Posts Tagged ‘Ascaso’Compare: Rancilio Silvia vs. Ascaso Dream UP
August 17th, 2011
For those of you looking to pick up a mid-range single boiler espresso machine, the Rancilio Silvia and the Ascaso Dream UP are two models worth investigating. Similar in function and price range, Gail walks us through their features and functionality, as well as what she likes and doesn’t like about them.  Selecting a Single Boiler Espresso Machine
June 13th, 2011
In our next round of updated buying guides, Gail takes us through several single boiler espresso machines under the $1k mark, giving us a basic overview and comparison of their features. She talks about the Saeco Aroma, Via Venezia & Sirena, the Francis Francis X7, the Rancilio Silvia, the Ascaso Dream & Uno Pro with [...] Espresso Machine Maintenance with Urnex
April 15th, 2011
Keeping your equipment sparkling clean is just as important as the freshness of your coffee and dialing in your grind & tamp — in fact, without the former, the latter will be an exercise in futility. If we have to tell you that rancid coffee oils will adversely impact the quality of your shot, we’re [...] What Makes for a Good Trade-in at Seattle Coffee Gear?
February 28th, 2011
Our espresso machine trade in and recycle program is pretty darn popular, but we often have folks requesting to trade in machines that just aren’t great candidates. The basic rules of thumb are that the machine has to have been manufactured within the past 5 years, is in perfect working order and is one of [...] Backflushing with Cafiza Tablets
December 13th, 2010
We have a wide array of cleaning products available — from descaler to milk frothing cleaner to backflushing detergent — and, admittedly, we sometimes get a little stuck in our ways. Machines with a three-way brew pressure release/solenoid valve (such as the Rancilio Silvia, La Spaziale machines, many of the Ascaso machines and any of [...] Compare: Francis Francis X1 vs. Ascaso Dream UP
September 27th, 2010
For the antique/retro lovers in the crowd, the X1 by Francis Francis and the Dream UP by Ascaso have an old school look without the old school technology. Gail takes us through the similarities and differences of these two single boiler espresso machines. Espresso Machine Storage Tips
September 17th, 2010
Leaving your machine alone for the winter? Need to store it or move it (by hand) to a new location? Gail gives us some tips on what you should do to prepare your machine so you limit the possibility of damage. Grinder Burr Test: Medium Roast vs. Dark Roast Beans
September 13th, 2010
While you won’t find us purporting that cleanliness is next to godliness, you will hear us talk about keeping your gadgets clean for the good of all involved. Because darker roasts (such as French or Italian) bring so much of the bean’s natural oil to the surface, we wondered how this impacts a grinder’s burrs: [...] Tech Tip: Adjusting Your Grinder More Finely
September 10th, 2010
A public service announcement from our technical department regarding the care & feeding of your burr grinder. Ascaso Dream UP: Boiler Refill & Temperature Surfing
August 13th, 2010
The most frequent repair issue we see on Ascaso Dream machines (both the older version and the new UP) is a burned out boiler. These machines are single boilers without an automatic boiler refill, so folks often burn out the boiler because they don’t pull enough fresh water into the boiler before trying to steam or brew. |
