Do you like to prepare milk-based coffee drinks? Do you also like to brew espresso? Is your espresso maker unable to produce the same consistency for every shot? Or it doesn’t allow you to adjust brew temperatures? Then you need a espresso maker with double boilers. In this post, we like to share our list of the best dual boiler espresso machine.
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What is a Dual Boiler Espresso Machine?
On a dual boiler machine, there are two boilers. The brew boiler has a lower temperature. There is also a steam boiler that is at a high temperature.
Separating them will allow the user to control the temperature of the brew, ensuring a more consistent extraction. Thus, double boilers should always have a straight line temperature profile. Therefore, if the temperature of the brew is set at 90 degrees then the temperature of the extraction water will keep around 90 degrees with very little deviation from that temperature.
Best Dual Boiler Espresso Machine
Breville Dual Boiler Espresso Machine
One of the cheapest dual boiler espresso machine designed in Australia, Breville Dual Boiler has commercial features with great performance. The right temperature and pressure are key to making the perfect espresso. Dual stainless steel boilers are used to achieve this. A PID temperature sensor controls an espresso boiler, while a separate boiler provides powerful steam instantly when needed. Thus, a perfect cup of coffee can be produced by extracting your espresso shot at the optimal temperature, and steaming your milk to make a cafe-quality beverage simultaneously.
There is also another element of the group head that maintains the temperature in the entire system. There is also a feature known as over pressure valves on this machine. During extraction, this feature limits the maximum pressure, preventing bitter taste in the shot. Additionally, there is a low pressure pre-infusion feature that allows the grinds to expand gradually to allow for even extraction.
This machine will appeal to coffee geeks even more. The brew temperature, pressure, as well as the duration of the preinfusion are all programmable. This unit is easy to operate with its user-friendly LCD display. You can schedule the machine to preheat automatically using the Auto Start feature. There is a large 84 ounces water tank located on top. Additionally, there is a hot water outlet which allows you to quickly make an Americano and heat cups. You can also improve your barista skills with the shot clock and pressure gauge over time. With the steam wand, you can texture milk by hand, which will also enhance the flavor. A descaling function is also included for easy cleaning.
Related :
Best Espresso Machine With PID
Rancilio Silvia Pro Dual PID Double Boiler Espresso Machine
One of the smallest dual boiler espresso machine, Silvia Pro is Rancilio’s new single-group espresso makers in a compact design and has limited footprint. In the Silvia Pro, you have the high performance of Rancilio professional espresso machines combined with the robust simplicity of earlier Silvia model, giving you precise control over every shot. It is designed to deliver specialty cafe-quality espresso right at your fingertips.
It includes two independent stainless steel boilers, each with its own PID, one for heating water for brewing espresso, and one for heating hot water and steaming. With back-to-back brewing, you can steam and brew at the same time and froth milk as you pull a shot. The 1L steam boiler allows you to create barista-quality foam with professional steaming power. Whether you like lattes, cappuccinos, or flat whites, you can make them all. Through its internal PID, the Silvia Pro lets you set the water temperature precisely in both boilers, ensuring optimum temperature stability.
A brand new interface has been created for Silvia Pro in an effort to simplify the user experience. Integral digital display provides real-time temperature display, making it easier than ever to regulate the brew temperature. This machine also features programmable shot timing. A water level alert will notify you when the reservoir is empty. You can program your machine to wake up when you want it to be hot and ready. It comes with a 2-liter water tank that is easy to clean.
Quickmill QM67 Double Boiler Espresso Machine
This compact Quick Mill QM67 espresso machine features a double boiler and PID temperature control. This machine looks great on your counter and is made in Italy. This large three-liter reservoir is conveniently accessible with the hinged warming tray for easy refilling of the water tank without needing to remove it or move your cups. Low water sensors alert you when it’s time to refill your reservoir.
This sturdy E61 group features a midnight blue manometer that provides instant feedback to the user for easy monitoring of pressure in the pump and boiler. The expansion valve is easy to access underneath the cup warmer to allow you to adjust the pump pressure easily., A coin or a large flathead screwdriver will do for adjusting the pressure for the vibratory pump.
Each of the fully insulated stainless steel boilers is equipped with brushed stainless steel PIDs for precise temperature control of the internal boiler. QM67 also has easy to read blue LED display which show you important variables such as temperature of your coffee. The boilers are each independently controlled with their own power switch, so you can turn them on separately to save energy. The chrome plated brass group head keeps the temperature of the water constant between the boiler and the cup, ensuring the best espresso shot and minimal heat loss!
Related:
Best Heat Exchanger Espresso Machine
Common FAQs on Double Boiler Espress Machine
Dual boiler vs Heat Exchanger
Heat exchanger espresso machines keep the boiler water at a temperature just high enough for creating steam, around 255 – 265 degrees Fahrenheit. Water from the reservoir is siphoned into the steam boiler, which contains a heat exchange tube. Here water is flash-heated before being pumped into the group head for espresso extraction. To make your milk-based drinks, steam is pulled from the steam valve that is sits above the water as well as heat exchange tube. When a heat exchange machine sits idle for an extended period of time, it must be flushed with cooling fluid, but this is not the case with dual boiler machines.
Two boilers are used in a dual boiler espresso machine. A higher temperature is kept in the steam boiler for steam, while a lower temperature is kept in the brew boiler for espresso. PIDs are commonly found on dual boilers and allow you to achieve very precise temperature control. Because water temperatures create different flavor profiles for different coffee origins, PID allows users to adjust the temperature according to the type of coffee they are using.
Is Dual Boiler better than heat exchange espresso machine?
During the extraction process, heat exchangers will experience fluctuations in temperature. This is due to the new cold water replacing the hot water being used for espresso extraction. When brewing starts, the initial water already warmed up in the heat exchanger is used for the brewing. Then new cold water is channeled into the heat exchanger to replace this water. This new cold water will reduce the heat in the heat exchanger. This means your extraction will have a gradual reduction of temperature in the water used for brewing espresso. This means the espresso taste will be affected. If you are not particular about varying brew temperatures for espresso extraction and just like to brew milk-based drinks, this won’t be a concern to you. In fact, heat exchange espresso machines tend to cost a few hundred dollars cheaper.
