Ascaso Dream PID Espresso Machine User Manual

Introduction

This manual provides comprehensive instructions for the safe and efficient operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of your Ascaso Dream PID Home Espresso Machine. Please read this manual thoroughly before initial use and retain it for future reference.

Image: The Ascaso Dream PID espresso machine in a vibrant red finish, showcasing its retro design and control panel.

Important Safety Information

Always follow basic safety precautions when using electrical appliances to reduce the risk of fire, electric shock, and injury to persons.

• Read all instructions.
• Do not touch hot surfaces. Use handles or knobs.
• To protect against fire, electric shock, and personal injury, do not immerse cord, plugs, or the appliance in water or other liquid.
• Close supervision is necessary when any appliance is used by or near children.
• Unplug from outlet when not in use and before cleaning. Allow to cool before putting on or taking off parts, and before cleaning the appliance.
• Do not operate any appliance with a damaged cord or plug or after the appliance malfunctions, or has been damaged in any manner.
• The use of accessory attachments not recommended by the appliance manufacturer may result in fire, electric shock, or personal injury.
• Do not use outdoors.
• Do not let cord hang over edge of table or counter, or touch hot surfaces.
• Do not place on or near a hot gas or electric burner, or in a heated oven.
• Always attach plug to appliance first, then plug cord into the wall outlet. To disconnect, turn any control to "off", then remove plug from wall outlet.
• Do not use appliance for other than intended household use.
• This appliance is for household use only.

Proposition 65 Warning: This product may contain chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.

What's in the Box

Your Ascaso Dream PID espresso machine comes with the following accessories:

• 58mm Professional Portafilter with Walnut Wood Handle
• 5 Professional Baskets (2 traditional, 2 pressurized, 1 monodose ESE)
• 1 Stainless Steel Tamper
• 1 Blank Basket for backflushing
• Coffee Scoop

Image: Included accessories: a portafilter with a wooden handle, various filter baskets, a coffee scoop, and a tamper.

Setup and First Use

Follow these steps for initial setup of your Ascaso Dream PID machine.

1. Unbox Machine: Carefully remove the espresso machine and all accessories from the packaging.

   Ensure all packing materials are removed before use.

2. Add Water: Fill the water reservoir with fresh, low mineral content water.

   Using filtered or low-mineral water helps prevent scale buildup and ensures optimal coffee flavor.

3. Turn On Machine: Plug in the machine and press the power button. During initial heat-up, the pilot light will flash until the group reaches the set temperature.

   The machine will display the current temperature on its digital screen.

4. Prime the Pump (Critical Step):

   Simply press the coffee button down with no portafilter in place. Open the steam valve. Priming is complete when water is freely flowing from the group head. Approximately 1/2 tank of water should be dispensed from the machine during priming.

   This step ensures the pump is filled with water and ready for operation, preventing damage.

Quick Start Features Video Guide

Video: A quick start guide demonstrating unboxing, adding water, turning on the machine, priming the pump, programming settings, dialing in espresso, steaming milk, and cleaning the system.

Operating Instructions

Programming Settings

To access programming functions, hold down the left and right buttons for 3 seconds. When programming, after selecting a value or setting option, wait three seconds for the setting to confirm. The display will switch to the main programming menu.

Select Temperature Scale (Celsius/Fahrenheit)

Press the left button until you reach "Ud" to set the unit function. Press the right button to choose your preferred scale.

Select Group Temperature

Press the left button once to access the group temperature function. Use the left or right button to adjust the temperature up/down. The machine is preset to 100 Celsius. The espresso temperature should be about 93 degrees Celsius (198 degrees Fahrenheit).

Select Pre-Infusion Time

Press the left button until you reach "Pr" to set pre-infusion time. Press the right button to choose between 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 seconds. Recommendation: starting with 3 seconds. Experiment with 1-5 to see what works best for you.

Select Chronometer Display

Press the left button until you reach "Cr" to set the chronometer function. Press the right button to turn OFF/ON. This allows you to see your espresso shot time. We suggest having this on to help with dialing in your espresso.

Select Standby Mode

Press the left button until you reach "OFF" to set the machine to standby. Press the right button to choose between 0, 5 hours, 2 hours, 1 hour or OFF. This will allow the machine to go into a low power mode after a set time. Your machine will stay warm, but not hot.

Dialing In Your Espresso

If using ground coffee, dose 7 grams of coffee for a single shot, or 14 grams for a double shot. Level the coffee and firmly tamp. If using pods, place the pod in the pod basket with the smooth side facing up.

Select Your Extraction Dose

Set preferred dosing: Hold the toggle upward for desired length to set 1 cup or down for 2 cups. We recommend starting with 25-30 seconds. Experiment with your grind and coffee dose to find what works best for you.

Steam Your Milk

To steam milk: Press the toggle down to activate the steam pump. The pump will make a surging or knocking sound once the machine has reached steaming temperature. Open the valve for 2-3 seconds to purge water in the wand, then close. Reopen the valve to start steaming. Submerge the wand approximately 1/2" until desired foam is reached.

Cleaning and Maintenance

Regular cleaning ensures the longevity and optimal performance of your espresso machine.

Clean the System

Cycle the machine utilizing an empty portafilter. We recommend purging the machine for five seconds after each use. Please follow the user guide for the recommended full maintenance schedule.

Standby Mode

You can power down or simply leave your machine running and it will follow your selected standby setting. To turn the machine on again, just press any of the buttons for the machine to go back to its initial status.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues with your Ascaso Dream PID, please refer to the common troubleshooting steps below. For more complex problems, contact customer support.

Common Issues:

• No water flow: Check water reservoir level, ensure pump is primed.
• Weak espresso/poor crema: Adjust grind size (finer), increase coffee dose, check tamping pressure.
• Machine not heating: Ensure power is connected and machine is turned on. Allow sufficient time for heat-up.
• Steam wand not producing steam: Ensure steam pump is activated and machine has reached steaming temperature. Purge wand before steaming.

For detailed troubleshooting, please consult the full user guide or contact Ascaso customer support.

Specifications

Warranty and Support

Your Ascaso Dream PID espresso machine comes with a 12-Month Warranty against defects caused by faulty workmanship and materials from the date of purchase. Additionally, a 5-Year Warranty is provided on all thermoblock boilers and groups.

For warranty claims or technical support, please visit the official Ascaso website or contact your retailer.

This product has a 30-day return policy from the date of purchase.