The Dalla Corte Studio is a high-end dual-boiler espresso machine. We put it to the test in our review and used it according to all the rules of barista craftsmanship. One weekend, we even took the machine to a catering event to test its performance under load. Did the Dalla Corte Studio pass the test? We can reveal this much: yes, the dual boiler delivers in many categories, and criticism is only at a very high level. Nevertheless, the Dalla Corte Studio is not the right machine for everyone. You can find out if it's right for you in our video and review.
Dalla Corte Studio at a glance
Strengths
- excellent temperature stability after just 12 minutes of heat-up time
- fast heat-up time of only 12 minutes for a dual boiler
- steam boiler and brew boiler operate independently
- 0.5 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 frothing performance
- Volumetric control, allowing programming of beverage volume
- comprehensive and good accessory set
- 54mm portafilter diameter is well-suited for beginners
- No factory offset, meaning the displayed temperature matches the actual water temperature (for extractions after starting)
Weaknesses
- After a longer idle time, the machine heats up beyond the target temperature. In the WBC protocol, the average temperature was approx. 2 degrees above the set temperature.
- Good pre-infusion function only possible with a fixed water connection.
- No hot water spout on the basic Studio, only when purchasing the Dalla Corte Studio Acqua.
- Tamper does not sit flush in the portafilter.
- Holes in the baskets do not extend close enough to the edge, and the holes appear punched rather than laser-cut, which means hole sizes vary slightly.
- No drain pipe provided.
- No double-walled steam wand and consequently a risk of burns.
Buy Dalla Corte Studio
The following specialist shops sell the Dalla Corte Studio and we recommend buying from them. All offer the option to readjust the machine's offset.
Germany:
Switzerland:
We look for specialist partners for you that we know provide good work and good service, and we are in close contact with the mentioned retailers. The links are so-called affiliate links. If you order via one of these links, you won't pay a cent more – but we receive a small commission, which we invest directly in new testing equipment.
We are still looking for competent partners in the DACH region for you.
Dalla Corte Style for Home
Dalla Corte has always done things a little differently, both in gastronomy and with home espresso machines. Different from the fleet of Faema E61 manufacturers on the one hand, and different from the community of 58mm portafilter producers on the other. And the brew group with integrated boiler is especially different. Because on the Dalla Corte Studio, the 0.5 liter copper boiler sits directly above the brew group. Since the sensors, which can be controlled via the LCD display, are also located there, the Studio is also temperature stable.
Dalla Corte is also known for equipping its machines classically with 54mm portafilters. The majority of the industry uses portafilters or baskets with a diameter of 58mm for both home espresso machines and in gastronomy. Dalla Corte believes that portafilters with a smaller diameter are easier to handle, especially for beginners. Due to the higher coffee puck, total channeling, i.e., channeling that extends from top to bottom through the coffee bed, occurs less frequently. 54mm portafilters require less precise distribution of the coffee puck.
Also typical for Dalla Corte is the material of the portafilter, namely brass. Brass has high conductivity, which supports the rapid heating of the portafilter. However, brass also has problematic tendencies, as it releases parts of its alloy due to abrasion, which can be potentially harmful to health. To prevent this, Dalla Corte coats the bottom of the portafilters with chrome steel to prevent or delay the abrasion 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. This was confirmed by our temperature measurements of the espresso machine. To determine the heat-up time, we use our KM temperature protocol for several consecutive days and allow the machine to cool down for a day in between. We check at what heat-up time the first shot reaches 92 degrees Celsius.
During extraction, we measure the temperature between the 5th and 25th second. The minimum value in the first shot 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 shots 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 espresso machines we have tested so far. The standard deviation was 0.52°C.
On average, we arrive at a temperature of 92.31°C across the 105 data points with a set temperature of 93 degrees. Important: without readjusting 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. Shots are pulled at increasingly shorter intervals, and the temperatures are measured with the Scace Device, as was done with the KM protocol.
In the WBC protocol, we measured an average temperature of 94.17°C across 315 data points. The machine is therefore above the set brewing temperature, mainly due to the first shots after an hour of idle time. With further shots, the machine stabilizes.
The horizontal row marks the 14 shots taken. The vertical column indicates the seconds of extraction.
Across all shots, we measure a maximum difference of 2.6 degrees Celsius and a standard deviation of 0.51°C.
In terms of temperature performance, we can therefore unreservedly recommend the Dalla Corte Studio for all areas of application. For longer idle times, we would tend to flush it a little longer. The machine's strength is directly after heating up for 12 minutes and under load, i.e. with many shots in a row.
Power Consumption Measurement
The fast heat-up time results in relatively low power consumption for a dual boiler, which is particularly evident when used without steam. Since the two boilers are completely independent of each other, the Dalla Corte can also be operated without a steam boiler. As this, with a volume of 1.5 liters, draws a significant amount of power, foregoing it is advisable for pure espresso enjoyment. We measure a consumption of 0.14 kWh for heating up and 10 double shots. This keeps pace with some thermoblocks on the espresso level.
