Turin Legato Espresso Machine Review: Dual Boilers for Under $500! Really?

If you search for “espresso machine” on Amazon, you’ll see a flood of Chinese-made machines alongside products from big name manufacturers. Most of these look pretty suspect, but there are some worth considering, such as the Turin Legato.

To be frank, this is a so-called “white label” appliance in that you’ll see it marketed under various names. However, that’s not to say the Turin Legato doesn’t claim to bring a lot to the table. Indeed, you’d be forgiven for feeling a little suspicious of the Legato Espresso Machine, given its advanced features and relatively affordable price tag.

In this initial review I aim to find out whether this compact home espresso machine can compete with similar models from established manufacturers.

Overview: Turin Legato Review

Sold in North America by a company called Turin Grinders, the Turin Legato V2 Espresso Machine has actually been making waves lately. That’s because this compact home espresso machine is fully loaded with dual boilers and a commercial-grade 58mm portafilter.

Is this a prosumer espresso machine? Well, not really. However, it does seem to represent a step up from many of the consumer grade espresso machines from the likes of Breville and DeLonghi. And costing just $N/A, the Legato is priced adventurously low.

Sure, there are a few things missing, including an OPV valve and a hot water spout. Still, the Turin Legato packs quite a punch, seeing as it’s equipped with both a stainless steel brew boiler and a thermoblock for milk steaming.

What’s more, this affordable and compact machine features a beefy metal group head and a stainless steel 58mm portafilter. Heck, there’s even adjustable PID controls, a pressure gauge and a digital shot timer.

As it happens, I’ve already looked at a different iteration of this machine in my MiiCoffee Apex review. And I have to say that I was mighty impressed by that particular model.

In case you were wondering, Turin Grinders does produce burr coffee grinders – and very good ones at that. Again, these are white label products marketed under different names, so if you’ve checked out my MiiCoffee DF64 Grinder review you’ll know that Turin produces one of the best espresso grinders.

Turin Legato Espresso Machine Features

Now that we have an idea of what we’re dealing with, let’s dive into the features that make the Tjurin Legato such a tantalising proposition.

Size and Design

As I’ve already mentioned, the Turin Legato Espresso Machine is nice and compact, meaning you’re unlikely to have any issues finding space for it in your kitchen. Rising to just under 15 inches (38 centimeters), the Legato should sit nicely below overhanging cabinets. Still, you will probably have to move the machine to access the rear-mounted 57.5-ounce (1.7-liter) plastic water reservoir.

By the way, the rest of the machine is constructed of sturdy brushed stainless steel, which is always nice to see. Then again, the removable drip tray is plastic covered in a thin layer of metal.

In terms of how the Legato looks, it sports a boxy, minimalist design that’s reminiscent of machines like the Rancilio Silvia and Gaggia Classic Pro. Personally, I’m a fan of that aesthetic, although others may prefer the retro stylings of a Breville espresso machine.

Finally, I must mention the fact that the Turin Legato is equipped with nifty lights that illuminate the brewing area as your shot is extracting. Regular Coffeeness readers will know that I’m a sucker for thoughtful touches like this, so the machine wins a couple of extra points there!

User Interface

The Turin Legato’s user interface is fairly straightforward, comprising three buttons on the left side of the front panel, and a lovely rubberized steam dial on the right side.

Above this, you’ll find a digital screen, which doubles as a temperature display and a shot timer. I’ll discuss the adjustable temperature function a little later.

Lastly, there’s a gauge located on the main body of the machine, which allows you to monitor pressure at the group head. Trust me whenI tell you this is an invaluable tool for evaluating your espresso extractions in real time.

Turin Legato V2 Portafilter

As previously mentioned, the Turin Legato comes with a commercial-style 58mm portafilter. Supposedly made of solid stainless steel, the portafilter is a standard size, meaning you can use custom filter baskets if that’s your thing.

To be honest, I’m very impressed to see an espresso machine at this price point with professional-grade components. I mean, some may say that filter basket size doesn’t matter, but there’s a reason why you’ll nearly always find 58mm portafilters on commercial espresso machines. 

Tamping

I’m afraid the manufacturer dropped the ball in a big way when it decided to include a stupid plastic tamper/coffee scoop thing with the Turin Legato. Then again, Gaggia does the same thing when it ships the Classic Pro.

I guess I’ll never really understand what these guys are thinking. In fact, I’d rather they just left the plastic thing out of the box.

Anyway, all that to say that you’ll want to purchase a separate tamper if you don’t already own one. Check out my espresso tamper guide for inspiration!

Dual Boilers

The Turin Legato isn’t a true dual boiler machine. Rather, it has a stainless steel boiler for brewing espresso and a dedicated thermoblock for producing steam.

