Cool video! I have the same machine since November and use it every day too for a couple of lattes in the morning and a couple in the afternoon for me and my wife, really enjoying it so far. I usually pull the shots first, then steam the milk. Having to wait for it to get to steam temperature also annoys me a bit, but I'd also buy this machine again because it generally works great and it's so beautiful!
Thank you Giovanni! That’s cool to hear you also have this machine and it works great for you and your wife 😊☕️ When I try to do the shots first, the crema usually disappears by the time the steam gets to temp and I froth the milk. I would also buy this machine again because it works great and looks awesome on the counter. But if I have a little more money I would also upgrade to have the ability to steam and brew at the same time. Thanks again for the comment and I hope you are subscribed to the channel and will check out other videos 👍😊
@@miguelperez710 Thank you very much for the comment. I’m glad that this video helped you make a decision. Please let me know how you like your new machine. If you aren’t already subscribed to the channel it would be great if you could do so. Thank you very much have a nice day 👍😊☕️🥳
@@CafeLomez the crema really does not disappear it just get re absorbed by the coffee solids. It does not hurt the taste at all. In fact I pull a double shot drink one and go back later ( 15 - 20 minutes ) make the other drink still tastes great.
thank you for the excellent review. i have been looking at home espresso machines for several months and this one is still on my list. i have purchased 3 machines - under 400 each - and all of them no longer work. So, this time I want one that is of quality and makes commercial quality espresso.
Thank you for taking the time to comment. I’m sorry to hear your previous machines no longer work. Hopefully this review helps and if you upgrade to a machine that’s a little more expensive and also of better build quality it will last longer. It would be awesome if you could subscribe to my channel and check out some other videos. Thank you! 👍😊
Thanks Justin! Nice review. This is the machine I am considering and good to know your 1 yr review and how you actually use it. You deserve more subscribers and I am making myself #76! Cheers!
You’re welcome and thank you! I’m glad to hear the review is helping your decision making. My experience with this machine has been very good so far and it’s still going strong 👍 I appreciate you subscribing for number 76! Please check out some of my other videos and I hope the channel will take off soon. I’m trying to stay optimistic. Have a great day and please let me know if you have any other comments or questions 👍😊
I have bambino plus and the workflow is so much simpler. It takes about 3 seconds to go from brew to steam. Also warms up in 3 seconds. So the workflow. Warm up machine (3 second), run a blind shot through filter to warm up filter and cup while grinding the coffee into dosing cup (25 seconds), prep pack (15 seconds), brew 25 seconds and auto steam milk another 30 seconds (while getting rid of used coffee). So maybe 2 minutes from cold machine to pretty good coffee and good quality milk.
That is great to hear the bambino plus works faster. I would consider that for future use on the road or when wanting a fast espresso. However, in my opinion, the Ascaso Dream or any of their machines for that matter look a lot better on the shelf and have a sturdier build quality. The bambino plus is around the $500 price point and I'd be interested in how long they last versus the machines at a higher price point.
I have the Bambino and it workls great as well. I want to upgrade but everything I want to go with requires longer warmup times etc... Was going to go with this one but now not so certain. lol
Thanks for the video. I'm starting to look for an espresso machine as an upgrade from my Delonghi Dedica, and this looks like the perfect one for me. The small footprint and controllability looks great, and milk steaming is only something I do occasionally, so the inconvenience there isn't a big deal for me. I just need to save up enough money. :)
Thank you very much for the comment and I’m glad to have helped! Please subscribe and check out some more videos! I’m starting a mobile coffee truck and will start posting more videos soon! 😊👍🥳
I thank you very much for this video. I love the design of this machine and think that it meets all the requirements for a good espresso machine. Your video made my decision to buy this product easier. Thanks again, many greetings from old Europe and sorry for my bad English. All the best! : )
Hello Carlos! Thank you very much for the comment and I’m happy you enjoyed the video. It’s a great machine and I’m sure you and anyone else that buys it will be satisfied. I’m not sponsored or anything it’s just my humble opinion. I appreciate you supporting my channel and hopefully you will enjoy some of my other videos as well 👍😊☕️
Hey, thanks for this great review!! I'm thinking about buying the Ascaso, but I still have a few doubts and I would like to ask you a few questions: - Is a lungo or a little more (60-80ml) possible, does the temperature remain stable? - I have my water filter in the fridge, so the water in the water tank is cold when I fill it up. To me it would be logical if that affects the output temperature, do you know if that is correct? - If I want to switch between dark and light roast for two shots and adjust the temperature with the PID, how long do I have to wait until it is stable at the new temperature? - What do you think of the workflow for a cappuccino (I rarely make it, only for visitors), is it rather frustrating or is it okay? I'm especially thinking about the wait after the shots (is the crema still good?) - There are various reports in several forums about suddenly occurring problems, for example the solenoid valve. Can you say something about the quality and durability of the machine? very big thank for your work, would be a pleasure to hear from you! Greetings
