- 900-watt 16-bar pump espresso machine with simple Accu-read gauge and flip-switch controls
- Painted aluminum body; brass boiler and group; electronic thermofuse; dual temperature control system
- 2 brass filter holders accommodate ground coffee or ESE coffee pods; powerful hot water and steam supply
- Removable 44-ounce water tank; cup warmer; drip tray; safety thermofuse and steam pipe protector
- Measures 11 by 9-3/5 by 13-3/5 inches; 1-year warranty
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Product Details
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Product Description
The ASCASO DREAM-a wink to the past and a bet to the future. The "Crown Jewel" in the DREAM range in 100% hand polished aluminum fits in with absolutely any decor. Hand assembled 16 bar pump espresso machine adaptable for use with ground coffee or coffeeservings (ESE). Brass boiler (225cc capacity) and group has external strength (does not run out if the boiler runsout of water) and has two professional brass filter holders (one for ground coffee + one for pods),1.3 liter removable water tank, functional cup warmer, water level indicator, powerful hot water and steam supply(whips milk automatically, constant stem general system with high production), quick warm up time, 900 watts, coffee thermostat at 100oC, steam thermostat at 140oC. Painted aluminum body with polished base. Made in Spain from company with rich 40 year heritage in espresso business means dependability.
Customer Reviews
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
RIP Little Ascaso Dream,
By
This review is from: Ascaso DR.118 Dream 16-Bar-Pump Espresso Machine, Polished Aluminum (Kitchen)
Our little Ascaso just gave up the ghost, after less than four years of delicious daily cappuccino for my wife and me. We'll miss it. But we haven't decided how to replace it.
This machine was fully manual, which meant getting good coffee out of it was like getting a melody out of a Stradivarius. It took practice and patience. But once dialed in, ahh, the results were splendid. My wife could never get the foam just right, and never learned to give it enough time to cool down after making the foam without scalding the coffee. But I found all the right ways to make delicious espresso beverages of all types. I liked the machine, loved the design, tolerated the price, and the adored the coffee it made, but I can't give it the highest rating. Fairly early on the foam wand started leaking, just a little. Then the seals stopped sealing well which caused un-pressed coffee/water to leak around the brew basket into the cup (a repairable problem.) Then the temperature gauge stopped working - not really a big deal. But the death nail problem was the demise of the heating element. No heat, no coffee, no steam, no nothing. And even Seattle's espresso repair shop can't locate a replacement heating element. Will I buy another Ascaso, or try a different brand? I don't know yet. Did we get almost four years of good espresso out of a $650 (on sale at Starbucks in 2006) machine? Yep. Should we have gotten more years of service? I'd like to think so. Would my wife prefer to listen to a digital CD player (i.e. use a fully automatic machine) to learning how to play a musical instrument (like the Ascaso)? As long as I'm around to make the coffee, she doesn't care.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best purchase I've made over the last year.,
By
This review is from: Ascaso DR.118 Dream 16-Bar-Pump Espresso Machine, Polished Aluminum (Kitchen)
I purchased this machine about a year ago. It has been nothing but flawless, averaging between 2 and 4 uses a day. I am a barista at Starbucks and we get a chance to demo a lot of espresso machines that come through the store and this has been my favorite by far. The build quality is beautiful, all solid, high quality metals (the pictures do the machine absolutely no justice). Strange maybe to mention this, but even the packaging is great. Those Apple fans out there know that even good packaging can add to the experience. I also purchased an Ascaso Mini grinder which makes for a perfect pairing, the two machines next to each other look stunning. In the right hands, these machines can make a very robust espresso, including an impressive crema. Great cappuccino microfoam is also achieved with surprising ease. The possible learning curve is really the only drawback I can forsee with these machines. The grinder is infinitely adjustable, which is great but can take a lot of messing about to find the perfect setting. Possibly worth noting also is that the machine is moderately loud while pulling shots. The tamper that comes with the machine is a joke, so buy yourself a real tamper (most companies supply these "toy tampers" with their machines, so that wasnt a surprise). Although I got a great deal on the machine, I would happily pay the full price knowing what I know now. Anyone looking for a machine in this price range should place this at the very top of their list, and certainly look into the Ascaso Mini grinder to complete the package. I now push Ascaso's name to everyone I can.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful but flawed,
By
This review is from: Ascaso DR.118 Dream 16-Bar-Pump Espresso Machine, Polished Aluminum (Kitchen)
My wife and I purchased this espresso machine about 18 months ago. Although the finish and materials quality are excellent, I had my first inkling of trouble when the portafilter gasket dropped out of the housing. No amount of pressing could return it to its original state; I eventually gave up and lived with the small amount of water seepage around the filter basket. Otherwise the unit performed well, producing excellent quality, and presenting a handsome display on my kitchen counter.
Unfortunately, a few days ago the pump started acting up, no longer pushing water through the grounds and rendering the machine effectively useless. The machine was well out of warranty, so I attempted to find a suitable repair shop. Apparently, Ascaso has only certified one vendor in the United States -- a company in Washington State. When I contacted them to arrange shipment and repair, I discovered that it would be $72 to ship (and insure) the machine from California to the repair facility, $85 to look at and repair it, estimated $99 in parts, and another $72 to ship (and insure) the unit back. So, repairs would run about $328 -- a significant portion of the cost of a brand new unit! Needless to say, I opted to buy a new machine. Happily the vendor I purchased from (not Amazon.com) had its own lifetime warranty, and replaced the unit at no charge. I would recommend against buying this unit, unless you do so from a vendor who stands behind their products, or if you live in the Greater Seattle area and can drop the unit off at the repair facility yourself.
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