Compare Machines


	Ascaso	ACS
MSRP
MSRP	$1725	$1899
Skill Level
Skill Level	Intermediate	Intermediate
Type
Type	Semi-Automatic	Semi-Automatic
Heating Element
Heating Element	Thermoblock	Dual Boiler
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	5-15 Minutes
Brew Boiler Capacity 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: 0.8L
Steam Boiler Capacity
Steam Boiler Capacity	Steam: Not Applicable	Steam: 2.3L
Water Supply
Water Supply	1.8 L - Reservoir	2.6 L - Reservoir
Boiler Material
Boiler Material	Stainless Steel-lined Aluminum	Stainless Steel
Brew Group Material
Brew Group Material	No Information	Chrome Plated Brass
Hot Water
Hot Water	Yes	Yes
Steam Wand
Steam Wand	Yes	Yes
No-Burn Wand
No-Burn Wand	Yes	No
PID Temperature Control
PID Temperature Control	Yes	Yes
Pre-Infusion
Pre-Infusion	Yes	No
Shot Timer
Shot Timer	Yes	Yes
Concurrent Brew Steam
Concurrent Brew Steam	Yes	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	15 kg	22.2 kg
Material
Material	Carbon, Stainless Steel	Stainless Steel

EspressoBot Comparison

Machine Overview

The Ascaso Steel Duo PID is a semi-automatic espresso machine priced at $1,725, while the ACS Minima, also semi-automatic, comes at a slightly higher price of $1,899. Both machines are designed for intermediate skill levels, catering to users who have some experience in brewing espresso. The choice between these two may depend on budget considerations as well as individual preferences for specific features.

Brewing Comparison

In terms of brewing information, the Ascaso Steel Duo PID utilizes a Thermoblock primary heating element and has a water reservoir capacity of 1.8 liters with a quick heat-up time of under 5 minutes. Conversely, the ACS Minima features a dual boiler system with a steam boiler capacity of 2.3 liters and a longer heat-up time of 5-15 minutes. Both machines employ a vibration pump and a 58 mm portafilter, delivering consistent espresso quality graded on group type (Ring for the Ascaso and E61 for the ACS). The material composition shows that the Ascaso uses a stainless steel-lined aluminum boiler while the ACS uses solid stainless steel.

Features Comparison

Key features of the Ascaso Steel Duo PID include auto shutoff, PID control, concurrent brew and steam functionality, and pre-infusion capability. The ACS Minima, while lacking an auto shutoff feature, offers similar PID controls and concurrent brewing and steaming, but does not support pre-infusion. Both machines are equipped with shot timers, solenoid valves, steam wands, and over-pressure valves, although the Ascaso has a 'no-burn' wand featuring for safer use. Despite some similarities, the differences in features can influence user experience and preferences.

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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