If we switch on the steam boiler, the consumption is 0.26 kWh. This is good for a dual boiler and competitive even in the heat exchanger category. Compared to thermoblocks or even thick-film heaters, however, we are looking at two to three times the amount.
Frothing Marvel with a Flaw
If you like fast and powerful frothing, the Dalla Corte Studio is exactly what you need. Despite the steam boiler being "only" 1.5 liters, which isn't the largest, the frothing performance is remarkable. We generally test the performance at the highest setting and measure frothing and heating performance with cold water. We reach the target temperature within 20 seconds. This makes the Studio one of the fastest in its class.
If you want to froth less quickly, you can easily reduce the boiler's power. A real drawback is the intensely heating steam wand. It is surprising that Dalla Corte does not use 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 with a rubber sleeve.
Solid and High Quality
The Dalla Corte Studio is generally well-made, although some details are a bit lacking. The main frame is made of galvanized steel, while the visible outer panels and cup tray are made of stainless steel. The side panels are powder-coated and available in standard black or white. The drip tray is made of plastic with a stainless steel front and holds 800 ml. The plastic may seem functional here, but its perceived value is somewhat lower.
The large 4.3-liter water tank is also a rather clunky monstrosity and looks like it just came from a hardware store. Sharp edges are nowhere to be found on the machine, which delights experienced baristas.
The machine's dimensions are: 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 another reason why it stands immovable on the work surface.
The machine is equipped with levers on the left and right at the top, which start the brewing process and steam delivery. They are sufficiently stable, but still leave an impression of wobbliness.
Operating the Dalla Corte Studio
The right lever on the Dalla Corte Studio starts the extraction. Three levels are selectable. If the lever is pulled slightly down to the first level, manual mode begins. Extraction continues until it is stopped again. One level lower, to position "1", the single shot is saved according to the operating instructions, and with position "2" at the very bottom of the lever area, the double shot can be started and programmed.
Starting and programming is the crucial keyword. The Dalla Corte Studio uses a good volumetric control, which we also find in Dalla Corte's gastronomy 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 precisely dispensed shot by shot. Therefore, weighing the shot volume, as with other espresso machines, is not necessary.
We programmed our Dalla Corte Studio a little differently. In our case, level 1 has the rinse function to clean the shower screen between extractions.
Annoying about the operation is that the levers must be manually returned to the starting position. Here, the desire for a certain aesthetic (levers) has obviously prevented a more practical solution (button).
All essential operating elements of the machine are controlled via the small LCD. In addition to the boiler temperatures, start times per weekday and the volumetric control can be adjusted. Dalla Corte dispenses with an app and allows all settings to be made directly on the machine. The LCD also shows the extraction time during espresso extraction.
Among other things, pre-infusion can also be set. However, this only works with a connected fixed water supply. Although videos circulate online showing that the pre-infusion function - which, according to Dalla Corte, can only be used with a connected fixed water supply - can also be tricked. Our tests of this method, however, always led to the pump drawing air, which is why we do not recommend this procedure.
Good coffee, no Americano
The espresso and frothing performance of the Dalla Corte Studio undoubtedly guarantees very good coffee beverages. No matter what type of espresso we pulled, the machine delivered. This is due to the consistent temperature performance, good craftsmanship, precise pressure, and the clean workflow the machine allows.
Only one wish could not be fulfilled by the machine: it has no hot water dispenser, which means that neither preparing tea drinks nor dispensing water for brewing Americanos is possible.
Dalla Corte offers a model with an additional hot water dispenser, the Studio Aqua, for an extra charge of 500 Euros.
Conclusion on the Dalla Corte Studio
The Dalla Corte delivers a very good overall result in our test. There are few wishes that would make the machine even better. The machine is powerful and does not falter even with a rush of many people. However, it would be desirable if the drip tray could also be equipped with a drain when connecting the machine to the fixed water supply. With a fixed water supply, the rotary pump provides excellent pre-infusion, which allows for a gentle swelling of the puck with power pressure. The temperature stability is very good, especially after the average heat-up time of 12 minutes. After a longer idle time, the machine tends to slightly exceed the target temperature. We particularly liked that the machine was delivered without a significant offset.
The low noise level of only 54 decibels is an expression of a high-quality, very good espresso machine. The debate about design choices, such as levers instead of buttons, is subjective and lies in the eye of the beholder.
The extensive accessory set is a positive feature, providing not only Dalla Corte espresso and cappuccino cups but also a high-quality tamper, 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 would seal even better with the portafilter.
Otherwise, the Dalla Corte Studio impresses across the board and hardly needs to hide from the competition, as long as the home barista doesn't accidentally burn themselves on the steam wand.
