See our complete listing of machines with double boilers.
Double boiler espresso (coffee) machines offer enhanced temperature stability and control (usually with PID) for both brewing and steaming when compared to single boiler and heat exchanger espresso machines. The dual boiler design allows for each boiler to have independent boiler temperature control, providing better flavored espresso and more control when making microfoam for milk-based drinks. For home use, our dual boiler espresso machine offering ranges from our smallest offering, the compact, budget friendly Quick Mill Silvano that is close to 1,000 to the high end, large Slayer one group prosumer espresso machine with the most advanced features on the market and . We also have a full range of commercial double boiler machines, but they are listed in the business double boiler section.
How Double Boiler Espresso Machines Work
- Cold water from the reservoir or direct water line connection is pumped into both boilers to fill the boilers.
- Water in the steam boiler is heated to steam temperature. Water in the brew boiler is heated to brew temperature. Generally, the temperature of each boiler can be independently adjusted.
- After a shot is pulled, the temperature of the brew boiler and grouphead generally remains stable and is usually ready for another shot to be pulled right away.
- After milk steaming has completed for one drink, there may be some recovery time depending on the machine, but in general, milk for another drink can be steamed without much or any downtime.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Double Boiler Espresso Machines
Pros
- Independent brew / steam temperature adjustment, usually with PID
- Easier to have consistent brew temperature
- No cooling flush needed
- Brew and steam at the same time or with no wait between brewing and steaming
Cons
- More complex design with more parts needed
- More expensive than comparable single boiler or heat exchanger machines
- Water for brewing is pulled from the boiler vs directly from the water tank
- Longer warm up time
Which to Buy? Is a Double Boiler the Right Kind of Machine for You?
A double boiler machine is good for someone that does a lot of milk-based drinks and a lot of plain espresso. If you change your beans often, use a lot of delicate single origin beans and have a sensitive palate, a double boiler is your best option due to enhanced temperature stability and control.
See our single boiler and heat exchanger categories for a comparison between the three boiler types.
Our Top Five Espresso Machines with Dual Boilers
We have quite a few twin boiler espresso machines from several of the top manufacturers, but of course some of them are more popular than other ones. The following are our top five best home espresso machines that have two boilers.
- La Spaziale Vivaldi or Mini Vivaldi. The Mini Vivaldi is a tank only machine that has a vibratory pump and one boiler for brewing and one boiler for steaming. The Vivaldi is pretty much the same as the Mini Vivaldi, but is direct water line connection only and doesn’t have a water tank. Since the lack of a water tank leaves additional space in the machine, the steam boiler on the Vivaldi is quite a bit larger than on the Mini Vivaldi. The pump on the Vivaldi is a rotary pump. Both of these machines are automatic or volumetric in terms of automation. The La Spaziale Dream and Dream T are also popular, but not quite as popular as the Vivaldi and Mini Vivaldi. The Vivaldi and Mini Vivaldi have NSF ratings and can be used in light commercial use, such as a small restaurant or catering. For a comparison between the four, see this article. The La Spaziale A53 and A53 Mini is pretty much the same as the Vivaldi and Mini Vivaldi but has a different look on the exterior.
- Rocket R58 Dual Boiler Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine. This may be the most popular high-end prosumer on the market. It not only has a beautiful fit and finish, it’s also very reliable and produces great espresso shots and great steam for micro foam. It has two copper boilers with brass end plates. It has a E61 Grouphead, rotary vane pump, is switchable between water tank and direct connect, dual PID for both the brew boiler and steam boiler, and other great features.
- Quick Mill Vetrano Evo 2B (Double Boiler) Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine. This machine is similar to the Rocket R58, but has a built in PID and it has stainless steel boilers. It is switchable between 15 amp or 20 amp. When you compare to machines in a similar price range, this may have the best value for the price.
- Quick Mill QM67 Evo. This has always been a pretty popular machine with our customers, but since Quick Mill upgraded the look, it has become even more popular. It is a water tank only machine, has dual PID for temperature control, and has a vibratory pump.
- Quick Mill Silvano Evo Espresso Machine. The Silvano is a small, compact espresso machine with a boiler for brewing and a thermoblock for steam. The true boiler for brewing provides the temperature stability needed for brewing and the thermoblock for steam allows you to have independent temperature control. You can also brew and steam at the same time and without waiting between brewing and steaming making the process of making milk-based drinks much easier than similarly priced single boiler espresso machines. It is our most affordable option in this category.
There are great double boiler options not in this list, and we have a complete range from beginner entry level machines to very advanced machines like the Rocket R Nine One for the most serious prosumer home espresso lover. See our product listing below to explore all our options.
Machines We Don’t Sell
We frequently get requests for the following machines, but we don’t have them for sale at this time:
- Profitec Pro 700 Double Boiler
- ECM Synchronika with Two Boilers
- Breville Dual Boiler BES920XL
- La Marzocco Linea Mini
- Profitec Pro 300
Best Price Guarantee
If you find an advertised price on a new machine with an authorized retailer that is lower than ours we’ll meet or beat it. Please see our lowest price match page for additional details. No need to wait for Black Friday to get the best deal.
What Is a Boiler on an Espresso Machine?
In case you are new to the espresso machine world, you may be wondering, what is a boiler? A boiler is the container inside of an espresso machine that holds the water needed to brew espresso or stream milk. It is a sealed metal container that can handle increasing pressure as the water gets hotter and hotter. It has a heating element that heats to the water to around 200 degrees for brewing and around 255 degrees for steaming. Cold water from the water reservoir or external water source is pumped into the boiler and the machine for the machine to heat so the barista can pull shots and make drinks.