The Ascaso Baby T Plus is the top model in the espresso machine fleet of the Spanish company Ascaso. The thermoblock uses an extra boiler for steam production and preheats the water via a heat exchanger. With the Ascaso Baby T Plus, Ascaso attempts to solve all challenges of espresso preparation and position a modern and energy-efficient espresso machine squarely among the Italian stainless steel premium machines. And what can we say? While the first version of the machine last year still had many teething problems, the newest machine is now fully on track for success.
In Switzerland, the Baby T costs around 4500 Swiss Francs, and in the Eurozone, around 4300 Euros. Please note: there are still many older models on the market that cost less and differ from the new model. This can be seen, among other things, in the drip tray and the water tank.
The 40 kg espresso machine with a rotary pump and the option to be connected to a fixed water supply is 35 cm wide, 43 cm deep, and 45 cm high. It has a generously sized cup warming area and is available in white, green, black, red, blue, yellow, or polished finishes.
This article has been 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 recommend purchasing a machine from them. They all offer to adjust the offset of the machine.
Germany: [Partnerlinks] Stoll Espresso, Craft Coffee Gear, Bohnendealer, Lücke,
Austria:[Partnerlink] Bohnendealer
We are looking for specialist partners for you that we know provide good work and good service. We are in close contact with the retailers. These are affiliate links. If you order via this link, it won't cost you more, but we receive a small commission that we invest in new test equipment. We are still working on it and are looking for competent partners for you in the DACH region.
Two Technology Worlds in One Espresso Machine
With the Steel Duo PID, Ascaso demonstrated what temperature consistency is possible with thermoblock espresso machines. Over time and from shot to shot, this espresso machine delivers outstanding precision. Added to this are the further advantages of low power consumption, only a third compared to heat exchanger 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 frothing power as espresso machines with boilers in the same price range.
With the Baby T Plus, Ascaso aims to address precisely this improvement opportunity 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 frothing performance.
It should be noted here, however: solutions would also have been available in the thermoblock world, as not only a Decent espresso machine but also the much cheaper Sage models like the Bambino Plus with a Thermojet thin-film heater show. And Ascaso itself certainly has an answer with the Duo PID. However, we agree: with the boiler, the machine is suitable for small-scale commercial use, which we tried out at the Swiss Coffee Festival.
The Functional Principle: Boiler-Thermoblock
The brew water travels from the tank through the heat exchanger in the steam boiler, then flows into the thermoblock to reach the set brewing temperature. What seems sensible at first glance, and is successfully implemented in other espresso machines with boilers, limited the performance in the first version of the machine. In fact, our main criticism at the time focused precisely on this. With the new version and an adapted control system, the world looks different.
Our problem with the first models of the Baby T Plus summarized:
- On the one hand, it was communicated that the Ascaso Baby T Plus also works with only the thermoblock, which we could not confirm.
- On the other hand, we missed the wonderfully fast heat-up performance of the thermoblock, which we know from other Ascaso models.
Both difficulties are closely related.
The main problem was that the thermoblock alone, in conjunction with the speed of the Baby T Plus's rotary pump, could not generate enough temperature to bring the brew water to the target temperature.
As a result, we had to wait for the boiler to heat up until the Baby T Plus was ready for use. And foregoing the boiler, e.g., to reduce power consumption, was out of the question, as the desired brewing temperature was not reached at all. The possibility of doing precisely that when no milk needed to be frothed was announced at the time.
What does the Ascaso Baby T Plus update bring?
It makes everything better. The thermoblock is now almost at temperature after just 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 want it faster, you can also flush some water through the portafilter to heat it up. 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 slightly overshoot at the beginning, aiming up to half a degree above the target temperature. That would be something we would like to see from Ascaso for the next control system upgrade.
Ascaso has also adjusted its communication. Yes, the boiler can still be switched off, but this is not recommended. While the machine now reaches the desired temperature range with a small trick, it loses 3-4 degrees during brewing when only the thermoblock is used (see graph "Without Boiler" in light blue). This is fine for some beans and certainly a viable option if, for example, the boiler breaks down. However, it is not an optimal application for an espresso machine that actually excels at achieving a precise brewing temperature. We reached the curve by setting the brewing temperature from 93 to 96 degrees.
Good Espresso with the Ascaso Baby T Plus
We drank many good espressos with the Ascaso Baby T Plus, in line with its excellent brewing temperature and overall performance. Even under frequent use at the Swiss Coffee Festival, the machine brought us a lot of joy. However, Michel also replaced the baskets with a 24.5 IMS basket on the new model.
Workmanship of the Ascaso Baby T Plus
The Ascaso Baby T is a very beautiful espresso machine. Not only does the wooden decor on the portafilter handle and the milk frothing lever look chic, but the entire machine appears very high-quality, and the body is flawlessly crafted.
The drip tray has also been improved in the new version. It can now be slid far forward and then lifted straight up. With the old model, the drip tray had to be tilted inside the machine, which meant it could hardly be filled to a third. That was a mess! Now it's tidy, although drip trays of espresso machines of this size could certainly have more volume. However, the machine can be connected to both a drain and the mains water supply.
What is now included: a tamper that lives up to its name and matches the beautiful wooden look of the Ascaso Baby T Plus well.
A blank button next to the functional buttons is probably a cost compromise. This was apparently adopted from another machine with a heated portafilter holder. On the Ascaso Baby T Plus, the drawing can be found, but not the button. Sorry, but on a machine costing around €4000, this seems inappropriate to us. However, buttons for a barista light on the front and for switching on the cup warmer are present.
Conclusion and Potential
The new version of the Ascaso Baby T Plus finally delivers what we had hoped for. It not only makes very good espresso but also leverages the strengths of both boiler and thermoblock.
The 2.5-liter boiler gives the machine excellent steam performance, allowing it to compete with any other espresso machine. The pressure does not drop even with continuous frothing, making the machine an interesting choice for gastronomy or espresso catering.
The thermoblock heats up quickly and now receives enough energy to provide a huge advantage over boiler machines. The machine can reach brewing temperature just five minutes after starting. The Ascaso Baby T Plus is therefore significantly faster to brew 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 frequent demand and in small gastronomy, or for the demanding home barista. The Ascaso Baby T Plus is really enjoyable!