Thank you very much for watching and leaving the comment and questions. I’ll try my best to answer. In general, if you are making 1-3 drinks in a 20-30 minute time window you will be fine with this machine. If you made like 5 lungos in a row, I don’t think the dream would be able to keep the temp stable. If you have ice cold water in the tank it will only impact the output temp if you run it for more than a minute. Again, if you are just making yourself a drink or one friend it will be fine. But this machine will not be able to handle a larger workflow. It takes about 20 seconds per degree after you change the temp on the PID. I’ve started pulling the shot and then having the machine steam the milk. It takes about 1 minute and I still have plenty of creama. I usually find the creama will be okay for up to 3 minutes or maybe a little longer. So, it’s okay if you’re making one or two caps. But if you wanted to do more it wouldn’t be logical and you’d want a dual boiler machine or something. I havent had any issues with my machine but I can’t speak for others. I only make a few drinks per day and make sure to clean it on a regular basis. If you use it more and don’t maintain it properly there is a good chance it will break. I hope this answers some of your questions and you are subscribed to the channel and will check out more videos.
I also have this machine in Aluminum Finish.. I quite agree with you on all points. I will however point out that I drink a bit more coffee than you. I pull two double shots every morning, and sometimes I have another in the afternoon. All that said - for the money this machine does all I need. Most times I drink Americano drinks so I do not steam much milk. When I do make Latte drinks I will flush the group with water to cool down the group before I pull the shot. I think it actually cools down a little faster as well. Give that a try.
Hello Gary, thank you very much for the comment and subscribing! I love coffee but if I have that much I won’t be able to sleep haha this machine is great and does pretty much everything you need for a home set up. I will try your trick to cool it down a little faster. I’m excited to do more videos and get another machine soon. It would be great if you could check out some of my other videos on the channel. Thank you very much! 👍😊🥳
Such a great coffé maker for it’s price point. With the right beans this produces one of the best double espressos I have ever tried. 10/10 Buy Ascaso with great pride knowing you chose one of the best!
Thank you for the comment Lukas! I agree with you and love this machine ☕️ I would appreciate if you would subscribe to my channel and check out some other videos.
Thank you very much! Im pretty sure I helped you and your husband check in yesterday with your grand design imagine 2670mk. Since that is the same model I’m in it would be cool to hear if you have a coffee set up or drink area?
Hi, great review. I like that this machine has a quality theromoblock instead of a boiler, mainly for its fast warmup... People tend to associate "thermoblock" with lower quality, but in the case of Ascaso it's as good or better than any Italian brands... It makes perfect sense to go with this kind of machine for home use for a couple of drinks a day... My question to you is the following: would you say a Dream PID is enough, or should I consider the Steel Duo PID (for its dual thermoblock)? A couple of drinks a day, and from time to time coffees for friends and family... Any other brands I should consider? Thanks!
Hello and thank you very much for the comment and question! Yes, this machine heats up very quickly compared to the boilers. I have a linea mini and it takes around 15 minutes to heat up. To answer your question, I think the dream pid would be enough unless you are making more than 2 drinks at once that will require the steam wand. It will be annoying either have to hurry and steam multiple pitchers at once or to have to go back and forth to brew and steam that will take time. So, if you are usually only doing 1-2 drinks it will be okay. But if you want to do more than 3 in less than 10 minutes you should get the Steel Duo. I hope that answers your question and you will become a subscriber and check out more videos! Thank you 😊
I love this machine. I brew at 203. I really need to try to get milk in my flow. I just hate milk so much. Do you think a 3 to 1 espresso yield to milk ratio would allow me to crawl, walk, run my way into milk?
Thank you for watching and the comment! My favorite part of coffee is experimenting and dialing in. I keep a log with brew temp, grind settings, dosing, brew time, volume yield, and most importantly my flavor and overall rating. I will then make small adjustments to keep making it better and better. So, to answer your question…yes, I think that would be a good start. But if it’s not perfect, keep practicing and making small adjustments. Try different ratios, frothing techniques, and different milks. Low fat, 2%, whole, will all give different textures and flavors. You can also try almond, soy, oat milks. You can experiment for flavor, texture, latte art, etc. Please let me know how it goes and I would appreciate if you are a subscriber and check out my other videos 😊👍🥳
Hi Justin, thanks for the video. I’m looking at purchasing my first espresso machine. What machine you suggest for brewing and steaming at the same time (2 heating elements)?
