLY looked into a machine! 1. The upgraded models only landed in North America (where I am) AFTER my review video! 🙄 Once I get my hands on one I will be reviewing it and I agree - def worth the kk EY for the extra features you get! 2. This is exactly why I didn’t use the word “volumetric” in my video. It’s such a strange design. I was confused for a while about how they marketed it as volumetric but the lived experience seeeemmeed to say otherwise. It took some digging with the North American distributor before I actually figured out the nature of what was happening - but you nailed it. Still, I agree with you. Fantastic machine!
@@loganburleson933 I’m personally holding out for the release as well. Apparently will be available in Australia in ~3 months. So expect it would sooner in EU and US markets.
@sven it sounds like you had a look i side the machine. Did it look like it would be possible to reroute the pipes/hoses to make the volumetric measurement sit after the OPV?
Thanks for this review! I've had my eyes on this machine for a year now. I'm saving up so I can get it soon. Never owned an Ascaso machine but my favourite coffee place has one and I love the quality of the shots and the esthetics of their machines.
I went with the gaggia classic for my espresso machine since it was more in my price range. I have done the opv mod to it and it wasn’t to bad but I would have loved it it was just a simple screw adjustment. Also thinking about doing the pid to the machine. My thought when buying the gaggia classic was over time I could upgrade some parts as I get better at making espresso.
The Gaggia CP is a fantastic machine to get into the game. I’ve actually been thinking of getting one and doing some content around these mods to help others!
I need to think about upgrade from the ascaso dream pid to that beast. Navigating menu is sucky when the switch is hot. My dream has a two hour standby. Are you sure that machine doesn't have it? Not questioning your research just wondering
dude that is such a great review of a machine which should just win a design award. Srsly the thing solvedes problems we didnt even know we had! keep up the great work!
Thank you for this video I will do some more research on this unit. I want to upgrade from my Breville express and have been down this rabbit hole. And I love the way this unit looks
No problem! Reach out with any questions and if you end up buying, make sure you use my code (DADDYGOTCOFFEE) for 10% off at Ascaso-USA.com Happy to answer any questions about their line! Great machines and I agree, the looks are tops
At first, great video. I Iike your style and you re explaining things great and easy to understand. It's 1 year now I got my Ascaso Steal Duo PİD and I'm not regretting anything. It's such a good machine and I agree with nearly all of your arguments. There is one thing I would like to add. The drip tray is crafted not that good I think. I nearly cut my Fingers on the sharp corners that thing has 😖
@@DaddyGotCoffee I don't know how to call them, but those "walls" in the middle part of the tray are very sharp. Maybe it's an individual issue of my machine 🤷🏻♂️ But I have several questions about your espresso routine. How much pressure did you set on your machine, how much coffee do you use and so on. Maybe you already have a video about these questions. Sorry if it's so. I'm new to this channel 😅✌️
It’s a great one! If you have questions on this or any other machine let me know! And if you do end up buying one of these, make sure you use my code for 10% off! They don’t go on sale very often!
Bruh, lovely content. I've been on a three-month journey for a suitable machine under 2k. The Silvia Pro X was tipping the scales until I saw this unit. Truly lovely design and features. Thank you for sharing.
Aw thanks! Yeah it's a great machine. The Pro X will have more steam power because of the boiler, but this has other pros, as mentioned in the vid:) Glad to help you discover it! If you end up buying use DADDYGOTCOFFEE at Ascaso-Usa.com for 10% off :)
Interesting, well made content. Looking longer term on a new machine and will spend some more time on your channel as I research options. We’ve used a lavazza espresso point for about 15 years and it’s been great, but it is now discontinued and repairs are harder to make.
Thermoblock machines also produce fresh water vs reheated water from a boiler. Fresh vs reheated. This to me is a huge selling point. Decent machines argue in favor of this feature and I tend to agree. I have a Barista Express and see this as a strength not a weakness in design. Having 2 thermoblocks is very cool. Heat exchange machines run second for fresher water IMO.
except Decent has to use two pumps and mix cold and hot water to get correct temperature. Ascaso is not doing that thus it's temperature will be unstable. This is why boilers are better.
@@petervansan1054 the Duo meets the +/- 0.5 C temp stability spec - I don’t have a scace but spoke to several who have scaced the duo before recording this during my fact checking. The decent system is even better, no question.
I love your plain talk review. I own a Breville Barista Express which I purchased three years ago. I'm looking at upgrading, but I can't justify $2,500 - $3,500. The PID, pre-infusion, and the adjustable OPV are my hot buttons. Seven seconds of Pre-infusion would be nice, but is that worth another $1,000. I wouldn't know anything about Ascaso, but for your review
Amazing! I really appreciate the kind words! Yes, this machine sits in a real sweet spot in terms of features/price - I agree! If you have any specific questions let me know! And if you are in the US and end up deciding this machine is for you, use my code DADDYGOTCOFFEE to save 10% at ascaso-USA.com 👊
@@DaddyGotCoffee I plan on buying using your code. It would appear it made in Spain which is great. I won’t buy any products made in China unless I have no choice (this was sent from my Apple iPhone - oh well)
Most of these machines are great. Especially the ones with PID, OPV, volumetric dosing, etc. However, given the way things are going, I keep waiting for a pressure or flow control knob to control pre and post infusion. Something like the Quickmill Sunny but as an optional feature. Having this option programmable would be great too, but it is hard to come by unless you want to pay $3500 USD + like with the VBM Domobar Super Digital, Creme One Profiler etc. After enough sober second though a Flair 58 can out perform all of these machines, fresh water, unlimited custom control. If it wasn't for the issue of not having steam. Now we just need a stand alone Ascaso steamer.
Have you looked at the Bellman Stovetop steamer? It’s not electric but it’s a great pairing with manual espresso makers. And yes, once they get all that under a certain price it will be… a day 🤩🥳
@@DaddyGotCoffee I've never tried one but they look pretty good. I wonder how slow they are to get to pressure. I do really like how quick this machine and other thermoblocks reach brewing temperature, the more I look into it, maybe flow or pressure profiling is a bit gimmicky.I am sure that I would be very happy with the Ascaso Steel Duo with PID. Thanks for the great review.
@@jakevan1969 Bellman’s take about 10-15 minutes to get up to steaming pressure. Which isn’t a huge deal if your using a manual machine and you have to pre heat the machine. Sadly its pretty much a one and done steamer. You could maybe do two drinks if your working fast. After that though you’ve got to wipe it down quickly and wait for it to cool and pretty much start the whole process over again. It works and it works well once you learn how to position the pitcher but with quirks and some small down sides. Also as a side note flow/pressure profiling isnt a gimmick. They affect your flavor/texture of your shot. They can help if you like lighter roasts that are hard to extract but, its not necessary to pull a good shot. If that were the case every cafe would have it. One main reason, is it does slow down your time to pull shots unless you have something like a Decent and even then you still are potentially pulling slower than the traditional 30 seconds. Its just a tool that could be used to make espresso, nice to have but not needed. The question you have to ask is, is it something you need or want and why? If yea and you have a good reason for why you must have that feature then save up for a machine that has it or add it to an e61.
@@greysuit17 I am tempted to buy a Bellman, thanks for the jnfo. As I understand it, pre-infusion helps prevent chanelling and likely increases extraction. Post-infusion or ramping down the pressure/flow at the end of the shot decreases puck erosion and adds contact time which also increases extraction. But, not everyone is brewing light roast expresso. Certainly, if you listen carefully to John Buckman, he says that he has designed the decent espresso machine to effectively brew light roast espresso and I have no doubt he has achieved that. I would love the opportunity to spend some time with a bag of hard to brew, relatively insoluble, light roasted coffee and a decent espresso machine and try some different profiles to see if I prefer one over another. Certainly, with my combination of the JX-Max and the Robot along with some very nice fresh medium roasted specialty coffee, I have brewed some mind blowing shots! With this set-up I have pre-infused at 2-3 bars for approx. 10 seconds, held the pressure at 8 bars to 20 grams on the scale, and then ramped down to 6 bars for the remainder of the shot, 20 grams in, approx. 38 to 45 out depending on the roast level and freshness of the beans. I think that a pressure/flow profiling machine would take the hobby to the next level, but for darker and medium roasts it might be a little over kill? I think that I am enthusiastic enough about the hobby to justify a machine that can manipulate the shot in this way. Now, do I save for a decent? 😄🤔
@@jakevan1969 it seems there’s only a few option’s really, the Decent, a good lever machine, a slayer single group, Lelit Bianca or an modded e61. Im in the same boat, and if I could afford it I’d get three machines, the Londinium, the Decent and a Faema. For the time being I’m just going to probably get the Rancilio Pro X. I have a modded Rok espresso with the Bellman and Ive considered getting a cheap De’longhi just to steam. The Argos is potentially a cheap option for pressure profiling and steaming milk with the Bluetooth transducer. Ah the rabbit hole of coffee!
