This machine is built very well! The controls are solid. It heats up quickly. I don’t have to wait to steam my milk. It feels like I am using a professional machine in my kitchen. Plus, their customer service has been amazing! The only thing I didn’t like was waiting so long for it to ship, but worth the wait.

I have had my machine for two years now and absolutely love it. For what it has to offer it is one of the best/ most affordable options in my opinion. I love how easy it is to use, how fast it heats up and the consistency of pulling great, delicious shots.

Former roaster and barista. So far, it's a great machine. I was able to set it up, readjust the pressure, and dial in my coffee in less than 20 minutes. My daily cortados are excellent.

Temp consistency and steam wand are much better than my previously modded gaggia and the warm up time is also quicker. I always pull shots manually so the programmable timed shots arent really worthwhile for my daily. However, as far as I know, there is no way to manually do pre-infusion this way.

It seems to be built very well; solid and quite nice to look at. I hope it lasts a long time given the price point.

Overall, I love how consistent this machine is and it's a wonderful cornerstone of my daily routine. 5/5

I love everything about this machine, except plastic water tank leeches smell and taste into the water (and it didn’t go away after a year of continuous use). Eventually I switched to using an external water container that immediately solved the issue

After Ascaso confirmed the machine would ship within three days I ordered from them. It arrived in two! I have had the Steel DUO for just over a month now and I am so happy that I ordered a thermoblock machine instead of a dual boiler, Warm up time is just a bit longer than it takes me to grind beans. After a few days learning I am able to consistently make great espresso. I don't ususally steam milk, but my wife does and enjoys her lattes. It is great to be able to draw an espresso and steam milk at the same time. The machine is solid, well made, good looking and comes complete with all the accesories we need.
There are many videos online that I found useful to dial in the setting. Check them out.

I started espresso with manual espresso makers and the first machine I bought was a Breville Barista Express which I loved and was definitely a great machine. I had it for 4 years making multiple espressos on a daily basis. When I needed a new machine I wanted to upgrade and the Ascaso caught my attention. I looked at it for a few months and read great things about it. So I had high expectations, considering the price difference compared to what I had and the great things I saw about it from multiple reviews. When I got it and started working with it, it felt even better than what I expected. So thanks Ascaso.

Very solid, looks super good on the countertop, heads up QUICK. Still working out the perfect grind, pressure and length of shot settings. I’d give it 5 stars if the instructions and nuances of the machine were better explained, or if you guys included links to videos/detailed instruction websites. The flavors and textures of the coffee and steamed milk is outstanding, it’s really more about the ease of and understanding how to use it.

Steel DUO PID, Programmable Espresso Machine w/ Volumetric Controls, Dual Thermoblock, 120V (White)

Steel DUO PID, Programmable Espresso Machine w/ Volumetric Controller, Dual Thermoblock, 120V (Black)

best coffee ive ever made at home

I did A LOT of research before buying Ascaso DUO PID.
Dual boilers are available at around the same price point, but the fast warm up time and energy efficiency of Ascaso was a key factor for me. I don't have a fixed schedule and whenever I want coffee 5 minutes later I can have it, without 30m+ time for preparation as with dual boilers. This machine delivers consistently excellent espresso shots and silky microfoam for lattes. I appreciate the build quality and thoughtful design touches and I think it offers great value and performance. I'm not a espresso machine snob and haven't tried many others, but so far I'm very happy with the purchase.

I've been using the machine (white model) for a few weeks now, and I love almost everything about it! The primary reason for buying it was the heat-up time, 2nd was the appearance, and 3rd was the dual thermoblock. It's been pulling great shots after some dialing in. The only thing I wish Ascaso did was to include a low-water warning and include a bottomless portafilter. I know the tank is clearly visible, but with the grinder right next to it, sometimes I don't remember to look. Either way, I strongly recommend this machine!