You’re very welcome! I hope you will become a subscriber to my channel and check out some other ideas. I would suggest the profitec pro 300 or you can check out this other video with a great breakdown…ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-g9RmgLzBUGM.html
Thanks for the video. Own an older Ascaso dream (2007) and a delonghi dedica ec685. I prefer the look of the dream, but the for me the dedica works better. Mostly due to the fact that it has continious steam power to steam 3 cups of Milk (3×200ml) and make a flatterende white coffe afterwards. My question will be: does the ascaso dream pid have enough steam power to steam 600 ml to 60 degrees with out having to loose steam power or wait. Thanks in advance for your reply, br Jens
Hello Jens and thank you for the comment and question! I agree that the steam wand power on the ascaso machines isn’t the greatest. I just purchased a Linea Mini and the power is much stronger than the dream. To answer your question, the dream steam wand has a safety limit cut off after 3 minutes. So, if you are able to steam your milk in that time you should be okay. But if it takes longer than 3 minutes it will shut off and you won’t be able to do it. I usually steam 400 ml of milk at a time and haven’t had any issues. I wouldn’t think 600 ml would be a problem if you do it as quickly as possible so it doesn’t last over 3 minutes. I hope you will subscribe to my channel and check out more videos! Thank you very much!
@@CafeLomez Hi Justin, Thanks for your fast reply. Your answer is most interesting. Is the steam power linear during steaming or does it drop while steaming the 400 ml? Thanks in advance for your reply, Br Jens
@@jenserlingjensen5972 you’re welcome Jens! The steam wand power is mostly constant for the entire 3 minutes. However, after using the machine for about 5 months it started to pulse in power or flutter air while steaming. After I descale the machine, this will help a little with a more constant steam power for about a month and then I need to descale again. If I have the machine a grade it would be around B+ or A- and to me it’s worth the money and I recommend it.
@Justin D'Agostino thanks again! Sounds good in muy ears, don't have a problem with scale in muy machines. In reviews the ascaso dream pid has proven to have a constant temperature brewing 5 espresso after each other. Will have to go to the shop to look at it. Thanks again, and have a fantastic weekend when it comes , br Jens
Have you reference to compare with Gaggia Clássic ?? (Sorry for my English) Tendrias referencia de comparación con la Gaggia Clássic pro? Que diferencias puede tener aparte del PID?
Thank you very much for the comment! Merry Christmas and I hope you are subscribed to my channel. Here is a comparison reference www.gaggia-na.com/products/gaggia-classic-pro
this machine has been beaten with profitec since profitec go released. this video clearly demonstrate that dream required additional cups to play with stream and hot water this means diptray is too small for usage. Even steam wand connected to puckbox. polished aliuminium care not such easy as well. small water tank is advantage for fast water circulation if 1-2 cups per day desired.
Thank you for the comment and it might be true the functionality of the profitec go might have some advantages. However, I don’t think they are enough to justify how ugly the go is compared with the dream. For a home machine, style is very important especially when the machine takes up space usually on a kitchen counter. I would give the dream a score of 7/10 functionality but 10/10 for style. The go might have 8/10 functionality but its style is a 6/10 at best.
I have the Bambino plus and I"m looking to upgrade, had it going on 3 years now. What I "think" I don't like about the Bambino, it doesn't have the analog pressure gauge. The Bambino was my first purchase into the world of espresso, and I"m still learning. I feel like I want more "tools" to get the most out of my shots. I have Baratza Sette 270Wi grinder, so I think I"m good there for a decent grinder. So My question would be how often are you using the analog pressure gauge in crafting your shots?
Hello Jamie, thank you for the comment! The bambino plus is a good machine but you are correct the analog pressure gauge is an awesome feature to have. To answer your question, I use the gauge on every shot. I make sure it’s at least 8 bars and no more than 10. I also measure flow rate to make sure my ratio is at least 1:1.5 in 28-32 seconds. This let’s me know if I need to adjust my grind size, dose amount, or tamping. I’ve just entered a new realm and bought a linea mini for my coffee truck. I’m going to feature this in a video soon. It operates differently and is set to always brew at 9 bars of pressure and the user just needs to adjust dose, grind, and tamping for good results. I hope you will subscribe to my channel and check out other videos! Have a great day! 😊
Thank you very much for the comment and I hope you are subscribed to the channel. In terms of functionality the two machines are almost identical. The next big difference in the ascaso line is the steel duo that has 2 heating elements. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-gcdq-nmhENg.html
Hello Michael thank you for the comment! The valve controls the max pressure the machine will reach. I usually set it around 11. But for the non pressurized baskets, the key to reach a desired pressure is grind size and dose amount. If there is a coarse grind and low dose it won’t reach a high pressure. However, if you have a very find grind and large does the pressure will be very high.