Great video. Would be really helpful if you could share your steps on cleaning this machine (back-flushing the group head, descaling, and cleaning the steam wand). The user manual is not very clear on this. I believe there is a "clean" mode but the instructions on how to use it are hard to follow.
I get this request semi often, I should really make a video on it. In short, I just use Urnex espresso machine cleaner, mic it up and run a ton of it through the machine. Steam, through the group, backflush, until the reservoir is basically empty. Then I run two or three reservoirs worth of clean water through it. I don’t use the clean mode
@@DaddyGotCoffee Thanks for the feedback. Sounds similar to a descaling process. Do you separately backflush the group head with the cleaner and a blind filter basket? Do you separately descale the machine using a descaling solution? Also, are you filtering the water in your reservoir, or does it come straight from the tap?
@@ivyguetta3775 I flush the grouphead before and after every shot, backflush about weekly, and make my own lightly mineralized water. I only backflush with cleaner when I am doing my 3 mos descale/clean
This certainly deserves to be in the conversation to be the first "real" machine. Added it to my wish list once I graduate from the entry level Breville touch (I am not too keen on the grinder functionality as I have a Sette 270wi).
Thank you so much for this helpful video. I bought mine a month ago and love it. It would be awesome to get your recommendation on a cleaning schedule and what you use to make sure the machine stays in excellent condition. Any advice would be appreciated!
Great review! Absolutely detailed. Would you be doing a review on the latest La Marzocco Linea Micra. It is really small and packed with good features. I think many audiences like us would love to see a great review by you. Thanks.
Great review mate, I'm at the moment choosing this machine for Lelit Elizabeth. The Lelit has loads of features as well, but because my counter has limited space especially top wise, this would be a winner. For me, it counts on how to fill it up with water. This would be very easy from the side, the Lelit is very annoying. Always need compromising so I think I will go with the new edition of Ascaso duo, for doing 2 or 3 cups per day, will do it. Thank you!
I love that too and the baby t is the same - so easy to fill! Most of the time I don’t even pull the reservoir all the way out! If you’re buying in the US use my code (daddygotcoffee) at Ascaso-USA.com or espressoparts.com and save yourself 10%!
The V1 actually doesn’t - I just got the V2 today so I’ll check that. For what it’s worth, running out of water is not a harmful to vibratory pumps as it is to rotary pumps
Looking at an upgrade to venture deeper into espresso. Our first machine was a brim 19bar. Looking at upgrading for sure. My other option is the Breville Dual Boiler.
I age my expresso beans for ~1 year in the fridge, grind them up in my magic bullet, then put them in a slow-drip coffee maker, then add 20% milk for a luke-warm expresso
Thanks for this review. I bought the Plus version of this machine recently to upgrade from my DeLonghi La Specialista Prestigio. It was over 3 times as expensive. It was faulty and shutting itself off every few seconds. I decided to return it as I was not happy with what I got for the money. The DeLonghi just looked better, the steam wand was little bit too short, my cup didn't fit with a scale, etc. Would I be even able to taste the difference for so much more money? Anyways, I was wondering how you would compare let's say the new DeLonghi La Specialista Opera consumer machine with professional machines like Ascaso that you are used to. Is it really that better for 3 times the price? I think that would be an interesting video to watch.
One of the things I love about these machines is they are 100% serviceable and you can get any part as a replacement part (including the thermocoil!) - that being said I haven’t had or heard of many reliability issues either. Serviceability is a big deal and IMO it’s one of the biggest detractors of the breville line
Great review, thanks. I'm waiting for mine to be delivered. It is a replacement/upgrade to my Sage/Breville Barista Express. Will be paired with a new Niche Zero. I'm v excited, but I wonder where is the catch? This seems like too good looking a machine, with too many features for the price. I wonder if longevity and build quality will prove to be lacking. Hope not!
I’m almost two years in on this unit and it hasn’t needed a single repair! The thermocoils are high quality and less prone to scale buildup than boilers. Keep up with descaling and use hoof water and you should be good!
It’s available right now from Ascaso-USA.com! Use DADDYGOTCOFFEE at checkout for 10% off, and just a note that the version 2 which was released just after I did this video requires 20a power ☺️
Great video! I want! I'm looking to upgrade my Breville barista and this just might be the ticket, also aesthetics are important to me and this definitely fits that for me.
I’ll be the first to say that good water is important, but also - thermoblocks are better in this regard than boilers because the water isn’t kept hot for extended periods. 👀 I still descale thermoblock machines regularly just because… but this is a plus for thermoblocks rather than a detractor in my view!
Ymmv. Historically thermoblocks have been more problematic because of how they’re constructed and what metal is used vs a conventional boiler over the long haul. Thermocoils make sense for steaming. It’s a bit like debating which is more environmentally friendly, something that uses less energy or something less efficient that can be repaired and has a 20 year life expectancy. Regardless, a thorough and well done review. Kudos.
Glad you mentioned and discussed the difference between the coils and the boilers. Props for that. Ascaso tech on their coils is top notch. Things I wish I had with my DUO: Modify the coffee brew programs time via the settings menu, instead of holding the button to do so.
Is this Thermocoil different to the one used on the Breville Barista Touch? I find that my shots can vary wildly even if I keep the other variables consistent.
Hello! I purchased the tamper to use on my new Ascaso (big shoutout to you, everything I purchsed was from your videos), but it's a bit wider so it actually didn't fit. Did I do something wrong? Thank you!
Is use a “triple” basket that came with my Ascaso bottomless. Let me make sure the tamper fits with the single and double baskets that come with the duo
Energy efficiency benefits aside, how does this unit compare to Breville/Sage dual boiler? I love the Baby T but that is an extravagant purchase. am looking for a machine that has a more upscale fit, finish and tactile experience over my super competent but appliance-like Breville DB.
One thing that I really do not love about the dual boiler at the price that it is is serviceability. They are basically not serviceable at all whereas the duo is completely serviceable, even the thermocoils can be replaced, although I have never heard of one going. Steam wise, the dual boiler will have a little more punch and steam a little faster. One nice thing about a thermocoil v boiler is there is no recovery time with a thermocoil. As long as there is water in the reservoir you can pull or steam basically forever, because the plumbing is designed to always heat up the water from room temp by the time is gets where it’s going. Similarly, it’s always fresh water and never reheated water from a boiler.
I’ve watched your video several times…yeah, it’s that good! One question: How does the white model hold up. The machine I’m replacing occasionally sprays coffee and I’m wondering if the white finish stains at all. Any issues with the color?
I clean mine fairly regularly and it has not stained at all. Sometimes I’ll forget for a few days and still no issue! I definitely shows though before you clean it worse than black for example!
You’ll notice a reduction in steam power moving from a boiler to a thermocoil, but Ascaso did juice up the V2 for extra power compared against their V1 (that came with the tradeoff of 20a power requirement though). Preinfusion is similar, the duo will edge out the Silvia on warm up time and overall efficiency. Also, the duo has a more easily adjustable OPV and also volumetric programming, and it’s a lot cheaper. I’m not sure if that’s helpful but those are the main differences! ☺️
Just unboxed my Ascaso Steel Duo this weekend! Thanks for the review OP!!! With the water spout, has anyone noticed it takes some time for the pump to flush air out of the system, before you get a constant stream? Like 5-10 seconds?
Great review and a beautiful machine on your bar. How loud is that vibratory pump though? I'm currently on a Breville Barista Express (6 years+) and to me that pump is really loud. If I'm going to upgrade my biggest concern is noise. Thank you so much! 🙏
Hi Justin, Thanks for your interesting review. Question: the steam thermoblock, does it have its own pump, or is it sharing pump with brewhead? Have you experienced vibration noise from the sidewalls of the housing? Thanks in advance, br Jens
Hey Jens! The steam thermoblock has its own pump. And, there’s some vibration but in my unit it’s from the pump rather than the housing. I have seen the odd report of that though!
Great review! Thanks! At the end I would’ve love to hear the sound of the machine instead of the music. How loud is the machine? Also, what was the input and output of your espresso shot. And lastly, what kind of coffee did you use?
This is a great suggestion and something I’ll keep in mind for future reviews! I really should get a db meter and measure the sound level. If you DM me on my Instagram and ask for a clip I can send you one! I usually do 18in 36 out over 20-25ish seconds. This coffee was Pilot Coffee Heritage - which is basically what we use as a “house blend”. If you want to try Pilot, “daddygotcoffee” gets you free North American shipping with 2 or more bags!
