The Ascaso Baby T Plus is the top model in the espresso machine fleet of the Spanish company Ascaso. The thermoblock features an extra boiler for steam production and delivers water pre-heated via a heat exchanger. With the Ascaso Baby T Plus, Ascaso attempts to solve all the challenges of espresso preparation and place a modern and energy-efficient espresso machine right in the field of Italian stainless steel premium machines. And what can we say? While the first version of the machine still had many teething problems last year, the latest machine is on a real success trajectory.
The Baby T costs around 4,500 Swiss francs in Switzerland and around 4,300 euros in the eurozone. Attention: there are still many old models on the market that cost less and differ from the new model. This is evident, among other things, in the drip tray and the water tank.
The 40 kg heavy espresso machine with rotary pump and the option to be connected to the mains water supply is 35 cm wide, 43 cm deep and 45 cm high. It has a correspondingly large cup platform and is supplied in white, green, black, red, blue, yellow, or polished.
This article was completely revised after we were able to test the new version of the Ascaso Baby T Plus in autumn 2022. The original article was titled: Crash on the Innovation Track.
Buy Ascaso Baby T Plus
The following specialty retailers distribute the Ascaso Baby T Plus and we can recommend purchasing a machine from these businesses. They all offer to readjust the offset of the machine.
Germany: [Partner links] Stoll Espresso, Craft Coffee Gear, Bohnendealer, Lücke,
Austria:[Partner link] Bohnendealer
We search for specialist partners we know provide good work and good service. We are in close contact with the dealers. These are affiliate links. If you order through this link, it won't cost you any more, but we receive a small commission that we invest in new test equipment. We continue to work on this and are looking for competent partners for you in the DACH region.
Two Technology Worlds in One Espresso Machine
Ascaso demonstrated with the Steel Duo PID what temperature stability is possible with thermoblock espresso machines. Over time and from shot to shot, this espresso machine delivers outstanding precision. Added to this are the other advantages of low power consumption, only one third compared to Zweikreiser-Espressomaschinen. The heat-up time of under 5 minutes is another pro-argument for thermoblock technology. However, the Ascaso Steel Duo PID has a weakness. The thermoblock responsible for steam does not deliver the same frothing power as espresso machines with boilers in the same price range.
With the Baby T Plus, Ascaso wants to tackle exactly this room for improvement and equips the Baby T Plus with a 2.5 liter stainless steel steam boiler. And this approach pays off: the Ascaso Baby T Plus has reached the level of industry leaders such as GS3 or Victoria Arduino Prima when it comes to frothing performance.
It should be noted here, however: solutions would also have been available in the thermoblock world, which not only a Decent espresso machine but also the much more affordable models from Sage such as the Bambino Plus demonstrate with a Thermojet thick film heater. And Ascaso itself has a solution with the Duo PID. However, we agree: with the boiler, the machine is suitable for small gastronomic use, which we tested at the Swiss Coffee Festival.
The Boiler-Thermoblock Operating Principle
The brew water travels from the tank via a heat exchanger in the steam boiler, flows from there into the thermoblock to reach the set brew temperature. What appears sensible at first glance and is successfully implemented in other espresso machines with boilers, limited the performance in the first version of the machine. In fact, we based a large part of our criticism on this at the time. With the new version and adjusted controls, things look different.
Our problem with the first models of the Baby T Plus summarized:
- On the one hand, it was communicated that the Ascaso Baby T Plus also works with only a thermoblock, which we could not confirm.
- On the other hand, we missed the wonderfully fast heat-up performance of the thermoblock that we know from other Ascaso models.
Both difficulties are closely related.
The main problem was that the thermoblock alone, in conjunction with the speed of the Baby T Plus's rotary pump, could not generate enough temperature to bring the brew water to the target temperature.
This meant we had to wait for the boiler to heat up before the Baby T Plus was ready to use. And there was no thought of dispensing with the boiler, for example to reduce power consumption, since the desired brew temperature was not achieved at all. The possibility of doing exactly that when no milk is to be frothed was announced back then.
What Does the Ascaso Baby T Plus Update Bring?
It makes everything better. The thermoblock is now almost at temperature after five minutes, as we know from the best thermoblocks. Our measurement curves indicate that the desired temperature range is reached by the third shot. If you prefer it faster, you can also flush some water through the portafilter to heat it up. If you don't want to do that, you wait 8-10 minutes and the Ascaso Baby T Plus performs in the ideal and set temperature range.
During the shot itself, the machine tends to slightly overshoot at the beginning, aiming up to half a degree above the target temperature. That's something we'd like to see from Ascaso for the next control system upgrade.
Ascaso has also adjusted the communication. Yes, the boiler can still be turned off, but this is not recommended. While the machine can now reach the desired temperature range with a small trick when using only the thermoblock, it loses 3-4 degrees during the brew when using only the thermoblock (see chart "Without Boiler" in light blue). This is fine for some beans and is certainly a workable solution if the boiler fails, for example. However, it is not an optimal application for an espresso machine that actually has a strength in achieving precise brew temperature. We achieved the curve by adjusting the brew temperature from 93 to 96 degrees.
Great Espresso with the Ascaso Baby T Plus
We've had many great espressos with the Ascaso Baby T Plus, given its good brew temperature and overall performance. Even under high volume at the Swiss Coffee Festival, the machine was a lot of fun for us. However, Michel also replaced the baskets with an 24,5 IMS basket on the new model.
Build Quality of the Ascaso Baby T Plus
The Ascaso Baby T is a very beautiful espresso machine. Not only do the wood accents on the portafilter handle and the milk frother lever look elegant. The entire machine looks very high-quality and the body is flawlessly finished.
With the new version, the drip tray was also improved. It can now be moved far forward and then lifted straight out. With the old model, the drip tray had to be tilted in the machine, which meant the drip tray could only be about one third full. That was a mess! Now it's proper, although drip trays from espresso machines in this size could certainly have more volume. However, the machine can be connected to both a drain and mains water.
What is now included: a tamper that deserves its name and matches the beautiful wood look of the Ascaso Baby T Plus well.
A blank button next to the functional buttons is probably a cost compromise. This apparently came from another machine with a heated portafilter holder. For the Ascaso Baby T Plus, the label is there, but the button is not. Sorry, but for a machine at around €4,000 this seems inappropriate to us. However, the buttons for a barista light on the front and an option to switch on the cup warmer are present.
Conclusion and Potential
With the new version, the Ascaso Baby T Plus now delivers what we hoped for. It not only makes very good espresso, but also plays to the strengths of boiler and thermoblock.
The 2.5 liter boiler gives the machine very good steam performance, with which the machine doesn't have to hide behind any other espresso machine. The pressure doesn't drop even with continuous frothing, making the machine an interesting choice for gastronomy or espresso catering.
The thermoblock heats up quickly and now has enough energy to deliver the enormous advantage over boiler machines. Just five minutes after startup, the machine can reach its brew temperature. The Ascaso Baby T Plus is thus significantly faster at brew temperature than all other high-end espresso machines, such as the Linea Mini or GS3 from La Marzocco, the Victoria Arduino Eagle One Prima, and all other dual boiler espresso machines.
Overall: a great espresso machine that we see particularly for use under high volume and in small gastronomy or for the demanding home barista. The Ascaso Baby T Plus is really fun to use!
