Izzo Alex Duetto Review

The Izzo Alex Duetto is built for home baristas who want separate brewing and steaming systems, an E61 group and a substantial machine they can keep on the counter. Its appeal is the combination of temperature adjustment, manual shot control and a rotary pump. Buying one requires more planning than choosing a small thermoblock machine: consider warm-up, water quality, access for maintenance and the exact version offered.

Which Alex Duetto are you comparing?

The original version of this article concerned the Alex Duetto IV. Izzo’s current Alex Duetto IV Plus specification describes a later configuration. The IV, IV Plus and distributor-specific packages should not be treated as identical. Confirm boiler materials and capacities, electrical requirements, dimensions and included accessories against the manual and seller’s specification for the actual unit.

What the dual-boiler design changes

Separate boilers allow the machine to maintain brewing water and steam at different temperatures. That is useful for preparing espresso and milk drinks in the same session. PID control lets you change a temperature setpoint, but the displayed boiler temperature is not a direct measurement inside the coffee puck. The group and portafilter also need time to heat through.

An E61 lever operates the brew group; it is not a spring lever that supplies extraction pressure. The pump supplies pressure. The IV Plus is specified with a rotary pump and a choice of reservoir or mains-water supply. Plumbing can remove the need to refill a tank, but it adds installation and water-treatment requirements.

Plan the installation before delivery

• Measure counter depth, overhead clearance and space for the portafilter handle, steam wand and refill access.
• Match the machine’s electrical rating to the supply. Ask which heating modes are supported by that version; do not assume specifications from another market apply.
• For direct connection, arrange suitable filtration, pressure regulation where required, a shutoff and the specified drain arrangement.
• For reservoir use, choose water that meets Izzo’s requirements. Low TDS alone does not prove water is suitable.

Our water-hardness testing guide explains why hardness, alkalinity and total dissolved solids are different measurements.

A repeatable espresso and milk routine

Warm the machine with the portafilter installed, weigh a basket-appropriate dose and begin with the coffee roaster’s recommended recipe. Use a scale under the cup and stop at the intended yield. Change grind size before chasing pressure or temperature settings. Steam only the milk you need, then wipe and purge the wand immediately.

For several drinks, prepare cups and milk before starting. A dual boiler helps with overlap, but drink throughput still depends on pitcher size, operator technique and the machine’s recovery. It is not a promise of unlimited café production.

Maintenance and ownership

Follow the supplied cleaning schedule for the group, basket, steam tip and water system. Backflushing coffee oils and removing mineral scale are different jobs; do not substitute one for the other. Discuss descaling with the service provider, especially on a used machine with an unknown water history. Boiler material alone cannot prevent deposits.

The Alex Duetto makes sense when you value the E61 workflow and independent brew and steam systems enough to accept the size and warm-up. A compact Legato V2 offers a different boiler-plus-thermoblock layout; compare the complete machine-and-grinder setup, not just the headline price.