This is how I use the machine a lot of the time. You just hold the switch down on “1 Coffee” or “2 Coffee” and it will run until you release the switch. This is technically “program” mode and the machine will remember that setting on whatever switch you held. But you can definitely run it like that every shot
Hello, now when you have Baby T model, what do you think about Ascaso Steel steam power and performance? is this really all about the speed only or you do see significant difference for milk frothing on Baby T? Thanks!
Steaming on the baby T is insanely fast compared to the duo, I can steam a drink in 10-15 seconds, whereas on the duo I steam the same drink in 45-50 seconds. The flip side is that with the speed comes a steeper learning curve - because it’s so fast it’s also easier to get wrong. The T has other features that the Duo doesn’t, extra programmability, rotary pump, ability to plumb it, app etc. Hit me up if you have any specific questions about those! Also, if you end up buying anything from the Ascaso line make sure you use my code DADDYGOTCOFFEE at Ascaso-USA.com or espresso parts to save 10%. Hit me up any time!
@@DaddyGotCoffee Thanks but I'm not from US. Btw. I also want to ask about preinfusion on Steel Duo. How the pressure gague behaives? Let say for 5s preinfusion, is the presure on low level for 5s? How is then the jump looking like? gradually or rather quick jump of pressure? Feel free to make a shots on that but I'll appreciate your comment :)
Great review! Can't wait till you get your hands on the V2 and see how it stacks up. My questions are 1. How loud (annoying) is the vibratory pump and does it make the pumping noise when using steam? 2. I don't want to get into a cycle of upgrading all the time and was thinking of skipping this class of machine and going straight into a dual boiler, rotary pump machine but what are your thoughts? Could this machine last someone a while without having to upgrade? Keep up the great content!
Hey there! I'm just about to release my review of the V2 Duo and I cover this a bit. I don't see a lot of the reliability issues with these machines and they are fully serviceable - even the thermoblocks can be replaced. That being said, as ascaso has scaled up their production, I have seen the occasional report of a machine throwing an error code on delivery. I am hopeful that Ascaso is able to minimize these issues as they continue to scale. That being said, if they are good on delivery they tend to not break down or experience other issues later. Do a quick search on Reddit and you'll see the odd user with an issue like this.
@@DaddyGotCoffeeWoaa I went to Reddit to read about it because I was seriously thinking to buy it but now it pull me back, the QC it has to be more flawless at this price point
@@Isilrrond it’s a fair concern. They went through a period where there seemed to be more slipping through. I see it less now but I’d still like to see a longer track record. Hopefully it was a blip
@@DaddyGotCoffeeI fell on the rabbit hole with the espresso machine and my intention was getting a different type of machine and I tough this one could be fun and reliable to experiment but I think I will pull the trigger with the Stone machine now, less programmability and functions but better QC I suppose
Hey, I love that you've showed the internals. Great to see they don't use plastic connectors inside (no microplastic). Would you mind telling if the plastic bit on the milk foamer tube connects two tubes or wraps one? Cause the steam gets hot and it's great for it not to pass through plastic too.
Great question - It does wrap around one tube, however, there is a plastic insert inside the steam tube itself (this is what makes it a no-burn wand). I am not sure if the insert could be removed or not.
@@DaddyGotCoffeethanks, I've also sent the question to their customer support, will see how responsive they are. Other than that the machine seems to be the best in the price range.
Is the machine the temperature stable from then it communicates it is warmed up? has anybody done a scase test? how many bars will the machine do under preinfusion? Does it make a difference with the 5 seconds compared to a normal vibratory pump ramp-up time?
I haven’t done a scace but know people who have. If you want advertised stability you need to wait until the whole machine is fully heated (portafilter included), not just when the PID is at temp after 90 seconds. How many bars is dependent upon the OPV setting, I usually set my OPV to 11 bar and manage my grind to pull at 9. And yes, the preinfusion shortens the vibratory ramp up during the main pull.
I currently have a Breville Barista Express, obviously doesn't look as nice and lacking in other ways. Does the steam pressure on this beat something like that or about the same or weaker?
Love this !!! I wish there was more content online about this machine. I know different beans, pressure and grind size changes things. But could you share your grind size on the Niche, Bean , Pressure and pour time. I just got my Duo and having a hard time dialing it in. Thanks a bunch !!
For sure! A slight disclaimer here - I’m using a “triple” basket that comes with the bottomless while the duo only comes with a double. I usually keep my OPV set for 11 bar but manage my puck prep/grind so that the actual pressure at group tops out at 9. I usually use an 18g dose in the triple, run a 5 second preinfusion, 3 second pause then main pull. I usually hold the switch down and kill it manually when it hits my target weight. For timing, I time from first drip on my acaia lunar and shoot for 20-30 seconds from when the timer activates (first drip). Depending on the bean I can be anywhere from 8 (decaf) to 26 on the niche. that could really change depending on how your grinder is calibrated. So overall that is probably not at all helpful but feel free to dm me on Instagram! 😂
Are you referring to the V2 with upgraded steam or the new version revealed at WOC Athens? (I’m not sure what that version is called yet but I did hear it will be EU only for the near future)
Hi! Love your videos. I am deciding between this machine and the AnZa. Do you have a preference? Also, between the Niche grinder or the Eureka Mignon Specialita Espresso grinder?
Are you using 5 seconds of pre-infusion and 5 seconds of waiting before ramping up the pressure? I am not quite sure on how to setup my pre-infusion on it! Also, did you adjust OPV to 9 bars maximum? Thanks for the review!
Great question! I have the non-upgraded steam model and on that one you can’t actually adjust the pause after preinfusion - I’m still waiting for my upgraded steam model but I think on that you can adjust both the preinfusion and pause time. On mine, the preinfusion is set to 5 sec and the pause is a static 3 seconds. On the OPV, I initially set it to 9 to orient myself but have since set it back to 11 and adjust my grind so that it tops out around 9bar without any compensation needed by the OPV. This is a better setup and the way the machine is meant to be run but it’s also a little trickier in the beginning. Any follow up questions just lemme know!
@@DaddyGotCoffee Thanks for your answer! I initially tried 9 bars but the machine showed around 8 pulling a shot! I have set it back so when my shot is pulled, i get around 9 bars and the shot is around 22sec on the glass! Its a tricky machine to set, i find that my puck have a lot of water in it :) thanks for the help!! :)
Great video. I would rather have a Ascaso Steel DUO than a Breville. First off, it's gorgeous. It's luxurious, minimal, ergonomic. Kudos to the design team. Thermoblock water heaters are the future. The hot water spout is useful for many things. Vibration pumps can sound awful so it would've been nice to hear this pump in operation. A couple of things I would like to see. 1) Ascaso should make a boroscillicate glass or ceramic water reservoir. Plastic water reservoirs, even "food grade plastic" uses chemical softeners which leach into the water. Ascaso could offer a glass or ceramic reservoir upgrade as an accessory. 2) Allow pre-infusion up to 15 seconds. If I were not looking to purchase an Olympia Cremina and if the Ascaso Steel DUO used a rotary pump I would consider it over a La Marzocco Linea Mini. This is high praise for Ascaso.
I totally agree! I’ve had several thermocoil detractors on here and I really do not get it. I will pass along that feedback on the glass and have already done so about the preinfusion!
Great video, I am a newbie who is still learning, I have a Breville Bambino Plus, is this too much of an upgrade at my level? Thanks for the pre infusion tip.
The bambino is a great starter!! Depending on what you are grinding with I would definitely upgrade that first. The duo would jump you up a couple tiers while still being approachable but if your grinder isn’t up to par then it might not be worthwhile ☺️
@@DaddyGotCoffee thanks, I have the mignon speciality grinder. Could you recommend another expresso machine better than the bambino plus, but a little less expensive than the duo.
@@DaddyGotCoffee found it. Yeah it’s pricey but I assume those things last a lifetime. Thanks so much. Also love your videos. Super well done and informative.
@@etc115 I really appreciate the encouragement! I put a lot of effort into my vids and content - when someone comments on that it’s always wind in my sails! ⛵️
Looking for a machine for an upcoming coffee cart/bar I’m opening. I’m deciding between the rocket r58 cinquantotto, and the Ascaso baby t plus. Is the Ascaso worth the extra $2.5k???
To be totally up front, I've never used the R58. I can say a couple things about the Baby T Plus that you should look at. The espresso group runs off of their "T Tech" which is basically an actively heated group/thermocoil. It heats up SUPER fast (like, less than 5 min). This type of setup also has the advantage of there being no recovery time on the espresso group when fresh water is drawn (like there would be on a boiler) because it is heated on-demand. Also, I have spoken with many people who have used the T and everyone agrees that the power of the steam boiler is insane and rivals even some fully commercial units. I can steam a cappuccino in less than 15 seconds. 4 programmable espresso settings (with individual preinfusions) and a manual option are really nice. They actually market it as a great solution for pop-ups and carts and I agree. I do have a review coming but its not gonna be next week. Happy for any follow up questions about it! And... my 10% off at ascaso-usa.com and espressoparts.com works on the T too..... 👀👀 (DADDYGOTCOFFEE). Hit me back any time!
