Fantastic choice for those wanting a DB with rotary pump that doesn't need to be plumbed in.
Positive Product Points
E61 group, PID, double boiler Steam boiler can be turned off when not needed Rotary pump that can be used with a reservoir or plumbed in Machine alerts you when reservoir is low on water
Negative Product Points
Drip tray could be a bit longer, but not a big deal Drain hose is a bit stiff; I had trouble getting it stay on and do its job so I scrapped that idea. The tray is easy to empty so it wasn't a big deal.
Detailed Commentary
The Duetto II is a double-boiler machine, with PID and a rotary pump. It operates on both 20 amp and 15 amp circuits. I've been using it on a 15 amp circuit.
There is a separate switch for the steam boiler so you can leave it off until you need it. I've noticed the steam boiler come up to temp very quickly, in around 7 minutes or so.
Even though it has a rotary pump you don't have to plumb it in. I've been using it with the reservoir and it's working great. The reservoir is at the back so it can be a bit difficult to fill if you have it under the cabinets as I do. However, for a couple of bucks at Kmart I bought a plastic funnel that has an extension on it and now filling the reservoir is trivial; I don't even need to move the machine out from under the cabinets.
This is a great machine and I recommend it highly to anyone wanting a double-boiler in this class. I've pulled 4 doubles one after another with no problem and steaming just before or after making the shot is great; no flushing or waiting required. The PID is easy to use and the temperature is kept to within a few degrees of the set point. The pump is quiet and I have not had any issues with it.
Buying Experience
I bought the Duetto from Chris' Coffee Service (and later a grinder and other products) and I have received only the highest quality service since Day One. The machine arrived in 2 days like they said it would. Tech support are extremely knowledgeable and if you have to leave a message they will call you back; in my case, the first time was within an hour of my leaving a message, on a Saturday when they're normally closed. The documentation they provide with the Duetto is professionally done and extremely helpful. Chris even replied to a message I posted on another website with helpful advice on how to use the two-hole steam tip that comes with the machine.
Before buying the Duetto I bought a Brewtus III-V and the vendor support was terrible: The machine was almost a week late with highly dubious excuses from customer service; when something went wrong with the steam boiler the response from tech support was unhelpful; when I decided to return the machine the instructions for draining the boilers was incorrect and in a follow-up call to tech support the alternate instructions I received were incomplete; when I left messages my calls were never returned.
When you are spending this kind of money on an appliance it's critical that you have good vendor support if you have questions or if something goes wrong. You will want someone like Chris and his team on your side.
