- Great looking espresso machine. Very sleek industrial design, simple layout, all steel construction (the only plastic is the water container hidden at back of machine) - Very large/deep drip tray well hidden under grille, includes baffles so that water does not spill when moving it around - PID is the best part of the machine... Can adjust your temperature for shots very easily. - Hot water button allows for easy access to hot water for tea, cup warming, or dropping temperature in boiler quickly - Excellent quality shots (once I got my grinder properly adjusted) - Comes with tons of accessories, including aluminum tamper, coffee scoop, 2 steam wand attachments, and pod holder. - Great microfoam can be made using the 3 hole steam wand attachment
Negative Product Points
- Instructions that come with the machine are pretty basic.. Looks like they do one manual for the entire Ascaso line of products. As each machine is different, the guide is next to useless. Best to just go on youtube and look for product reviews for the machine to see how it works. - Single boiler means waiting 30-40 seconds for steam temperature to rise after pulling shot in order to get great steam for microfoam. However, having the PID lets you know the temperature instantly.
Detailed Commentary
I was considering the Sylvia as well, and am so very happy we went with this machine. I love the looks, but more importantly, am blown away by the quality of the shots we have been pulling. Glad that the folks at Morala suggested this machine and Ascaso grinder over the Sylvia/Rocky combo. I liked the look of the Sylvia as well, but the Sylvia has more plastic parts and no way of knowing the temperature.. Would have been resigned to surfing or installing an aftermarket PID. Were able to get the Uno Pro with PID and a great i-Steel flat burr grinder for only a 50-60 dollars more for the combo than the Sylvia/Rocky combo.
Buying Experience
- Excellent pre and post-sales service from Morala in Ottawa - Were very happy to be able to see, touch the machines in the Ottawa showroom. - Would highly recommend Morala to anyone looking to buy a machine in Ottawa.
Three Month Followup
- Still very happy with the machine. Mechanically very sound, no issues with any of the parts. - It took a few weeks of tinkering, adjusting grind, learning how to use, but am now able to consistently pull very tasty shots daily. - Have not been able to create great microfoam from the frothing attachment to try making art. I have read many reviews that suggest the machine is not great for making art-quality microfoam. - Easy to use, easy to clean up after use. - The PID is fantastic to ensure consistency. - Still highly recommend the product!