Hi! I’m coming from a breville barista touch. Would this be decent for a pop up cart business? Was looking at the baby t plus as well as the lucca a53.
Does anyone know if you can add an aftermarket steam lever to the V1? I bought a V1 from a website but the photo was for a V2. I’m wondering if I can just upgrade that part or should I just return it?
Where can one buy it outside the USA? I see the company is from Barcelona, but their website doesn't include sales. So... is there a way to buy the machine if one is outside the US and Europe?
You have the original Ascaso stainless steel bottomless portafilter. I have a chrome one from ECM. In theory stainless steel takes longer to heat up because of its higher heat capacity, but it also keeps that heat better. Do you have experience on that? I‘ve also observed different grind settings for the chrome bottomless and the stainless double spout with the same basket. I can’t switch easily because of that. This drives me crazy when I want do split a shot.
In my experience a bottomless doesn’t have much impact on the thermal stability because the only part contacting the espresso basket is the bead around the rim. Especially when comparing two bottomless portafilter materials, any impact on a shot is going to be very negligible. As far as different grind settings when using the same basket on spouted vs basket, I’m not sure what would be causing that but it shouldn’t be the case - interesting!
Yes, it does. It CAN run on 15 amp using an adapter, although the steam power goes down. I’ve only heard this third hand through another youtuber but have not tested it myself
I'm super impressed by how well spoken and articulate you are. Thanks for this great review. Liked and subscribed. Thanks again!
Ah thanks so much! Glad to have you here! Reach out any time!
I’m buying this machine because of this review. Thank you! 🙏🏼
All I can say, you’re gonna love it!
After watching a lot of reviews, I finally took the plunge and ordered the White Steel Duo after watching your video. Super excited until EP advised they are sold out and new pre-orders will not ship until end of August. My fault but for waiting. Now I see Ascaso factory is releasing a newer version Steel Duo PLUS which seems to include all the extras I was considering.
Wow I’ve never seen this machine and I’ve been all up in espresso UA-cam for like a year. Happy I found the channel as well 🙏
Yeah these machines are still really just starting to hit the radar. Thank you and welcome!!
Spot on review from someone who owns this unit. I’m looking forward to the steam pressure upgrade although the current level is quite decent. The hot water spout switch doesn’t allow flow control but you eventually figure out when to stop it for reaching the amount desired if used for Americanos.
Definitely! The steam is not a dealbreaker but I’m still looking forward to trying to boost. The wood dial is a nice touch too! Was always jealous that the uno had that and the duo didnt
@@DaddyGotCoffee I noticed 30Coffee in the EU is selling the 110V upgraded DUO, so hopefully it won’t be long before we can purchase the steam upgrade kit 🤞🏻
There is a new version 2022 with more steam power
@@1989Janno yup! I’m working on getting a hold of a unit. They literally JUST landed in North America
@@DaddyGotCoffee where is the best place to buy this machine?
You know what this was probably one of my favourite espresso machine reviews to date. I like the simplicity and proven track record of using it for a year. Thanks!
I’m 6mths in to my Ascaso (my first ever espresso machine), and I love it. Beautiful design and great feature set for the price. The baskets and tamper are pretty crappy…I recommend VST 18 and 22g, bottomless portafilter and a 58mm tamp (Normcore is pretty good). Also, it does have energy saving standby mode….it times out to standby mode after 30/60/mins (from memory….it can be programmed through the menu).
Yes, I upgraded to a triple size basket and oversized tamper as well. I can’t believe I missed the standby thing but did correct it in my description! Hard to find in the menu thoigh
Which bottomless portofilter did you get? The one from Ascaso is $220, ouch!
@@publicname515 Its crazy expensive but... yes that's what I use. Ascaso sent me one. The good news is any aftermarket 58mm (not dogleg) will fit!
@@DaddyGotCoffee Thanks for the advice.
@@DaddyGotCoffee is the included portafilter compatible with a 22g basket? Is it bottomless?
This is our second K-Classic. We had our first one for many years, so when we had to replace it, we wanted nothing else but this exact ua-cam.com/users/postUgkxBrV-RbF5Nk0Rlt9i15aao-YMzqzTG8Vf model. We use it for about three people everyday in the morning. The taste and quick brew is one of the reasons we like it so much. There are so many choices of brands of coffee that we would grab what was on sale and test the different brands from there. I would definitely recommend trying different brands of coffee to find the ones you like the most because there are brands that quite frankly taste horrible.
It deserves a hero’s burial!
Wow, one of the greatest reviews I've ever seen in these days. Thank you.
Thank you so much for the kind words! 🥰
Finally a great review about the Duo in English!
Yessss! 🙌 Any specific questions let me know!
@@DaddyGotCoffee I will hold you to that! Been following you on IG for a while. My main inspiration to get an Ascaso! And fatherhood!
@@quinntinfong amazing! I’m so glad!
I have the new version myself and it is AMAZING(while also frustrating)
I really love the fit and finish
I love how fast it heats up (Agrre on the standby mode being a miss, I plug mine into amsart outlet and have it turn on and off at set times so the basket and cups ar ewarm when I want them to be)
I love the steam power and the no burn wand(However I might have to play with some settings, mine doesn't steam back to back without it self purging and shutting the steam off, its probably a setting I haven't messed with yet)
I love the steam knob (however the knob is very small and low profile which takes time to get used too, I'm waiting for a 3rd party lever option to hit the market)
I love the two shot timers (though they are inconsistent, I pull 3 shots in a row, all the same 20g of the same beans with 5 sec of pre and the shot varied from 27.8s/40g, 27.3s/51g, & 27.1s/52g. I have to run some more tests to narrow down what is causing the weight diff, but the time diff make some pause on trusting it)
With all that, I LOVE this machine and it is the perfect machine for our household and the way we do coffee. I would without a doubt recommend it to anyone looking for this level of machine
The inconsistency in the shot output is likely due to the design of the volumetric programming. The flow meter comes BEFORE the OPV in the plumbing. So, if you hit the pressure ceiling of the OPV and it discharges water back into the reservoir, this water is included in the volumetric dose, even though it’s not in the output.
For this reason unless I’m perfectly dialed in I don’t use the programming most of the time. Agreed - great machine and I can’t wait to review the new version!
Without being in physics class(barely graduated😅) it's water going into your cup. That's the only answer.
Now why?
Something is measuring the dosage wrong on the machine. It's not you, your measurements. It's the machine.
two notes:
1. since 2022 the upgraded steam circuit is build in by default. I have been told it makes a huge difference, and it's possible to upgrade the older version. I think I will invest these extra bugs for the upgrade sooner or later.
2. There is a volumetric for the programmable espresso shots, which sound very nice in theory. BUT it's shitty design... the OPV behind the volumetric, so the water going back to the tank through the OPV is measured as well. Even perfect prepared baskets have different resistances. So the amount of water going through the OPV variate from shot to shot, and this results in an annoying variation of espresso volume from shot to shot. I don't know why these parts are build in this order, but it makes the volumetric obsolete, especially for light roasted specialty coffees. I and most people I talked to just set the program to a much higher water volume, control the espresso volume with a wage and stop by hand.
Machines in higher price segments don't even have a volumetric, but if you include a feature, do it right or just leave it...
That said, I still love this machine!
Sven! I love it when people have REALLY looked into a machine! 1. The upgraded models only landed in North America (where I am) AFTER my review video! 🙄 Once I get my hands on one I will be reviewing it and I agree - def worth the kk EY for the extra features you get!
2. This is exactly why I didn’t use the word “volumetric” in my video. It’s such a strange design. I was confused for a while about how they marketed it as volumetric but the lived experience seeeemmeed to say otherwise. It took some digging with the North American distributor before I actually figured out the nature of what was happening - but you nailed it.
Still, I agree with you. Fantastic machine!
They are also set to release the Steel Duo Plus which will have the steam lever on the side like the Baby T. Expected sometime in 2023.
@@erhan5945 You've got me curious about the Steel Duo Plus! The slow steaming is the only thing holding me back from a Duo
@@loganburleson933 I’m personally holding out for the release as well. Apparently will be available in Australia in ~3 months. So expect it would sooner in EU and US markets.
@sven it sounds like you had a look i side the machine.
Did it look like it would be possible to reroute the pipes/hoses to make the volumetric measurement sit after the OPV?
Thanks for this review! I've had my eyes on this machine for a year now. I'm saving up so I can get it soon. Never owned an Ascaso machine but my favourite coffee place has one and I love the quality of the shots and the esthetics of their machines.