The machine looks great but for such a price I would hope the top warming rack would be more sturdy as mine came tilted and dented on the top right pin. Other than that everything else looks great.

I’ve had this for about a month and so far it meets and exceeds my expectations. Attractive, compact and heats up quickly in a couple of minutes so i can have an expresso by the time the beans are ground and the milk is poured. I don’t have a 20 amp circuit but this can not been an issue when doing simultaneous shot pulling and steaming milk.

Amazing home machine with coffee shop quality. Super beautiful, strong and performance is top notch.

Compared this with the Lelit Mara X v2, Bezzera Crema and BZ13 DE amongst a few other heat exchangers. I wanted a compact machine that could steam and pull shots quickly. The Steel Duo PID does that very well. The machine has a relatively small footprint for the feature set.

I also wanted a machine that did either timed or volumetric shots to make it easier for other people to use my machine. Timed pre-infusion is also very nice to have. Another big plus in the easy for others to use category is the cool touch steam wand. I don't have to warn others to be careful when touching the wand. The steam itself is of course dangerous, but that is a constant for any espresso machine with a steam wand.

The Steel Duo PID looks great, heats up extremely quickly, has great temperature control, and straightforward and consistent shot pulling once I dialed in my grind size. I do have 20 amp outlets in my kitchen.

Noise and vibration levels are low when pulling shots. I read some reports and reviews online saying that cups and glasses on top can rattle. Rattling isnt really an issue for me, but there is some vibration and the top is sloped down toward the back so cups do slowly slide while pulling shots.

Steaming is great - flip the switch, wait a minute at most and begin steaming. It is shockingly fast. Time to steam and froth milk is good. My previous machine was a single boiler so even if the actual time to froth milk is longer, the total time spent getting up to temp and then steaming is much shorter than the silvia I previously used. I really like the knob location and profile. It suits my small kitchen and limited countertop space well.

The machine is very well built, comes with a beautiful 58mm portafilter, and pretty much all the baskets you could ask for. The walnut handle and steam knob are well made and contrast very nicely with the white steel.

The manual is very detailed but a bit hard to follow as the labeled diagram is on a single page and then all subsequent references to switches and buttons are only via their number in the diagram. There are videos that show how to operate the machine and navigate the PID controller, though, so I recommend watching those to get a better understanding of how the menu and settings work. Once you understand the basic navigation it is very straightforward to use and for the most part once you get your settings as you prefer, you won't have to change much.

One thing that I really like is the way that volumetric shot programming works. You hold the shot pull switch in one direction (either up or down) while you pull a shot on a scale and stop when you get the amount of water out you would like. For all future use of that switch in that direction will pull that same amount of water. Super simple.

The steam wand is a bit awkward and can spray all over your counter when you first use it. I recommend twisting/positioning it so it faces the drip tray to first purge the water in the wand, stop the flow by twisting the knob, then pulling the wand out into position to steam your milk.

I have not adjusted the brewing pressure via the OPV but it is nice to know it can easily be done. I exclusively use medium to light roast beans.

How is the coffee? It took me less than 10 shots to get my grind size and temperature dialed in. My coffee now is very consistent and tastes as good or better than what I achieved on my rancilio silvia PID.

I highly recommend this machine. It is effectively a professional level machine in the footprint of a home machine. Well done Ascaso.

Perfect size for my kitchen. The white looks amazing. Well built. Still dialing it in but so far had a blast playing with it. Just wish it came with a bottomless portafilter.

The machine is

Brew LED broken shortly after purchase, build quality is just OK in my opinion. Steam wand is a bit to short and steam pressure is not consistent. Drip tray is not great. The shot volumetric programming is wildly inconsistent, virtually useless. Programming/PID menu is not great. Otherwise it does the job.

Steel DUO PID, Programmable Espresso Machine w/ Volumetric Controls, Dual Thermoblock, 120V (White)

My previous espresso machine was a Breville Bambino Plus, which I loved. It allowed me to experiment and figure out how to adjust all the variables in making espresso to produce a better shot. As typical of this hobby, I wanted to upgrade to a better-built machine.

