Testing the latest version of the popular thermoblock machine
Reading time: 3 minutes. This article is a short blog post. You can find the detailed blog article here on our Swiss page.
Disclaimer: We sell the Ascaso Steel Duo PID in our shop in Basel, but we still try to test it as impartially as possible.
At the beginning of 2021, we tested the Ascaso Steel Duo PID and were very impressed in many respects. The duo-thermoblock impressed us with its fast heat-up time, energy efficiency, and good temperature stability. However, we also had one criticism: the steaming performance. There simply wasn't enough power. Can the update improve this weakness?
The frothing performance of the new Ascaso Steel Duo PID
25% more power when frothing. That is the promise from the Spanish manufacturer. And indeed, the machine has more oomph. 0.6 liters of milk can be brought up to temperature in 30 seconds, and the rolling phase covers all the milk in the pitcher. The steam pressure can be adjusted manually on the machine. When the steam thermoblock is started, milk frothing begins as soon as you turn the wooden knob. And it happens immediately. There is no need to build up pressure; you can get started right away. To avoid coarse foam, however, the pressure should be briefly released beforehand. The 30-35 seconds also allow inexperienced users to achieve a good microfoam result suitable for latte art.
Potential for improvement in the Ascaso Steel Duo PID
Even though the update gets a lot right, we still have a few requests for Ascaso:
- The quality of the filter baskets and the tamper should be improved.
- The volumetrics should be overhauled. The positioning of the flowmeter before the expansion valve prevents a constant volume in the cup. Anyone who wants to maintain their brew ratio should therefore use a scale.
- The cup warmer overheats and should be adjustable.
- The cups vibrate during extraction and slide backwards.
Notes on heat-up time and temperature
When you switch the machine on, it is ready for the first espresso after 5 minutes. This is brilliant and a world of difference compared to the 25-30 minutes required by other machines. Unfortunately, we found that the brewing temperature of the machines as delivered deviates from the displayed brewing temperature by between 2 and 4 degrees. It is therefore worth buying it from a local specialist retailer who can measure it with a professional device and calibrate the machine correctly. Once the machine is calibrated, it remains quite constant.
Temperature rise during downtime
Another peculiarity we discovered: After being idle for a long time, the machine heats up beyond its target temperature. It should therefore be flushed briefly before preparing an espresso to bring it back to the correct temperature.
Upgrades for the Ascaso Steel Duo PID
The German importer Espressopool offers an update service for the old Ascaso model. Otherwise, we recommend investing in high-quality 18-gram filter baskets and a high-quality, matching tamper. For our Ascaso Steel Duo PIDs in our academies in Basel and Dinslaken, we use this double filter basket and this shower screen.
Buying an Ascaso Steel Duo PID
The following specialist shops* sell the Ascaso Steel Duo PID, and we can recommend purchasing a machine from these companies. They all offer to adjust the machine's offset.
Germany: Bohnendealer, Craft Coffee Gear
Switzerland: deon
Austria: Bohnendealer, DieRöster
*We look for specialist partners for you who we know offer good work and good service. We are in close contact with the retailers. These are affiliate links. If you order via this link, it costs you no extra, but we receive a small commission that we put into new test equipment.
Conclusion: on the 2022 version
The Ascaso Steel Duo PID gets a lot right. Those who already work with a scale or can live with fluctuations in water volume due to the volumetrics can enjoy the advantages of thermoblock technology (fast heat-up and low energy consumption). Milk frothing, or rather, the steam performance, has been noticeably improved.