Fun! Do you know what model they have?
Ascaso Duo Steel PID + Fiorenzato AllGround grinder is probably the best combo for me. Not cheap, but it worth it I think. Thanks for sharing.
It really is a fantastic combo
If you end up buying, use my code DADDYGOTCOFFEE at espressoparts and get 10% off both!
I went with the gaggia classic for my espresso machine since it was more in my price range. I have done the opv mod to it and it wasn’t to bad but I would have loved it it was just a simple screw adjustment. Also thinking about doing the pid to the machine. My thought when buying the gaggia classic was over time I could upgrade some parts as I get better at making espresso.
The Gaggia CP is a fantastic machine to get into the game. I’ve actually been thinking of getting one and doing some content around these mods to help others!
I did the OPV mod and also just installed a PID on my Gaggia Classic Pro. I’m really happy with it.
I need to think about upgrade from the ascaso dream pid to that beast. Navigating menu is sucky when the switch is hot. My dream has a two hour standby. Are you sure that machine doesn't have it? Not questioning your research just wondering
Yes! I can’t believe I missed that after using it for a year but it does have a standby and I dropped the correction in the description! 😂
@@DaddyGotCoffee oh ok. I love the standby because it warms up so quick. I don't need the upgrade but if I can sell my dream I'll take it 😂
is the brew time settable, or manual?
Both! There are programmable 1 and 2 coffee settings. Or you can run it manually
dude that is such a great review of a machine which should just win a design award. Srsly the thing solvedes problems we didnt even know we had! keep up the great work!
Thank you so much!
Bottomless portafilters are mesmerizing
Love the detail you go into on your review!
Thanks so much Tyler!!
Thank you for this video I will do some more research on this unit. I want to upgrade from my Breville express and have been down this rabbit hole. And I love the way this unit looks
No problem! Reach out with any questions and if you end up buying, make sure you use my code (DADDYGOTCOFFEE) for 10% off at Ascaso-USA.com
Happy to answer any questions about their line! Great machines and I agree, the looks are tops
I own this machine this exact spec (in black). Love the fast warm-up time. Just recommend getting yourself a 18+ gram basket, mine came with a 14g
Great point! Most of the time I use the 18g basket that came with the bottomless!
Hi, great review on the Ascaso! I was wondering if you could do a video on how you maintain the machine, ie cleaning, descaling etc
Yup! This is. Solid idea! I have a lot of videos on the list 😅 but I added this one!!
At first, great video. I Iike your style and you re explaining things great and easy to understand.
It's 1 year now I got my Ascaso Steal Duo PİD and I'm not regretting anything. It's such a good machine and I agree with nearly all of your arguments. There is one thing I would like to add. The drip tray is crafted not that good I think. I nearly cut my Fingers on the sharp corners that thing has 😖
Thank you so much! Interesting, what part of the drip tray did this? I’ve not had that issue
@@DaddyGotCoffee
I don't know how to call them, but those "walls" in the middle part of the tray are very sharp. Maybe it's an individual issue of my machine 🤷🏻♂️
But I have several questions about your espresso routine. How much pressure did you set on your machine, how much coffee do you use and so on. Maybe you already have a video about these questions. Sorry if it's so. I'm new to this channel 😅✌️
Thank you for the review. My wife and I are seriously considering this for our first machine.
It’s a great one! If you have questions on this or any other machine let me know! And if you do end up buying one of these, make sure you use my code for 10% off! They don’t go on sale very often!
Bruh, lovely content. I've been on a three-month journey for a suitable machine under 2k. The Silvia Pro X was tipping the scales until I saw this unit. Truly lovely design and features. Thank you for sharing.
Aw thanks! Yeah it's a great machine. The Pro X will have more steam power because of the boiler, but this has other pros, as mentioned in the vid:) Glad to help you discover it! If you end up buying use DADDYGOTCOFFEE at Ascaso-Usa.com for 10% off :)
@@DaddyGotCoffee thank you for the reminder! Will do.
Interesting, well made content.
Looking longer term on a new machine and will spend some more time on your channel as I research options.
We’ve used a lavazza espresso point for about 15 years and it’s been great, but it is now discontinued and repairs are harder to make.
Amazing! Welcome! I have several more espresso machine and grinder reviews in queue!
At the moment I'm considering that machine and your review very much answered many questions of mine!
Thanks
Amazing! I’m so glad! If you happen to be in the US and end up buying I have an affiliate code for 10% off from Ascaso-USA.com - use DADDYGOTCOFFEE!
Thermoblock machines also produce fresh water vs reheated water from a boiler. Fresh vs reheated. This to me is a huge selling point. Decent machines argue in favor of this feature and I tend to agree. I have a Barista Express and see this as a strength not a weakness in design. Having 2 thermoblocks is very cool. Heat exchange machines run second for fresher water IMO.
You know I really like this too. I think we’ll be seeing a lot more thermocoil machines in the future!
@@DaddyGotCoffee Really? Interesting times. Something to look out for. Ascaso is certainly all in with this technology. Cheers.
except Decent has to use two pumps and mix cold and hot water to get correct temperature. Ascaso is not doing that thus it's temperature will be unstable. This is why boilers are better.
@@petervansan1054 the Duo meets the +/- 0.5 C temp stability spec - I don’t have a scace but spoke to several who have scaced the duo before recording this during my fact checking. The decent system is even better, no question.
I love your plain talk review. I own a Breville Barista Express which I purchased three years ago. I'm looking at upgrading, but I can't justify $2,500 - $3,500. The PID, pre-infusion, and the adjustable OPV are my hot buttons. Seven seconds of Pre-infusion would be nice, but is that worth another $1,000. I wouldn't know anything about Ascaso, but for your review
Amazing! I really appreciate the kind words! Yes, this machine sits in a real sweet spot in terms of features/price - I agree! If you have any specific questions let me know! And if you are in the US and end up deciding this machine is for you, use my code DADDYGOTCOFFEE to save 10% at ascaso-USA.com 👊
@@DaddyGotCoffee I plan on buying using your code. It would appear it made in Spain which is great. I won’t buy any products made in China unless I have no choice (this was sent from my Apple iPhone - oh well)
@@josephteifer9714 it’s def made in Spain 🔥 If you have any other questions just reach out!
@@DaddyGotCoffee Excellent!!!!!
Justin!!!!!! Thank you so so so much! 💓 I felt the video was great with the pros and minor cons.
YESSS. Thank you!! It was fun to put together!
@@DaddyGotCoffee And you were very thorough without overwhelming the audience!
Thanks for the great review. I already put the new model in my cart but would like to see your review first lol.
If you're shopping at ascaso-usa.com make sure you use my code for 10% off! Hope you like it!
If I were to invest that amount in an espresso machine, I would definitely look at this beast ☕️
It’s a really fun unit to use. Thanks for watching bro!!
Most of these machines are great. Especially the ones with PID, OPV, volumetric dosing, etc. However, given the way things are going, I keep waiting for a pressure or flow control knob to control pre and post infusion. Something like the Quickmill Sunny but as an optional feature. Having this option programmable would be great too, but it is hard to come by unless you want to pay $3500 USD + like with the VBM Domobar Super Digital, Creme One Profiler etc. After enough sober second though a Flair 58 can out perform all of these machines, fresh water, unlimited custom control. If it wasn't for the issue of not having steam. Now we just need a stand alone Ascaso steamer.
Have you looked at the Bellman Stovetop steamer? It’s not electric but it’s a great pairing with manual espresso makers. And yes, once they get all that under a certain price it will be… a day 🤩🥳
@@DaddyGotCoffee I've never tried one but they look pretty good. I wonder how slow they are to get to pressure. I do really like how quick this machine and other thermoblocks reach brewing temperature, the more I look into it, maybe flow or pressure profiling is a bit gimmicky.I am sure that I would be very happy with the Ascaso Steel Duo with PID. Thanks for the great review.
@@jakevan1969 Bellman’s take about 10-15 minutes to get up to steaming pressure. Which isn’t a huge deal if your using a manual machine and you have to pre heat the machine. Sadly its pretty much a one and done steamer. You could maybe do two drinks if your working fast. After that though you’ve got to wipe it down quickly and wait for it to cool and pretty much start the whole process over again. It works and it works well once you learn how to position the pitcher but with quirks and some small down sides.
Also as a side note flow/pressure profiling isnt a gimmick. They affect your flavor/texture of your shot. They can help if you like lighter roasts that are hard to extract but, its not necessary to pull a good shot. If that were the case every cafe would have it. One main reason, is it does slow down your time to pull shots unless you have something like a Decent and even then you still are potentially pulling slower than the traditional 30 seconds. Its just a tool that could be used to make espresso, nice to have but not needed. The question you have to ask is, is it something you need or want and why? If yea and you have a good reason for why you must have that feature then save up for a machine that has it or add it to an e61.
