Ascaso Steel Duo PID review
Jan 24, 2023
Did you know that Ascaso is a Spanish brand? They have been manufacturing popular espresso machines in Europa, including Dream, Baby, and Ascaso Steel Duo PID for quite some time. Let's explore what makes Duo PID unique and why this system with two thermoblocks gets so much attention.
The Appearance of Steel Duo PID
A similar espresso machine with a thermoblock-based system is the Ascaso Steel PID. Most people imagine small espresso machines when they think of a thermoblock-driven machine, but not this one. The Steel Duo PID is made of premium materials and weighs a hefty 15 kg! The current model has a sleek white-painted steel finish or a matte black steel finish and is adorned with shiny steel parts, including the drip tray cover, cup holder, non-burn steam wand, and brew group. For power, volumetric brewing, hot water, and steam, it has 4 switches.
Additionally, there is a two-digit digital display with white numbers showing the current temperature (at the brew head). We really like the white numbers as they fit well with the overall design. You can see a pressure gauge with the Ascaso logo at the top left. The Ascaso logo can be seen in the middle of the front panel and on the brew group itself.
This Ascaso appears to lean when viewed from the side. It is a bit strange that the cup holder tilts backward. Despite this, when it makes sense, I always love the aesthetics of a vertical or, in this case, horizontal tilt. But in this case, I am not so sure. During an extraction, the cups shake and vibrate in a backward motion. Later, more About it.
The portafilter has a beautiful wooden handle and is sturdy and elegant. It fits comfortably in the hand and is nice to use thanks to the dual spout. Just make sure the machine is fully warmed up so that the portafilter is also at operating temperature (we recommend at least 30 minutes).
Turn it on, please! Another feature of this machine that we really like is that it has two LED lights built into the buttons so you can see what you're doing. We wish more machines had similar features, as being able to see how to lock in the portafilter and observe how your espresso is made simply makes using the machine easier and more enjoyable.
Features and Specifications
We believe the reason this system gets so much attention is due to all the features it has. It has a working cup warmer that heats up quickly. For proper milk frothing and reliable espresso extractions, it has two separate PID-controlled thermoblocks. The fact that it measures the brewing temperature at the brew unit itself rather than at the boiler or thermoblock, which will have a higher temperature, may be the most important factor. A steam wand that self-cleans and does not burn itself is another convenience feature of the Ascaso Steel Duo Pro. Additionally, this device includes volumetric dosing, which is fantastic!
The smart drip tray should be mentioned as a final component. It has fins so that when a full tray is pulled out, no dirty water vapors are produced. Nicely done!
Boiler, Thermojet, and Thermocoil
Remember that this machine uses "thermocoils", which in our opinion are much better than the "thermojets" used in cheaper machines. Just take a look at the Decent DE1, which is also designed with thermocoils. They cost more because they are more temperature-stable than their cheaper competitors. Additionally, they heat up significantly faster, consume less energy, and can steam milk indefinitely compared to a traditional boiler machine. Finally, the water remains fresher since it doesn't have a chance to mature in a boiler reservoir.
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 1: Size: 270mm x 360mm x 315mm
- Two powerful LED lights
- Maximum power consumption of 2068 watts
- 2-liter water tank
- Weight: 15 kg
- Stainless steel steam wand with automatic cleaning
- 58 mm portafilter in stainless steel
- Easily adjustable OPV (without opening the machine)
- Active cup warmer
- Dual PID circuits
- Volumetric dosing
Is it environmentally friendly?
When spending 15-20 thousand kronor, the partner acceptance factor is, of course, very important. The machine must work flawlessly and it must look good. Ideally, it should also be on the quieter side, and it should offer good ergonomics. In this aspect, Ascaso Steel Duo PID is very environmentally friendly.
How good is the espresso and steaming quality?
Steel Duo PID really makes excellent espresso. But not without a caveat. We think that even if About thermoblocks heat up quickly, the portafilter does not. When the portafilter is preheated, there are no obstacles to making amazing, flowing, and flavorful espresso.
What sets this machine apart from others is the simple handling of variables. The PID temperature at the brew group can be adjusted from the main menu, and the pressure can be adjusted with the help of an adjustment screw on the lower front of the machine. Excellent! Want to adjust the pre-infusion? No problem! The pre-infusion can be adjusted from 0 to 5 seconds from the settings menu.
We would say that the only variable that this machine lacks is the ability to adjust the pressure on the fly, with flow control, like a lever machine or with a flow profiling kit for Profitec espresso machines.
The advantage of a machine with dual boiler or dual thermoblocks is that you can make espresso and steam at the same time, of course. Ascaso is more than capable of doing that. The steam wand in Steel Duo PID is wide, as it is boilerless, and it has a bulb-shaped tip.
3 coffee grinders that match the Steel Duo PID
Here are some recommendations for coffee grinders that fit Ascaso Steel Duo PID!
Eureka Mignon Specialita
If you're looking for a sleek coffee grinder with Italian design that grinds high quality, then the Mignon Specialita is perfect for you.
Ascaso i-Steel Coffee Grinder
Are you looking for a grinder that can do it all? The I-STEEL Grinder line is a perfect fit.
Macap M2M R Coffee Grinder
M2M R Black is a small but solid coffee grinder from Macap in chrome metal. Micrometric adjustment of grind size allows for precise Grind.