Still, that’s pretty darn cool seeing as you won’t experience wait times between preparing espresso and steaming milk. What’s more, you won’t have the pesky problem of the boiler being too hot to make coffee after you’ve used the steam wand.

In my opinion, the manufacturer has hit a home run with this design, given the fact that most other machines at this price point can’t compete with the Turin’s performance.

Steam Wand

The Legato has a commercial-style steam wand mounted on a ball joint, so finding a comfortable position to steam milk shouldn’t be an issue. And while the wand is equipped with a one-hole tip, you can easily replace it if you want.

I can’t speak for the wand’s steam power just yet, but I imagine it’ll be good enough to whip up some microfoam for your milk-based coffee drinks. Plus, it has its own thermoblock, so it’ll always be ready to go.

PID Temperature Control

Inalready mentioned the Turin Legato’s impressive metal group head, which seems like it’ll provide excellent thermal stability. What’s more, the machine is equipped with a digital PID controller. Not only does this ensure consistent temperature for brewing espresso, it can be adjusted to suit your taste.

The only downside is the fact that the PID only displays temperature in Celsius. While that might not seem like a big deal, you can only make changes in one-degree increments. And when you’re dealing with degrees Celsius, that’s a much larger jump than it would be in degrees Fahrenheit.

Pre-Infusion

From what I can gather, the pre-infusion function on the Turin Legato is its Achilles heel. Apparently, you aren’t able to adjust the pre-infusion time, only how long the machine pauses. And the pre-infusion time is only one second. So, that’s not really worth having.

On the other hand, the Turin Legato Espresso Machine does have a cool flow control dial. This will come in especially handy when you’re battling against the fact that there isn’t an OPV valve. Seeing as the machine’s pressure is set a little higher than 9 bar, you should be able to offset the difference by carefully manipulating the flow rate.

How to Use the Turin Legato Espresso Machine

Seeing as I haven’t yet had my hands on the Turin Legato, I can’t give you a first-hand report on how it performs. Still, I can give you a quick overview of what to expect when you’re using the thing for the first time.

For starters, you’ll need to rinse the reservoir then fill it with filtered water. Then you’ll have to prime the pump and the thermoblock. I’ll leave it to the user manual to explain the details. Oh, and don’t worry – the Legato reportedly heats up in around five minutes.

Once you’re ready to start making espresso, grab your coffee scale and tamper. I’d recommend starting with a dose of around 20 grams, so your espresso yield should be between 36 and 40 grams. Incidentally, the auto shot button might not be your best bet. The machine doesn’t have volumetric control, so the auto shot is simply timer based. And that’s going to be redundant whenever you change your grind or dose.

So, treat the Turin Legato as a manual machine, pressing the manual brew button to start your extraction and keeping an eye on both your scale and the machine’s timer. If all goes well, you’ll be rewarded with a 40 gram shot of espresso in 25-30 seconds.

Turin Legato Cleaning

As with any espresso machine, you can expect a limited amount of daily maintenance. In saying this, I’m referring to rinsing the portafilter baskets, scrubbing the dispersion screen and soaking the steam wand. I’d also recommend rinsing out the drip tray while you’re at it. As for the water tank, try not to leave water setting in there for days – unless you’re interested in growing algae in there.

Once a week, or so, I’d recommend backflushing the machine using a blind basket. You can use espresso machine cleaner for this. It’s actually really easy to do, and won’t take longer than five minutes. Oh, and your espresso will continue to be at its best into the bargain.

For more information about espresso machine cleaning and maintenance, check out my guide to coffee maker cleaning and descaling.

Turin Legato V2 Technical Specifications

Turin Legato vs Gaggia Classic Pro

I’ve long been a huge fan of the Gaggia Classic Pro, and I’m not the only one. In fact, I’d say that this enduring machine is one of the most popular espresso makers on the market.

There are plenty of good reasons for this, including the Gaggia’s very reasonable $443.00 asking price. That’s a steal, considering how well the Classic Pro performs.

However, be prepared for some amount of trial and error when getting to grips with this machine. It can be finicky to say the least! Then again, seeing as the Classic Pro is so customizable, there’s a legion of espresso fanatics who have kitted their machines out with every mod under the sun.

See Also: Gaggia Classic Pro Review

Turin Legato vs Gaggia Classic Pro Comparison Chart

Verdict: Turin Legato Review

I must say I’m very eager to put the Turin Legato Espresso Machine through its paces. Seriously, this affordable and compact model could be an excellent alternative to more established classics. I’m particularly impressed by the “dual boiler” design, as well as the impressive build quality and 58mm portafilter.

So, stay tuned – I plan on buying this thing as soon as possible and I’ll update this initial review when I have more information.