LA SPAZIALE ESPRESSO MACHINES: BEST OF THE BEST (REVIEWS)
La Spaziale offers a popular line of prosumer and commercial espresso machines that deserve your attention.
Here are my picks for the four best La Spaziale espresso machines based on personal experience and conversations with professional baristas. With two targeted for coffee shops and two for home use, I’m sure one has the right specs to meet your needs. Read on to discover which!
At A Glance:
- OUR TOP PICK: Dream
- BEST FOR CAFES: S9 EK DSP
- BEST FOR HOME: Vivaldi II
The 4 Best La Spaziale Espresso Makers
La Spaziale makes commercial and prosumer espresso makers suitable for everything from busy cafes to avid home baristas. Choosing the model for you is a matter of finding the right blend of capacity and functionality. I’ll help you out with a short review of each machine, followed by a detailed buyer’s guide.
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Dream |
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Vivaldi II |
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S9 EK DSP |
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S2 Spazio 2G TA Volumetric |
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1. Dream
Boiler size: 0.45 L brew and 2.5 L steam
- Boiler material: Copper and Brass
- Dimensions (HxWxD): 15.1” x 16.3” x 16.3”
- Pump: Rotary
La Spaziale’s two popular prosumer espresso makers, the Dream and the Vivaldi II, are very similar. But of the two, the Dream is more advanced, with controls that make it dead easy to pull outstanding shots of espresso. That’s why it’s my pick for Best Overall.
The Dream is a dual boiler espresso machine with a 0.45 L brew boiler and an extra-large 2.5 L steam boiler, so be prepared for impressive steam power.
It differs from the Vivaldi II in that it uses PID temperature control for both boilers, providing better temperature accuracy and stability.
The user interface is where I think the Dream shines. Its responsive touchscreen panel allows a wide array of programming, including volumetric dosing and setting boiler temperatures. It also has an automatic shot timer, shot counter, and full digital display.
Better yet? You can update Dream’s firmware easily, so you’ll always have access to the newest upgrades.
The Dream has a quiet rotary pump and is direct plumb only, meaning there’s no water reservoir. You must connect it to your water supply. If that isn’t feasible, you can choose the cheaper Dream T instead. The Dream T has a vibratory pump and a smaller 1.2-liter steam boiler, making way for a 2.4-liter water reservoir.
2. Vivaldi II
Boiler size: 0.45 L brew and 2.5 L steam
- Boiler material: Copper and Brass
- Dimensions (HxWxD): 15.1” x 16.3” x 16.3”
- Pump: Rotary
The Vivaldi was already a best-seller, but La Spaziale made it even better with the release of the Vivaldi II in 2006. It promptly won the CoffeeGeek Editor’s Choice Award for Best New Product.
Internally, it’s similar to the Dream, with the same 0.45 L brew boiler, 2.5 L steam boiler, and rotary pump. The reason it’s a few hundred dollars cheaper is because it lacks the touchscreen, the PID control, and some of the programmability.
My favorite feature is the programmable pre-infusion, which noticeably improves espresso quality and consistency (1). You can set both the pre-infusion time and volume of water, giving you two more variables to explore in the search for the perfect extraction.
It doesn’t have quite the temperature sensitivity of the Dream, but the Vivaldi II offers improved temperature stability versus the original model. I measured at most 4 degrees F of fluctuation during an extraction.
As with the Dream, this model is direct plumb only, but a pour-over version is available. The Mini Vivaldi II has a vibratory pump, 2.4-liter water reservoir, and 1.2-liter steam boiler.
What’s With Lucca A53 Mini espresso machine?
Vivaldi II has proven so popular that Clive Coffee released their own versions, the Lucca A53 and Lucca A53 Mini espresso machine. The differences are purely aesthetic. The Lucca A53 has a more modern-looking control panel, with a soft matte finish that is also applied to the drip tray, and it comes with a bottomless portafilter.
3. S9 EK DSP
Boiler size: 10 L
- Boiler material: Copper and Brass
- Dimensions (HxWxD): 20.4” x 30.3” x 20.8”
- Pump: Rotary
La Spaziale recently upgraded the S9 DSP line, and the results are finally available in North America. The quality, capacity, and user-friendliness of the S9 EK DSP all make it my pick for the brand’s top commercial model. And I’m not alone; it was a popular pick among many professional baristas and cafe owners I spoke with as well.
The S9 EK DSP has a large 10-liter heat exchanger boiler, which provides powerful and long-lasting steam. But it’s the quiet operation and volumetric dosing that make this model so valuable in customer service.
This automatic operation leaves more time for steaming milk, preparing syrups, or interacting with customers. And just as significantly in a cafe setting, it improves consistency (2).
It’s very important that your equipment is able to reproduce exactly your extraction profile every single time, in a very easy way.