@@greysuit17 I am tempted to buy a Bellman, thanks for the jnfo. As I understand it, pre-infusion helps prevent chanelling and likely increases extraction. Post-infusion or ramping down the pressure/flow at the end of the shot decreases puck erosion and adds contact time which also increases extraction. But, not everyone is brewing light roast expresso. Certainly, if you listen carefully to John Buckman, he says that he has designed the decent espresso machine to effectively brew light roast espresso and I have no doubt he has achieved that. I would love the opportunity to spend some time with a bag of hard to brew, relatively insoluble, light roasted coffee and a decent espresso machine and try some different profiles to see if I prefer one over another. Certainly, with my combination of the JX-Max and the Robot along with some very nice fresh medium roasted specialty coffee, I have brewed some mind blowing shots! With this set-up I have pre-infused at 2-3 bars for approx. 10 seconds, held the pressure at 8 bars to 20 grams on the scale, and then ramped down to 6 bars for the remainder of the shot, 20 grams in, approx. 38 to 45 out depending on the roast level and freshness of the beans. I think that a pressure/flow profiling machine would take the hobby to the next level, but for darker and medium roasts it might be a little over kill? I think that I am enthusiastic enough about the hobby to justify a machine that can manipulate the shot in this way. Now, do I save for a decent? 😄🤔
@@jakevan1969 it seems there’s only a few option’s really, the Decent, a good lever machine, a slayer single group, Lelit Bianca or an modded e61. Im in the same boat, and if I could afford it I’d get three machines, the Londinium, the Decent and a Faema. For the time being I’m just going to probably get the Rancilio Pro X.
I have a modded Rok espresso with the Bellman and Ive considered getting a cheap De’longhi just to steam. The Argos is potentially a cheap option for pressure profiling and steaming milk with the Bluetooth transducer. Ah the rabbit hole of coffee!
Great video. Would be really helpful if you could share your steps on cleaning this machine (back-flushing the group head, descaling, and cleaning the steam wand). The user manual is not very clear on this. I believe there is a "clean" mode but the instructions on how to use it are hard to follow.
I get this request semi often, I should really make a video on it. In short, I just use Urnex espresso machine cleaner, mic it up and run a ton of it through the machine. Steam, through the group, backflush, until the reservoir is basically empty. Then I run two or three reservoirs worth of clean water through it. I don’t use the clean mode
@@DaddyGotCoffee Thanks for the feedback. Sounds similar to a descaling process. Do you separately backflush the group head with the cleaner and a blind filter basket? Do you separately descale the machine using a descaling solution? Also, are you filtering the water in your reservoir, or does it come straight from the tap?
@@ivyguetta3775 I flush the grouphead before and after every shot, backflush about weekly, and make my own lightly mineralized water. I only backflush with cleaner when I am doing my 3 mos descale/clean
This certainly deserves to be in the conversation to be the first "real" machine. Added it to my wish list once I graduate from the entry level Breville touch (I am not too keen on the grinder functionality as I have a Sette 270wi).
Would you do a comparison against a Lelit Elizabeth please?!
I’ll put it on the list!
Thank you so much for this helpful video. I bought mine a month ago and love it. It would be awesome to get your recommendation on a cleaning schedule and what you use to make sure the machine stays in excellent condition. Any advice would be appreciated!
Glad it was helpful! I clean mine every 3 mos ☺️
Great review! Absolutely detailed. Would you be doing a review on the latest La Marzocco Linea Micra. It is really small and packed with good features. I think many audiences like us would love to see a great review by you. Thanks.
I’ll put this one on the short list and see if I can get my hands on one! Thank you!!
Cheers mate, great review, keep them coming silky smooth just like the shot.
Thank you so much! Cheers 😊 any specific requests lemme know!
How loud is the machine? Is the group heated? Does the portafilter get hot sitting in the group for extended periods of time?
The group is heated and the portafilter gets hot! And the machine is not super loud
Thanks for the info keep
Them coming
Loved this video!
Thank you!!!
Great review mate, I'm at the moment choosing this machine for Lelit Elizabeth. The Lelit has loads of features as well, but because my counter has limited space especially top wise, this would be a winner. For me, it counts on how to fill it up with water. This would be very easy from the side, the Lelit is very annoying. Always need compromising so I think I will go with the new edition of Ascaso duo, for doing 2 or 3 cups per day, will do it. Thank you!
I love that too and the baby t is the same - so easy to fill! Most of the time I don’t even pull the reservoir all the way out! If you’re buying in the US use my code (daddygotcoffee) at Ascaso-USA.com or espressoparts.com and save yourself 10%!
@@DaddyGotCoffee Will that code work in Canada?
@@ab-vk8xq unfortunately not, but I am working on a discount with Ascaso canada
Great review!
Thanks so much dude!!!!
Most comprehensive review I’ve seen on this machine. Does it have a low water warning?
The V1 actually doesn’t - I just got the V2 today so I’ll check that. For what it’s worth, running out of water is not a harmful to vibratory pumps as it is to rotary pumps
Looking at an upgrade to venture deeper into espresso. Our first machine was a brim 19bar. Looking at upgrading for sure. My other option is the Breville Dual Boiler.
I age my expresso beans for ~1 year in the fridge, grind them up in my magic bullet, then put them in a slow-drip coffee maker, then add 20% milk for a luke-warm expresso
Thanks for this review. I bought the Plus version of this machine recently to upgrade from my DeLonghi La Specialista Prestigio. It was over 3 times as expensive. It was faulty and shutting itself off every few seconds. I decided to return it as I was not happy with what I got for the money. The DeLonghi just looked better, the steam wand was little bit too short, my cup didn't fit with a scale, etc. Would I be even able to taste the difference for so much more money?
Anyways, I was wondering how you would compare let's say the new DeLonghi La Specialista Opera consumer machine with professional machines like Ascaso that you are used to. Is it really that better for 3 times the price? I think that would be an interesting video to watch.
Do you have any advice on the reliability, service repairs, or maintenance?
One of the things I love about these machines is they are 100% serviceable and you can get any part as a replacement part (including the thermocoil!) - that being said I haven’t had or heard of many reliability issues either.
Serviceability is a big deal and IMO it’s one of the biggest detractors of the breville line
Sorry if I missed it. But did you mentioned the price of this Espresso machine?
Yes, the v1 was 1625 US, the V2 is slightly more expensive at 1725 US. No problem at all! And my code in the description gets 10% off as well
Great review, thanks. I'm waiting for mine to be delivered. It is a replacement/upgrade to my Sage/Breville Barista Express. Will be paired with a new Niche Zero. I'm v excited, but I wonder where is the catch? This seems like too good looking a machine, with too many features for the price. I wonder if longevity and build quality will prove to be lacking. Hope not!
I’m almost two years in on this unit and it hasn’t needed a single repair! The thermocoils are high quality and less prone to scale buildup than boilers. Keep up with descaling and use hoof water and you should be good!
Thank you for that review 🙌🏼
You’re welcome!!
When will this be available for purchase in the USA, and who will be selling it.
It’s available right now from Ascaso-USA.com! Use DADDYGOTCOFFEE at checkout for 10% off, and just a note that the version 2 which was released just after I did this video requires 20a power ☺️
@@DaddyGotCoffee Thanks. Looks like a great machine, but current orders will not ship until at least April. Very discouraging.
Great video! I want! I'm looking to upgrade my Breville barista and this just might be the ticket, also aesthetics are important to me and this definitely fits that for me.
I’m with you! The aesthetics are best in class in my opinion!
Like the review! Im upgrading from a Gaggia Classic. Do you think the plus ids worth the extra money?
Excellent review. My concern with thermoblocks is hard water and the challenge of scaling.
I’ll be the first to say that good water is important, but also - thermoblocks are better in this regard than boilers because the water isn’t kept hot for extended periods. 👀 I still descale thermoblock machines regularly just because… but this is a plus for thermoblocks rather than a detractor in my view!
Ymmv. Historically thermoblocks have been more problematic because of how they’re constructed and what metal is used vs a conventional boiler over the long haul. Thermocoils make sense for steaming. It’s a bit like debating which is more environmentally friendly, something that uses less energy or something less efficient that can be repaired and has a 20 year life expectancy. Regardless, a thorough and well done review. Kudos.
@@olbucky9413 Oh, does the thermoblock/coil have a shorter life expectancy than boilers? I was looking into this as a "buy it for life" machine...
@@eobet imo yes…it will have a shorter lifespan than boilers which usually are fairly easy to source elements for in the event of failure.
I see your fiorenzato allground!! I just got mine for my ECM classika
Yesss!!
