The Dalla Corte Studio is a high-end dual-boiler espresso machine. In our review, we put it to the test and used it according to all the rules of the barista craft. We even took the machine to a catering event over one weekend to test its performance under load. Did the Dalla Corte Studio pass the test? We can reveal right now: yes, in many categories, this dual-boiler delivers, and any criticism is only at a very high level. Nevertheless, the Dalla Corte Studio is not the right machine for everyone. Whether it suits you, you will find out in our video and review.
Dalla Corte Studio in a nutshell
Strengths
- Excellent temperature stability after just a 12-minute heat-up time
- Fast heat-up time of only 12 minutes for a dual-boiler
- Steam boiler and brew boiler function independently of one another
- 0.5-liter brew boiler positioned in the group head above the portafilter
- Low noise level of only 54 decibels, even with cups on the machine
- Very good espresso performance
- Very good and fast milk foaming performance
- Volumetrics that allow you to program the beverage volume
- Extensive and high-quality accessory set
- 54 mm portafilter diameter is well-suited for beginners
- No factory offset, meaning the displayed temperature corresponds to the actual water temperature (during extraction after start-up)
Weaknesses
- When left idle for a long time, the machine heats up beyond the target temperature. In the WBC protocol, the temperature was on average approx. 2 degrees higher than the set temperature
- Effective pre-infusion function only possible with a fixed water connection
- No hot water outlet on the base Studio model, only when purchasing the Dalla Corte Studio Acqua
- Tamper does not fit flush in the portafilter
- Hole pattern in the baskets does not extend close enough to the edge and the holes appear punched rather than laser-cut, which is why the hole sizes vary slightly
- No provision for a drain pipe
- No double-walled steam wand and consequently a risk of burns
Buying the Dalla Corte Studio
The following specialty retailers sell the Dalla Corte Studio and we can recommend purchasing from these companies. They all offer the option of adjusting the machine's offset.
Germany:
Switzerland:
We look for specialist partners for you that we know offer high-quality work and service, and we are in close contact with the aforementioned retailers. The links are so-called commission links. If you order via one of these links, you won't pay a cent more — however, we receive a small commission that we invest directly into new test equipment.
We are still looking for competent partners in the DACH region for you.
Dalla Corte style for the home
Dalla Corte has always done things differently, both in professional gastronomy and for home espresso machines. Unlike the fleet of Faema E61 manufacturers on one side and the community of 58 mm portafilter producers on the other. And the brew group with an integrated boiler is also what makes it different. In the Dalla Corte Studio, the 0.5-liter copper boiler sits directly above the brew group. Since this is also where the sensors are located, which can be controlled via the LCD display, the Studio is very temperature-stable.
Dalla Corte is also known for classically equipping their machines with 54 mm portafilters. The majority of the industry uses portafilters or baskets with a diameter of 58 mm for both home espresso machines and professional equipment. Dalla Corte holds the opinion that portafilters with a smaller diameter are easier to handle, especially for beginners. Due to the deeper bed of the coffee puck, total channeling — i.e., channeling that runs from top to bottom through the coffee bed — occurs less frequently. 54 mm portafilters require less precise distribution of the coffee puck.
Also typical for Dalla Corte is the material of the portafilter, which is brass. Brass has high thermal conductivity, which supports the rapid warming of the portafilter. However, brass also has problematic tendencies, as it releases parts of its alloy through abrasion, which can potentially be harmful to health. To prevent this, Dalla Corte coats the bottom of the portafilters with chrome steel to prevent or delay this erosion effect. Dalla Corte uses lead-free brass CW510L for all components that come into contact with water.
Temperature stability and heat-up time
The Dalla Corte Studio reaches operating temperature in twelve minutes. That is what our temperature measurements of the espresso machine revealed. To determine the heat-up time, we use our KM temperature protocol for several days in a row and let the machine cool down for a day in between. We check at what heat-up time the first extraction reaches 92 degrees Celsius.
During extraction, we measure the temperature between the 5th and 25th second. The minimum value in the first extraction was 91.77°C, the highest 92.59°C. The fluctuation during extraction was therefore only 0.82°C. This is a very stable value. Across all 5 extractions and thus over 105 data points, the temperature varied by 1.57°C. This is also very good and places the Dalla Corte Studio in the top tier of the espresso machines we have tested so far. The standard deviation was 0.52°C.
On average, we get a temperature of 92.31°C across the 105 data points with a set temperature of 93 degrees. Important: without adjusting the offset.
This precision and performance after 12 minutes is outstanding!
After the espresso machine has been running for an hour, it is examined using the WBC protocol. For this, extractions are pulled at increasingly shorter intervals, and the temperatures are measured with the Scace device, just like in the KM protocol.
In the WBC protocol, we measure an average temperature of 94.17°C across 315 data points. The machine is therefore above the set brew temperature, mainly due to the first extractions after standing for an hour. With further extractions, the machine stabilizes.
The horizontal row marks the 14 extractions performed. The vertical column indicates the seconds of extraction.
We measure a maximum difference of 2.6 degrees Celsius across all extractions as well as a standard deviation of 0.51°C.
In terms of temperature performance, we can therefore recommend the Dalla Corte Studio unreservedly for all areas of use. If left idle for a long time, we would tend to flush it a bit longer. The machine's strength lies directly after heating up after 12 minutes as well as under load, i.e., with many extractions in succession.
