VICTORIA ARDUINO EAGLE ONE REVIEW: EXPENSIVE BUT INCREDIBLE

Why should you consider the innovative Victoria Arduino Eagle One espresso machine for your coffee shop? Its incredible espresso is just the beginning!

Victoria Arduino developed the Eagle One espresso machine in partnership with James Hoffmann, one of the world’s foremost experts on specialty coffee, so it has been on my radar since its release in 2019.

Recently, I finally had the opportunity to test one firsthand, thanks to an accommodating local coffee shop owner, who was also kind enough to share his own experiences with this impressive machine. In this review, I’ll summarize our findings so you can decide if the Victoria Arduino Eagle One is a fitting centerpiece for your cafe.

A Full Review Of The Victoria Arduino Eagle One

The Victoria Arduino Eagle One was developed with an equal emphasis on coffee quality and sustainability. I highly recommend watching this video in which James Hoffmann details the guiding principles behind the design.

The result is a stunning machine that, in my opinion, delivers on both fronts. At this level of equipment, the question isn’t as much about quality (which is a given) as about whether it’s the right machine to meet your needs – at the right price. After all, this sort of innovation doesn’t come cheap.

How I Rated It

• Brewing Capacity
• User Friendliness
• Milk Frothing
• Build Quality
• Value For Money

4.5

• SEE ON MAJESTY COFFEE

A Highly Advanced Brewing System

The Eagle One is an automatic espresso machine with a single large steam boiler and small individual brew boilers at each group. It relies on programmable volumetric dosing, as opposed to the gravimetric dosing of the brand’s Black Eagle machine. Personally, I don’t have a problem with volumetric dosing. With 4.13” of clearance, it’s easy enough to slot a digital scale under the group if you prefer to brew by weight.

I was worried that the tiny brew boilers would result in delays when trying to pull many consecutive shots, but this was never a problem. The power of the heating system, which I’ll discuss more below, is perfectly balanced with the size of the boiler and the demands of the machine.

As with most commercial espresso machines, the Eagle One should be connected to a water line and is set up for soft line-pressure pre-infusion (1).

Eco-Friendly Pedigree

All of the above is pretty standard, but it’s the sustainability-focused details that make this machine extraordinary. You might not even notice them during use, but having spoken to cafe owners, I’m assured that the dip in their power bills is striking. After all, an espresso machine is one of the major energy consumers in a typical coffee shop.

The biggest development here is the New Engine Optimization (NEO). During development, testing revealed that it is only important to heat the water to the correct temperature at the group head – not at the boiler. While old-school thinking was that this would impact temperature stability, Victoria Arduino discovered that the thermal mass of the group takes care of that nicely. The result? Equivalent performance with 23% less environmental impact.

Equally cool, at least to a science geek like me, is the Thermal Energy Recovery System (TERS). It harvests and recycles heat from the waste water and uses it to heat the boiler, resulting in an 8% energy savings. I love that kind of outside-the-box thinking.

Finally, there’s the auto-purge function, which is so simple that it’s shocking no one has done it before. After each shot, the group flushes automatically using the minimum water required. In a busy cafe pulling hundreds of shots a day (and where a barista can easily be distracted while purging), the water savings are immense (2).

Steaming Milk With The Eagle One

The milk system doesn’t offer quite the same advances as the brewing technology, but it’s certainly top-of-the-line. There are two cool-touch steam wands, whether you choose the two-group or three-group model. 

They’re operated via switches that use electric solenoids rather than mechanical valves – something I’ve noticed is increasingly common on modern machines. I definitely prefer this system, both from a usability standpoint and for its improved longevity. But be warned that it takes a little getting used to if you’re accustomed to the old valves.

The steam boiler pressure can be cranked up to 2.2 bar, but in my experience, that level of steam pressure is almost too much for most baristas to manage. I found that 1.8 bar was ideal for quickly preparing drinks without accidentally blowing milk to the ceiling.

You can optionally add Victoria Arduino’s EasyCream automatic frothing system to this machine. It’s programmable with four different temperature and texture settings and removes the skill from steaming. Whether it’s worth it for you depends on your plan for hiring and training baristas.

Interestingly, the hot water tap can be pre-programmed to deliver two different volumes, such as for different sizes of Americano. But you can’t adjust or program the temperature, which in my opinion, would be more useful – though undeniably more expensive.

Using This Machine: Barista-Friendly Features

Each group head is topped with three programmable buttons for three different extraction volumes, usually single, double, and triple shot or lungo. The programming can be carried out using the touchscreen in the center of the machine, which has far more menus and options than I can possibly describe here. 

Most importantly, you can adjust brew temperature, preinfusion, steam pressure, and shot volume – as well as save your favorite recipes. Also of note, thanks to the individual brew boilers and NEO heating system, you can set different brew temperatures at each group.

During operation, the screen displays current conditions, including the temperature at each group, brew pressure, EasyCream settings, and shot timing.