Glad you mentioned and discussed the difference between the coils and the boilers. Props for that. Ascaso tech on their coils is top notch.
Things I wish I had with my DUO: Modify the coffee brew programs time via the settings menu, instead of holding the button to do so.
There’s definitely a stigma around thermocoils because bad ones get put in cheap machines. Ascasos tech is impressive in this area.
Is this Thermocoil different to the one used on the Breville Barista Touch? I find that my shots can vary wildly even if I keep the other variables consistent.
Hello! I purchased the tamper to use on my new Ascaso (big shoutout to you, everything I purchsed was from your videos), but it's a bit wider so it actually didn't fit. Did I do something wrong? Thank you!
Is use a “triple” basket that came with my Ascaso bottomless. Let me make sure the tamper fits with the single and double baskets that come with the duo
Energy efficiency benefits aside, how does this unit compare to Breville/Sage dual boiler? I love the Baby T but that is an extravagant purchase. am looking for a machine that has a more upscale fit, finish and tactile experience over my super competent but appliance-like Breville DB.
One thing that I really do not love about the dual boiler at the price that it is is serviceability. They are basically not serviceable at all whereas the duo is completely serviceable, even the thermocoils can be replaced, although I have never heard of one going. Steam wise, the dual boiler will have a little more punch and steam a little faster. One nice thing about a thermocoil v boiler is there is no recovery time with a thermocoil. As long as there is water in the reservoir you can pull or steam basically forever, because the plumbing is designed to always heat up the water from room temp by the time is gets where it’s going. Similarly, it’s always fresh water and never reheated water from a boiler.
I’ve watched your video several times…yeah, it’s that good! One question: How does the white model hold up. The machine I’m replacing occasionally sprays coffee and I’m wondering if the white finish stains at all. Any issues with the color?
I clean mine fairly regularly and it has not stained at all. Sometimes I’ll forget for a few days and still no issue! I definitely shows though before you clean it worse than black for example!
I have a Rancilio Silvia Pro X that needs to be replaced. Considering this model. Think it’s a good option for something coming from the Silvia?
You’ll notice a reduction in steam power moving from a boiler to a thermocoil, but Ascaso did juice up the V2 for extra power compared against their V1 (that came with the tradeoff of 20a power requirement though). Preinfusion is similar, the duo will edge out the Silvia on warm up time and overall efficiency. Also, the duo has a more easily adjustable OPV and also volumetric programming, and it’s a lot cheaper. I’m not sure if that’s helpful but those are the main differences! ☺️
Just unboxed my Ascaso Steel Duo this weekend! Thanks for the review OP!!! With the water spout, has anyone noticed it takes some time for the pump to flush air out of the system, before you get a constant stream? Like 5-10 seconds?
I would say 5ish seconds is normal
Great review and a beautiful machine on your bar. How loud is that vibratory pump though? I'm currently on a Breville Barista Express (6 years+) and to me that pump is really loud. If I'm going to upgrade my biggest concern is noise. Thank you so much! 🙏
I have just bought this machine. Can you tell me a tamper you'd recommend and which scales?
Hi Justin, Thanks for your interesting review. Question: the steam thermoblock, does it have its own pump, or is it sharing pump with brewhead? Have you experienced vibration noise from the sidewalls of the housing? Thanks in advance, br Jens
Hey Jens! The steam thermoblock has its own pump. And, there’s some vibration but in my unit it’s from the pump rather than the housing. I have seen the odd report of that though!
Rancilio silvia 1:09 is price 830$ ???
Where ? What's number of model
This price was from Seattle Coffee Gear! It looks like there has been a slight increase since I recorded up to 869
Which Basket are you using?
I just use the triple basket that came with the Ascaso bottomless portafilter. One day I’ll get a VST!
Great review! Thanks! At the end I would’ve love to hear the sound of the machine instead of the music. How loud is the machine? Also, what was the input and output of your espresso shot. And lastly, what kind of coffee did you use?
This is a great suggestion and something I’ll keep in mind for future reviews! I really should get a db meter and measure the sound level. If you DM me on my Instagram and ask for a clip I can send you one! I usually do 18in 36 out over 20-25ish seconds. This coffee was Pilot Coffee Heritage - which is basically what we use as a “house blend”. If you want to try Pilot, “daddygotcoffee” gets you free North American shipping with 2 or more bags!
@@DaddyGotCoffee awesome! Thanks so much for the response! Thanks for the code as well!
Can you pull a shot manually rather than using the volumetric setting?
This is how I use the machine a lot of the time. You just hold the switch down on “1 Coffee” or “2 Coffee” and it will run until you release the switch. This is technically “program” mode and the machine will remember that setting on whatever switch you held. But you can definitely run it like that every shot
Thanks, good sales job man! Do you think there might be a Black Friday deal this year (2023)?
It’s definitely worth waiting 2 weeks to check - I’m not sure though!
Hello, now when you have Baby T model, what do you think about Ascaso Steel steam power and performance? is this really all about the speed only or you do see significant difference for milk frothing on Baby T? Thanks!
Steaming on the baby T is insanely fast compared to the duo, I can steam a drink in 10-15 seconds, whereas on the duo I steam the same drink in 45-50 seconds. The flip side is that with the speed comes a steeper learning curve - because it’s so fast it’s also easier to get wrong. The T has other features that the Duo doesn’t, extra programmability, rotary pump, ability to plumb it, app etc. Hit me up if you have any specific questions about those!
Also, if you end up buying anything from the Ascaso line make sure you use my code DADDYGOTCOFFEE at Ascaso-USA.com or espresso parts to save 10%.
Hit me up any time!
@@DaddyGotCoffee Thanks but I'm not from US. Btw. I also want to ask about preinfusion on Steel Duo. How the pressure gague behaives? Let say for 5s preinfusion, is the presure on low level for 5s? How is then the jump looking like? gradually or rather quick jump of pressure? Feel free to make a shots on that but I'll appreciate your comment :)
Great review! Can't wait till you get your hands on the V2 and see how it stacks up. My questions are
1. How loud (annoying) is the vibratory pump and does it make the pumping noise when using steam?
2. I don't want to get into a cycle of upgrading all the time and was thinking of skipping this class of machine and going straight into a dual boiler, rotary pump machine but what are your thoughts? Could this machine last someone a while without having to upgrade?
Keep up the great content!
Great review. Is ascaso reliable? How often do they break down? Are they easy to fix?
Hey there! I'm just about to release my review of the V2 Duo and I cover this a bit. I don't see a lot of the reliability issues with these machines and they are fully serviceable - even the thermoblocks can be replaced. That being said, as ascaso has scaled up their production, I have seen the occasional report of a machine throwing an error code on delivery. I am hopeful that Ascaso is able to minimize these issues as they continue to scale. That being said, if they are good on delivery they tend to not break down or experience other issues later. Do a quick search on Reddit and you'll see the odd user with an issue like this.
@@DaddyGotCoffeeWoaa I went to Reddit to read about it because I was seriously thinking to buy it but now it pull me back, the QC it has to be more flawless at this price point
@@Isilrrond it’s a fair concern. They went through a period where there seemed to be more slipping through. I see it less now but I’d still like to see a longer track record. Hopefully it was a blip
@@DaddyGotCoffeeI fell on the rabbit hole with the espresso machine and my intention was getting a different type of machine and I tough this one could be fun and reliable to experiment but I think I will pull the trigger with the Stone machine now, less programmability and functions but better QC I suppose
@@DaddyGotCoffee Just ordered one. Thaks for the reply.
Hey, I love that you've showed the internals. Great to see they don't use plastic connectors inside (no microplastic). Would you mind telling if the plastic bit on the milk foamer tube connects two tubes or wraps one? Cause the steam gets hot and it's great for it not to pass through plastic too.
Great question - It does wrap around one tube, however, there is a plastic insert inside the steam tube itself (this is what makes it a no-burn wand). I am not sure if the insert could be removed or not.
@@DaddyGotCoffeethanks, I've also sent the question to their customer support, will see how responsive they are. Other than that the machine seems to be the best in the price range.
What king of grinder you recommend to pair the with the ascaso duo?
Is the machine the temperature stable from then it communicates it is warmed up? has anybody done a scase test? how many bars will the machine do under preinfusion? Does it make a difference with the 5 seconds compared to a normal vibratory pump ramp-up time?
I haven’t done a scace but know people who have. If you want advertised stability you need to wait until the whole machine is fully heated (portafilter included), not just when the PID is at temp after 90 seconds. How many bars is dependent upon the OPV setting, I usually set my OPV to 11 bar and manage my grind to pull at 9. And yes, the preinfusion shortens the vibratory ramp up during the main pull.
Hey, I found both the lelit bianca v3 and this machine in very similar prices, which machine would you suggest?