Power measurement energy consumption
The fast heat-up time results in relatively low power consumption for a dual-boiler, which is especially evident when used without steam. Since the two boilers are completely uncoupled from each other, the Dalla Corte can also be operated without the steam boiler. Since the latter draws a fair amount of power with a volume of 1.5 liters, skipping it is advisable for pure espresso enjoyment. We measure a consumption of 0.14 kWh for heating up as well as 10 double extractions. This is on par with some thermoblocks at the espresso level.
If we switch on the steam boiler, we are looking at 0.26 kWh. That is good for a dual-boiler and still competitive in the heat-exchanger category as well. Compared to thermoblocks or even thick-film heaters, however, we are using two to three times as much.
Foaming miracle with one weakness
Anyone who likes to foam milk quickly and powerfully will get their money's worth with the Dalla Corte Studio. Given that the steam boiler, at "only" 1.5 liters, is not one of the largest, the foaming power is remarkable. We basically test the performance at the highest setting and measure the foaming and heating power with cold water. We reach the target temperature within 20 seconds. This makes the Studio one of the fastest in its class.
Anyone who wants to foam less quickly can comfortably reduce the boiler's power. A real downside is the steam wand that gets very hot. It is surprising that Dalla Corte does not opt for a double-walled cool-touch wand like its competitors. The steam wand of the Dalla Corte Studio heats up significantly and can then only be moved using a rubber grip.
Solid and high-quality
Overall, the Dalla Corte Studio is high-quality, although some details fall a bit short. The main frame consists of galvanized steel, while the visible outer panels and the cup trays are made of stainless steel. The side panels are powder-coated and available in black or white as standard. The drip tray is made of plastic with a stainless steel front and holds 800 ml. The plastic may seem functional here, but it is a bit lacking in terms of quality.
The large 4.3-liter water tank is also a rather clumsy monster and looks like it was just picked up from a hardware store. We look in vain for sharp edges on the machine, which pleases cut-prone baristas.
The dimensions of the machine: 41.5 cm high, 40.5 cm deep (51 cm with portafilter) and 31.4 cm wide. The Dalla Corte Studio weighs 27.5 kg. This is also why it stands immovable on the countertop.
The machine is equipped with levers on the top left and right, which start the brewing process and the steam draw, respectively. They are sufficiently stable but still give an impression of wobbiness.
Operating the Dalla Corte Studio
The extraction of the Dalla Corte Studio can be started with the right lever. There are three stages to choose from. If the lever is pulled down only slightly to the first stage, the manual mode begins. The extraction runs until it is stopped again. One level lower at position "1", according to the operating manual, the single extraction is saved, and with position "2" at the very bottom of the lever range, the double extraction can be started and programmed.
Start and program is the decisive keyword. The Dalla Corte Studio uses excellent volumetric control, which we also find in the Dalla Corte professional line. For programming, an espresso is extracted with the appropriate grind and a desired water or espresso output volume. This water volume is saved and accurately dispensed extraction after extraction. Weighing the shot volume as with other espresso machines is therefore not necessary.
We programmed our Dalla Corte Studio slightly differently. In our case, stage 1 holds the flush function to clean the shower screen between extractions.
Annoying during operation is the fact that the levers must be moved back to the starting position manually. Here, the desire for a specific aesthetic (lever) has clearly prevented a more practical solution (button).
All essential control elements of the machine are managed via the small LCD. In addition to boiler temperatures, start times per day of the week as well as the volumetrics can be controlled. Dalla Corte forgoes an app and allows all settings to be made directly on the machine. The LCD also shows the extraction time during the espresso pull.
Among other things, a pre-infusion can also be set. However, this only works with a fixed water connection. While there are videos circulating on the internet that the pre-infusion function — which, according to Dalla Corte, can only be used with a fixed water connection — can be tricked, our tests of this method have each time resulted in the pump drawing air, which is why we do not recommend this procedure.
Good coffee, no Americano
The espresso and foaming performance of the Dalla Corte Studio undoubtedly guarantees very good coffee drinks. No matter what kind of espresso we pulled, the machine delivered. This is due to the constant temperature performance, the good build quality, the precise pressure, and the clean workflow that the machine allows.
Only one wish the machine could not fulfill: it has no hot water dispenser, which means that neither preparing tea beverages nor dispensing water for brewing an Americano is possible.
With the Studio Aqua model, Dalla Corte delivers a model for an extra charge of 500 euros that additionally has a water dispenser.
Conclusion on the Dalla Corte Studio
The Dalla Corte delivers an overall very good result in our test. There are few wishes left that would make the machine even better. The machine is powerful and does not buckle even under a rush of many people. However, it would be desirable if the drip tray could also be equipped with a drain when I connect the machine to a fixed water line. Connected to fixed water, the rotary pump provides a very good pre-infusion, which allows for a gentle swelling of the puck with line pressure. The temperature stability is very good, especially after the medium heat-up time of 12 minutes. After standing for a long time, the machine tends to rise slightly above the target temperature. We liked the fact that the machine was delivered without significant offset.
The low noise level of only 54 decibels is an expression of a high-quality, very good espresso machine. Design decisions like levers instead of buttons are debatable, but a verdict on that is in the eye of the beholder.
The extensive accessory set is positive, which, in addition to Dalla Corte espresso and cappuccino cups, provides a high-quality tamper as well as an apron, cloths, and cleaning powder for the machine. Even a tamping mat is included. Full marks for attention to detail, if only the tamper were a little larger and fit even better with the portafilter.
Otherwise, the Dalla Corte Studio is convincing across the board and hardly needs to hide behind the competition, as long as the home barista does not accidentally burn themselves on the milk wand.
