Compare Machines


	Flair	Ascaso
MSRP
MSRP	$325	$1725
Skill Level
Skill Level	Beginner	Intermediate
Type
Type	Manual	Semi-Automatic
Heating Element
Heating Element	Not Applicable	Thermoblock
Portafilter Size
Portafilter Size	45 mm	58 mm
Activation
Activation	Lever	Toggle Switch
Pump Type
Pump Type	Not Applicable	Vibration
Heat-Up Time
Heat-Up Time	Not Applicable	< 5 Minutes
Brew Boiler Capacity Note: The Pro 2 requires an external source of water Note: The Steel Duo PID pulls brew water directly from reservoir
Brew Boiler Capacity	Brew: Not Applicable Note: This machine requires an external source of water	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	0.1 L - Reservoir	1.8 L - Reservoir
Boiler Material
Boiler Material	Stainless Steel	Stainless Steel-lined Aluminum
Brew Group Material
Brew Group Material	No Information	No Information
Hot Water
Hot Water	No	Yes
Steam Wand
Steam Wand	No	Yes
No-Burn Wand
No-Burn Wand	No	Yes
PID Temperature Control
PID Temperature Control	No	Yes
Pre-Infusion
Pre-Infusion	Yes	Yes
Shot Timer
Shot Timer	No	Yes
Concurrent Brew Steam
Concurrent Brew Steam	No	Yes
Flow Control
Flow Control	Yes	No
3 Way Solenoid
3 Way Solenoid	No	Yes
Brew Pressure Guage
Brew Pressure Gauge	Yes	Yes
Steam Pressure Guage
Steam Pressure Guage	No	No
Over Pressure Valve
Over Pressure Valve	No	Yes
Integrated Grinder
Integrated Grinder	No	No
Weight
Weight	3.2 kg	15 kg
Material
Material	Die-Cast Aluminum	Carbon, Stainless Steel

EspressoBot Comparison

Machine Overview

Machine 1, the Flair Pro 2, is a manual espresso machine priced at $325, making it budget-friendly and suitable for beginners. In contrast, Machine 2, the Ascaso Steel Duo PID, is a semi-automatic machine with a higher price tag of $1,725, targeting users with intermediate skills. These distinctions in price and skill level highlight the different target audiences for each machine.

Brewing Comparison

In terms of brewing information, the Flair Pro 2 utilizes a lever activation method and does not have a primary or secondary heating element, with a heat-up time that is not applicable. Conversely, the Ascaso Steel Duo PID features toggle switch activation, a Thermoblock primary heating element, and achieves heat-up in under 5 minutes. The Ascaso machine also employs a vibration pump type and a water reservoir capacity of 1.8 liters, whereas the Flair has a significantly smaller water reservoir of 0.1 liters. This makes the Ascaso more suited for multi-cup brewing.

Features Comparison

Regarding features, the Flair Pro 2 lacks auto shutoff and additional conveniences, but includes pre-infusion capability and a boiler pressure gauge. On the other hand, the Ascaso Steel Duo PID includes an auto shutoff feature, PID control for precise temperature management, concurrent brew and steam functionality, and hot water dispensing capabilities. The Ascaso also comes equipped with a steam wand and features like a shot timer, which makes it more versatile for various brewing techniques.

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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