DISCONTINUED Ascaso Steel Uno Versatile Thermoblock Tank Espresso Machine

This product has been discontinued at 1st-line. Please visit one of the categories below for more comparable products.

We love this machine! This is the perfect machine for a small office. It allows the use E.S.E. pods or ground coffee. The thermoblock design allows the machine to be left powered on all day.

The Steel Uno Versatile, upgraded in 2013, is one beautiful espresso machine! And, it has been one of our most reliable. With our feedback, Ascaso has incorporated many improvements in version 2 over the initial version launched several years back:

  1. There is an increased cup height between portafilter and drip tray: 3.35 inches.
  2. The lateral removable (from right side near rear) water reservoir allows easy access for refilling and cleaning without moving the machine away from overhead cabinets. The clear reservoir also allows you view the water level from the right side of the machine.
  3. The black rubber protector over the wand allows holding the wand for longer periods of time.
  4. Ascaso includes a solid aluminum tamper, not one of those cheap plastic ones included with most machines.
  5. Aluminum thermoblock with stainless steel tubes for water passage improves temperature stability and reduces limescale buildup.

Ascaso has even stated the following advantages of the Steel Uno Versatile over competing models in similar price ranges, and these include:

  1. Large size cup warmer (~14.5″ x 10.6″) – keep in mind that most cup warmers take up to 2 hours to heat the cups on top.
  2. Side and rear rail (rear rail was originally removed from machines for the USA to provide greater area for cup warmer. After customer requests we asked the manufacturer to redesign).
  3. Exterior body completely made of stainless steel.

To enjoy the Ascaso Steel Uno Versatile, it is important to run water through the steam wand after every steaming session, to descale the machine every 3-4 months, and to backflush once every 50 espresso extractions. In addition, if a timer is used to power up the machine, it is important to have the coffee, hot water and steam switches in the off position to avoid damage, and it important to place a surge suppressor rated 1080 joules or higher between the machine’s electrical plug and the timer as timers can cause surge damage. The water reservoir should be manually cleaned with non-abrasive dish detergent once every two weeks, and the drip tray should be emptied and cleaned every 3 days or less.

During normal operation, there is approximately a 30-45 second wait time to go from coffee mode to steam mode (after depressing the steam switch). One should always purge the steam wand before steaming/frothing milk. After steaming milk, the user can close the steam valve and depress the steam switch off. After placing a cup under the steam wand, the user can rotate the steam valve/knob to the open position, and the hot water switch must be depressed for the the pump to activate so that the ‘too hot steamed water’ exits through the wand and the temperature of the thermoblock can be brought down to make additional espresso.

Also, the three way solenoid valve operates to relieve the pressure on the filter basket immediately when you depress the coffee switch to off. This prevents the ‘explosion’ of coffee grounds that is normally found on home espresso machines without three way solenoid valves. The solenoid valve on this machine also assists in creating a dry puck after the extraction (please note there are certain coffees, grinds, and amounts of coffee that will make a wet extracted puck which no three way valve will compensate for). The relieved pressure exits to the drip tray and you will see.

Enjoy the Ascaso Steel Uno Versatile preparing your favorite beverages! Espresso, cappuccino, latte, cafe americano, and hot chocolate to name a few! We hope you purchase this machine!

Features:

  • Brushed stainless steel finished body over a black enamel painted steel frame.
  • Water reservoir removable from the right side of the machine.
  • Ergonomic-styled brass filter handle with plastic grip.
  • Slide out drip tray made of plastic for easy cleaning (please note drip tray cover is part of machine). Front portion of pull out drip tray is in brushed stainless steel.
  • Four selection switches: power on/off, espresso extracting, hot water, and coffee/steam mode.
  • Vent in top rear of machine allow heat near water reservoir to escape.
  • Blue lights (left to right) indicate power, heating (on when heating in coffee or steam mode), pump for hot water on, and steam mode (on when machine is in steam mode).
  • Three-way solenoid valve allows the immediate removal of the filter handle when the espresso extraction is completed. The three way valve also allows the user to backflush the grouphead.
  • Multi-directional steam wand allows the desired angle of the steam wand into the steaming pitcher (recommended size 20 oz or less) on counter or placement over drip tray.
  • Passive cup warmer on top with side & rear guard rails.
Brand

Ascaso

Height (inches)

15, approximate

Width (inches)

11, approximate

Depth (inches)

11.5, approximate

Weight (pounds)

29

Wattage (watts)

1000

Voltage (volts)

120

Portafilter size (mm)

57

Tank capacity (liters)

2

Country of manufacture

Barcelona, Spain

  1. The instructional manuals for Ascaso are printed for worldwide distribution and covers almost every model produced worldwide. With this in mind, there may be features, accessories, or colors available in Ascaso equipment in other countries, but not available in our models produced for the United States.
  2. Ascaso provides a 57mm tamper so it can reach deeper into the basket and in case one chooses to utilize different baskets where a 58mm will not fit.
  3. Sorry, per Ascaso's confirmation, there is no retrofit kit to upgrade the steam wand nor valve on the Version 1 models of the Steel series of espresso machines as there too many differences internally to configure an upgrade.

Customer reviews

Reviews

There are no reviews yet.

Be the first to review “DISCONTINUED Ascaso Steel Uno Versatile Thermoblock Tank Espresso Machine”

Use one of the allowed file type: jpg,png. The max size allowed is : 3 MB.

