The Ascaso Steel Duo PID pleasantly surprised us in our first test. The machine from the Spanish company is a double thermoblock. It features everything that defines a modern and good thermoblock espresso machine. Not only does it heat up as quickly as typical thermoblock machines, but it is also temperature-stable , and this stability particularly surprised us in our test in early 2021. Thanks to its fast heat-up time, the machine is also very energy-efficient , consuming up to three times less electricity than dual-boiler espresso machines.
However, we had one criticism of the old model: the machine's foaming performance left something to be desired. The old version of the Ascaso Steel Duo PID, with its steam thermoblock, didn't deliver as much power to the pot. The Barcelona-based manufacturer has now worked on precisely this. For this reason, we've dedicated another video to the Ascaso Steel Duo PID New.
Buy Ascaso Steel Duo PID
The following specialist retailers sell the Ascaso Steel Duo PID, and we recommend purchasing a machine from them. They all offer offset adjustment.
- Germany: [Partner links] Stoll Espresso , Bohnendealer , Craft Coffee Gear , Lücke Technik
- Switzerland: [Partner links] deon
- Austria: [Partner links] Bohnendealer , DieRöster
We're looking for specialist partners for you who we know offer good work and excellent service. We maintain close contact with the dealers. These are commission links. If you order through these links, it won't cost you any extra, but we receive a small commission, which we invest in new test equipment. We're still working on it and are looking for competent partners for you in the DACH region.
The foaming behavior of the new Ascaso Steel Duo PID
The frothing performance of the Ascaso Steel Duo PID has been fundamentally improved. The manufacturer claims a 25% increase in performance. Indeed, the machine's frothing power is significantly more powerful . The steam pressure can now also be manually adjusted within the machine. The machine powerfully froths a 0.6-liter jug to temperature in approximately 30 seconds. It can easily circulate all the milk during the rolling phase.
One positive change is that the milk foam is no longer initiated directly via the toggle switch on the machine, as was the case with the old model. Instead, the switch only activates the steam thermoblock. Frothing only begins when the wooden wheel on the side is turned . This eliminates another feature we criticized. The steam starts immediately when the wooden wheel is turned and doesn't build up. This was the case when the thermoblock was still activated via the toggle switch.
With the new design, we recommend blowing out the steam wand thoroughly first. A lot of pressure and condensation quickly build up in the wand and pipe, which otherwise leads to too much pressure being blown into the milk jug when the steam is first turned on. If you ignore this, many large bubbles will form that are difficult to unscrew.
The Ascaso Steel Duo PID continues to heat the milk comfortably. It takes approximately 30-35 seconds for the foam to reach the right temperature. This time, even latte art beginners can complete the pulling and rolling phases without stress.
On the left is the new Ascaso Steel Duo PID, on the right is the old one. The color isn't new. White is still available. The wooden steam wheel is new.
Improvement potential of the Ascaso Steel Duo PID
With the update to the Duo PID, the manufacturer Ascaso has taken the criticism we received and that of many home baristas seriously. This not only speaks volumes for Ascaso, but also gives hope that the machine will continue to be developed further.
As a barista and author of this article, the Ascaso Steel Duo PID is already one of my five most interesting espresso machines for home use. If Ascaso addresses the following aspects, the espresso machine will continue to climb in my personal ranking:
- The cup heater still overheats and gets way too hot. I'd like to be able to simply turn it on and off.
- Due to the slope of the machine, the cups slide backwards in the cover and vibrate against each other.
- The accessories are a relic from the past. The included double sieve holds just under 15 grams, and the holes stop well short of the rim. However, this can easily be improved with a sieve upgrade.
- The included tamper can be used as a paperweight. Using it is bound to be frustrating, as the papers look the same but are different sizes. The ergonomics aren't particularly comfortable.
- The biggest problem, however, is the volumetrics . The Ascaso Steel Duo PID can dispense any desired amount of water for coffee. First of all, this is a big plus for this machine compared to almost all dual-circuit machines and other espresso machines that have to be started and stopped manually. It is therefore important to note that we are criticizing something here that other machines do not even have as a function. On the Ascaso Steel Duo PID, however, the expansion valve is located behind the flow meter. This means that if a certain pressure range is exceeded, some of the water is not applied to the coffee cake, but diverted. So if your espresso changes due to finer grinding and uneven preparation, the amount of water may also be reduced. However, your brewing time will tend to remain the same. It is therefore a good idea to look into the cup or regularly use a scale to check whether the fill volume corresponds to your desired brewing ratio .
Notes on espresso extraction and temperature
If the Ascaso Steel Duo PID has been correctly adjusted by your local dealer, it will reach operating temperature in five minutes . This is a real strength of the machine. While many espresso machines require you to plan your day so that they heat up in 25 to 30 minutes, the Ascaso can be brought up to temperature quite spontaneously.
