Dual Boiler Espresso Machines

A dual boiler espresso machine has two independent boilers: a smaller one for brew water and a larger one for steam and hot water. Each runs at its own temperature, usually under PID control. You can pull a shot and steam milk at the same time, and change brew temperature without touching the steam side.

When you need one, and when you don't

A dual boiler makes sense if you make milk drinks often, several in a row, or if you like to change brew temperature from one coffee to the next, say between light and dark roasts. If you drink mostly espresso, a single boiler with PID can be enough and takes up less space; if you want to brew and steam together with one boiler, look at the heat exchanger machines among our semi automatic espresso machines. Many dual boilers, such as the Profitec Move 2.0 and the Lelit Bianca, also let you switch the steam boiler off.

How the models differ

There is no single best dual boiler espresso machine: it depends on how much milk you steam, how much space you have and how far you want to go with extraction.

• Boilers: from compact machines like the Profitec Move 2.0 (0.27L brew, 0.75L steam, ready in about 7 minutes) and the Lelit Elizabeth3 (0.2L and 0.6L), to the ECM Synchronika II and the Profitec Drive (0.75L and 2.0L), up to the Rocket R Nine One (1.9L and 3.6L). Bigger boilers give you more steam but take longer to heat up: the R Nine One needs 25 to 30 minutes.
• Pump: quiet rotary pumps on the Rocket R58, ECM Synchronika II and Profitec Drive, which can also be plumbed into the water supply; vibration pumps on the more compact Move 2.0 and Elizabeth3.
• Group head: E61 on the Rocket R58 Cinquantotto (0.58L and 1.8L boilers); the cartridge-heated ECM Core Heat group on the Synchronika II; a saturated group on the R Nine One and the Elizabeth3 (LELIT 58), for steadier group temperature.
• Shot control: the Lelit Bianca PL162T V3 has a paddle to adjust flow by hand; the Elizabeth3 five-step pressure profiles and the Pagaia paddle; the R Nine One up to 5 saved pressure profiles; the Move 2.0 Brew-by-Weight with compatible Bluetooth scales.
• Footprint: the Rancilio Silvia Pro X fits a dual boiler and two PIDs into a body 25cm wide.