I've got Dream and I hate it! It is broken most of the time. And I know I am not the only one with this problem. I've got it for the last 3 years (previous model without PID), and after one year various details started to fail. I already changed two time this knob to steam the milk, because it has some fabric issue in this model (I hope only in this model...). And it is a bit hard to sustain the same coffee quality every time I do coffee. So although I love this design I decided to change it into something more reliable.
Thank you for taking the time to share your comment. I’m sorry to hear you e had so many issues with the Dream. What machine have you changed to? I’ve recently opened a coffee truck and bought a Linea Mini. I’m going to post a video about it soon. I think it’s too big for home use but they just came out with a smaller version of it called the Linea Micra. It’s pretty expensive but I think it looks good and the quality is probably super solid. I hope you will subscribe to my channel and check out some of my other videos. Thank you and have a great day 😊
The Dream prior to the Dream with PID did have some problems. I am going on 2 years with mine and have zero problems. I did change the group seal once and the screen - took all of 5 minutes to do.
I think with either machine you will have a great experience. Some things to consider…1) I’m pretty sure the breville has the smaller 54 mm portafter and this has the larger. 2) I like to have a seperate grinder with more control over size of grind. 3) I think the ascaso dream looks a lot better. 4) the ascaso is more expensive and the breville will save you even more if you won’t have to purchase another grinder. I hope these ideas help you make up your mind. I also hope you are or will subscribe to my channel. Thank you very much! 👍😊
You’re welcome and thank you for the comment. What kind of coffee set up do you have? I am trying to build this channel and would appreciate it if you could subscribe. Thank you very much 😊👍
Hello Josephine, thank you for the question. As far as I know, the steam temp is set by ascaso and can’t be adjusted. I could be wrong but that is what I’ve read and there is not an adjustment on the pid for steam temp. If anyone else has more information please reply to this comment and it might change in the future if ascaso has an update to the machine. I hope that you have subscribed to my channel and will check out other videos. Thank you and have a great day! 😊
You’re very welcome and these are the Acme Evo Demitasse Cup of different sizes. I bought them from Seattle coffee gear www.seattlecoffeegear.com/acme-evo-demitasse-cup I hope you are subscribed to my channel and will check out other videos! Thank you and have a great day!
you forgot to factor in your stop at tiffanny´s on the way to the coffee shop! those diamonds increase the cost of coffee exponentially! you can easily justify a La Marzocco with that!!!
Hello Viet-long Ho, thank you for the comment! My grinder doesn’t have pre set settings so I just keep turning the size knob until it gets to an output grind that is pretty close to powder in texture. The shot size basket I use suggests 21 grams but I usually fill it with 20 so I don’t have to worry about it spilling too much. Then I use a distribution tool and finally tamp. I dial in the grind size and tamping so that when I pull a shot it yields around 40 grams of liquid espresso with 5 seconds of pre infusion and total shot time of 28-35 seconds. The crema is also dependent on the beans as how and when they were roasted as well as how I store them. If you haven’t already, I would really appreciate it you would subscribe to my channel and check out some more of my videos! Thank you very much! 👍😊☕️
Thank you very much! Sure I can make a video on how to program it. That video will most likely be a short because it is very easy. Could you please subscribe to my channel and turn on notifications so you can watch once it’s posted? Thank you very much 👍😊
The Steel DUO PID is a great espresso machine that has 2 thermoblocks so you can brew and steam at the same time but it costs over $1,700. So, I would consider that machine to be in a higher budget category. If you want another suggestion for something around $1200 I would go with the Diletta Mio Espresso Machine.
@@woroud3823 I’m using the linea mini for my coffee truck. It’s very expensive (almost $6,000) and will need to last me a long time before I would say it’s worth it. But so far it’s been working great. If it keeps going for a few more years then I will say it’s worth it. They also just came out with a smaller version called the micra but it’s also pretty expensive.
@@woroud3823 the beans, roast, grind, puck prep, are all very important factors that impact taste and overall coffee experience. The main thing with the machines is how consistent they are at temperature, pressure, etc. also how many functions they have, size, look, that sort of thing.
