The Ascaso Baby T Plus is the top model in the espresso machine fleet of the Spanish company Ascaso. The thermoblock features an extra boiler for steam production and delivers water pre-heated via a heat exchanger. With the Ascaso Baby T Plus, Ascaso aims to solve all the challenges of espresso preparation and place a modern and energy-efficient espresso machine right in the field of Italian stainless steel premium machines. And what can we say? While the first version of the machine had many teething problems last year, the latest machine is firmly on the success track.
The Baby T costs around 4,500 Swiss francs in Switzerland and around 4,300 euros in the eurozone. Attention: there are still many old models on the market that cost less and differ from the new model. This is evident, among other things, in the drip tray and the water tank.
The 40 kg heavy espresso machine with rotary pump and the option to be connected to mains water is 35 cm wide, 43 cm deep and 45 cm high. It has a correspondingly large cup rest platform and is supplied in white, green, black, red, blue, yellow, or polished.
This article was completely revised after we were able to test the new version of the Ascaso Baby T Plus in autumn 2022. The original article was titled: Crash on the Innovation Track.
Buy Ascaso Baby T Plus
The following specialist retailers sell the Ascaso Baby T Plus and we can recommend purchasing a machine from these businesses. They all offer to re-adjust the machine's offset.
Germany: [Partner links] Stoll Espresso, Craft Coffee Gear, Bohnendealer, Lücke,
Austria:[Partner link] Bohnendealer
We search for specialist partners for you from whom we know they provide good work and good service. We are in close contact with the dealers. These are affiliate links. If you order through this link, it won't cost you more, but we receive a small commission that we invest in new test equipment. We are continuing to work on this and are looking for competent partners for you in the DACH region.
Two Technology Worlds in One Espresso Machine
Ascaso demonstrated with the Steel Duo PID what temperature stability is possible with espresso machines using thermoblock technology. Over time and from shot to shot, this espresso machine delivers outstanding precision. This is combined with the further advantages of low power consumption, only one-third compared to dual boiler espresso machines. The heat-up time of under 5 minutes is another pro-argument for thermoblock technology. However, the Ascaso Steel Duo PID has a weakness. The thermoblock responsible for steam does not deliver the same foaming power as espresso machines with boilers in the same price range.
With the Baby T Plus, Ascaso wants to address exactly this area for improvement and equips the Baby T Plus with a 2.5 liter stainless steel steam boiler. And this approach works: the Ascaso Baby T Plus has reached the level of industry leaders like GS3 or Victoria Arduino Prima in terms of steaming performance.
However, it should be noted here: even in the thermoblock world, solutions would have been available, as not only a Decent espresso machine but also the much more affordable models from Sage like the Bambino Plus demonstrate with a Thermojet thick-film heater. And Ascaso itself has an answer to this with the Duo PID. However, we agree: with the boiler, the machine is suitable for small gastronomy use, which we tested at the Swiss Coffee Festival.
The Boiler-Thermoblock Functional Principle
The brewing water travels from the tank via the heat exchanger in the steam boiler, flows from there into the thermoblock to reach the set brewing temperature. What appears sensible at first glance and has been successfully implemented in other espresso machines with boilers, limited performance in the first version of the machine. Indeed, we had our main criticism focused on this at the time. With the new version and adjusted controls, the picture looks different.
Our summary of problems with the first models of the Baby T Plus:
- On the one hand, it was communicated that the Ascaso Baby T Plus works only with a thermoblock, which we could not confirm.
- On the other hand, we missed the wonderfully fast heat-up performance of the thermoblock that we know from other Ascaso models.
Both difficulties are closely interconnected.
The main problem was that the thermoblock alone, in combination with the speed of the Baby T Plus's rotary pump, could not generate enough temperature to bring the brewing water to the target temperature.
As a result, we had to wait for the boiler to heat up before the Baby T Plus was ready to use. And there was no way to do without the boiler, for example to reduce power consumption, as the desired brewing temperature could not be reached at all. The possibility of doing exactly that when no milk is to be frothed was announced back then.
What Does the Ascaso Baby T Plus Update Bring?
It makes everything better. The thermoblock is now nearly at temperature after five minutes, as we know from the best thermoblocks. Our measurement curves indicate that the desired temperature range is reached with the third shot. If you prefer it faster, you can also rinse some water through the portafilter to heat it. If you don't want to do that, wait 8 - 10 minutes and the Ascaso Baby T Plus performs in the ideal and set temperature range.
During the shot itself, the machine tends to overshoot slightly at the beginning and aim up to half a degree above the target temperature. That would be something we would like Ascaso to address in the next control system upgrade.
Ascaso has also adjusted its communication. Yes, the boiler can still be turned off, but this is not recommended. While the machine can now reach the desired temperature range with a small trick even with the boiler off, it loses 3 - 4 degrees during brewing when using only the thermoblock (see the chart for the "Without Boiler" shot in light blue). This is acceptable for some beans and certainly a viable option if the boiler ever fails, for example. But it is not an optimal operating mode for an espresso machine that actually has a strength in achieving precise brewing temperatures. We achieved the curve by adjusting the brewing temperature from 93 to 96 degrees.
Great Espresso with the Ascaso Baby T Plus
We drank many excellent espressos with the Ascaso Baby T Plus, commensurate with its good brewing temperature and overall performance. Even under high frequency at the Swiss Coffee Festival, the machine was very enjoyable for us. However, even with the new model, Michel replaced the baskets with a 24.5 IMS basket.
Build Quality of the Ascaso Baby T Plus
The Ascaso Baby T is a very beautiful espresso machine. Not only does the wood-grain finish on the portafilter handle and the milk frother lever look stylish. The entire machine looks very high-quality and the body is impeccably finished.
The drip tray was also improved in the new version. It can now be moved far forward and then lifted straight out. With the old model, the drip tray had to be tilted within the machine, which meant the drip tray could barely be filled one-third full. That was a mess! Now it's proper, although drip trays for espresso machines of this size could certainly have more volume. However, the machine can be connected to either a drain or mains water.
What is now supplied: a tamper that deserves its name and matches the beautiful wood-grain look of the Ascaso Baby T Plus nicely.
A blind button next to the functional buttons is probably a cost compromise. This appears to have been taken from another machine with a heated portafilter holder. For the Ascaso Baby T Plus, the drawing is there, but the button is not. Sorry, but on a machine of around €4,000, that seems inappropriate to us. The buttons for a barista light on the front and an option to activate the cup warmer are present.
Conclusion and Potential
The Ascaso Baby T Plus now delivers in the new version what we had hoped for. It not only makes excellent espresso, but also plays to the strengths of both boiler and thermoblock.
The 2.5 liter boiler gives the machine excellent steam performance, with which it doesn't have to hide behind any other espresso machine. Pressure doesn't drop even during continuous frothing, making the machine an interesting choice for gastronomy or espresso catering.
The thermoblock heats up quickly and now also receives enough energy to deliver its enormous advantage over boiler machines. Just five minutes after startup, the machine can reach its brewing temperature. The Ascaso Baby T Plus is thus significantly faster at reaching brewing temperature than all other high-end espresso machines, such as the Linea Mini or GS3 from La Marzocco, the Victoria Arduino Eagle One Prima, and all other dual boiler espresso machines.
Overall: a great espresso machine that we particularly see for use under high frequency and in small gastronomy settings or with discerning home baristas. If you're still undecided, you'll find more comparison models in our espresso machine overview. And don't forget: the grinder is ultimately at least as important as the machine for espresso, our comprehensive grinder comparison helps with the choice. The Ascaso Baby T Plus makes real fun!