I did a lot of research on the midpoint prosumer machines and discovered the Ascaso Duo. There were not many reviews on it, thus, I thought I would add one to help others that are in the same position as I was. Surprisingly, Ascaso is not as well known
in the US as in Europe but they have been around for a while; the company was formed in 1962. The Duo has been out for decades and has been upgraded through the years. The unit I bought is the current iteration, with rotary steam control and improved steam performance. Below are the pros and cons from my perspective.

PROs
Excellent build quality; adds confidence in long-term durability.
Dedicated dual thermoblocks allow side-by-side brewing and steaming.
Digitally displayed PID temperature control adjustable in one-degree increments allows you to set and adjust your selected brew temperature for the best shot depending on the beans used.
Displayed temperature taken at the brew head, not the thermoblock provides greater accuracy of true brewing temperature.
A large, easily removable water tank makes refilling easy.
The warming rack on top of the unit keeps your beverage warm longer.
Analog nanometer pressure gauge to monitor pressure levels.
Toggle switches for precise on/off switching; coincidentally matches aesthetics of Niche grinder.
Two LED lights when the unit is on allow easy monitoring of shot quality; looks nice when on.
Programmable switch setting for single or double shot makes it easier to produce and repeat consistently good quality espresso. Since I never make a single shot, I use that mode for flushing/cleaning.
Allows preferred volumetric shot programming, versus timed programming.
Water dispenser for making Americanos or tea.
Steam switch with rotary dial for activation adds control in steam dispensing.
The hefty walnut porta filter creates a nice feel and looks classy.
The professional 58mm portafilter size makes it easy to find accessories, if desired.
Has a generous stay-cool drip tray with "maze" design that prevents water from splattering when carrying the tray to the sink for emptying.
No-burn steam wand prevents burns.
Heats up to brew temperature in minutes to quickly get your beverage.
Absolutely gorgeous aesthetics with walnut accents enhance the ambiance of your kitchen/coffee bar.
Makes excellent espresso, which is the most important feature!
The shot timer makes it easier to dial in a quality shot and aids in consistency.
Adjustable OPV (over pressure valve) so you can maintain the desired pressure to your personal preference.
Pre-infusion of 1 to 5 seconds can potentially improve taste and aid in reducing channeling.
Programmable automatic cleaning mode makes maintenance easier.
Stainless steel thermoblock minimizes limescale build-up.
Freshwater is drawn for every espresso shot ensuring the best quality every time.
Comes in stainless steel or powder-coated white/black to match your personal taste and aesthetic.
Hoses inside the tank have screen filters to keep the water supply clean.
Includes 5 professional baskets (2 traditional, 2 pressurized, and 1 for pods), 1 stainless steel tamper,
1 blank basket for backflushing, and 1 walnut wood portafilter handle.

CONs
It would be nice to have a low-water LED indicator.
Programming is not intuitive.
The largest basket provided is for only 15 grams; if you want double shots you will have to purchase another filter.
A bottomless portafilter is not included (and is the preferred type).
Included tamp is useable, but not optimal.
The slope of the cup rack may cause cups to move backward and rattle depending on your setup, due to the vibrations when the pump is running.
The 20-amp circuit may be a problem for some; the unit comes with an adapter.

SUMMARY:
This is an outstanding espresso machine that hits the sweet spot of price, features, and performance. I highly recommend it!

Took me awhile to upgrade to this but am glad I did.

Man - I have to say that I really enjoy my Ascaso Duo - Super fast warm up time and dreamy shots for days... the features they put into these machines for the price are impressive and it looks so good on the counter that my partner never complains either! Lol!

Steel DUO PID, Programmable Espresso Machine w/ Volumetric Controls, Dual Thermoblock, 120V (White)