Hello Doug, thank you for the question. It is not a set pressure but has an adjustable max pressure screw. You put in the blind filter and turn it on until it reaches its max and then you can adjust it by screwing to the left or right if you want more or less. I set the max to 11 bars. But when I grind the beans and tamp I want to make sure it flows through around 9 bars for the majority of the shot.
Thank you very much! It is the Eureka Mignon notte. Here is the link for the grinder www.seattlecoffeegear.com/eureka-mignon-notte-espresso-grinder I hope you are subscribed to the channel and will check out more videos 😊👍 Have a great day!
Hello Marie, thank you very much for the comment. When I have made the espresso shot first and then wait 1-3 minutes for the machine to heat up to steam the milk, the crema is usually almost gone from the top of the espresso. So, it’s either have to worry about waiting for the crema to disappear or to have to reincorporate the texture of the milk. I hope that you will subscribe to my channel and watch other videos 😊 thank you very much!
I’m looking at the Ascaso Steel Uno or Duo. The Uno is basically the very same machine as your Dream just a different aesthetic. Duo comes with a 2nd thermoblock for steaming so there’s no waiting for the temp to come back down. I’ve been on the fence about how annoying the single thermoblock might be. Might sound funny but the reason I don’t want the Duo is because they changed the UNO’s beautiful wood steam adjuster to the world’s ugliest giant button. If I go for the Duo I think I might have to get a wood button made to replace the ugly stock one lol. Sounds like maybe it’s worth the hassle to get the second thermoblock though.
Hello Ethan! Thank you very much for the thoughtful comment. I agree that the Steel Uno is very similar with its functionality to the Dream but I think the dream looks better. If you have the extra money to purchase the Duo you will have the ability to steam and brew at the same time 👍☕️ and I think it’s worth it. It might be a little extra money and work to change the button to the wood style you want but it sounds like you’ll be happy with that set up. I really appreciate you watching this video and providing feedback!
Hi ! I have also the Ascaso Dream , and if you are going to make a lot of milk preparations i recommend getting the DUO or another kind of machine ( with Heat exchanger) , for example the Lelit MaraX its a greeat machine, with HX and you can steam and make coffee at the same time. Sorry for my English, im from Argentina :) .
@@juans1988 hello Juans! Thank you very much for your comment! I agree that when doing milk prep it would be much better to have the Duo to be able to brew and steam simultaneously. If I can put together some more money I would love a machine that can do both. Also, your English is great! 👍😊
Haha thank you for the comment and subscribing Acer! That is a good idea about buying my own cow for milk. I’m currently starting a food truck and talking with local farmers to get the best milk I can find. I’m also trying to make benigets and will need local butter and eggs. Please keep an eye out for new videos in the coming weeks where I will post updates on this. 👍😊🥳 thank you again for the support. Hopefully this channel will grow soon thanks to people like you 😎
Hello Iris! Thank you very much 😊👍☕️ I am trying to put out more videos and build my channel. It would be great if you could subscribe if you haven’t already and tell your friends and family about it if they like 🥳
It’s a beautiful machine and for the most part I think it works great for home use. I’m opening up a mobile coffee truck and will need something more commercial grade and have a linea mini on the way soon. I will do a new video on it soon. Please subscribe to the channel for more content. Thank you! 😊👍🥳
Thanks for the one year review. I think there’s too many cons. One big con is that the drip tray is too small, and difficult to take out without spilling. Also because you can’t pull a shot and then steam milk directly after or vice versa, means your espresso shot goes flat, or the milk separates if you’re doing that first. It looks good, but for me it really isn’t very good for convenience and workflow, so I won’t be purchasing this one.
Hello Liz, thank you for the comment and I apologize that the music distracted you. Is there a particular jingle or song that bothered you? I have several background tracks through the video that start and end at various points that correspond with what I am explaining about the machine. I tried to select music and balanced the levels to still be able to hear my voice. This is the first comment about it being an issue but I appreciate the feedback and will consider this for future videos so it won’t be a distraction. I would appreciate if you gave some of my other videos a look and see if others are helpful or entertaining to you. Thank you again for taking the time to comment! 👍😊
Thanks for watching and leaving a comment. If you have the same machine and can provide a video with a more efficient workflow I would like to see because I haven’t found a way to do any better.
Yes, the dream has a single thermoblock heating element. My new machine is a Linea Mini that has a double boiler that allows me to brew and steam at the same time.
@@KingMinosxxvi haha yes it’s a big upgrade! I use the linea mini in my coffee truck Cafe Lomez. It can make 50 drinks a day and as long as I keep it clean seems to handle it no problems. I’m going to make a video on it soon.