The Eagle One App

While the touchscreen can be used to access all the Eagle One’s settings, it’s a bit of a pain to navigate through the various menus – especially if you have big hands. A far more user-friendly option is to connect via Bluetooth to the Eagle One App, which has all the same options in a more manageable format.

Having programmed the machine with both systems, it seemed clear to me that Victoria Arduino developed this machine with the app in mind. It makes much more sense to rely on the screen for current status while using a smartphone or tablet to adjust settings.

Cleaning And Maintenance

The automatic cleaning cycle can also be accessed via the app or touchscreen. The best practice is to run it at least once a day at the end of service. In my experience, the only other daily cleaning is to wipe the mirror-finish stainless exterior pieces regularly. The shiny surface tends to show fingerprints and coffee grime, which is not a good look for your specialty cafe.

Maintenance needs on a machine of this caliber should be left to skilled technicians. Before you buy it, look into what service is offered by the supplier, the availability of knowledgeable techs in your area, and the location of suitable service centers.

Solid Construction, Modern Design

Hoffmann explains that the design is another element of this machine that was done very intentionally. It’s sleek and modern, clean and minimalist. It’s a classy and unassuming look chosen to suit any cafe space. 

It was also created to be easy and affordable to customize. If you’ve ever outfitted a commercial espresso machine, you know that you can easily spend hundreds or thousands of unexpected dollars altering it to match your aesthetic. 
On the Eagle One, the panels are simple to interchange. This is a clever solution that I’ve encountered on some prosumer machines, like the Stone Espresso Machine, but never on a commercial model of this scale. The exterior back panel is essentially just for show; the real back panel is underneath. So if you replace it, you don’t need to worry about choosing a specific material (3).

The Eagle One’s construction continues the sustainability ethos. Its components are made of durable and easily recyclable materials, primarily stainless steel and aluminum. The stainless steel boiler has a special insulating wrap to minimize energy use. 

I don’t think anyone would describe the Eagle One as a “small” espresso machine, but it was laid out to be as compact as possible while still being barista-friendly. The two-group model measures 23” tall by 30” wide by 17” deep, and the three-group version adds another 9” of width.

The Eagle One Prima

The Eagle One Prima was released in 2020, following the immediate success of the Eagle One (4). It’s a single-group version of the Eagle One that packs all the same eco-friendly technology into a more compact package. It was designed for low-volume coffee businesses like small cafes, espresso carts, and catering companies, but it has been equally popular in the home prosumer market despite its hefty price tag. 

I hope to fully review this machine in the near future if I can find one to try hands-on, but I suspect it operates like its big brother. If you’re interested in the Prima, much of what I have written here still applies.

A Sky-High Price Tag

The price of the Eage One varies depending on the number of groups, optional add-ons like EasyCream, and sale pricing. But you can expect to pay in the ballpark of $20,000 for the two-group and $25,000 for the three-group. This isn’t astronomically high. It’s comparable to (or a bit below) other high-end brands like La Marzocco and Slayer. But it’s far from the cheapest on the market.

I think the value for money is reasonable, especially when you consider the long-term savings that result from less energy use. The build quality is impeccable, and the experience it offers both the barista and the customer is an obvious step up from what cheaper machines provide.

It’s not worth bankrupting yourself to invest in the Eagle One, but if it fits in your budget, I guarantee you’ll look back in a year’s time and feel like you’re getting your money’s worth. 

Don’t Buy The Victoria Arduino Eagle One If…

• You want a more affordable option: There are plenty of less expensive ways to outfit your new coffee shop. If the Eagle One was on your radar for its sustainable ethos, I’d suggest taking a look at the Nuova Simonelli Appia Life, which was re-engineered to be 20% more efficient than the older model Appia. It’s available with one, two, or three groups, and while it definitely lacks the Eagle One’s sleek visual appeal, it’s also less than half the price.

• You’re running a small coffee business: Buying an espresso machine with more capacity than you need is like throwing money down the drain. Small cafes, restaurants, and the like can get away with a single-group espresso machine. The Eagle One Prima is an obvious option if you like the Eagle One. Alternatively, putting the high-tech Slayer Single Group on your bar shows customers you take specialty coffee seriously.

• You want something for home use: The Eagle One is a commercial espresso machine through and through – overkill even for a serious home espresso lover. If you’re looking for similar quality in a more manageable package, I’d steer you toward something like the ECM Synchronika or even the La Marzocco Linea Mini.

The Verdict

The Victoria Arduino Eagle One is an innovative espresso machine that truly breaks the mold. I love to see outside-the-box thinking when the innovation is not just for innovation’s sake, and that is clearly the case here. 

The revolutionary heating and recycling systems in the Eagle One reduce stress on the environment and help your bottom line. This is accomplished while still delivering the highest quality espresso and milk-based drinks in a gorgeous and user-friendly package. 

Admittedly, this isn’t a cheap machine, and it won’t make sense for every cafe. But in a busy shop with a budget to match, it’s an investment I’m confident will pay off.

CHECK PRICE