The S9 DSP is available in 2-group and 3-group models, but in my experience, all but the busiest coffee shops are well-served by the 2-group version, which includes two steam wands and one hot water tap.
4. S2 Spazio 2G TA Volumetric
Boiler size: 5 L
- Boiler material: Copper and Brass
- Dimensions (HxWxD): 23.6” x 21.2” x 20.8”
- Pump: Rotary
If you run a small to medium cafe with limited counter space, let me introduce you to Spazio S2 TA Volumetric. The Spazio machine lets you maximize counter space without compromising coffee quality.
An excellent choice for discerning owners, this machine is proof positive of the old adage about how good things come in small packages.
The compact frame of this machine relative to the standard S2 EK is due to the smaller 5-liter boiler, but for many cafes, this won’t be a sacrifice. It has more than enough capacity to keep up with the demands of a busy small coffee shop or restaurant.
The automatic volumetric dosing makes workflow quick and efficient while ensuring shot-to-shot consistency. Moreover, S2 Spazio 2G TA has two steam arms with enough range of motion for two baristas to comfortably work side-by-side.
Overall, this is a reliable and efficient espresso machine combining modern technology and Italian craftsmanship. It’s small but only marginally less mighty than the brand’s full-size models.
How to Choose the Right La Spaziale For You
La Spaziale makes a range of coffee makers, but narrowing down your options is surprisingly easy. This buyer’s guide will walk you through it with a few simple questions.
Is it for commercial or home use?
Machines destined for home use are more compact and less expensive, with smaller boilers and only a single group. They don’t get the same repetitive use as commercial espresso machines, so they don’t need to be as robustly built.
This is not to say you can’t interchange home and commercial espresso machines, but of the machines on this list, the Dream and Vivaldi II make the most sense for home users.
The only hard and fast rule is that commercial espresso machines must be certified by the NSF and ETL – certifications that ensure worker safety rather than quality. This is true of all the La Spaziale machines on this list.
La Spaziale isn’t the only company making both home and commercial espresso machines. You might also be interested in other Italian brands like La Marzocco, La Cimbali, Isomac, VBM, or Dutch manufacturer Kees van der Westen (3).
What sort of capacity do you need?
It’s the rare home user who needs more than one group head. But if you’re buying for a cafe, think about how many customers you plan to serve per hour.
- For a restaurant, small cafe, coffee cart, or catering company: one group and one steam wand might be plenty.
- For an average cafe: 2-group machines are standard.
- For busy coffee shops: consider a 3-group model. Though pricey upfront, you’ll earn your money back in happy, promptly served customers.
Will you plumb in your espresso machine?
Commercial espresso machines are almost always plumbed in. If you’re running a busy cafe, you don’t want to waste time filling a water tank and emptying a drip tray.
La Spaziale’s home coffee makers have the option for direct plumbing or using a water reservoir, but you’ll need to decide before you buy.
Direct plumbing is convenient and leaves room for a bigger steam boiler, but it isn’t always an option depending on your home. Verify your kitchen’s plumbing layout before you buy.
The Verdict
La Spaziale is known for machines that are easy to use and built to last. Does that sound like what you’re after? You’re in luck because their product range covers both home and commercial espresso machines of all sizes and prices.
My top pick this year, particularly for home users or espresso carts, is the Dream. It packs advanced features into a compact footprint at a price approachable for the keen home barista.
FAQs
La Spaziale espresso machines are made in northern Italy, like many of the world’s finest espresso supplies. They are the fifth largest manufacturer of espresso coffee equipment.
Yes, you can use a commercial espresso machine at home. However, for most people, commercial espresso machines are larger and more expensive than necessary. They take up more counter space, use more energy, and require more complicated and expensive maintenance than home machines.
An automatic machine allows you to pre-program shot volumes by incorporating a flow meter into the group. The barista starts the shot, and the machine automatically stops when the right amount of water is used. With a semi-automatic machine, the user both starts and stops the shot.
References
- Joseph, H. (2019, December 10). Longtime Espresso Pro Michael Teahan on Pre-Infusion, the Problem With SO, and Much More. Retrieved from https://dailycoffeenews.com/2019/12/10/longtime-espresso-pro-michael-teahan-on-pre-infusion-the-problem-with-so-and-much-more/
- Petrich, I.L. (2018, November 16). How to Improve Consistency When Making Espresso-Based Drinks. Retrieved from https://perfectdailygrind.com/2018/11/how-to-improve-consistency-when-making-espresso-based-drinks/
- Pines, H. (2018, April 23). How Do You Design an Espresso Machine? Insights From 5 Manufacturers. Retrieved from https://perfectdailygrind.com/2018/04/how-do-you-design-an-espresso-machine-insights-from-5-manufacturers/
