Crew Review: Ascaso Baby T Plus

The Ascaso Baby T Plus is an exciting way to bring what is essentially a commercial machine into a home kitchen without needing all of the space of a cafe to work with. This machine features a robust commercial thermoblock heating system that provides lightning fast PID controlled water heating and always fresh brew water. The machine pairs this thermoblock with a 2.3L steam boiler, giving it incredibly impressive steam power that works right alongside the brewing system. Temperatures across the board are rock solid, and between that fast heating brewing and generous steam capabilities you’ll be brewing like a pro in no time on the Baby T Plus - literally. This machine even has plumbing capability thanks to its rotary pump, so you can get those drinks without constant trips to the sink for more water. Rounding out the package is a host of smart controls features that you can set on the machine itself or in the app, including auto-on and off times, temperature control, preinfusion, and shot volumes for each of its 3 brew buttons

Key Features:

• Commercial Thermoblock - The Baby T is built around Ascaso's commercially-rated thermoblock, which promises fast, accurate temperatures and always-fresh brew water.
• PID Temperature Control - Electronic temperature probes offer to-the-degree accuracy for both thermoblock and steam boiler settings.
• Large Steam Boiler - An outsized 2.3-liter steam boiler handles any milk-frothing needs.
• Programmable Shots - The Baby T offers both programmable preinfusion and shot volumes for each of its 3 brew buttons.
• Smart Features - Control auto-on and -off times, set temperatures, and run cleaning programs directly on the machine or through the bluetooth-connected app.
• Plumbable - The Ascaso Baby T's ETL certification also means it can be plumbed with the addition of a drain kit.

What We Cover in This Crew Review

• What makes this machine noticeably heavier than other Ascaso models — and why that's actually a good sign
• The app is shockingly simple (in the best way)
• A dedicated 2.3L steam boiler that heats up in ~10 minutes and absolutely does not mess around
• Real-time workflow: pulling an espresso, an Americano, and a latte back-to-back to show how this machine handles volume
• A few setup things to know before it arrives (outlet requirements, water reservoir seating, direct-plumb option)

Our video review highlights some of the key features of the Ascaso Baby T Plus, including its weightier feel compared to other Ascaso models. We touch on the simplicity of the machine's app, its steam power, and its other commercial features. This includes some info about the controls, programming, and power of this impressive espresso maker. We also run down making a few drinks on this machine so you can see it in action, from shots to lattes (with an americano in between). Lastly, we've got some key details to know for those waiting for their Baby T Plus to arrive, including information on power draw, where the plumbing feeds into it, and other important things for new owners to keep in mind.

Meet the Ascaso Baby T Plus

• Industrial build, approachable interface — bright PID and timer displays, backlit buttons, and a steam lever that just feels right to use
• Available in matte white, matte black, and full chrome
• Brewing: thermoblock with PID temperature control | Steam: dedicated 2.3L boiler — two separate systems, so you're not waiting on one to catch up to the other
• Standard 58mm portafilter with a solid basket selection included out of the box
• 2L side-loading water reservoir (easy to access, easy to refill) or direct-plumb via the app
• Three steam tips included — 2-, 3-, and 4-hole. The 4-hole is the move once you're comfortable with the machine's output
• Notable omission worth flagging for buyers: no flow control on this machine

Everything above is nice on paper, but how does this machine actually handle in the real world? First of all, it looks great. The interface is bright and clear, and this machine really splits the difference between big and clunky and too cramped to enjoy working with. We found that fitting a scale onto the workspace is a breeze for dialing in your shots, and much easier than trying to use the apps volume programming, but it's nice that there are tools in the app for this as well. The commercial thermoblock on this machine is no joke, with heat up times in just a couple of minutes you won't have to wait long at all to get brewing. The steam boiler delivers truly impressive power, also on par with many commercial offerings. In fact, we found that the variety in included steam tips was key for getting used to working with the machine. The four-hole tip delivers a big enough blast of steam that newer users may opt for the two or three hole tip as they get used to using the wand. For those looking to monitor energy use, there is an eco mode available that will keep the machine on but in a lower power state, using less energy while also improving heat up times even further.

The Ascaso Baby T Plus comes with three different portafilters, which include a single spout, dual spout, and bottomless. It's nice to see a bottomless portafilter included given the cost of the machine, as this is often an accessory you have to buy separately. All three portafilters feature wood handles and are 58mm - the commercial standard, and a perfect fit for most accessories. Water on this machine is side loaded, with a 2L reservoir, with plumbing access on the back of the machine. The Baby T Plus is available in matte white, matte black, and chrome, and all three colorways offer a striking industrial look.

The one thing we wish this machine had is flow control, as this is becoming a relatively common feature on high end espresso machines. With that said, it's just not a feature that everyone cares about, and the more traditional volumetric brewing on the Baby T Plus is very impressive, so we don't miss the fine tuning all that much, especially for real world, day-to-day use. Ultimately this machine excels at what it sets out to do - deliver commercial performance in a more manageable footprint. For that we can't recommend it enough for the ultra high-end enthusiast.

Watch the Full Review

See the full Crew Review on YouTube — we brew an espresso, an Americano, and a latte back-to-back so you can watch the workflow in real time before you decide.