This makes the Ascaso Steel Duo PID well suited to brewing very good espresso in a short time (see also recommendation for sieves and tampers).
However, the espresso machines we tested were all delivered with the wrong offset. The brewing temperature deviated between 2 and 4 degrees from the displayed brewing temperature. For this purpose, we measured three machines with calibrated thermometers.
The offset of the machine can and must be adjusted by your local dealer. You should pay attention to this when purchasing the machine. A professional Scace temperature measuring device is required. This measurement cannot be performed with a simple thermometer at home.
In this short video we explain how to make changes to the offset and steam settings.
Temperature rise when stationary
A recent discovery for us is that the Ascaso Steel Duo PID overheats beyond the target temperature when left standing for a longer period of time (15 minutes). However, it can be brought back to the target temperature by rinsing.
We set the brewing temperature so that it's slightly below the target temperature for the first brew, and then exactly within the target temperature for the second brew. By the third brew, the portafilter is heated through so that the temperature is perfectly at 93 degrees.
These settings can be adjusted as needed. As a guideline, consider your preferred brewing time. With the temperature set here, we've found a good compromise. While the first brew is still slightly below target, all subsequent brews, even if the machine is running for a longer time, are exactly within the target range (don't forget to rinse beforehand if the brewing time is longer).
These two graphs demonstrate the overall very stable temperature consistency when using the KM protocol with a 1-minute interval between draws. We measured a standard deviation of 0.75, which is a very good value.
Upgrades for the Ascaso Steel Duo PID
In Germany, Espressopool, as the importer of the Ascaso Steel Duo PID, offers an update service for the older Ascaso model . This service will also be available through local specialist retailers.
We recommend different sieves and a tamper that fits the sieves for your machine. Your local specialist retailer can advise you on this. For example, we upgrade our Ascaso with an 18-gram IMS Competition sieve ( DE , CH ).
The portafilter accommodates 58 mm sieves. A tamper of the corresponding size ranges from 58 to 58.4 mm.
Check out our own tamper, which we manufacture locally in the Lower Rhine region. Click here for the KM Tamper in Germany/EU and Switzerland .
Ascaso Steel Duo PID Plus in the test
Meanwhile, Ascaso has introduced the Steel Duo PID Plus. What's different compared to the basic version?
The "Plus" is an upgrade and offers several new features compared to the Ascaso Steel Duo PID base version. This model costs about $300 more and features primarily external changes.
The wooden steam lever and the modified drip tray are striking. A set of improved sieves and a different shower head are also included. A bottomless portafilter is now included. The only internal update is the omission of the cup heater, which many home baristas had removed from the basic version themselves, considering it completely unnecessary. The machine radiates so much heat upwards that an additional cup heater is unnecessary.
Scope of delivery:
- Heavy 58mm metal tamper weighing 750 grams. Distance to the sieve of 1 mm (average).
- Laser-cut and well-made sieves: 7g, 14g, 18g, & 21g. These sieves tend to hold a bit more.
- Blind screen and brush
- Single-hole and three-hole nozzle
- Bottomless portafilter
- Even and well-made shower
- Modified drip tray that makes the cups dance less, but still makes noise during extraction.
The cup heater has also been removed. Many home baristas unplugged this feature in previous models. The machine's waste heat is perfectly sufficient to warm the cups.
Classification of the upgrades of the Plus version
The upgrades to the Ascaso Steel Duo PID Plus are all worthwhile. The new components are high-quality and improve the machine. The improvement to the drip tray is an improvement that results in less movement of the cups. However, vibration is still noticeable, and the grid wobbles in the now static drip tray. It remains questionable why Ascaso doesn't separate the drip grid from the metal of the machine with rubber protectors, thus absorbing the vibration.
Removing the cup heater makes sense. However, the much bigger criticism of the tray is its slope. The cups constantly move backward during extraction, clattering against each other. Truly frustrating and unnecessary. A design decision here creates unnecessary noise.
The new steam lever is easy to grip and attractive. Working with it definitely feels more harmonious than with the steam dial. It doesn't improve the machine's performance.
The significantly improved sieves are pleasing. They have cleanly lasered holes and promote a more even extraction. The tamper could be a bit more flush with the rim. However, the new tamper is definitely better than the tamper bar included with the base.
Overall, the additional CHF/EUR 300 for the Plus version is certainly not a bad investment. However, with the exception of the lever, the major upgrades can also be purchased individually for significantly less money.
The overall performance remains unchanged. Our repeated energy consumption and temperature measurements confirm the Ascaso Steel Duo PID Plus as a very good espresso machine.
But the most urgent upgrade request remains unfulfilled: the position of the flow meter and the resulting inconsistent output volume.
