Compare Machines


	Ascaso	Ascaso
MSRP
MSRP	$1335	$1725
Skill Level
Skill Level	Intermediate	Intermediate
Type
Type	Semi-Automatic	Semi-Automatic
Heating Element
Heating Element	Thermoblock	Thermoblock
Portafilter Size
Portafilter Size	58 mm	58 mm
Activation
Activation	Toggle Switch	Toggle Switch
Pump Type
Pump Type	Vibration	Vibration
Heat-Up Time
Heat-Up Time	< 5 Minutes	< 5 Minutes
Brew Boiler Capacity Note: The Dream PID pulls brew water directly from reservoir Note: The Steel Duo PID pulls brew water directly from reservoir
Brew Boiler Capacity	Brew: Not Applicable Thermoblock machines pull brew water directly from reservoir	Brew: Not Applicable Thermoblock machines pull brew water directly from reservoir
Steam Boiler Capacity
Steam Boiler Capacity	Steam: Not Applicable	Steam: Not Applicable
Water Supply
Water Supply	1.3 L - Reservoir	1.8 L - Reservoir
Boiler Material
Boiler Material	Stainless Steel-lined Aluminum	Stainless Steel-lined Aluminum
Brew Group Material
Brew Group Material	No Information	No Information
Hot Water
Hot Water	Yes	Yes
Steam Wand
Steam Wand	Yes	Yes
No-Burn Wand
No-Burn Wand	No	Yes
PID Temperature Control
PID Temperature Control	Yes	Yes
Pre-Infusion
Pre-Infusion	Yes	Yes
Shot Timer
Shot Timer	Yes	Yes
Concurrent Brew Steam
Concurrent Brew Steam	No	Yes
Flow Control
Flow Control	No	No
3 Way Solenoid
3 Way Solenoid	Yes	Yes
Brew Pressure Guage
Brew Pressure Gauge	Yes	Yes
Steam Pressure Guage
Steam Pressure Guage	No	No
Over Pressure Valve
Over Pressure Valve	Yes	Yes
Integrated Grinder
Integrated Grinder	No	No
Weight
Weight	10 kg	15 kg
Material
Material	Aluminum	Carbon, Stainless Steel

EspressoBot Comparison

Machine Overview

The Ascaso Dream PID is priced at $1335 and caters to intermediate skill levels, while the Ascaso Steel Duo PID costs $1725 with a similar target audience. Both machines are semi-automatic models from the same manufacturer, Ascaso. The Dream PID is slightly more affordable, making it potentially more attractive for those starting out in the world of espresso.

Brewing Comparison

In terms of brewing information, both machines utilize a toggle switch for activation and share a stainless steel-lined aluminum boiler material. They both have a brewing group type classified as "Ring" and utilize a vibration pump type. The heat-up time for both machines is less than 5 minutes, but the Steel Duo PID has a slightly larger water reservoir capacity of 1.8 liters compared to the Dream PID's 1.3 liters.

Features Comparison

Both machines boast impressive features, including PID control and pre-infusion capabilities, as well as shot timers and solenoid valves. However, the Steel Duo PID offers additional advantages such as dual PID control and concurrent brewing and steaming capabilities. The Dream PID, while equipped with essential features like auto shutoff and hot water functionality, lacks some of the advanced features found in the Steel Duo PID, such as a no-burn steam wand. Both machines, however, offer solid pressure gauges and over-pressure valves, adding to their overall reliability.

Note: Espresso Setup Chris is expirementing with generated summaries for dynamic pages (we have 10,000+ so I can't write for all of them!) If you found this useful, or awful, please shoot me an email with feedback Chris@EspressoSetupBuilder.com. May your shots be perfectly extracted and milk frothy.

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