Crazy! Where are you located? Where I am there is a big difference in pricing between the Bianca (3199) and Duo V2 (1725).
I currently have a Breville Barista Express, obviously doesn't look as nice and lacking in other ways. Does the steam pressure on this beat something like that or about the same or weaker?
This is definitely a big step up in power from the barista express
Love this !!! I wish there was more content online about this machine. I know different beans, pressure and grind size changes things. But could you share your grind size on the Niche, Bean , Pressure and pour time. I just got my Duo and having a hard time dialing it in. Thanks a bunch !!
For sure! A slight disclaimer here - I’m using a “triple” basket that comes with the bottomless while the duo only comes with a double. I usually keep my OPV set for 11 bar but manage my puck prep/grind so that the actual pressure at group tops out at 9. I usually use an 18g dose in the triple, run a 5 second preinfusion, 3 second pause then main pull. I usually hold the switch down and kill it manually when it hits my target weight. For timing, I time from first drip on my acaia lunar and shoot for 20-30 seconds from when the timer activates (first drip). Depending on the bean I can be anywhere from 8 (decaf) to 26 on the niche. that could really change depending on how your grinder is calibrated.
So overall that is probably not at all helpful but feel free to dm me on Instagram! 😂
@@DaddyGotCoffee Dude thanks so much for the taking the time I really appreciate it . I also used your code when buying the machine !!!
@@TylerCordaro you’re going to love it! Don’t be shy to dm me on Instagram or comment here if you have questions when you get it! 🙌🔥
next time. just got the touch impress. which is great. in Australia the ascao cost $3000. then you need a grinder. i do like the sound of them though.
Do you know when the new Steel Duo "Plus" will be available for purchase?
Are you referring to the V2 with upgraded steam or the new version revealed at WOC Athens? (I’m not sure what that version is called yet but I did hear it will be EU only for the near future)
in order to preheat the portafilter do i have to flush some water or like the boiler style machines the grouphead heats the portafilter?
The group head gets it piping hot! You can flush if you want but I usually just leave it in the group. It heats up way faster than a boiler.
Hi! Love your videos. I am deciding between this machine and the AnZa. Do you have a preference? Also, between the Niche grinder or the Eureka Mignon Specialita Espresso grinder?
I'll rather recommend this Ascaso brand. It's very decent and effective.
Got mine recently also
What material does the water touch?
Are you using 5 seconds of pre-infusion and 5 seconds of waiting before ramping up the pressure? I am not quite sure on how to setup my pre-infusion on it! Also, did you adjust OPV to 9 bars maximum? Thanks for the review!
Great question! I have the non-upgraded steam model and on that one you can’t actually adjust the pause after preinfusion - I’m still waiting for my upgraded steam model but I think on that you can adjust both the preinfusion and pause time.
On mine, the preinfusion is set to 5 sec and the pause is a static 3 seconds.
On the OPV, I initially set it to 9 to orient myself but have since set it back to 11 and adjust my grind so that it tops out around 9bar without any compensation needed by the OPV. This is a better setup and the way the machine is meant to be run but it’s also a little trickier in the beginning.
Any follow up questions just lemme know!
@@DaddyGotCoffee Thanks for your answer! I initially tried 9 bars but the machine showed around 8 pulling a shot! I have set it back so when my shot is pulled, i get around 9 bars and the shot is around 22sec on the glass! Its a tricky machine to set, i find that my puck have a lot of water in it :) thanks for the help!! :)
@@pascallampron2374 yeah depending on the coffee there may be some water on your puck, not a huge deal! ☺️
Great video. I would rather have a Ascaso Steel DUO than a Breville. First off, it's gorgeous. It's luxurious, minimal, ergonomic. Kudos to the design team. Thermoblock water heaters are the future. The hot water spout is useful for many things. Vibration pumps can sound awful so it would've been nice to hear this pump in operation. A couple of things I would like to see. 1) Ascaso should make a boroscillicate glass or ceramic water reservoir. Plastic water reservoirs, even "food grade plastic" uses chemical softeners which leach into the water. Ascaso could offer a glass or ceramic reservoir upgrade as an accessory. 2) Allow pre-infusion up to 15 seconds. If I were not looking to purchase an Olympia Cremina and if the Ascaso Steel DUO used a rotary pump I would consider it over a La Marzocco Linea Mini. This is high praise for Ascaso.
I totally agree! I’ve had several thermocoil detractors on here and I really do not get it. I will pass along that feedback on the glass and have already done so about the preinfusion!
@@DaddyGotCoffee It's people like you who change the industry for the better. Stay awesome!
Nice review! I just subscribed I dig the channel!
Yay! Welcome! Any content requests hit me!
Great review! Thank you.
Amazing! Thank you!!!
Great video, I am a newbie who is still learning, I have a Breville Bambino Plus, is this too much of an upgrade at my level? Thanks for the pre infusion tip.
The bambino is a great starter!! Depending on what you are grinding with I would definitely upgrade that first. The duo would jump you up a couple tiers while still being approachable but if your grinder isn’t up to par then it might not be worthwhile ☺️
@@DaddyGotCoffee thanks, I have the mignon speciality grinder. Could you recommend another expresso machine better than the bambino plus, but a little less expensive than the duo.
Yo! Question. What bottomless portafilter can you recommend?
I use the Ascaso one but it is very expensive and can difficult to find stock. Any 58mm portafilter should fit!
@@DaddyGotCoffee found it. Yeah it’s pricey but I assume those things last a lifetime. Thanks so much. Also love your videos. Super well done and informative.
@@etc115 I really appreciate the encouragement! I put a lot of effort into my vids and content - when someone comments on that it’s always wind in my sails! ⛵️
@@etc115 also - if you’re us based and buy from Ascaso-USA.com make sure you use DADDYGOTCOFFEE for 10% off 🔥👊
Looking for a machine for an upcoming coffee cart/bar I’m opening. I’m deciding between the rocket r58 cinquantotto, and the Ascaso baby t plus. Is the Ascaso worth the extra $2.5k???
To be totally up front, I've never used the R58. I can say a couple things about the Baby T Plus that you should look at. The espresso group runs off of their "T Tech" which is basically an actively heated group/thermocoil. It heats up SUPER fast (like, less than 5 min). This type of setup also has the advantage of there being no recovery time on the espresso group when fresh water is drawn (like there would be on a boiler) because it is heated on-demand. Also, I have spoken with many people who have used the T and everyone agrees that the power of the steam boiler is insane and rivals even some fully commercial units. I can steam a cappuccino in less than 15 seconds. 4 programmable espresso settings (with individual preinfusions) and a manual option are really nice. They actually market it as a great solution for pop-ups and carts and I agree.
I do have a review coming but its not gonna be next week. Happy for any follow up questions about it! And... my 10% off at ascaso-usa.com and espressoparts.com works on the T too..... 👀👀 (DADDYGOTCOFFEE).
Hit me back any time!
What brand is the dual layered glass cup you’re drinking the espresso from?
That’s a Kruve Propel glass!
Hi! I’m coming from a breville barista touch. Would this be decent for a pop up cart business? Was looking at the baby t plus as well as the lucca a53.
Did you ever find a machine for your cart
Does anyone know if you can add an aftermarket steam lever to the V1? I bought a V1 from a website but the photo was for a V2. I’m wondering if I can just upgrade that part or should I just return it?
You can add the steam knob via a kit from Ascaso. I don’t believe the steam lever kits are available yet
Where can one buy it outside the USA? I see the company is from Barcelona, but their website doesn't include sales. So... is there a way to buy the machine if one is outside the US and Europe?
Yes! Distribution and sales are done by country, I would search on Google “Ascaso retailer (your country)” and it should pop up!
When is the steam boost coming out?
It’s out now! I’m currently working on a review for it. I’m not sure you can find any more V1s for sale
You have the original Ascaso stainless steel bottomless portafilter. I have a chrome one from ECM. In theory stainless steel takes longer to heat up because of its higher heat capacity, but it also keeps that heat better. Do you have experience on that? I‘ve also observed different grind settings for the chrome bottomless and the stainless double spout with the same basket. I can’t switch easily because of that. This drives me crazy when I want do split a shot.
In my experience a bottomless doesn’t have much impact on the thermal stability because the only part contacting the espresso basket is the bead around the rim. Especially when comparing two bottomless portafilter materials, any impact on a shot is going to be very negligible.
As far as different grind settings when using the same basket on spouted vs basket, I’m not sure what would be causing that but it shouldn’t be the case - interesting!
@@DaddyGotCoffee I totally agree, different grind settings don't make sense. I will keep an eye on this.
Is that Steam upgrade going to require a 20amp setup, though?
Yes, it does. It CAN run on 15 amp using an adapter, although the steam power goes down. I’ve only heard this third hand through another youtuber but have not tested it myself