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Ask a question

    Please ask follow up questions as a new question. Submitted questions will be first reviewed, answered, and lastly publicized.

      I have this machine and when I switch to steam the machine just makes a loud clicking noise instead of producing steam. Is my solenoid going bad?
    1. 0 votes
      Q I have this machine and when I switch to steam the machine just makes a loud clicking noise inste...... Read more answer now
      Asked by Asad on February 3, 2022 6:26 pm
      Answered by the admin

      Sorry, you will need to have the machine evaluated by a professional. It can be the solenoid, but there may be other issues beyond the solenoid valve.

    2. I had this machine now for a good 4-5 years (purchased from you). Ive maintained it nicely. not many issue. I put together a bar gauge in the past that I use to make sure the pressure is around the 11bar range. I've been pulling great shots consistently ever since. That being said, This weekend seems like the first major setback. I notice the solenoid value recently has been engaging more often than it had been in the past. Now, when I engage the pump the machine is loud, rattles and the bar pressure is shaky and doesn't hold its place. Even if I engage the steam wand, it doesn't stay strong for too long. My shots are now substandard messes. Did my pump, Pressure Value or solenoid value go? What does it sound like?
    3. 0 votes
      Q I had this machine now for a good 4-5 years (purchased from you). Ive maintained it nicely. not m...... Read more answer now
      Asked by Michael on February 6, 2019 10:12 pm
      Answered by the admin

      Vibration pumps usually last only 5 years n average. It can be the other two parts, but the elimination is by replacement as there are no other tests other than checking the OPV (not under pressure with blind) and solenoid valve (under pressure with blind)) for leaking water.

    4. Question for Maintenance/Tech: I've had my machine since 2014. I am looking at page 22 of the manual with the heading: UNO/ISTEEL/TRIO LEFT PM Coffe Group +04/2015 Every 6 months I remove shower and the shower holder as part of my cleaning procedure. There are three parts in this assembly. The shower (I.278) is screwed to the shower holder (I.2698). There is a heavy heat-diffuser in between the shower and the shower-holder (but it is not in the parts diagram) The shower-holder is attached to the group bell home with three screws 8mm M4 screws - I believe these three screws attach to part I.2688: the group bell home (group head?). These three screws always strip, and are always a giant pain to remove. Two years ago I had to drill one out, and since then I have just been running machine with two screws. Yesterday's maintenance didn't go well: the remaining two screws stripped and I had to drill them out. I could not remove the screw stumps so I decided to drill and tap new holes and replace the phillips screws with hex head screws (something I should have done a long time ago!). This procedure worked fine and I was able to reinstall the shower head components satisfactorily. But when I went to pull a test shot, water could not make it through the basket. I actually think it backed up and came out of the top of the thermoblock. I think the reason this is happening must be that when I was drilling out one of the stripped screws I went all the way through the screw which then gives the pressurized water a way to pass back up through the thermoblock. SO: my question is, can you confirm that the part I need to re-order is I.2688 - the group-head?
    5. 0 votes
      Q Question for Maintenance/Tech: I've had my machine since 2014. I am looking at page 22 of the...... Read more answer now
      Asked by jeff landman on January 7, 2019 6:46 pm
      Answered by the admin

      Sorry to hear about your woes. It sounds like I.2688 is the correct grouphead as long as you have the Versatile 57mm grouphead model. If your Steel is the 58mm PRO version, then this will not fit.

      The 3 screws that go into the grouphead should never be overtigthened. In addition, hard water or pure water can cause corrosion to lock these screws/bolts into place.

    6. Hi. I have an Ascaso Steel Uno 1 Prof. (four buttons, not switches, on front, no dial on right side.) I'm posting here as there is no Q&A tab for the Uno 1. It only gets up to 75 C. The thermometer is correct; I've checked it with other thermometers. I've cleaned it with two packets of Ascaso washer and run tanks of water through. Tried many times but only ever gets to 75. Today not even that. I look forward to your response. Thanks!
    7. 0 votes
      Q Hi. I have an Ascaso Steel Uno 1 Prof. (four buttons, not switches, on front, no dial on right si...... Read more answer now
      Asked by Roger Brown on December 9, 2018 10:04 pm
      Answered by the admin

      You may want to check with your local repair center as there are too many potential isses causing this issue. It could be bad wiring, a damaged heating element, bad thermostats, or even bad protocol to measure temperature.  Please note we never sold the one with four buttons - we only sold the ones with switches.

    8. I've had my espresso maker just over 2 years. Recently, in steam mode, seems to run very hot and a lot of steam comes out, not only from the steam wand, but also from the brew basket area. The temperature used to stabilize at ~250-300F in steam mode - towards the higher end of the temperature gauge, but still within the gauge. Now, the dial goes right to the end of the gauge, and that's about when the steam starts from the brew basket area. The espresso making function is ok, I can make espresso without trouble, just the steaming is a bit scary, it runs so hot and steam all over the place after a couple of minutes!
    9. 0 votes
      Q I've had my espresso maker just over 2 years. Recently, in steam mode, seems to run very hot and ...... Read more answer now
      Asked by Helena Kee on October 17, 2018 3:16 pm
      Answered by the admin

      This is indicative of a short circuit to ground that is bypassing the steam thermostat temprature cutoff. To validate this, please plug the machine into a GFI outlet. If the outlet trips, then the short circuit is present. If it does not, it can a bad thermostat or bad heating element. In the latter case, the machine can be shipped into to us for evaluation or a local repair center can be contacted to see if they are willing to repair.